jazzbob Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 I have a 92 ('75 reissue) Fender MIJ Jazz Bass which is fine but really noisy electronically (if you can call the flimsy bits of old radio shack wiring in the back 'electronics') its less of a guitar and more of an aerial for picking up background radiation and amplifying it. I am going to line the pickup cavities etc but basically I want a bass I can just play and not have to faff about with. I also have relatively small hands and so I like the width of a jazz neck. I have been looking at the Stu Hamm Urge II as I have about £1500 tops for a new bass but it has the occasional duff review for the same thing, that horrible electronic buzz. Having said that I love the shape of a Fender Jazz and that particular guitar looks mighty fine especially in black. So before I get hypnotised by the Urge's looks (if not the slightly dodgy name) what else would you recommend for a good all rounder for under £1500? Do you have to spend a lot more for 'real quality' or can you get a rock solid, electronically quiet, good looking, narrow neck, no hassle bass for that price. And, if I am trying to get away from iffy wiring and noisy electtrics is there any sense in getting another mortgage and trying to pick up a classic original Jazz? Jazzbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugden Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 (edited) With no insult to fenders I would have thought with that kind of money asking someone like shuker, or ACG to build you a custom bass would get exactly what you want to your own specifications and to a alot better quality and some really nice electronics. Thats just me though I haven't personly played a stock bass I have prefered in quality to any custom built instrument for the same price. With an additional point being for the king of narrow necks the Ibanez SR range something like the SR1000 comes in around the £700 mark and they are very very nice basses my sister has one and I almost steal it every time I'm home. Plus you could just spend £200 and upgrade your own electronics and sheild your cavities. I personaly spent abit more on a custom but hell I'm a fool with money and a weakness for shiney ACG basses. Edited December 15, 2007 by Sugden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Well, in my opinion you should have a look at the Laklands on Ebay for approx £700, and check out the Basschat basses for sale section. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbob Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share Posted December 15, 2007 Just after I posted this I went to Jon's site, I think custom is the way to go, I'll check out ACG too, Thanks, Jazzbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzbob Posted December 15, 2007 Author Share Posted December 15, 2007 Nordy looks good, especially that black number! What do you know about their innards though, there are lots of p/up options that I don't quite understand, I'm after [u]silent[/u] with no dodgy earthing problems at all, ever... Jazzbob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damien1080 Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Pedulla Rapture- im never going to love a bass more than that:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted December 15, 2007 Share Posted December 15, 2007 Once you've played a Status bass, nothing else will do. Nuff said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elom Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Let's face it, we are in desperate need of another bassbash so that we can try out all these wonderful instruments in one place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha-Dave Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 [quote name='elom' post='104810' date='Dec 16 2007, 12:04 AM']Let's face it, we are in desperate need of another bassbash so that we can try out all these wonderful instruments in one place![/quote] +1 there's some excellent gear that need to be shown off/seen, and it's great to catch up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugden Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 +2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 I'd go for a used Sei, or a new ACG !! I have the Urge Mk1 and haven't had any problems with the electronics at all... I definately remember that you could buy the Fender Urge preamp, (although it wasn't cheap) maybe you could have that installed in a Sei or ACG.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Before you go diving in doing anything, check this item out on ebay 170177915599 Believe me, you will never, ever, ever, ever, want anything else (everything you do get will be compared to it!), and sonically ...... PERFECT...... everything cranked up full with the 18V electronics- nothing, nada, zip! No humm no annoying anything, just awesome tone and gut rumbling power.... And if you dont like it, I´ll buy it off you for what you paid.. Can you say better than that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_ferret Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 I would get a GB made for that money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 No sense in buying a vintage Fender if you want to get away from earth hum and dodgy electrics. Try something more modern: a Stingray, Warwick, G&L L2000. Lots of people swear by the Lakland jazzes here - maybe try one of those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman7 Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 (edited) [quote name='stingrayfan' post='104868' date='Dec 16 2007, 10:53 AM']No sense in buying a vintage Fender if you want to get away from earth hum and dodgy electrics. Try something more modern: a Stingray, Warwick, G&L L2000. Lots of people swear by the Lakland jazzes here - maybe try one of those.[/quote] Ed Straker says: "Check out the new prices on a new Modulus Flea, start at £1395. Colonel Foster says the finish and neck are out of this world..." Caption: (Colonel Foster) "Just imagine a Modulus neck with that groovy KLD pattern in the carbon fiber, Basslines MM pickup, Aguilar OBP-1, there isn't a bass like it and it's custom built to your spec by Modulus. Coool!" Edited December 16, 2007 by Bassman7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Custom i reckons. Altho if not custom it would be a warwick (corvette range) or a EBMM sterling. Id say both have necks that you SHOULD get on with Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Having been through the Fenders, MM's Warwicks etc etc, I now swear by Laklands. You can pick up a nice US Joe Osborn for that sort of money, or save yourself a few bob and try a Skyline. Best value for money bass on the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jebo1 Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 For £1500, I'd get a second hand musicman stingray and a Warwick Streamer. Two basses you will love forever! I'd also try out a few vintage jazz basses. A couple of mine hum a little bit, but they're also great players... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wil Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 If you want a traditional look with excellent built quality and sound, I'd personally recommend one of the retroactive range from Status, or the T bass reissue. The necks are phenomenal, as is the sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman7 Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 (edited) Caption: (Colonel Foster) "Just imagine a Modulus neck with that groovy KLD pattern in the carbon fiber, Basslines MM pickup, Aguilar OBP-1, there isn't a bass like it and it's custom built to your spec by Modulus. Coool!" [/quote] Caption: "Look at that cool KLD pattern with the carbon fiber layers, you won't find any other neck like it!" Edited December 16, 2007 by Bassman7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Well it's gotta be a Vigier, hasn't it ;0) P.s should have bass bash news soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dub_junkie Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 [quote name='jazzbob' post='104741' date='Dec 15 2007, 07:37 PM']So before I get hypnotised by the Urge's looks (if not the slightly dodgy name) what else would you recommend for a good all rounder for under £1500? Do you have to spend a lot more for 'real quality' or can you get a rock solid, electronically quiet, good looking, narrow neck, no hassle bass for that price.[/quote] ah,you'll be wanting a s/h Sterling then which will still leave you more than half your budget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedontcarebear Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 This thread seems to be people telling the bloke what their basses are! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 Hehe it does indeed! The problem is that for £1500 the options are so special, so custom and so tailored to the individual that it is hard to generalise. It might be better to give me some of the money to narrow down the options somewhat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nimrod Posted December 16, 2007 Share Posted December 16, 2007 My opinion would be that there is really no need to spend anywhere near £1500 to get a really excellent bass. Half that should suffice, leaving you the option of two basses, a bass and amp setup, or just some money ;-) Seriously though, ask yourself this, would even a £500 bass actually hold your playing, and your music back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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.