New Bass advice please.

[andychap]

I think I will be upgrading my bass guitar this year. I have learnt with a Peavy Milestone III which I picked up second hand about a year ago.

So I am going to be looking for something similar to the Peavy for playablity/action but I would like something better quality and with a better tone. I am budgeting about £300 for this.

It won't be gigged just played at home and used for home recording.

If you can give me some ideas then I can start getting out there and trying them out.

Thanks.

[fretmeister]

The Peavey Millenium Series are very good as are the Ibanez in your price range.

Yamaha are always very good (Timmyo has a lovely 5 string for sale)

For that money you might (if you are lucky) find a Status Energy or Shark (wood neck - not the graph ones which are more expensive).

I am a complete Status fan boy and I've never seen a duff one.

[smokingbeagle]

Hmmm...if you like feel of the Peavey their Cirrus range are generally good and have through-necks, better electronics and hardware etc; you'd pick one up for less than three hundred. Also Yamaha basses are quite friendly-feeling, although wider necks than most Peaveys, I believe the range of basses from Nanyo (think they still call 'em 'Bass Collection', though I might be wrong) are back, although made in China rather than Japan now. This is mine:





but, to trot out a cliché, they don't make them like that anymore. Was thinking of getting rid a while back, before finances stabilised a bit, but if you want to make me an offer...

Ah, in fact this looks like the current model, and bang within budget:

http://www.fretmusic.co.uk/prodtype....ageHistory=cat

If you're not adverse to buying 'blind' (through ebay or whatever), these go for a song as no-one actively searches for them. Probably the main reason I've held onto mine (well, that and the fact that it's sparkley and has two P-type pups and active electronics, and hence kinda sounds like God with a temper).

[Gojirosan]

Don't overlook Gibson's Tobias range. Check Musicyo.

I adore my Tobias - a superb bass with exceptional active electronics.

[Basher]

I've got a Yamaha BB614 that I use for home recording:

I took a bass playing mate along when I was looking for them and he seemed very impressed by the quality/price. It's got a flexible P-J pickup combination and active EQ so that you can get all manner of other noises. (To be honest, I wish I'd got the passive one, just because I never really use the active EQ.)

They seem to be going for about £250 these days which is about £100 less than I paid a couple of years ago. Usual excellent Yamaha build quality. I've been very happy with mine.

[Gojirosan]

I've got a Yamaha BB614 that I use for home recording:

I love the Yam BBs - there's a bright orange one that is very special.

But the necks are too much for my tiny child-like hands. Chunkier than a Precision even!

I am restricted in my choice of basses by my tiny ickle hands.

Luckily my Tobias has a non-existently small neck, my Jazz is slim and comfy, my fretless is well proportioned and the OLP Baritone feels like a guitar!

[Sporky_McGuffin]

I would think £300 might well net you a Musicman SUB. That being about as close as one can get to a Stingray wthout buying a Stingray.

Stingrays being, of course, the best (looking) basses in the world. By some consderable margin.

[Basher]

I love the Yam BBs - there's a bright orange one that is very special.

But the necks are too much for my tiny child-like hands. Chunkier than a Precision even!

I am restricted in my choice of basses by my tiny ickle hands.

Luckily my Tobias has a non-existently small neck, my Jazz is slim and comfy, my fretless is well proportioned and the OLP Baritone feels like a guitar!

The Yamaha in the metalic orange colour reminds me of the Music Man "Bongo Bass" - I quite like the look of them too!

I didn't think the neck was too bad on the BB and I've not got particularly big hands.

I always think of Tobias as quite a high-end maker so if you can find one within the budget I can't see you going too far wrong.

I would think £300 might well net you a Musicman SUB.

I believe that the Music Man SUB is indeed a fine bass but I'd have thought that you'd be doing well to get a used one for £300 (maybe you might just sneak it).

[dasien01]

I love the fender jazz..i think you will too

[Sporky_McGuffin]

I believe that the Music Man SUB is indeed a fine bass but I'd have thought that you'd be doing well to get a used one for £300 (maybe you might just sneak it).

It would indeed take a spot of luck, but I have seen a couple go for that. Usually about £400 I think but £300 does happen.