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Best value/most versatile bass for $900 or less
- Thread starter zappatalist
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J bass w the series/parallel wiring mod is pretty versatile.
Worth a try, but old DJs with Aeros are already very beefy sounding, so it might be too much. I've tried one newer DJ with Lakland pickups, and they had a very similar tonal quality, but perhaps a tad more thin/traditional sounding. So my guess would be it might work somewhat better in series.
Ironic? Not even close to the definition.
Just someone expressing opinion on a bass, nothing more.
An opinion that others agree on as well.
The difference between modern and classic tones has more to do with string choices/setup coupled with a players articulation (technique).....
Modern= fresh roundwounds or brite pressurewounds changed often
Classic = flatwounds, tapewounds, or rounds so old you may require a tetanus shot
both have applications
In most cases (some exceptions), the bass itself is irrelevent....a guy with fresh rounds, tight playing articulation, and a (close to flat) transparent amp/cab with a well setup passive P-Bass is going to sound way more "modern" than a guy playing an active Fodera, Warwick, Zakrzewski, etc with less articulate technique with any ancient string-type through an over EQd 15" cab with no horn/driver
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That was my initial thought as well, but if a G&L is too wide and he likes thinner necks, I wonder if it will be small enough for him. It's not a chunky neck, but at 1.6 it's a bit wider than a J or ibanez. I'd at least check out a 44-01 and 55-01 to see if the ergonomics work for you. The 44-02 and 55-02 have the same ergonomics but with the Lakland USA pups and pre. They can sometimes be found used for under $900.
I'm not an Ibanez guy, but might one of the SR models be a good choice? You can find a new top-end standard model or a used Prestige model for under $900 anytime. Though I don't find them visually inspring they are certainly well assembled and have alot of fans. Also, they are pretty versatile and you can find one in virtually any pickup style combination. 2 singles, P/J, a variety of humbuckers and there are even some with a Nordstrand P and Big-Single combination.
I changed my mind. Buy the Cirrus. Cirrus are awesome basses and one of the best values for high-end USA made instruments. My dad has nearly this exact bass and it's amazing. The Redwood is a very cool looking top and it's ridiculously comfortable, playable and sounds great.
Not to sabotage the poster, but you might be able to find a 5'er for the same price, though it probably won't be in quite as good shape and won't have the upgraded hardware.
If you're looking for something rock solid and inexpensive, my recommendation would be a used Fender Precision Bass Special. They have Jazz width necks, a P and J pickup configuration, and you can dial in just about any sound you want with them. Plus they can be had for a few hundred bucks in excellent used shape and are plentiful here on TB, CL and eBay. They're also highly customizable as far as pickup, pickguard and hardware upgrades go if you're in to that kind of thing. And parts are very easy to find. I agree with the people who suggested a Tribute G&L L2000, but I don't think parts are as readily available for either upgrade or replacement. The only drawback for me personally on both of these is that they tend to be in the 9 to 10 pound range as far as weight goes. But if weight isn't a factor, this is the way I'd go.
There's a Yamaha BB1025X that my still be available @ ishibashi.co.jp, but it does not have a pickup blend control, but a three-way pickup selector switch. Nice bass, I owned one at one time that I kinda wish I still had.
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.
I second this, but in particular a Sire 5-string M-7, because that allows for a lot of versatility which OP is seeking. Or if a fiver is just not OP's thing, then a M7 four-string. I like the V7 4 and 5 a lot too, but for sheer versatility: M7.
- The 5-string obviously would allow you to cover more ground sonically and opens up some genres, such as some R&B, gospel, modern country, a lot of modern rock, etc.
- The 35" scale on the M7 five string helps give it a very nice, very solid B string, and I hardly notice the difference in scale on it at all
- The two pickups are individually selectable for single/parallel/series which gives you a lot of tone options.
- It's a pretty fast, comfortable neck, fairly thin front-to-back, satin finish, so no stickiness.
- It is a 12" radius on the fret board so it's flatter than a typical Fender-style bass which is usually 7.25", which makes it easy to get around and opens up other techniques; such as more chordal stuff if you want, and although I don't do it much myself, the flatter board would be good for tapping and hammering.
- It also has a string spacing adjustment at the bridge, which is flexibility you don't get with most basses.
- The pre-amp is really good (same pre-amp as the Sire V7 which gets great press) and allows for a lot of versatility and fine tuning with its sweepable mid and a tone control that works both in active and passive mode, for more fine tuning.
- 8.5 pounds for mine, and I haven't heard of one over 9; so you'd have the versatility of not needing shoulder and back treatment and can spend those funds on pedals and beer instead.
New, the M7 five string goes for $750 (alder body) or $850 (ash body) new. Mine's the alder (so is bholder's which is fretless) while jlepre has an ash one now (he bought the one just sold on TB classifieds) in case you have any questions for him about the ash body (which has a different set of finishes than the alder).
I also have a Sire V7 4 and a V7 5 but for versatility, M7 surpasses them both.
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I second this, but in particular a Sire 5-string M-7, because that allows for a lot of versatility which OP is seeking. Or if a fiver is just not OP's thing, then a M7 four-string. I like the V7 4 and 5 a lot too, but for sheer versatility: M7.
- The 5-string obviously would allow you to cover more ground sonically and opens up some genres, such as some R&B, gospel, a lot of modern rock, etc.
- The 35" scale on the M7 five string helps give it a very nice, very solid B string, and I hardly notice the difference in scale on it at all
- The two pickups are individually selectable for single/parallel/series which gives you a lot of tone options.
- It's a pretty fast, comfortable neck, fairly thin front-to-back, satin finish, so no stickiness.
- It is a 12" radius on the fret board so it's flatter than a typical Fender-style bass which is usually 7.25", which makes it easy to get around and opens up other techniques; such as more chordal stuff if you want, and although I don't do it much myself, the flatter board would be good for tapping and hammering.
- It also has a string spacing adjustment at the bridge, which is flexibility you don't get with most basses.
- The pre-amp is really good (same pre-amp as the Sire V7 which gets great press) and allows for a lot of versatility and fine tuning with its sweepable mid and a tone control that works both in active and passive mode, for more fine tuning.
- 8.5 pounds for mine, and I haven't heard of one over 9; so you'd have the versatility of not needing shoulder and back treatment and can spend those funds on pedals and beer instead.
New, the M7 five string goes for $750 (alder body) or $850 (ash body) new. Mine's the alder (so is bholder's which is fretless) while jlepre has an ash one now (he bought the one just sold on TB classifieds) in case you have any questions for him about the ash body (which has a different set of finishes than the alder).
I also have a Sire V7 4 and a V7 5 but for versatility, M7 surpasses them both.
These were completely unknown to me prior to starting this thread, but I have to say the M7 5-string is pretty compelling at that price point.
I might modify that to "MIA Fender Jazz" made in 2008 or after. I love my Skyline 44-64 custom also, but it's more of a one-trick pony. Of course, that one trick is pretty awesome...
- Jun 2, 2012
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Probably a nice fit, given how much you liked the Protocol, which I assume had soapbar pickups and three band eq? Also, if you are used to 5-string, that will probably serve you well in covering many situations with one bass.
Otto
