First bass?

[Lazarus1140]

Re: First bass?

There has only been one mention of the Ibanez SR Series. Can anyone else comment on them? I am specifically looking at a SR 300M. An online retailer has a good price on them right now and I just need something for recording at home ... hopefully something under $300 that I won't feel the need to modify right away.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: First bass?

The SR300M is excellent value for money, comfortable to wear for long periods of time and is capable of a fairly wide range of sounds. It would be fine as a home recording instrument. What it will not be fine for is modification. The wide "soapbar" pickups are a non-standard size. It could prove tricky to find any common replacement pickup that fits directly into the routs. This is a pity because one thing that the SR300 lacks is that special killer sound that outweighs any of its shortcomings.

If you can stretch your budget farther up the Ibanez SR/SRX price range, you will not be disappointed.

*

I realise that this thread must look like an international conspiracy to promote the Squier Vintage Modified series but they really are worth grabbing - regardless of price.

I am fortunate to own some very expensive bass guitars as well as some fairly inexpensive ones. Most of the qualities that I seek in the expensive stuff are to be found in the Squier VM range.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: First bass?

I'll go play a few.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: First bass?

It's a tough decision.

I "played" many this evening.

The Squire Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass sounds good but the electronics were a bit glitchy on two of the four I played. The sound is great, but I was hoping to stay away from battery whatevers. There is a boost circuit. Still, they are great guitars.

The SR300 I played had excellent fit and finish, but the electronics were also somewhat lacking in quality. The 3 band EQ seems a little gimmicky ... just give me a master tone control that works. The real drawback, though, was that the passive pickups were too weak. Aside from that the fretboard didn't work for me. I can't explain why ... I just didn't care for it. On the flip side of that, the neck itself was awesome ... great contour and very solid feeling.

There were no Squire Vintage Modified Precision basses. Those, and the VM Jazz basses are right at $100 more expensive than the VM Jaguars, the Ibanez SR300, and the Yamaha RBX 170 EW which was really good.

Contrary to one very negative review online the Yamaha was excellent in every way and had the fullest, loudest passive pickups of the few guitars I played which were so equipped. Everything worked well and the control layout is simple as it is on the Squire VM Precision and Jazz models. The only bummer is that the one in the store was a beautiful natural finish and those online are only available in blue, black, and burst.

I may have to flip a coin.

VM Jaguar - best body shape, comfortable neck, great sound, but "active boost"
Yamaha RBX - best sounding passive pickups, best overall fit and finish, 24 frets, but funkadelic shape (and seemed heavier than the Squires).
VM Precision - + $100


OK. I am eliminating the $299 Precision.

Holy Krap! I don't have a coin.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: First bass?

RBX - heads
VM Jag - Tails

 

[BlueTalon]

Re: First bass?

Yamaha is one of those underrated companies that offer great value in a budget bass. I would say that if it felt good to you and you like the "funkadelic shape", then go for it.

FYI, I found an SR305 in a pawn shop for $100. I put new hardware on it and gigged with it for a year. I like it a lot, and it's light (nice, but not a requirement for me), but if I use it for anything more, I'm probably going to put some new pickups in it.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: First bass?

I "played" many this evening.

Sensible approach, sir.

The Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass sounds good but the electronics were a bit glitchy on two of the four I played. The sound is great, but I was hoping to stay away from battery whatevers. There is a boost circuit. Still, they are great guitars.

If the only aspect putting you off these instruments is their cheapskate active electronics, buy a pre-owned example and modify the electronics. e.g. Remove the booster(s) from circuit. Upgrade to Quarter Pound P and STK stacked coil J pickups.

The SR300 I played had excellent fit and finish, but the electronics were also somewhat lacking in quality. The 3 band EQ seems a little gimmicky ... just give me a master tone control that works. The real drawback, though, was that the passive pickups were too weak. Aside from that, the fretboard didn't work for me. I can't explain why ... I just didn't care for it. On the flip side of that, the neck itself was awesome ... great contour and very solid feeling.

If you are unconvinced by any instrument, pass on it.

There were no Squier Vintage Modified Precision basses. Those and the VM Jazz basses, are right at $100 more expensive than the VM Jaguars, the Ibanez SR300, and the Yamaha RBX 170 EW which was really good.

This is precisely why the largely unsung Jaguar Bass is such a bargain. All of the best features of the two better known designs and for less money! I always fancied the Jaguar Bass H but this seems to have been discontinued. (I would have immediately slammed in a Blackouts for Bass humbucker and EQ.)

The Yamaha was excellent in every way and had the fullest, loudest passive pickups of the few guitars I played which were so equipped. Everything worked well and the control layout is simple as it is on the Squire VM Precision and Jazz models. The only bummer is that the one in the store was a beautiful natural finish and those online are only available in blue, black, and burst.

Tut, tut! Trying in-store then purchasing online. Naughty.

Two points here: Firstly, you would be doing both yourself and your dealer a favour by purchasing locally. Secondly, the plain wood headstock face of the RBX170 is normally the giveaway that it is the cheap model. With a natural finish, the plain wood seems "right" with the visible wood of the body. Additionally, letting the body wood show makes it obvious to anyone that it is a spread of solid pieces rather than ply.

Finally, check again whether the natural finish Yamaha RBX that you tried out was a 170 or the more expensive 270. The price difference would be worth paying for the superior machineheads and bridge, let alone the body finish.

 

[blueman335]

Re: First bass?

I realise that this thread must look like an international conspiracy to promote the Squier Vintage Modified series but they really are worth grabbing - regardless of price.

I am fortunate to own some very expensive bass guitars as well as some fairly inexpensive ones. Most of the qualities that I seek in the expensive stuff are to be found in the Squier VM range.

+1. They're good basses, also come 5 string and fretless. There's a lot to like.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: First bass?

The results of the coin flip (thank you Andrew Lamprecht) were unanimous in favor of the RBX, and its "Violin Burst" finish is very appealing. However, I purchased a black Squire Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass.

Both sounded excellent. Two things made me buck the opinion of the coin:

1. The Squire has a body shape that I prefer. At the end of the day, and if excessive alcohol is not involved, looks matter.
2. The online dealer's website indicated Basswood for the body. Yamaha's website said Alder, Agathis, or Nato. Seriously? I can't possibly know how all these woods compare sonically, but what I do know is that I don't know which one I auditioned, and I won't know which one I'm buying.

It is unfortunate that I was unwilling to support the brick and mortar business. The local economy puts the sales tax to good use, but my total purchase included some additional items bringing the tab to $680 before discount. I could not pass on $158 savings. When I purchase a high quality acoustic guitar or amplifier I will do so at a local (not chain) music store where my business will benefit an actual musician who will provide excellent service after the sale.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: First bass?

In your position, I would play the Squier bass for a while, just in case any issues arise that could oblige you to make a warranty claim.

Once you are content, consider disarming any active EQ and/or volume booster circuitry that you do not require. Simply the controls to either N vol., B vol., tone or master vol., balance, tone.

If the pickups have Duncan Designed printed on their covers, leave them alone … for now.

The other thing that I recommend changing is the bridge. The Gotoh 201B is the daddy. Lines up perfectly with the original screw holes.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: First bass?

The Gotoh 201B is the daddy. Lines up perfectly with the original screw holes.

Thanks. That is definitely the first thing I'll do.