Yamaha, squier, or sterling

[bfields]

For recording I don't care about the exact tone as much, since I know I can fix it up a bit after I hear how it sounds in the mix.

But it's harder to fix noise. And there's nothing like listening to a track repeatedly through headphones to make me notice any odd hiss or buzz.

So personally I'd stick to basses with humbucking pickup configurations, and listen to the preamp over headphones. I think they usually hiss a bit if you boost the treble, but otherwise it should be quiet.

Disclaimer: I'm not picky about bass tone, and my total "recording" experience is the occasional cover or band rehearsal that I post to facebook for my friends to ignore, so I'll defer to experience. And obviously people manage to get perfectly fine recordings out of PJ and J basses with soloed pickups, so I may just be paranoid.

 

[DonaldR]

I have a Yamaha TRBX505 and it's probably one of the best 34" scale bass I tried when shopping for a 5 string 4 years ago. I think Yamaha designed the neck around my fingers!!!! If you can stretch from TRBX305 to TRBX505 you would get a better preamp (modern sound) and a passive switch (vintage sound + a good P sound also). I can plug direct into the PA and get a very warm tone with the preamp.
I just bought a Squier VM Jazz 5 last year and I like it a lot as a passive jazz bass, but I still prefer the Yamaha in term of playability and versatility.

 

[SirMjac28]

I had the Yamaha and sent it back the next day the quality was excellent but the tone was blah and sterile I just took delivery of a Ray35 and I'm in love with the variety of tones I can get.

 

[Rebopmass]

That’s a sweet mod to make that passive with split coil volume controls, I bet that’s real nice.

Yeah it is. But it does have draw backs and i found it out first show i used it. My Behringer was acting all weird think it was a battery issue. Now the pickup I had made was absolutely custom for the exact tone and out put I wanted with the preamp. The Peavey Tour 700 i use as a power amp sounded crappy without the preamp as i didnt really have time to adjust it on the fly. I replaced battery and used it last night for 2 hrs sounded awesome thru crappy speakers. Only issue is its not storing memory if its shut down 3 times in a row. Ive solved problem by using a basic setup and program 2 banks rather quickly since i know what i want. Its gives it a much bigger tone , and yes it is cool being able to dial in each coil for what i want. To avoid all this i have another behringer im picking up tomm and will use it live and mine will be a backup if that occurs again which it shouldnt. I have 2 sets of pickups from this builder in Ohio. My spector is on roids lol with the ObP3 in it and my Squier Precision special is loaded with Dimarzios.

But yes it is good and im kinda downplaying how it sounded with the Peavey but i bet most bassists would have loved the tone. And again it does make it a lil more interesting with the VVT setting. Not quite ur classic MM set up but works awesome for what im using it for.

 

[ImNotJoel]

Here's the verdict I got the yamaha BB415. It is on the way and I can't wait to lay down some tracks. It was close I couldn't find a five string squier jag anywhere. I considered a vm Jazz but I tried it as nice as it is I wanted something else. I was really close to the Stingray I tried one and it was a lot of fun to play. However what turned me off was I went to another GC and there was three in the store I played all three. The quality control was all over the place. One had the preamp issue, another had sharp edges, the last was too bowed to even play. Now I am aware the set up issues do fall on GC but there was inconsistencies instrument to instrument which also made me worry what else could be off. All the yamaha and squiers I played where all consistent.

So a little gamble I couldn't find a bb415 in store but based on how much I enjoyed the trbx, the rbx, and trb made me feel confident in yammy. The BB had the passive p/j set up I am digging. I didn't want a glossy black bass even a matte black would have sufficed I figured I am a bedroom warrior I don't like gigging much so how my bass sounds is all that matters. No one can tell how it looks in a recording.

Thank you TB you never let me down my GAS is in remission.....for now.