Recommend a Bass to a non-bass player

[Decept]

Hello. I am building a studio, and need a bass that is a good all-around bass that can accompany many styles. And preferably under the 1,000 mark. Is the highway 1 p-bass decent?

[Ishouldbeking]

A P is a good starting point, but they're not very versatile basses. Kicks @$$ for rock tones, motown, some pop, basically 'thumpy' sounds, but with only the one split coil pickup there's not a lot you can do to vary the tone.

I'd consider something with a P-J configuration. I don't have a particular recommendation, but the added Jazz pickup will give you a lot more versatility than a basic P, while still giving you the same basic P sound. Just my two cents.:RoCkIn

[Decept]

Is the highway 1 a decent model? Or is it crap?

[martyncrew]

Is the highway 1 a decent model? Or is it crap?

Yes, great value especially the new models with the Badass bridges. IMO, the Jazz Bass is the way to go if you want versatility. The MIM Pbass Special is an other good option - Pbass and Jazz Bass pickups on a Pbass body with a Jazz Bass neck.

[Rick51]

Warwick Rock Bass, actve, same design and electronics as their high end high dollar models except bolt on neck. Impeccable workmanship, superb tone. $599 at Musicians Friend.

Squier P-bass, various models $179 - $249. Good playability, good sound, good buy.

[Chris Rice]

Used USA G&L or new Tribute kick butt for sub $1000.

[Thor]

+1 for the G&L: very nice basses at reasonalbe prices. I would also check out the Lakland Skyline series as well.
For ease of playing - look into Carvin - well made, well priced and very comfortable necks - especially for those who primarily play guitar.

Happy Hunting,

Edward

[sovtekking]

pick up a used musicman SUB bass...cant beat them for around 350-400$ and they're usa made..just check out ebay....equal in quality to much of the fender usa stuff, they just have satin finishes and a 3 band active instead of 4 band active like the higher end ernie ball stuff

[Pearly Gator]

If you go used, you can fill the bill nicely. My studio has three bass guitars. A Squier alder body P bass with an EMG pickup. ($110) A Highway 1 Jazz bass. ($425) Last is a Peavey Fury 5, active five string. ($250) If you throw in a short scale Hofner violin bass copy, it could still be under a grand.

[bdegrande]

Line 6 Variax. They sell for about $500 now, used to be $1200-1400. Very verdatile, there are clips at www.line6.com.I am a guitarist who needed a bass for recording, and these work very well for that - dead quiet.

[king-albert]

For the money, you really can't beat an SX (Rondo) bass. I am so pleased with mine, I still cannot believe the quality of instrument I got for $140! Plays and sounds great.

[bmgblues]

Go with the P bass. James Jamerson had it right the first time around. Not to mention Bob Babbitt and about a million other guys. The Hiway one is a good solid bass. You might want to upgrade the pickups to Bass Line quarter pounders for that extra punch. Thats what I use in the studio

[The Golden Boy]

Used USA G&L or new Tribute kick butt for sub $1000.

+1 for the G&L: very nice basses at reasonalbe prices.

My G&L is my #1 player. If I only had to have one bass, it would be my L-2000. HOWEVER, I don't look at it as being the most versatile bass. Even with the preamp switched off, it doesn't have the "organic-ness" of my Jazz Bass. (especially for recording)

If it had to be one bass for recording, able to cover a bunch of styles for not a whole lot of cash- I'd look at a Jazz Bass.

My Jazz is pretty damn aggressive in a P sort of way when using the neck pickup solo and still has that middy roll that IS the Jazz Bass sound. Most modern bass sounds are bassed somewhere around those two sounds...

http://images.lilypix.com/albums/userpics/10038/normal_jazzbody.jpg

[Phil M]

I had this same question last year and was steered to towards the Mexican P-Bass. I feel that it was a good buy and did exactly what I wanted. I liked the neck a lot better than the thinner Jazz neck.

[mgrier1]

Can't believe this one wasn't mentioned yet...

Geddy Lee Jazz Bass from Fender... MIJ: High quality, very playable and solid J Bass sounds... Can play most styles with this one - not just Prog Rock...

Can be had used all day long for $575 to $699 and is well under a grand new...

You'll be in Xanadu with this one...:dude

Best,

Mike

[mgarrison99]

Grab a Turser. I have an X-4 that is incredible. Less than $225 on ebay. I had a cheap Ibanez Soundgear, but Turser rocks. Hartke is stable as well...

[Zim]

I would say all around bass? One w/ a P/J config, with active/passive option for the best all around bass. But you'll never pry my P-Bass from me!!!

[mgarrison99]

I recommend the Jay Turser JTB-4X. I've owned P-bass copies, a Steinberger X4, and an Ibanez GSR200. This is by far the most comfortable and best sounding budget bass I've owned. Active tone controls and you can see the wood grain (no plywood here). And for $260 driveout, it's hard to beat!
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u53/mgarrison99/Jay%20Turser/jayjtb4X.jpg
Check out this link, but you can Google it and find it all over the place:
http://stovermusic.com/mshop/bass-guitar/electric-bass/jay-turser-jtb-4x.html (http://stovermusic.com/mshop/bass-guitar/electric-bass/jay-turser-jtb-4x.html)

good luck!

[stratcat85]

As a guitar player playing bass, +1 for the Highway 1 Jazz Bass. Great tone, easy to play and redally purchased for under a grand.

[jkrieger52]

I don't want to commit herasey, but the Ibenez SG series is a good budget bass with lost of tonal variation. Nothing to brag to your friends about, but very credible active pickups, good solid action, and cheap.

[ghoti]

Get a cheap off-brand bass from rondomusic or musician's friend...or ebay...:eek:

Or just cruise the music stores and play what you think might be good and see how you like it.
_______

Best way to find out what you like is to play a lot and see. It might not even be what a lot of us like, and that's OK too.

[rcp06d]

I would highly recomend a Fender Jazz. You can get a fatter P-bass sound out of a Jazz by switching to the bridge pick-up, but you CAN'T get a jazz tone out of a P-Bass. For versatility and good price I'd go with a MIJ Marcus Miller Jazz bass. It's got an active/passive switch on it, so you can get a lot of tones out of it. My only complaint is that it doesn't have a tone control on the passive side. But it is a very nice bass, plays amazing!!! I sold my American Fender P-Bass to get a Marcus jazz and I love it. They're $999, but you can find them on the net for $840. You just need to do a little googling.

[zygoat]

MIJ Marcus Miller sig = best bang for your buck.

[teleman1]

I'd look seriously at the multi-versatile Jaguar bass. It has a plethra of sounds and a jazz bass neck.

ITs gettin to sound like you need two basses. You could pick up a good Jazz bass & a good Precision for less than a $1000.00. MIM.

Also the Jaguar may enter the collectability realm, cause of its uniqueness