What bass am I looking for?

[uOpt]

I want a "modern" bass. Something 5-string with 2 soapbars, something like most modern metal bands use. So far my attempts have always led me back to plain Precision basses but I think it is fixable with just the right bass.

I'm trading out my Bongo, which was supposed to be such a bass. I don't like the neodymium pickups, I don't like the sound scheme which has parallel humbuckers and then making sound with the EQ, except the EQ is a plain 4-band, not a 2nd order LPF or anything that would give a resonance peak back. My Warwick is good but I want a regular bigass alder body. And no 24 frets.

So I guess the laundry list is:

• Fenderish with a big alder body and 21-22 frets maple neck, or equivalent neck-through
• 2 narrow humbuckers, soapbars or maybe Jazz size
• The humbuckers should have their own resonance peak, that means coils that would work well in passive in series, even if you normally use them with a preamp. UNLESS there is a true electronic 2nd order LPF making a resonance peak.
• I like ebony boards
• Not a fan of satin finishes and no bulletproof plastic paint please

Any suggestions? I like basses in the price range of $800-$1200 used.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Damn I can see why you asked.

Fender Dimension 5 string USA or Jazz Deluxe USA?
G&L M-2500 or L-2500 USA?
Lakland Skyline 55-60?

Most 5 strings I know go for the throat with 24 frets or are something other than alder and/or have a small body to keep it lighter. That price range too, any midrange ones usually just throw EMGs in them.

Ibanez always shoots for 24 frets, rarely see alder there either. You have a Warwick, you're moving from an Ernie Ball.

Warmoth out of the question?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

+1 for the Fender Dimension

Fender signature Jazz Bass models, perhaps? Either the Roscoe Beck or the Victor Bailey.

Ibanez Doug Wimbish, maybe.

Pickup-wise, why not have something that is most of the way there so that mega-EQ is unnecessary? (Blackouts bass humbuckers are ferocious.) The EQ that you propose sounds like something Alembic would do.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Maybe I should just take my Fernandez Jazz bass body and route it for soapbars. Only problem is that the regular Jazz position is a bit close to the neck for my taste, and moving it gets it to interfere with the pickguard.

Warmoth didn't really have a body shape I liked, except the Telecaster. I could take my MIJ 51 model body and change that to 2x soapbar but then I have ash, and 4 strings.

Decisions, decisions...

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Get to a Fender dealership and test drive the Dimension. (Absolutely no obligation to purchase.) The four stringer manages to combine the modern feel of the American Standard range with a sound pallette that encompasses P, J and 'Ray, depending on how you set the two volume pots.



Alternatively, change the pickups in the EBMM Bongo.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Hmmmm. That thing has a AmStd style satin finish on the back? Where is it made?

I just "signed" a trade for the Bongo and will get a Bongo single H with more strings, so Bongo isn't out. I hope the 6 string with the pickup in the correct position does better for me, and the meatier neck might make good for the goofy 24 fret mount.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

The Fender Dimension IV that I tried yesterday was definitely Made In USA. As were the 2014-spec Am Std and AVRI '63 Precision models that I also pawed.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Does it have gloss or satin finish on the neck?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

When I played one last, I remembered gloss.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Pick up a Fender Dimension Bass, shut your eyes and your fretting hand will convince you that the bass is an American Standard model.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Pick up a Fender Dimension Bass, shut your eyes and your fretting hand will convince you that the bass is an American Standard model.

Oh. Well it's not for me then.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Yeah, Fender website says handrubbed oil. Dunno why I thought gloss. Looked pretty shiny and felt pretty smooth. Not like grainy smooth but plasticy smooth.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Tru Oil is fine. I just don't like the satin paint on AmStd.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Then you should be fine with an amstd or amdlx Dimension since they use the oil.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

I'm a huge fan of the Bongo bass actually. And 24 frets is preferred for me.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

I'm a huge fan of the Bongo bass actually.

Which version do you have?

I am aware that some players dislike the styling whilst others grumble about some of the materials used. It always seemed to me that the Bongo was an attempt to break away from the Stingray, Sabre and Sterling.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Then you should be fine with an amstd or amdlx Dimension since they use the oil.

When did AmStd switch from satin paint to TruOil?

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

When did AmStd switch from satin paint to TruOil?

No idea, just what the site says the finish on it is on both USA models. I remember it feeling and looking different than typical satin stuff.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

I dislike the bongo bass because it looks like a toilet seat.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What bass am I looking for?

Wait until you reach my age. The sight of something that looks like a toilet seat will be mightily reassuring.