Buying Advice

[Theo]

Hi All

I am finally looking to invest in a bass that will hopeful last be for the rest of my life. My budget is around £1000 maximum. I had been looking at basses on youtube and thought I had my heart set on a Musicman stingray until I went to the shops to have a play and I was really blown away by the fender jazz and P basses.

If possible could I get some advice on the following questions[list]
[*]What other makes of basses would anyone recommend for my budget?
[*]What models of fender bass would people recommend? (Because there seems to be a lot. I think I played a American standard fender jazz bass and a 50's reissue p bass)
[*]Also it seems you can get some bargains second hand over the internet. What are peoples thoughts on buying an instrument without playing it first?
[/list]
Cheers

[Lozz196]

First off, try as many different makes as you can. As you`ve found out, your hands can often take a liking to something you may not have considered.

There are so many different types of Fender Jazz & Precision, the best is the one that suits you most. For me, it is the US Standard Precision, although I`m yet to play any Precision I don`t like.

Re buying instruments without seeing them - well if it`s an instrument you already know you like, then for me, I`m not too worried, but some absolutely won`t buy one unless they`ve tried it. Each to their own, we all have to go with what suits. What I wouldn`t do is take a punt on a make/model I had no previous experience of playing. My two main basses, I`ve bought both 2nd hand, unseen, and love them both, but already knew I liked both of these makes/models.

[Cygnus x-1]

I don't know what bass you should buy....but with that buget IMO you should try as many different basses as you can and then...have a good think. There's alot of good stuff in your price bracket.

Re second hand, you can get more or less anything with a grand and if you decide you don't like it you will probably recoupe most (if not all) your outlay. You would probably be pretty safe buying S/H on here, ie getting a good one.

[chris_b]

I played a bass for decades and thought I was going to be buried with it.

I haven't played that bass for 25 years. Other better basses came along.

Try as many basses as you can (at least a couple of dozen) and buy the best one; then start saving for the next one.

[ThomBassmonkey]

Try out basses that cost up to about £2,000, if one pops up here, there's a good chance (depending on bass) it'll be under £1,000 2nd hand.

[Theo]

Cheers for all your replies. I like the idea of trying basses out of my price range then buying it second hand. So everyone is in agreement that if a guitar is the same model it should sound the same second hand baring any damage. Wicked I will now start browsing the selling section of this forum. @Chris_b lol yeah I just keep saying for life to justify the cost to my self. There will always be bass gear you crave no matter what you have.

Edited July 16, 2012 by Theo

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Theo' timestamp='1342426285' post='1734494']
Cheers for all your replies. I like the idea of trying basses out of my price range then buying it second hand. So everyone is in agreement that if a guitar is the same model it should sound the same second hand baring any damage. Wicked I will now start browsing the selling section of this forum. @Chris_b lol yeah I just keep saying for life to justify the cost to my self. There will always be bass gear you crave no matter what you have.
[/quote]

similar, It will never be identical- fenders esp are very variable. There's a fender japanese jazz with nordstrand pickups for about £650 on there at the mo that I would buy if I had the money