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Which of these should I get?

L

LLTravis

Nov 24, 2008
6
0
#1
I'm in the market for a new bass. I'm currently selling my Warwick Corvette standard Fretless so that I can buy something useful. I love the bass, but it's just not practical for heavy rock music. These are the bass's in my price range that I am remotely interested in.

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I think this bass looks really sharp, I'm just worried about the weight of it and how a set neck would perform on a bass.

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I've never owned an Ibanez bass. This one looks sharp, but appears to be relatively new so I can't find many reviews. I also wonder how the smaller design would affect playability.

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This is a decent bass I know. I've seen several people play them. I just really hate the looks of these things. The gold hardware is hideous to me, and the black one looks so plain.

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I know this is a much cheaper bass than the ones above. I currently own an older B-155 which has done great for several years now. This model is upgraded with 3 band EQ and string through body. I figured I could throw some active EMG's in it if necessary later on, though, I don't know how hard that would be. Also, I'm aware that the ones above are fou strings and this is a 5. I really have no preference. I can move around on stage better with a 4 string, but I like the string spacing of a 5 string. I never use my low B...ever. So they are both equal to me.


I'm also open to other suggestions, only it needs to come from a major music website (Music123 or Musiciansfriend preferably) and be under 700.00.

I'm also aware that Barts and EMG's sound nothing alike, but I like both of their sounds, so I have no preference either way there either.

Please don't say "go play them and see which one you like best." I don't have that option. I live in a very remote small town. There are no music stores within a 3 hour drive.
 
#3
^Yea, I say stick with Warwick if you like your fretless. Just sell the fretless and buy a used fretted Corvette for about the same price.

If you want to buy new...I haven't played any of the basses you have listed, except the Schecter and Ibanez for about a minute each, so I can't comment on them. However, if I was going to get an Ibanez I'd at least look at an ATK first. Best bass Ibanez makes IMO.
 
#5
Until early this year, I hadn't owned an Ibanez either. And frankly, I didn't trust them. At the store they always had a very distinctive personality, kind of like the neon orange crayon in the box of regular colors. They always stuck out like a sore thumb when put next to a nice, harmless Fender.

When trying them out I remember thinking, "I would never be able to control this thing on a gig, it's too unpredictable." In the band I play with I need to be a chameleon, but be able to be heard when the time is right.

I couldn't have been more wrong about the unpredictable part. It has turned out to be one of the most consistent basses I've ever played.

Yes, the active pickups are growly. Yes, the on-board EQ is, let's say, 'different.' (Stupid "style selector" knob is useless). Yes, the bridge pickup is kinda close to the bridge itself.

All of that being said, each negative has turned into a positive for me:

The growly pickups are easy to tame by simply playing lighter (an welcomed benefit for four hour gigs). To make them sing, just dig in a little.

The EQ just takes some getting used to, but its pretty good in it's own right. All they did was to give the 'low' knob a wider range than I was used to. It turns out to be right in the meaty range of the instrument. The treble is pretty high, but perfect for filtering out fret noise.

The close bridge pickup is great because it is a perfect thumb rest when playing close to the bridge, Jaco style. You want to really make those pickups growl? Dig in at the brige and hold on to your panties. Better hope you have enough headroom at the amp because growl quickly turns into bite, which turns into chomp.

As for your concern about the small build, I can say that it is slightly smaller than my old Cirrus 5, but it is still proportional and the bass fits a person with good technique very well.

By the way, I own the SR405QM. There are only two things I wish it had: a low, mid, and high setup for the active EQ. All they did was to split the normal 3 band into two and add that "style selector" knob. You might like it, but all it does is add or subtract midbass. ehh. I leave it right in the middle.

The other thing I wanted was neck-through construction. But it turns out that the instrument is solid enough with merely the bolt on. This is because of the beefy bridge and the angled headstock.

All of this for $500 vs. the SR700 for $700...you be the judge but if it were up to me, I'd spend your extra $200 on a nice DI box or some other goodies.

Happy shopping! ~GMC
 
#7
LLTravis said:
I'm in the market for a new bass. I'm currently selling my Warwick Corvette standard Fretless so that I can buy something useful. I love the bass, but it's just not practical for heavy rock music. These are the bass's in my price range that I am remotely interested in.

Link Removed
I think this bass looks really sharp, I'm just worried about the weight of it and how a set neck would perform on a bass.

Link Removed
I've never owned an Ibanez bass. This one looks sharp, but appears to be relatively new so I can't find many reviews. I also wonder how the smaller design would affect playability.

Link Removed
This is a decent bass I know. I've seen several people play them. I just really hate the looks of these things. The gold hardware is hideous to me, and the black one looks so plain.

Link Removed
I know this is a much cheaper bass than the ones above. I currently own an older B-155 which has done great for several years now. This model is upgraded with 3 band EQ and string through body. I figured I could throw some active EMG's in it if necessary later on, though, I don't know how hard that would be. Also, I'm aware that the ones above are fou strings and this is a 5. I really have no preference. I can move around on stage better with a 4 string, but I like the string spacing of a 5 string. I never use my low B...ever. So they are both equal to me.


I'm also open to other suggestions, only it needs to come from a major music website (Music123 or Musiciansfriend preferably) and be under 700.00.

I'm also aware that Barts and EMG's sound nothing alike, but I like both of their sounds, so I have no preference either way there either.

Please don't say "go play them and see which one you like best." I don't have that option. I live in a very remote small town. There are no music stores within a 3 hour drive.
Click to expand...

Either the Schecter or Ibanez would do well for you.
 

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