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You've got $2,500 to spend...
- Thread starter SteveC
- Start date
What you may perceive as "little improvement" someone else may see as huge. I'm a fan of Squier but after all the gear I've played I would own one as more than a backup unless I ran into financial trouble. My American Deluxe Jazz still easily beats out all of the Squiers I've played.
I think you're going at it in the wrong way. Why dont you figure what bass you need/want/love and then look at pricing afterwards?
A lot of great suggestions here, and I don't have a better or different one to offer. As far as spending a little and investing the rest... buying a $2500 bass IS an investment. If you make it wisely, your bass may be worth more when you move on to something else (if you move on to something else) than it is when you buy it.
The interest rate paid on secure investments these days is negligible. If you put $2000 in a 1 year CD, you'll earn about $25. The stock market is volatile and you could lose that investment or a significant part of it, plus you'll pay fees that will eat into any profit you might make. A few years ago, "invest it" in something would have been good advice, but maybe not today. Find a casino with good table odds on craps, and you can play it on the pass/don't pass line at almost 50% chance of doubling it. Then walk out whether you win or lose.
Or just buy yourself a really nice bass. I vote the bass.
The interest rate paid on secure investments these days is negligible. If you put $2000 in a 1 year CD, you'll earn about $25. The stock market is volatile and you could lose that investment or a significant part of it, plus you'll pay fees that will eat into any profit you might make. A few years ago, "invest it" in something would have been good advice, but maybe not today. Find a casino with good table odds on craps, and you can play it on the pass/don't pass line at almost 50% chance of doubling it. Then walk out whether you win or lose.
Or just buy yourself a really nice bass. I vote the bass.
Dingwall Super J. If the fanned frets aren't your thing, a Mike Lull J with the active/passive pre and noiseless pickups. Either could be P/J if you want. Otherwise, maybe G&L L-2000.
I used to chase that perfect sound but then I bought a pre-ernie ball Musicman Stingray about 8 years ago. It was my dream bass. It cost way more than I could afford but I worked out a way to make my dream come true 
so I'd start dreaming and not worry about the dollars.
PS G&L basses when Leo Fender was still alive are way under rated.
so I'd start dreaming and not worry about the dollars.PS G&L basses when Leo Fender was still alive are way under rated.
Yeah, I think if I go Roscoe it would have to be used. They are just too much for me new. I am happy with my amp.
I have a Fender American Standard Jazz. I'm happy with my amp.
I also thought about this, but aside from some standards and ballads, I don't really need a fretless that much.
If only it were that easy.
I owned 3 G&L's way back when they first came out. Really nice bass, but the neck may be a little thick (front to back) for me.
I have also owned Lakland. I love the Lakland neck. Someone had a USA Joe Osbourn 5 at the local store when I happened to be there (he was wondering what it was, value, etc.) I forgot how sweet those necks are - even the 35" scale 5 felt really nice. I tried a 55-02 for a while, but it seemed the 35" scale was still an issue. I'm pretty comfortable with a 4 string these days, kind of over my "need the low B string" thing, so maybe I should look at a 44-94 or something.
Yes. I was looking through the Classifieds and there were a number of nice fretless basses. Just got me thinking about going fretless for a change. I think after reading some responses and thinking about the playing I do, I would be better off putting my effort to a nice, versatile fretted bass instead.
Sometimes it helps to post here - no matter how stupid it may be, or how much grief you may take to just "think out loud" and maybe prevent a stupid choice.
I don't think I could/would spend $2,500 on one bass, or even two. Those darn bills seem to come every month. $1,500 may be more realistic. I think I might look at a used Lakland 44-94. I like the neck a lot, and they sound great, and you can find nice quilt tops, etc. Maybe that would scratch my itch.
Sometimes it helps to post here - no matter how stupid it may be, or how much grief you may take to just "think out loud" and maybe prevent a stupid choice.
I don't think I could/would spend $2,500 on one bass, or even two. Those darn bills seem to come every month. $1,500 may be more realistic. I think I might look at a used Lakland 44-94. I like the neck a lot, and they sound great, and you can find nice quilt tops, etc. Maybe that would scratch my itch.
You could get almost any Yamaha with that amount of cash. Also Fender and Music Man would be great choices
I'm biased, obviously, but my vote goes towards Roscoe.
With Valenti being second---Nino can build you exactly what you want, as long as you know what it is that you want. The build/quality/playability of the Valenti 5 that I owned was right up there along with my Roscoes. And it was super light.
With Valenti being second---Nino can build you exactly what you want, as long as you know what it is that you want. The build/quality/playability of the Valenti 5 that I owned was right up there along with my Roscoes. And it was super light.
Are you confident enough in knowing what you want to go custom, maybe a LeCompte or a Hoyt, and get exactly what you want for woods, pickups, etc. (I picked those builders as I think you can get them in your range and I'm not familiar with others - there are probably plenty of others that would be comparable)? If you can say exactly what you want I would think going custom would be the way to go. Personally, I'm not quite sure enough to take that step and stick with production basses.
I know you've had some what I would consider boutique basses - you had a couple of Sadowsky's recently, a Fender CS, and have probably tried others (did you do Modulus as well at one point?). Are any of those basses that you think you can say "if I had one of those again I'd be set"?
I'm in a similar spot to you - been churning basses for over a decade now and want to end it. I'm willing to keep around a few more than you are (I'm going with 6) but for my equivalent to yours I'm going with a G&L L-2000 to my exact specs (finish, neck profile, K wiring, fretboard, etc.). I'm fortunate in that a skinny necked G&L is my ultimate in comfort and one of the basses that has featured prominently in my churn. It's never worked for me before but there's a first time for everthing. I can't say an L2K would work for you since we have different ears, different hands, etc. but a nice G&L with a figured top can sure be a work of art IMO (although if you order new like I am you are rolling the dice for weight, dead spots, etc.).
Personally if I were you I would have kept the Yamaha around - you were always coming back to it and I see value in having at least 2 basses since I like to take two basses to "important" gigs to have a hot-swap backup available (and I'll usually swap them on a per-set basis for fun).
So in short my advice is: if you can define clearly enough what you want in "the one" bass then have a custom made that meets it. If you can't then examine your history and decide if there's something there that you'd be happy with and if so, go for it. But don't try something new (Roscoe?) and expect to be "done" -- know your history (something I try to do whenever the GAS hits).
Good luck, have fun and don't sweat it if the next one is only the next one (it's not life & death and if you are doing it smartly and not losing money it's just another form of entertainment)
I would get a used warwick streamer stage II...
I'm gasing for that since I recently got an active '09 corvette std. bubinga... fat but still clear sounding and has a jazz like neck on it... very alive bass IMO... Almost all of my other basses are sleeping since I got that...
I'm pilling money and selling three of my backup basses to get that.
I know it's not the place and I will put them in the classified soon when the pictures will be taken...
- Two 6 strings ibanez: an SR406 natural and a BTB transparent black. All with original ibanez electronics(not Bart), and very stiff, awesome and playable necks.
- The other is a sunburst Fender mexican jazz, upgraded with badass bridge, emg vintage style pickups (w. apparent pole pieces) and a black pickguard.
500$ each, shipping not included, located in quebec, canada.
I'm gasing for that since I recently got an active '09 corvette std. bubinga... fat but still clear sounding and has a jazz like neck on it... very alive bass IMO... Almost all of my other basses are sleeping since I got that...
I'm pilling money and selling three of my backup basses to get that.
I know it's not the place and I will put them in the classified soon when the pictures will be taken...
- Two 6 strings ibanez: an SR406 natural and a BTB transparent black. All with original ibanez electronics(not Bart), and very stiff, awesome and playable necks.
- The other is a sunburst Fender mexican jazz, upgraded with badass bridge, emg vintage style pickups (w. apparent pole pieces) and a black pickguard.
500$ each, shipping not included, located in quebec, canada.
Considering what Steve has played and turned, I don't think he's in the EB sonic wheelhouse. "Easy on the back" is also not generally associated with them though there are some sub 9lb examples.
Used Roscoe 4-strings are a little tough to come by but they can be had. If you're looking at a Roscoe from Greg at Rocket at least you'll have a few days to see if it works for you. He actually has one right now that I'm pondering. So does Nino. My issue is that I don't really like 1.5" nut and that is what most 4-bangers come in.
So far I'm pretty happy with my AmDlxP. Versatile, not too heavy (8.7lbs, and the new Levy strap I got is very comfy), and at $1275 shipped the price was easy to swallow.
Used Roscoe 4-strings are a little tough to come by but they can be had. If you're looking at a Roscoe from Greg at Rocket at least you'll have a few days to see if it works for you. He actually has one right now that I'm pondering. So does Nino. My issue is that I don't really like 1.5" nut and that is what most 4-bangers come in.
So far I'm pretty happy with my AmDlxP. Versatile, not too heavy (8.7lbs, and the new Levy strap I got is very comfy), and at $1275 shipped the price was easy to swallow.
Probably a Modulus VJ 4 with some passive bartolinis. Amazingly versatile sounding bass.
