• Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
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Topic: Time for a new bass

I've recently started playing bass with a band again. I need a new bass. My 1980 era Ovation Magnum is just too heavy for the two of three hour practice sessions. My back is wrecked every Thursday night.

I was looking for a short scale bass, but the only high quality short scale bass I've found is an Epiphone EB-0, which no one seems to have in stock locally for me to put my hands on it. I going a Fender Jaguar short scale, but it's out of my price range. Squire has started back up production of their version, so that's a possibility. Unfortunately production is limited and availability short.

So, I may just hit some pawn shops and see what they've got. I'd be allowed to play the blues on it then. 

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Probably Somewhere
  • Registered: 2010-12-09
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Re: Time for a new bass

What about the Gretsch?     

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
  • Posts: 5,704

Re: Time for a new bass

I have an ancient Wilson bass which I bought used back in the 70's. The previous owner must have worn a big cross as was the fashion ala Black Sabbath, due to the ruts where the cross must have been rubbing. I still enjoy playing it though my days of 3 hour sessions is past. I very nearly bought a violin bass in the Beatles exhibition in Liverpool, cost over £1000...good sense prevailed.

Good luck finding your ideal mate.     

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

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  • From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Re: Time for a new bass

I've got this really cool Fender Squire short scale bass that a good friend gave me a couple of years ago. I'd like to learn to play it some day, but it's not really getting any use. It would certainly be in better hands if you had it. Maybe we could work a trade? Of course, it might cost you a trip to Florida big_smile     

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
  • From: Perth
  • Registered: 2017-09-27
  • Posts: 1,453

Re: Time for a new bass

I've got a smaller short scale Hohner, which is great because it's small ....

http://neophytte.mine.nu/photo/2011-10-04-Hohner/images/Hohner-007.jpg

Cheers

Richard     

-[ Musician, writer, guitarist, singer ]-
Bandcamp     https://richardmortimer.bandcamp.com/follow_me
Discogs          https://www.discogs.com/release/29065579
YouTube         https://www.youtube.com/@RichardMortimerMusic
  • Zurf
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Re: Time for a new bass

topdown wrote:

I've got this really cool Fender Squire short scale bass that a good friend gave me a couple of years ago. I'd like to learn to play it some day, but it's not really getting any use. It would certainly be in better hands if you had it. Maybe we could work a trade? Of course, it might cost you a trip to Florida big_smile

That is a nice bass. There's still some available used, and they put it back into production. They put the Mustang back in production too, but I don't think it's as nice as the Jaguar.

Once giving up on short scale, I started looking at affordable regular basses. The first two I found - Gretsch If and Hoffner Club - are short scale. I tested a Gretsch last night. Still pretty heavy body and the stock strings are crap, but the bass itself is very nice. The Hoffner is a semi-hollow body, but the only place selling it I've found is Sweetwater. I want to put my hands on it even with a stories brand like Hoffner.     

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Time for a new bass

When I was hunting around for a bass early last year, I tried out an Ibanez SR500 which was almost too light for my liking. They're well under $1,000 and have those terrific Bartolini pickups in them. I ended up with an Epiphone Thunderbird, which I would definitely not recommend for light weight. It's as close to sounding like a Rickenbacker 4003 without a $2,000 price tag ... which was the sound I was looking for (love that Rickenbacker growl!).

Maybe try an Ibanez out ... I think you'll be please with how light they are, and how good they sound.     

  • Zurf
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Re: Time for a new bass

Tenement Funster wrote:

When I was hunting around for a bass early last year, I tried out an Ibanez SR500 which was almost too light for my liking. They're well under $1,000 and have those terrific Bartolini pickups in them. I ended up with an Epiphone Thunderbird, which I would definitely not recommend for light weight. It's as close to sounding like a Rickenbacker 4003 without a $2,000 price tag ... which was the sound I was looking for (love that Rickenbacker growl!).

Maybe try an Ibanez out ... I think you'll be please with how light they are, and how good they sound.

Thanks. I tried their short scale, Mikro, and didn't like it at all. But I bummed an Ibanez full size at the end of practice the other day and liked it very well. It was light!

Basses are kind of nice in that the low end basses are still often good instruments.     

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Perth
  • Registered: 2017-09-27
  • Posts: 1,453

Re: Time for a new bass

Have you considered a uke-bass?:

https://www.rondomusic.com/Hadean_UKB-23FH.html

(poor) Video of comparison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2mIMOuP0y0

Cheers     

-[ Musician, writer, guitarist, singer ]-
Bandcamp     https://richardmortimer.bandcamp.com/follow_me
Discogs          https://www.discogs.com/release/29065579
YouTube         https://www.youtube.com/@RichardMortimerMusic

10 Reply by Zurf (edited by Zurf 2019-07-30 11:08:15)

  • Zurf
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Re: Time for a new bass

neophytte wrote:

Have you considered a uke-bass?:

https://www.rondomusic.com/Hadean_UKB-23FH.html

(poor) Video of comparison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2mIMOuP0y0

Cheers

Not a uke bass, but Good Tone mcrobass. They're a little pricey. The uke basses don't have enough sustain, neither have I found one where the E string is picked up adequately, which makes them effectively just a three string bass. I didn't try Rondo, but did try Kala, Cordoba, and Luna. Luna was the stand-out, but still paled in comparison to Gold Tone's micro-bass with either 23 or 25 inch scale.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • Zurf
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Re: Time for a new bass

Current strong contender because of weight and adjustability of tone.   https://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-IBA-SR300E-LIST

I've given up on short scale since I play between fifth and 15th frets on bass most of the time anyway.

Other strong contenders are Musicman by Sterling (so nice of tone!). It sounds the way an electric bass ought to sound. There's only one pickup, but there's pretty good adjustment in the tone knobs.

And finally, the good old Squier Jazz bass - specifically the 70's vintage jazz bass. 

All three are in the $350 range (U.S. dollars).  It will be hard to choose between them.

But Topdawgz has got a P-bass style custom luthier unit for me to check out that I'm eager to try.

In the meanwhile, I now want a Fender Rumble 100 combo amp.  Again, it just sounds bassy.     

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Time for a new bass

That's a cool looking unit, Zurf ... and the Fender Rumble amps are quite decent for the price (I've had my 150 for a few years). I saw this one color Ibanez has for the SR300 called "Black Planet Matte" which is really eye catching:

https://www.pourlesmusiciens.com/medias/294/ibanez-sr300e-bpm-active-jat-large-145002.jpg     

  • Zurf
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Re: Time for a new bass

That is pretty.     

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude
  • From: Bellevue, WA
  • Registered: 2006-06-15
  • Posts: 3,336

Re: Time for a new bass

I have a Musicman Stingray (a.k.a. THUNDERSTICK!!!) that is perpetually for sale.

It's basically this one

https://www.samash.com/ernie-ball-music … 1dEALw_wcB

Except it has been well used.     

Someday we'll win this thing...

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