Best value/most versatile bass for $900 or less

zappatalist

zappatalist

Sep 25, 2007
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#1
I'm getting back into playing bass after taking a break for a couple of years, and I need a new axe.

I'll be using it in all kinds of musical situations and genres- session work, cover/GB bands, etc.- so I need something that's versatile, easy to work with, and comfortable to play. I tend to favor thinner, flatter necks. I don't love P pickup by itself, but I'm down with a P-J setup w/a blend knob.

My last basses were a Surine Protocol (amazing), and a MM Sterling 4h (pretty OK). My budget is $900 or less.

Thoughts?
 
#4
Hmm, maybe. The last G&L I played had a neck that was way bigger than I care for. Admittedly it was a 5 string (L-2500), but if the 4 string was similarly beefy it wouldn't work. Thanks, though!
 
#5
zappatalist said:
Hmm, maybe. The last G&L I played had a neck that was way bigger than I care for. Admittedly it was a 5 string (L-2500), but if the 4 string was similarly beefy it wouldn't work. Thanks, though!
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I'm guessing that was a Tribute. You can buy the USA models with thinner necks.
I bought this Tribute and played it for a week before someone told me it had a thicker neck.
A few weeks later I bought a USA-made SB-2 with a neck like a Jazz bass.
kbykno.jpg
 
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#13
DwaynieAD said:
G&L are the most bland, generic, and uninspiring basses I've ever laid my hands on.

Just get a solid p bass and use it for everything ever.
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I think that's the most ironic thing I've ever read. Alanis Morrisette would be proud of that one!

That's kinda like saying 'Pepperoni pizza is the most bland pizza I've ever had. You should get a cheese pizza.'
 
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#15
zappatalist said:
I'm getting back into playing bass after taking a break for a couple of years, and I need a new axe.

I'll be using it in all kinds of musical situations and genres- session work, cover/GB bands, etc.- so I need something that's versatile, easy to work with, and comfortable to play. I tend to favor thinner, flatter necks. I don't love P pickup by itself, but I'm down with a P-J setup w/a blend knob.

My last basses were a Surine Protocol (amazing), and a MM Sterling 4h (pretty OK). My budget is $900 or less.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

IMO, The best two Swiss Army basses in that budget for crisp articulate fingers, slap, and tap and that can mimic J-Basses, P-Basses, faux fretless, fuax upright, for Modern thru Classic etc for Funk, Rock, Country, Blues, Smooth Jazz, Top 40, etc are going to be a (used) G&L L-2000/ASAT OR a (new) Sire V7.....I play in a function band that does a gigantic variety and Im NOT a Set-It-And-Forget-It-Player: I dial in the correct voicings for the songs (from faux fretless on songs like "Smooth Operator" to crisp J-bass classic funk to warm classic country to modern dance to articulate modern country to the P-Bass on "Brass In Pocket", articulate pop funk for "Uptown Funk"etc, ad nauseum)...these two Swiss Army the best (I own both)

Dustin Ewing said:
Any bass made by Sire... you're welcome ;)

EDIT: They don't make a bass with the P-bass pickups but you can get a ton of different sounds with that preamp they use. I own a 5-string V5 and I love it.
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The criteria for a P-Bass voicing is just a mid-mounted humbucking pickup - thats it.......Due to the nature of its PreAmp as well as being Tru Active, soloing the mid-pickup on a V7 DOES do a very good phat P-Bass facsimile for me when needed, unlike many Jazz basses which are usually very thin (and it doesn't buzz)....

mmbongo said:
I think that's the most ironic thing I've ever read. Alanis Morrisette would be proud of that one!

That's kinda like saying 'Pepperoni pizza is the most bland pizza I've ever had. You should get a cheese pizza.'
Click to expand...

:laugh::laugh::roflmao:
 
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#18
mmbongo said:
I think that's the most ironic thing I've ever read. Alanis Morrisette would be proud of that one!

That's kinda like saying 'Pepperoni pizza is the most bland pizza I've ever had. You should get a cheese pizza.'
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Not really, but nice try.

Asked for versatile and a p bass shines in any situation.

G&L is boring sterile and uninspiring.

And insulting to pepperoni pizza. More like a piece of toast with ketchup on top
 
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#20
zappatalist said:
I'm getting back into playing bass after taking a break for a couple of years, and I need a new axe.

I'll be using it in all kinds of musical situations and genres- session work, cover/GB bands, etc.- so I need something that's versatile, easy to work with, and comfortable to play. I tend to favor thinner, flatter necks. I don't love P pickup by itself, but I'm down with a P-J setup w/a blend knob.

My last basses were a Surine Protocol (amazing), and a MM Sterling 4h (pretty OK). My budget is $900 or less.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Thin flat neck and totally versatile? Here ya go:
For Sale - Peavey Cirrus USA Redwood
 
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