"upgrading"

A

angelfire

New member
hi, im a self taught bassist, been playing for about 6 years now, just a casual player with some basic theory
my current instrument (and my first) is some made in china 5-string that i bought from bras basah.

i bought my first guitar based on: it looked good, it felt good, and it sounded good when i tested it out, it also cost me $300 which was within budget at the time.

now i think ive improved enough to warrant upgrading to a "proper" bass, with a budget of about $600-800

is there any model in particular that you would recommend to me?
i know ultimately, i would have to test it out to see if i like the feel etc. but the thing is, i don't know where to start,
so yeah, any help is greatly appreciated
 
Some genre(s) do you play, what kinda sound are you looking for, staying on 5 string or shifting to 4? For a $600-800 budget, I'd recommend buying used.
 
i guess im playing mostly rock, maybe some top 40s, im thinking of learning some funk grooves
4 or 5 string is fine with me
as for 2nd+ hand, which models should i look out for?
 
Last edited:
Just a few questions before recommending:

What do you dislike about your current bass?
What kind of music do you play/what kind of tone are you looking for?
Does the budget include an amp?
Are you planning for 4 strings or 5 strings?
Do you mind second-hand basses?

These questions help to narrow down your options.

That said, however, I've always found these basses (within your budget) to be pretty decent.

Squier CV series
Second hand Fender MIJs
Sterling by Musicman series
Ibanez (although you *must* try this out. you either love or hate their thin necks)

Just general advice, always try the bass and see if you're comfortable with it. And where possible, get the best bass you can afford. :)
 
The jazz sounds good, but might wanna ask if the original neck is provided. A mighty mite replacement neck, hmmm.
 
What do you dislike about your current bass?
well, for my current bass, theres this buzzing around the 2-4th fret of the E string,
in an air con room, no problem, on stage outdoors, and you hear it loud and clear
also, the pickups are raised, making slapping and popping an issue ( i found the butterzone for the slap just where the pickups are, leaving little room for my fat fingers to pop)

What kind of music do you play/what kind of tone are you looking for?
mostly rock covers, as for tone, i don't really know what this means, but i guess my guitar still sounds ok
ive got a zoom b2.1u that i play around with also

Does the budget include an amp?
ive got an amp already, but mostly i just use headphones through the zoom pedal (neighbours have been complaining ;p)

Are you planning for 4 strings or 5 strings?
either is fine

Do you mind second-hand basses?
i guess i have a thing for new stuff ;p


ive been hearing a lot about the sterling by musicman series. do most shops carry them?

edit: i see ive been ninja-ed ;p
do they still make new models of the fender mij?
i figure that this would probably last me for the next 10 yrs or so, and i could save up for a new one ;p
 
Last edited:
Ah, buzzing. The pickups can be fixed but I'm not sure about the buzzing. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you're set on getting a new bass right? :p

You can learn a lot about tone and its related terms on TalkBass' tone glossary here: http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.php/Bass_Tone_Glossary

Some people prefer the retro, warm, thumpy kind of sound, while others prefer the modern, crisp and bright tone. It really depends on personal preference la.

For Sterling by MusicMan, it's a little out of your budget but you can approach Brendon from BGW Guitars. Top-notch guy, incredible service. Check out the basses here: http://www.bgwguitars.com/sterling.htm

And yes, there are still new models of Fender MIJs. I think you can get Ty Music Center to bring them in for you. Takes about 4 - 6 weeks though. Reach them here: http://www.tymusiccenter.com/contact-us
 
Honestly, with that budget, go used.

Between a used better quality instrument vs a brand new lower quality instrument, I'd go with the better one. You take less of a hit when you resell it later on too.

The neck sounds like it doesn't have enough reinforcement, if playing out of aircon can cause it to buzz. Although adding a little relief on the truss rod may help. Pickups being raised, u can always lower them yourself, all you need is a screwdriver.

I think you need to decide on what kind of tone you want before you buy a new bass. Deep growly fingerstyle? Vintage fat P bass tone? Hifi modern slap tone?
 
for your budget range, i would recommend getting G&L Tribute L2000, you can get it from woodworkz (spelling?) they are in the basement at peninsula.

if you pay about $100 to $200 more you can get Sterling By Musicman either SB14 or Ray34.

personally i prefer the G&L tribute, coz the pre-amp and pick-ups are exactly the same as the USA made G&L. and it is very very versitle, and within your budget.
 
Hey man,

My advice is the same as above, if u can fork out a few hundred more Go with Sterling By Musicman.
I've tried the SB34 and 35. Sweet sounding. Its really comparable to a Fender Jazz...

But if u're short of budget, u can always try SB14. Sweet sounding too. But of cos u can book an appointment with Brendon from BGWGuitars to try out the bass.
He's a friendly chap. U nv know he might just give u a discount. Do check him out. :)

Cheers! Peace :)
 
well, firstly id like to thank all who replied to this thread, your comments are greatly appreciated

heard a couple of samples on youtube, and the ray34 sounds pretty decent
id probably head down to bwg next week to try it out myself ;p
 
You're right, actually. It's to ensure he attends to you personally. Also, i think, if you go around and meddle the stuff there, no assistance, stuff breaks... Well, just know it's gonna be expensive
 
get an ibanez. im not kidding. ibanez is awesome bang for the buck. dont be a gear snob.

but maybe you might be ripped off by an ibanez dealer?? i dunno.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Amalyn
Finding Gigs in Australia!
Replies
0
Views
101
Amalyn
Amalyn
S
Looking for a Blues/Rock bassist for Original Live Band
Replies
0
Views
216
s-michael
S
C
Amateur guitarist looking for a group/people for casual jamming.
Replies
0
Views
352
carrein
C
M
Rodecastor Duo (like new bought on 3 jan 2025)
Replies
0
Views
188
marc loues
M
K
Personalized Music Lessons to Inspire and Connect
Replies
0
Views
139
keynote
K

Latest posts

Share this page

Back
Top