What to look for in a Backup Bass?

Samboat

Samboat

Feb 2, 2018
145
108
4,571
Houston
www.youtube.com
#1
So I've got a Schecter Studio Stiletto research 5 bass and I absolutely love it. It sounds Amazing and plays spectacularly, but being a 5 string and a schecter, there are limitations to what I can play based on the string spacing (at my skill level) and the tone I can achieve.

I'm looking for a secondary bass that sounds great and plays really well. The feel is more important and I know I'll need to play test any bass I consider, but as far as the tone goes, what are some good basses to look into? I want a contrasting tone from the schecter and I've heard that Ibanez could be a fit, but the one's I've played on sound very similar and don't play as well. If you need a band/sound to focus on, I'm thinking possibly like AC/DC or possibly Kiss.

Any other suggestions/comments are welcome!
 
#3
Samboat said:
So I've got a Schecter Studio Stiletto research 5 bass and I absolutely love it. It sounds Amazing and plays spectacularly, but being a 5 string and a schecter, there are limitations to what I can play based on the string spacing (at my skill level) and the tone I can achieve.

I'm looking for a secondary bass that sounds great and plays really well. The feel is more important and I know I'll need to play test any bass I consider, but as far as the tone goes, what are some good basses to look into? I want a contrasting tone from the schecter and I've heard that Ibanez could be a fit, but the one's I've played on sound very similar and don't play as well. If you need a band/sound to focus on, I'm thinking possibly like AC/DC or possibly Kiss.

Any other suggestions/comments are welcome!
Click to expand...
Let me be the first of many to suggest a P Bass. Personally I don't like them (gasp :eek:), but from your description of what you're looking for it fits. It will be a totally different animal compared to your Schecter and they have a classic tone, great for old school rock. Plus the spacing will be wider, even on a 5-string (if you go with a fender).
 
  • Like
Reactions: pbass2, MrLenny1 and Samboat
#4
Reedt2000 said:
Let me be the first of many to suggest a P Bass. Personally I don't like them (gasp :eek:), but from your description of what you're looking for it fits. It will be a totally different animal compared to your Schecter and they have a classic tone, great for old school rock. Plus the spacing will be wider, even on a 5-string (if you go with a fender).
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestion. Personally I'm not that much of a fan of the Fender basses either. I've tried out a few at GC and I don't care for them. They always feel like they're lacking compared to the bass I've got, but I'll keep trying them out and seeing if one feels right
 
#8
I would like to suggest some basses, but it would be helpful to know your budget and what things you like or don't like.

My suggestions with a $2,000 budget would be different than a $500 limit. Also, I for example like a natural finish on my basses and while I would consider a bass with a pickguard and a bolt on neck, it would not be my preference.
 
#9
I agree with trying out PJ basses, there's plenty of brands making them, should be one that would work for you. Also the Music Man Sub basses are a great buy on the used market.
 
#11
Yes...it really depends on your budget. As above, a PJ bass would be ideal as it gives you a sound unlike the one you already have. I was doing a setup on my Ibanez PJ bass right after I played the LTD bass in my user pic yesterday. Couldn't help but play it for a couple of hours as it sounded refreshingly different for a change.
Ibanez is a good option - I'm guessing based on your answer on Fender basses above, Ibanez might be a good option as their basses are active with the 2band or 3 band eq.
There's the Ibanez Talman TMB basses - pretty powerful bass with the PJ pickups and 2 band EQ. You can get a TMB100 pretty inexpensively, or opt for a higher end one - something like a TMB600 with the Nordstrand pickups.
If you want the slim neck similar to the Schecter, there's always the ibanez SR series - the Ibanez SR650 or SR750 have the PJ Nordstrand pickups and 3 band EQ.
There's quite a few other basses worth trying out but sounds like a PJ one will do the trick.

Edit: As a reference, I've owned several Schecter basses, like the Elite and I understand how it would sound like some of the Ibanez models that have two humbucker pickups, the SR500 for example , so I would recommend trying the Ibanez PJ models instead. Those do sound very different.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Samboat and jd56hawk
#14
confused why you would want a backup bass that is different. me-thinks you just want another bass. lets call a spade a spade ;)

that being said, if you are digging the schecter, I have been jonesin for one of these beauts.

Bass : CV-4

simply great passive tone layout. mix of modern and traditional. and would imagine the build would be great as expected from schecter. comes in 5-string as well, and very affordable.

i think it will sound worlds different from your studio.
 
#17
I own/ play almost exclusively Schecters. Try the Apocalypse bass, it comes in 4, 5 and 4-EX flavors. The Apocalypse J-Buckers sound like nothing else and the overall tone of the bass sounds nothing like any other Schecter bass. For the specific sound needs that you mentioned, I'd definitely check it out.
 
#18
James Collins said:
I would like to suggest some basses, but it would be helpful to know your budget and what things you like or don't like.

My suggestions with a $2,000 budget would be different than a $500 limit. Also, I for example like a natural finish on my basses and while I would consider a bass with a pickguard and a bolt on neck, it would not be my preference.
Click to expand...
My budget is up to $1000 or so, but I don’t want a small quality difference with a large price difference
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back