Who do you usually recommend?

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

If someone is looking for a nice , new bass at the $2k-$3k price point, who are your go to top 5 recommendations?

I think these companies offer very good quality and value for the money while bringing their own thing to the table.

Ernie Ball MusicMan
Yamaha
G&L
Dingwall
Sandberg

If someone has the same budget or a little lower or wants to go used, I might also recommend.
Sterling Ray 34/35
MTD Kingston
Sire
or a used USA Peavey.

 

[NKBassman]

Dingwall and Yamaha are the only brands I have experience with at that price point. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either of them, but lets just say that I'd buy another Dingwall before even looking at anything Yamaha currently has available.

 

[Jeff Scott]

I don't know the price range of his basses in the here-and-now (I bought my two over ten years ago), but look to the independent luthiers like Martin Keith vs. standard production instruments.

 

[wvbass]

Fender, Music Man, Dingwall, Spector, Sadowsky for me.

Have G&L prices pushed past $2k? Great basses.

 

[Geri O]

I would add Mike Lull basses to the used list.

Naturally….

 

[two fingers]

Sorry if my answer isn't exactly what you're looking for (jind if a tradition here at TB).

At that price point I would advise someone "Get thee to a really nice store" and play a buttload of basses. Your new bass will choose you.

 

[NKBassman]

Sorry if my answer isn't exactly what you're looking for (jind if a tradition here at TB).

At that price point I would advise someone "Get thee to a really nice store" and play a buttload of basses. Your new bass will choose you.

Good advice.
However, if I had $2-3k to spend on myself tomorrow, I’d probably order a Serek sight-unseen. I’ve never played one, but I dig what Jake is doing. And then once I have a Serek, I could recommend them to someone else

 

[MrClassicMetal]

The Official MARUSZCZYK CLUB!

 

[aproud1]

I would add:

Clement
Atelier Z
STR

 

[Warpeg]

In that situation, I would probably try to talk them out of spending so much on a bass. I know I'm in the minority when it comes to this on TB, but my thought is that there are lower priced used (and some new) basses of equally quality to those in that high price range. Spend less and use the extra money on other things.

 

[xjbebop]

So many choices these days. I own many different basses that I like/love, but I've become a Reverend guitars fanboy over the last 5-6 years. The look / style isn't for everybody, but the quality to price ratio is fantastic! Plus the people running the company are fantastic as well...
Invalid Link Removed

 

[matante]

I don't know the price range of his basses in the here-and-now (I bought my two over ten years ago), but look to the independent luthiers like Martin Keith vs. standard production instruments.

For $2k and up I will always suggest custom over anything from a factory. That amount will get you a Cliff Bordwell bass.

 

[Nobis17]

If I had $2-3k to spend and were to recommend a brand for myself, I would first recommend EBMM, followed by Sadowski, Sandberg, Ibby.

 

[DrBnz]

$2K - $3K???

1) Fender American Ultra P (my favorite 4-string at 34")
2) EBMM Special 5 (right out of the box it does everything well - best 34" "B" string on the market)
3) Ric 4003 (right out the box it needs a treble bezel, hipshot bridge and Ti strings - then its in the top 3 material)
4) Fender Geddy Lee J-bass (now I don't care for J-bass usually - but this one has mojo in excess)
5) EBMM Short Scale (it was "ok" out of the box... but w LaBella Flats - its a little monster)

 

[buldog5151bass]

Lull is on a par with any other bolt on bass.

 

[thisheregiraffe]

Warmoth

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Two to three grand for a new EBMM is kinda crazy to me.

 

[Savage_Dreams]

If a person is looking to spend that much on an instrument shouldn’t they already have an idea of what they want? I don’t understand how anyone would just randomly say “I need to spend 3 grand on an instrument, tell me what to buy”.

 

[Pilgrim]

At that price point, I have little or no experience. There are plenty of nice basses in that price range, and for that kind of money they ought to do your dishes and take out your trash as well.

The one bass I have that has a MSRP above $2000 is my Gretsch Thunderjet. It's a short scale masterpiece of immaculate finish and great sound. I would immediately recommend it to anyone looking for a short scale in that price range.

But the GOOD news is that MSRP is not the real world price. It's widely available new at a street price around $1600, and I got mine for around $1200 used but in mint condition with the case and all the case candy.

And I am not convinced that buying new is wise. There are tons of great used basses in excellent condition. I'm a used car buyer, too.

 

[ThudThudThud]

I'm sure I could find a used USA Precision, and a used USA Jazz for that kind of money.
There's some nice basses in the classifieds here on TB - including a nice Lull.