Need a good bass for recording

[Veddersound]

Hi

I don't know much about basses, but i need one for recording ballad and pop, which one could i buy between $300-$500

thanks!

[edhunt]

Do you play bass?

I am a guitar player mainly, and when I found myself needing a bass, I bought a D'Armond 6 string that has a 7 ply neck-through-body design, that sounds way better to my ears than my normal bass players American Fender Jaz bass. He likes it better also and usually playes mine over his. It cost me $350 used.

However, it did not sound nearly as good as a used Carvin and a Used Warwick that were $500 and $700 respectively. Both were 4 string basses. I wanted a 6 string and only had $300 to spend (don't we always go over budget:) )

Find a friend of yours that plays bass and take him/her with you to play all the basses you can get your hands on and get what ever sounds good to your ears.

Your best bet would be to find a bass with a good name (Carvin, Warwick, Fender, BC Rich, G&L) and buy it used.

Any bass players our there???

Edward

[michaelhoddy]

I haven't played all of them, but I've been fairly impressed with what Ibanez puts out in that price range, for the money. Clean, quiet, and pretty decent-sounding. Not really anything anyone is going to get really excited over, but well-constructed, useful instruments.

[Hynek]

I have a message for you that will hardly shock you - Go with Warwick.

You can even afford a new one which is called Rockbass. It is constructed the way you'd expect from Chinese little craftsmen. Poorly adjusted from the factory, not all screws really on their correct places but the sound will beat plenty of $2000 "instruments" with ease. You may also want to bypass the active electronics in it if you don't like the goofy hi-fi top end it adds to the sound. Exchange of pickups may also help. However, you will hear it on every note that the sound is firm to the core. The second harmonic won't overshadow the basic note as it is with the low notes on the fifth string on Musicmans, Fenders and G&Ls.

Used German made Warwick is the best thing you can invest in to improve the sound of your recordings.

It's still just my couple of cents, but I quite extensively tested all the instruments I talk here about. Four 5-str Stingrays, two 5-str Jazzes - nothing spoke as clear language as the Warwicks. I'm talking about 5-str basses cpecificially. 4-str Fender Jazz is an honest instrument without a doubt.

Actually it's a great place here to ask this question - Warwicks are made here while the others are made across the pool. Do you guys think the American instruments that reach European market are of lesser quality? Is it possible?

[lbanks]

Ballads and pop? Fender Precision, MIJ or MIA, TI flats.... least thats what I would use.:)

[drwho]

Ya know I'm an old Fender, Ibanez man and while wanting an
Ibanez SR3000 or the new SR900AM (both were on backorder,
I went ahead and bought a Schecter Studio 4 just last week.

I'll be dang'd if its not a really nice bass for $575
Plays like something that cost $1500
EMG hiZ and 18 volt circuit (2-9 volt batteries)

Also has neck thru the body.
I love it for the money honey!

drwho

[tom evans]

Am looking into a new bass. Have been recording guitar, but now am ready for the bass. Ive been told to watch out for some bass',some have a recording problem with 60 cycle hum -but was told warwick doesnt have this problem. Is this a worry I should watch out for or will I notice it at all. I will be recording most likely direct great river nv2 distressor to oo2 tom

[WillyT]

Don't forget Rickenbacker.

[edhunt]

60hz can be taken care of in many ways. Any thing with humbucking pickups will do better than single coils, but by changing the cables, using a direct box/pre that has a true ground lift, and things like that will really help take care of those kind of problems. If a Strat has never had the 60hz problem in your chain, then no Warwick should.

Edward

[panhead]

i play guitar, but have been know to sub. for a bass player in a pinch. with that i love love my p-bass and my G&L ( i love my G&L ), but i wouldn't hire me to play bass on one of my projects.

[Frugle]

anyone know of one for us left handed folks? :confused:

[panhead]

G&L

[BillyJack]

:classic: I like his G&L too !!!