FarFromTheTrees

Hi guys. I recently bought 2 Loud Inc Cabs (1x15 & 4x10) with an Ashdown Electric Blue 180 head all in for £200. The cabs and head are in immaculate shape and it sounds great (my first non-combo rig). I bought them based purely on how good they sounded when I tested them out and I figured a full stack in that good condition for £200 doesnt come along too often..especially where I live so I jumped on it. I cant find a whole lot of information on line about them though. Does anyone know anything about them? Cheers

[quote name='Steve Browning' timestamp='1498581311' post='3325684'] May I ask what kind of sound you are after? Could it be achievable with a change of strings (do you use rounds but your ideal sound is made using flats?). Maybe the wealth of knowledge here can guide you more specifically. I understand what you mean about 'better' gear. I think most of that is in the mind rather than actual. I remember feeling really cool when I bought my first Fender but I don't think I actually played any better. [/quote] When I say play "better" I mean by if you have the instrument that you want and that produces the sound you desire, you're going to feel more inspired and connected to it and the music. At least that's how I feel about it. I played some of my bands basslines on the Rebop/Markbass I got to try and it sounded phenomenal, simply worlds better than my own bass. What sound am I after...well thats a tough question really. Ultimately somewhere between Spector EuroLX/Rebop/Stingray HH/Wal territory. I absolutely love the tonal capabilities of these instruments. A Wal Mk 3 is the ultimate though way out of my price range so thats never going to happen. Stingray HH is quite pricy too but i'm not so much a fan of the styling either. The Rebop/EuroLX I love the tone of both, the NS syle is great and the price isnt out of the ballpark either....so thats why i'm going spector...or at least trying.

[quote name='subaudio' timestamp='1498570717' post='3325593'] Do you have a pa where you practice, do you use it for gigs? You could maybe sell your amp and buy a sansamp or similar and go straight into the pa if its more than just a vocal pa? [/quote] We dont, no. But we haven't started gigging yet either. We dont even know if we're going to gig. At the minute we just play music together for the sheer enjoyment of it. The band doesnt even have a name. At the moment though, gigging isn't high on our agenda. I actually have a Darkglass B7K on my pedalboard (a gift which done INCREDIBLE things for my tone) so going direct into a PA is always an option if a PA becomes available. [quote name='mcnach' timestamp='1498572412' post='3325606'] And that's the thing, I think: it's easy to fool ourselves into thinking that throwing money at something will make us happier and better... and to some extent it may make us happier, but it won't be a significant change in any way. So, I'd aim to use nicer/better gear, but I would not get too worried about it or compromise my budget for other interesting things in life just to buy a new bass or amp. [/quote] When I first decided to start learning the bass 3 years ago, I was hearing a sound from certain bands I was listening to which made me think "I want to make music/sounds like that" and 3 years down the line, although I am getting better all the time, I still am not near "that" sound, and that is pretty much due to my gear. I think there comes a time when you are improving on an instrument that you want the gear to match your increasing ability to use it and to be able to reproduce the sounds and music we have inside our heads. A bass is a tool to do a job at the end of the day and you need the right tool for the right job. I have a Tool which does the job, but not how I want it to be done. I may stumble upon a cheaper bass which has that sound i'm looking for while i'm saving, and if I do that would be great, but ive not found it yet. I still do have a desire to own a quality instrument though. I live a pretty frugal and minimal life. I dont actually own a lot of things and the few quality things I do own, all serve a purpose. Like many, I would see a quality instrument as an investment, not just within the instrument itself, but also in myself. [quote name='Monkey Steve' timestamp='1498575162' post='3325626'] clearly an amp that doesn't work properly is an issue, but +1 for all the suggestions about eq. Rather than focusing on what you can't afford, how about focusing on what you can do? If the amp really is a big problem then Subaudio's suggestion of DIing might be the way to go, at least until you can get a better rig. If the amp makes a noise, just not a good noise, then maybe a cheap eq pedal can help, or upgrading the pickups, etc, In my own case (and sorry to bring a guitar story to a bass forum *hangs head in shame*) I really wanted a Mesa Boogie for a band I was playing guitar in but couldn't get anywhere near affording one and was stuck with an old Marshall from the '70's. Lovely amp in many ways, but control over the eq was not a strong point. But what i could afford was a SansAmp that did a really quite good Mesa Boogie impression and that did me for some years. When i could eventually upgrade to a Boogie the difference was really noticeable to me...but not to the rest of the band and the crowd never seemed to notice. get creative with what you can do to fix things, until you can afford the gear you really want. [/quote] I looked into upgrading the pickups in my cort, other pedals I could try and use to get that tone I want etc.....and it all just seems like a waste of time and money. Money I could better save towards getting the rig I know will give me that sound I want, rather than screwing around with a substandard set up which i'm not entirely happy with. I wouldnt much care if the band/crowd didnt hear a difference if I got a new rig. All that matters to me is that if I myself can hear it

[quote name='la bam' timestamp='1498569900' post='3325586'] I used to think a better bass and amp would give me the great tone i was after. Truth is - it doesnt. A bigger understanding of eq did more for my sound than anything and cost £0. [/quote] EQ has a lot to be said for it of course. "Better bass and amp" is perhaps the wrong wording, "better" is kind of a subjective term anyway. The "right bass and amp" is probably a better way to describe it. If I want the tone produced by a Spector with a HH config, then that's what i'm going to have to get. I could try and emulate that with cheaper gear of course, but for me i'd rather have the real deal if possible. Different woods, body shapes, electronics, pickup configs and quality of build produce different tones and voices. If they didnt, well...there wouldnt be so many different options of bass available right?

[quote name='cheddatom' timestamp='1498568164' post='3325564'] That doesn't make any sense to me? Unless you're talking about the effect of playing in different rooms, which you will obviously suffer with even the fanciest gear [/quote] Nope in the same room where I practice. I think that's an issue with my amp though (which needs replaced asap, had it serviced and it made little difference). I've read elsewhere that quite a number of people had the same issue with this particular combo amp which was discontinued some time ago.

The Jazz bass takes it for me!

I kind of think my equipment is holding me back, not in terms of playability but in the kind of tone I want. I have my Cort set up well and yes, I can play just as well on that as I could play on a £6k Wal but the tone I get....its just not what I want. Also there's a lack of consistency of tone with my equipment. Some days it sounds pretty good, some days it sounds bloody awful which just adds to the "ugh" factor. It spills over into my band too. I know we'd sound so much better if I had the right tools for the job. When you cant get the sound you want from the gear you have, it does kind of rob you somewhat of enthusiasm. I'll keep playing and practising of course but I know that if I had the gear to produce the tone I want, i'd feel much more inspired and enjoy playing more. I tried a Rebop 5 through a little mark 500 not long ago and I was blown away by it. Not only by the tone and response (which was insanely good compared to my Cort/line6) but by the overall quality of the guitar and amp too. I thought this would get a mixed response, and that's fine. Maybe one day with enough practice I'll get to the point where I can make any bass sing but right now, I know which gear I need to produce the sound I want....[url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7jJnwEeiU0"]and I will get it.[/url] [quote name='Ashweb' timestamp='1498518246' post='3325258'] Good luck with your new business, what line are you going into, BTW? [/quote] Thanks man. I'm playing it close to my chest at this point as its quite a unique venture so I dont want to say....but its within the realms of health [quote name='Steve Browning' timestamp='1498546089' post='3325324'] I know that feeing only too well. I think one of the reasons I have the gear I do is because I have had to sell stuff, over the years, to make ends meet - not a pleasant experience. I know what it's like when th gig money buys a loaf of bread and not a new bass/amp. Very best of luck with the new venture. If you want any help with VAT then feel free to PM me (I am an ex-VAT man and now in charge of VAT at a company with a good few £billion turnover). It's not much but may save you a few quid as you start up. [/quote]. That's incredibly kind of you. Thank you very much. I will certainly keep that in mind!

I'm sure i'm not the only person on these forums who lives a somewhat financially restricted lifestyle. I'm sure i'm also not the only one amongst us monetarily challenged folks who battles with GAS on an almost daily basis. I dont want much in the way of a Bass...not really. A new Spector Euro LX or Rebop 5 (Cant decide) and a good model used amp and cab combo (markbass or GK) would probably do me for the rest of my days (happily I have all the pedals I need for the foreseeable future). There's no denying how much good quality instruments can improve not only our playing, but our overall sense of musicianship as a whole which in turn helps us to enjoy playing our music a whole lot more. As it is i'm currently stuck with an old Cort and a failing 400w line6 combo & i'm almost certain that having substandard equipment is holding me back somewhat in terms of musical progression and creative expression. I work full time at a minimum wage job and saving anything after paying all my bills etc is such a struggle. I try my hardest to save but inevitably something comes along which eats into any money I have saved. I go to a lot of small gigs and my mind boggles when I see everyday folks playing relatively high-end instruments. I dont feel envious however, if anything I feel respect for the effort these musicians have likely had to put in to pay for their highly prized gear. I've had enough of minimum wage jobs, of not being able to save anything remotely substantial and I've especially had enough of low-end gear so in light of that I'm trying to start my own business. I dont know if my business will work, or even if i'll get it off the ground but I pray to the old gods and the new that it will work. In the mean time i'll keep trying to save for that Spector and amp combo I desire. It may take me several years but i'm confident that i'll get there. I'm not so certain why I felt compelled to post this. I guess we all feel the pinch now and then. I see some outstanding high-end instruments being sold with incredible reluctance on the classifieds sometimes; "I dont want to sell it but my situation dictates that I must". I imagine that must be as tough as it gets, to finally own a dream bass and later, be forced to sell it on. To anyone else struggling with old, beat-up, cheap and unwieldy gear which sounds nothing like the tone you imagine in your head. Hang on in there, you're not the only one.

What is the difference, tonally speaking between the Euro LX and the Rebop? I do prefer an aggressive tone.

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1493202895' post='3286406'] It sounds a lot, but I'd definitely recommend trying before you buy. I was totally GASsing for an LX, but the demo cooled my heels a bit and made me love my Stingray a little bit more. There are no perfect basses (well - strictly speaking, our preferences aren't very stable), so it's better to be sure about what you can live with and what you can't before shelling out. What do you play now? [/quote] That's true and i'd like to try a rebop or a euro before I commit but thus far that seems impossible. If I do order one at least I can return it if I dont like it. At the moment i'm playing a [url="http://img.audiofanzine.com/images/u/product/normal/cort-c5z-46913.jpg"]Cort C5Z[/url]. It was my first 5 string bass. [quote name='Grahambythesea' timestamp='1493233094' post='3286820'] I like my Rebop Dlx 4 traded on this forum. Nice and light and I don't get neck dive! Never tried the 5 but I have a Spectorcore 5 fretless that plays like a dream. [/quote] Thanks man [quote name='Paulhauser' timestamp='1493280636' post='3287036'] There is a Euro5LX in the classifieds (no affiliation) You will not get a better deal than that regarding price/value. If you buy this your are set for life really. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/304346-2016-spector-euro-5lx/"]http://basschat.co.u...ector-euro-5lx/[/url] I had the very same bass (2016, red) and sold only because I got a US NS-5XL. Euro's have always been really solid and good basses but lately they have even upped the ante especially with the finish. [/quote] That looks great but I dont have the cash to hand which is why i'm going to have to go the finance route to pay for it. Thanks anyway! [quote name='Ed_S' timestamp='1493281376' post='3287045'] I recently picked up a second hand Rebop 5 with Aguilar DCBs and have been practising and rehearsing with it pretty much exclusively for a month or so now with a new project that's just getting going. Happy to report I'm a convert to the point of trading my Stingray 5 to finance a second Rebop 5 with EMGs so I have a pair for eventual gigging. The neck has a much more pleasing profile to me than the Ray, and the ability to have slightly thinner strings over a slightly longer scale suits my preferences too. The pots with no centre detents are a bit irritating because by the time you've carried it any distance in a gig bag they'll have moved and you can't just think "put it all back to centre and back-off the bass a bit" for example. Oh, and the bridge is strange to set up until you get used to it. Neither are deal-breakers, though; the preamp is very capable and the bridge seems solid when you get it how you want it. I wondered about the strap button location, and whilst you could move it round I'd say try it where it is. Granted, I don't seem to be suffering with neck-dive on mine and all I use is a fairly standard 3" black woven polyester strap, but the position of the rear strap button seems to shunt the playing position of the whole instrument back a little, meaning that the headstock-end doesn't seem so far away, which I think maybe makes the 35" scale a little more comfortable. All I can say is that 3 hours of standing whilst holding and playing the Rebop 5 at rehearsals isn't hurting my dodgy neck/shoulder at all and that's quite a result. The only possible issue so far is that my second-hand bass arrived with some small lacquer cracks radiating away from the corners of the neck pocket (front and back), and sadly my first attempt at the new one arrived with a chunk of the finish actually split away from the surface between the neck pocket and the neck pickup rout. The second-hand one doesn't worry me and the new one is being swapped, but hopefully the combination of thin body and deep neck pocket isn't overly prone to such damage. [/quote] Thanks dude. The strap I typically use is a 4" wide leather one. I use it "shiny" side down though because I move my bass around a lot while I play. Suede-side ends up pulling my shirt around all over the place and makes me uncomfortable. I guess i'd just have to try one and see. Some get dive and some dont, i guess theres a few factors coming into play with that. [quote name='ead' timestamp='1493397678' post='3288101'] Here's one on Evilbay in Lytham St Annes: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Spector-Rebop-5-string-deluxe-bass-/192163054177?hash=item2cbdcf8261:g:5fYAAOSwtZJY937t"]http://www.ebay.co.u...fYAAOSwtZJY937t[/url] Maybe worth a try and haggling. [/quote] Again, I'll have to get the bass on finance as I dont have that kind of money available to me in a one-er. Thanks though

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1493189817' post='3286255'] There are a couple of Spector 5ers in Promenade Music in Morecambe if that helps (no Rebops though). [/quote] Thanks man. Handy to know but 180 mile round trip might be a bit much just to try one out.

[quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1493153041' post='3286147'] Personally? Yes. It felt and sounded like a much better instrument. Price tag reflects this of course! [/quote] Of course, thanks. There are Euro LXs available for around the price point of the Rebop I want but i'm not a fan of any of the colourways I have found so far.

[quote name='cetera' timestamp='1493128421' post='3285854'] Spector customer service is the best.... bar none! If you need to email PJ at their NY headquarters he will get back to you asap and is super helpful. With a Spector you are also joining a group of loyal and passionate owners/players who will also help you wherever & whenever they can I have owned a ReBop4 (& hope to own one again). Great tight and focused sounding bass that will punch through any mix with ease...... My only criticism is the neck dive due to the small and light body. A good, gripping strap can tackle this to some extent though.... If that is too much of a risk then I can heartily recommend saving a little more and going for the stunning EuroLX range. Probably the best basses of their ilk (build/sound/comfort) at that price point! Hope that helps! [/quote] Thanks very much! That helps a lot actually. About the neck dive, could that not be remedied somewhat by moving the rear strap button to where they re typically placed? I could have this done professionally as a friend of mine is a luthier who actually used to work at Overwater. I dont think I could stretch to an LX. Even going for the rebop is a stretch for me if I go ahead with it :/ [quote name='radiophonic' timestamp='1493130142' post='3285878'] I demoed a Rebop 4 next to a Euro LX and found neck dive to be an issue with the Rebop. Not everyone is bothered by it though. The Spector necks are mostly pretty chunky front-to-back. Personally, I thought the Euro was a considerably better instrument, both in terms of sound (deeper and more solid although similar overall) and balance. I only hesitated on the Euro because of the deep neck and I still need to try an Ian Hill signature for comparison. [/quote] Thanks man. Given you think the sound of the two was similar overall, do you think extra cost of the LX was worth it?

I'm considering purchasing a Spector Rebop 5 (euro), but my decision is based mostly from youtube videos and reviews i've read online in various places. There isnt anyone I know around where I live who plays spector basses and the few music shops around here (western lake district) do not stock them, so i'm unable to try before I buy. I'm having to go the finance route as money is tight and saving is almost impossible (i'd buy used if I could save), but I need a new bass asap as the old Cort I am currently playing just doesn't work for me due to the tone and tight string spacing. Is there anything I should know before I commit? How is the neck shape? I read that some people have problems with neck-dive? Whats the B string like? Whats the customer service like if I have any problems with it? Throw any and all information at me

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1486111039' post='3229247'] Edit - you could always move it on if you didn't like it - I'd happily head up the queue! [/quote] Duly noted matey

Awesome, thanks for the help guys. I've messaged the seller so hopefully he still has it and I can go pick it up soon. In regards to cabs, will any 4 ohm cab work with this amp? I see a lot of Hartke XL cabs come up for sale. Would they do the trick?

There's one of these for sale locally, in good, ungigged shape, for £80. Does anyone know much about them? Is it worth £80? What cabs could I pair up with this head? I've only used combos up until now but I would like to venture into amp & cab territory, though I am on a tight budget. Cheers!

[quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1475834924' post='3149055'] Can you give us the dimensions of the current pickups ? [/quote] Sure can! 4 inches in length, 1.5 inches wide. [quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1475836022' post='3149063'] OK, so you, could also check the distance from the string to the pup. Otherwise it would be down to changing the pups. Assuming you'd like to keep the bass looking as it is as much as possible, the choice of pups will be ruled a lot by the size of the rout for them. Do you know the size of the pups? I see the Artisan is now sold with Bartolini pups. Have you looked into if you can get Barts that would fit? Edit - got beaten to it while I was on the phone. [/quote] Distance between the pickup and strings is set right, also something else I had previously experimented with. I probably should have posted the fixes I had already tried in my first post. Doh. I havent looked at any pickups at all, mostly because I dont know a whole lot about which brands are recommended. Sorry for the late reply, i've been away for a few days. Cheers

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1475832101' post='3149019'] If the tone of a bass is dead I'd look at the strings first before the pups. Have you tried any different strings? If you're on a budget, then [url="http://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/strings-c1/bass-guitar-strings-sets-c34/legacy-4-string-nickel-roundwound-45-105-long-scale-bass-guitar-strings-p972/s1014?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=legacy-4-string-nickel-roundwound-45-105-long-scale-bass-guitar-string-legacybass45&utm_campaign=product%2Blisting%2Bads&gclid=CjwKEAjwj92_BRDQ-NuC98SZkWYSJACWmjhlu4D5kIjwOaYrjFWBJT_mHPOfTlS3oboUkjdfFcSMZRoCOv7w_wcB"]Legacy strings from Rotosound[/url] are a good, low-cost string to try out. [/quote] Yep, I change my strings as needed. My preferred strings being D'addario pro steels. Cheers.

I play a [url="http://imgur.com/aBHEzW2"]Cort C5Z Artisan[/url] and while I LOVE the bass itself (right shape, weight, string spacing for me), i feel the tone is sorely lacking in comparison to when I play on newer model basses in shops etc. They also feel/sound somewhat dead and unresponsive. I am on a bit of a budget and cannot afford a new bass so upgrading the pups appears to me to be the way forward to get a better tone and response. The installed standard pickups appear to be Mighty Mite DXH 1-5F-and-DXH 1-5R, though I can't find out a whole lot more about them. What new pickups would you recommend? I can afford to spend up to around £150 - £200. I dont quite know enough bass eq terminology to describe the tone I want to aim for. I like a modern, metal/rock bass tone as that's the style of music I mostly play, (Tool, Soen, Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Incubus, Enter Shikari, Glassjaw, Karnivool etc & so fourth). I also play punk, ska, reggae and dub. I have a B7K Ultra, which worked wonders for my tone but I feel I could get so much more from this bass with the right pups. Please help! Cheers

[quote name='Twincam' timestamp='1468291744' post='3089886'] There is no way I would spend any more than 500 quid on something I would not be able to test out (bass wise). Look locally for similar used basses and try them out if possible. Most bass players won't mind you going and having a play. Or maybe there is a friendly bc member that you can go see or maybe even ask if they would come to you. You never know. [/quote] I have tried looking locally to see if anyone plays either of these, but I've had no luck thus far. I live in the lake district (i.e the middle of nowhere) and bass players seem to be spread pretty thinly here! [quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1468340306' post='3090291'] Have you considered the Warwick Corvette $$? it is suggested it is a Warwick take on a Stingray, I actually traded a Stingray for mine because I couldn't take to a Stingray sound and thus far have kept the Warwick, so I assume it doesn't sound exactly like a Stingray! I do find everytime I play it everything seems to end up a little funky! It could be the prefect bass? If you are near Northampton I have a 4 string you are welcome to try Rog [/quote] I have considered the $$ actually but the look of the thing puts me off somewhat. The tone and versatility it offers are good, though it seems to be lacking in comparison to the stingray to my ears. [quote name='Kev' timestamp='1468358966' post='3090470'][list] [*]I would choose neither. For £1,000 I would wait and buy a Thumb NT 5 when one pops up. Different class of instrument to the Bolt-On, and quite exceptional. A thumb has a very baked in tone due to the pickup placement, much as a Stingray has its own backed in tone. Very different, entirely dependent on what you want. For me, the Thumb NT is of a much higher build quality than the Stingray. The Bolt-On is comparable, but IMO still better due to the quality of the woods used. The BO is typically uncomfortable on a strap, plenty of neck dive on a lot of examples. The NT balances much better. I have only tried one Stingray 5 and it balanced perfectly. With Warwicks, I would look at instruments 1992 and older, or 2009 and newer. Best experience I have had with Warwicks (I have owned over a dozen) have been built during these periods. [*]There is no 'better' B, but I am not sure what your definition is. They are both 34" scale instruments, so a lot will be dependant on the setup. [*]Tons of basses, little merit in suggesting many, but the first that comes to mind is a Dingwall Combustion. [/list] You need to try some basses out. Stingrays and Warwicks are worlds apart, being active is about the only thing they have in common. It is a buyers market out there, I would wait for an NT thumb if you were insistent on buying without trying, unless you find a BO for the £600-£700 mark (come up more often than you would think). [/quote] Thanks! I thought the same thing about the comparitive build quaility. The warwicks do seem to offer much more for your money (3d bridge, just-a-nut adjustable nut, invisible frets etc) I read that 2009 onwards thumbs have the much slimmer neck profile but i've not seen NT or the BO offered at those prices anywhere...yet. I'll keep my eyes open. I considered the Dingwall Combustion actually. The tone is monsterous and the darkglass electronics in the Nolly Getgood version are most desireable....but the NG2's look awful. They put me in mind of badly done [url="https://mindovermotor.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/ricer_civic_2.jpg?w=576&h=432"]"ricer"[/url] cars and i've not seen a standard combustion for sale that appeals to me. [quote name='Chiliwailer' timestamp='1468434928' post='3090947'] I've very recently switched from a 1989 Thumb 5 NT to a 2014 Stingray 5 HH. Both of mine are great quality with good B strings. I liked the Thumb a lot and only sold it due to the body being too small for me. Though I was genuinely gutted to let it go, it just so happens that the Stingray is a way better option all round for my tastes as it's more comfortable to play (both neck and body) and the tone variations are very useful. I get to use 3 out of 5 of the pickup selections regularly and the other 2 every now and again. With the Thumb, I only ever got on with the neck pickup. Of course, this is all down to taste but as you were asking... [/quote] Cheers! I dont think the body size and comparitive neck length on the Thumb would be so much of a problem for me. I have a very similar playing position to [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXBmxCJED_M"]Ryan Martinie[/url] with the bass sitting off to my right hip, so I think a thumb would be a very comfortable bass for me. I could be wrong however but I could just sell it if that's the case. I know the stingray is rather large in comparison...but dat tone. Would you say the Stingray is more versatile? I see people extolling the versatility of the thumb all over the place. Thanks to everyone else who has replied too. All of this information is really a great help to me

In the not too distant future I will have about £1000+ to throw at a Bass. New or used is unimportant to me as long as I get a bass that sounds amazing and is comfortable to play. Right now I'm somewhat torn between a Stingray 5 HH and a Thumb BO (both used of course). My research tells me these basses are worlds apart in both tone and ergonomics...and I love the sound of them both though I prefer the style of the the Thumb BO. Tone-wise I think i'm leaning more towards the Stingray at the moment. I play mostly metal and [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQSiSqCiaDM"]heavy post-rock[/url] though I am beginning to branch out into funk, reggae/dub, ska and a bit of jazz. Which would you choose from the two I am torn between and why? Which of the two has the better b string in your opinion? Are there any other basses you would consider with the amount of money I have? There's no music shops that carry these instuments anywhere remotely near me so trying them out before I buy is off the agenda. Cheers!

Well this post certainly blew up. I didn't expect that many responses haha. There's some really helpful advice here so thanks to all who posted. I'll keep practicing!

I really struggle to find the correct notes. Maybe its because i'm self taught and dont fully understand the basses place within music but still, working out basslines by ear seems to be a skill I am lacking in. How do you guys do it? I find it especially hard in the lower register. How do you figure out if a band is using alternate tunings if there are no tabs or whatever out there? I've been trying to put the bass part together for [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFJSM3kvBQ4"]this song[/url] for the last 3 days to no avail...it's especially vexing because it sounds pretty simplistic to me and well within my skill level to play. Cheers!