citymariner Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I've got my MIA P Bass as my main and only bass! The other night whilst gigging it suddenly dawned on me, "What if I dropped it, broke it, swallowed it, lost it in another dimension..." It was an important gig where I would be unable to find a replacement quickly. I was going to buy a new watch (Stowa Flieger) but at £500+ notes I'll wait for the £ v Euro to be a bit better. [u][b]Are there any gems out there that are good value for above money? [/b][/u] [list] [*]I want something different to a P-Bass I think as I already own one. [*]I don't want fretless, I'd love one but not as a backup bass having not really played one before. [*]I'm not impartial to trying more strings. [*]I don't want any awkward uncomfortable shapes that look amazing but are an effort to hold let alone play! [*]No need for a case as I have one [*]Could be active or passive. My P is active with EMGs. [/list] So far I've considered: Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass 5 String - Andertons have it for £282 (I have £25 cash back and £10 in loyalty to collect) - I've heard they are really well made for the price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Shouldn't a "backup bass" be similar to the main one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citymariner Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 I see what you mean, maybe by back up, I actually mean another bass that I could use if my other one packs up... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 (edited) VM Jazz? I use one as a backup to my P Bass or my EBMM Stingray. Luckily I had it too, because I,ve had a string go on me once and a tuning peg snap whilst tuning between songs!!! Edited December 4, 2011 by Hobbayne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixdegrees Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 If it's a back up bass - stick to what you know and feels familiar. I've carried an Epiphone Thunderbird and an OLP 5 string Stingray as back up in the past but these are different beasts to my Fender Jazz. The Thunderbird was much longer than the Jazz, and I kept having to look down at my fretting hand. And also had to wear it lower (they only look good when low-slung). And the 5 just confused matters as they take time to adjust to if you're used to 4 stringers. Anything in the vast Squier VM range seems to be calling. And add the Matt Freeman model to that list maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squire5 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 My first choice would have been the VMJ5.Superb value for money if you're ready to take on a 5er as a backup.But hey,it's good to be versatile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 If it were my £300 I would go for a Westone Thunder IA or IIA and put the change towards my watch. Or (shameless plug alert) buy my genuine 'loft find' Washburn Scavenger, which I have almost certainly decided to part with. It plays like a P-Bass, sounds like a P-Bass (weighs as much as a P-Bass) but doesn't look like one. You'd have even more change to put to your watch, then! Or spend a bit on pimping it - hotter pups and a P-Retro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grand Wazoo Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 No recommendations from me because I am not you But... if I was you, I'd spend the cash on a lovely butterscotch Squier 50's style P bass, stick a duncan q/pounder in there and ftw! Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
citymariner Posted December 4, 2011 Author Share Posted December 4, 2011 Is there that much of difference between 4 and 5 stringers? Obviously I'll go in to a shop and try etc. Got to admit in trying to keep things similar yet having something slightly different the VM range does seem to be calling. My MIA is very similar to that Matt Freeman model although mine has a P/J pick up config and Kahler bridge - a little too similar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 [quote name='citymariner' timestamp='1323004164' post='1458111'] Is there that much of difference between 4 and 5 stringers? Obviously I'll go in to a shop and try etc. Got to admit in trying to keep things similar yet having something slightly different the VM range does seem to be calling. My MIA is very similar to that Matt Freeman model although mine has a P/J pick up config and Kahler bridge - a little too similar! [/quote] A lot of people find it really difficult to make the transition from four to five+ strings, but IME it was very straightforward. If I were you I'd probably skulk around the BC classifieds for a while and see what five strings pop up second hand. I'd go for variety rather than something very similar to your main bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deep Thought Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I think there's a lot of sense in having a similar bass to your main one. When my main bass was a US Precision, I bought a Mex Precision as backup. Dunno what they go for these days, but I still have mine, and really like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnFitzgerald Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 If it helps,, your suggestion for your backup is my main bass whilst I rebuild the Yamaha. I love it to bits. Had it, I think, 6 years now and to me it's fantastic. Actually, I might be talking b0077ocks. Mine is a Jazz five string deluxe active, I think. Whatever, they're the same money and worth £282 any day of the week. It's why I struggle to see much more value in any bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluRay Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1323003951' post='1458107'] If it were my £300 I would go for a Westone Thunder IA or IIA and put the change towards my watch. [/quote] +1. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 A secondhand one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 SGC Nanyo Bass Collection (the original Made In Japan series). In their hey-day these were £750 basses, well-designed and beautifully made. For the last 10 years they've sold second-hand for silly-little money. If you can get an SB320 in decent condition for less than £250, especially if it has the P/J configuration, just do it. You will be impressed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixdegrees Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 Regarding the 5 string option - I got myself a 5 string as a back up but found that the extra string and the closer string spacing took a while to get used to. Not ideal if you want a back up to grab mid-gig. Unless you use the B string as a thumb rest. And that defeats the object of having a fiver. But that's just me. Some people can switch back and forth with no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 CV Precision or Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawman Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 second hand G&L L-2000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I would go for a Squier or an Ibanez personally. Best budget basses going in my opinion. Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 [quote name='Deep Thought' timestamp='1323006062' post='1458145'] I think there's a lot of sense in having a similar bass to your main one. When my main bass was a US Precision, I bought a Mex Precision as backup. Dunno what they go for these days, but I still have mine, and really like it. [/quote] This would be my approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 [quote name='citymariner' timestamp='1323004164' post='1458111'] Got to admit in trying to keep things similar yet having something slightly different [/quote] In that case, you cant go far wrong with the G&L Tribute SB2. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=G%26L+SB2+tribute&_sacat=See-All-Categories"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=G%26L+SB2+tribute&_sacat=See-All-Categories[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 my Peavey T40 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiehoffmann Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 I honestly can't think of any better bass for this kind of money: [url="http://www.musicjunkie.co.uk/product/Yamaha-BB414X-Electric-Bass-Vintage-White"]http://www.musicjunkie.co.uk/product/Yamaha-BB414X-Electric-Bass-Vintage-White[/url] P/J configuration for a bit more versatility, certainly better built than a Mexican P... I tried one in a shop and it impressed me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve-bbb Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 for that amount beer tokens try a squier J and fit it with a pair of wizards and a gotoh bridge warning! youll prob end up using it as your main bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huwgarms Posted December 4, 2011 Share Posted December 4, 2011 my suggestion similar to lukes lol my peavey cirrus bxp 18v Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.