Best Bass for Country

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 17 Apr 2004 10:49 am

David, I think you're probably right in most of what you say...except you're a bit off on the mileage to Montreal...it's just under 600 miles from Gaspe, Quebec.
My friend did have his Kustom amp overhauled the other year but I'm sure you are right about it being a relic in terms of new technology. I've got a feeling he won't hear about buying a new amp or cab though.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 17 Apr 2004 3:16 pm

Domage pour le amplis, mais c'est la vie.
Le cabinet sont le plus grand problem.
et voila.

600m is a bit of a truck, domage ausi!

Still, a bass is a hard thing to judge as a pig in a poke.
Any G&L, Ibanez or Musicman over $300 US will be a decent bass. Get active electronics.

I had an Ibanez Roadster bass I liked a lot, but I am not sure if it is still made.

In the $500-$650 range unless your playing jazz and soloing, you'll likely never to out grow it.

If you do see something on the net, email me and I can give a comment if you like.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 17 April 2004 at 04:18 PM.]

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 17 Apr 2004 7:11 pm

Fender,MusicMan and G&L are all from the genius of Leo Fender.Each have a few different features,but either one will please
you.

John Floyd · Post by **John Floyd** » 17 Apr 2004 7:50 pm

I've been thinking about a new bass also and I've come to the conclusion that nobody makes the perfect bass. Musicman pickups are best with the MM pickups from Seymour Duncan being the absolute best. I always liked the old Telecaster Hard ash body for its sustain and tone and the G&L L-2000 or Fender J Bass neck having the best feel.

So I'm gonna build mine, the parts are out there.

I just finished building my PeaTele, A maxed out Telecaster with a Peavey T-60 neck. The T-60 neck has great action and feel. I have a Hard, (not Swamp) ash body with Duncan pickups. This Frankenstein rig has the best feel and tone of any telecaster I've owned in 40 something years.

The best way is to build your own in my opinion.That way you get what you want.[This message was edited by John Floyd on 18 April 2004 at 08:31 AM.]

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 18 Apr 2004 3:40 am

Thanks for the offer of assistance David. The first thing I'll have to do is find out what his price range is. I've been looking at eBay and there are lots of used basses there. The non-USA Fenders are very reasonable in price. I insisted on a USA made Strat when I bought my guitar in '91 and I've not regretted it. But I don't think my friend is going to want to pay what a USA Fender bass is going for these days. I'll run all this stuff by him and see what his take is.

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 18 Apr 2004 4:03 am

For what it's worth, I have a reprint of an article that appeared in (I think) Guitar Player magazine by some famous bass player. He makes a very good case to buy a bass amp with 10" speakers and to stay away from the larger speakers, especially the 18" speakers. If anybody is seriously interested, I can probably mail you a copy, or maybe scan it and send it email or something. It is a very informative and interesting article. [This message was edited by George Kimery on 18 April 2004 at 05:05 AM.]

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Apr 2004 6:05 am

John F. If you want to try a good benchmark towards the perfect bass try a Fodera if you can run across one sometime.
It can out sustain almost any instrument around ceptn mebe a 8' grand piano.
http://www.fodera.com/
Some REALLY seriously pretty wood on this site.

I do most all gigs with a Hartke 2.5 bass w 2, 10"'rs with tweeter and 350w.
I don't want to be any louder nor carry any more.
It will stomp opn any bass drum, no more is needed.
Admitedly the low B string can push it a bit.

But again, I don't want any more stage volume, if more room volume is needed it goes from the PA.

I have a 100w w/15 amp/cab and only take it for tiny gigs because it's one piece, but I hate the sound.

Since you were looking on Ebay I did too.

This ESP ain't bad, I had EMG pickups in a Specter for years. 24 frets, looks confortable. Looks cool too, but that's secondary...
I have played a few ESP's not bad quailty.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3718109393&rd=1

This Ibanez seems alright also if you like the color. But the ESP I suspect is better. I did have an Ibanez defretted bass for years.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38080&item=3718598856&rd=1

Now this baby is the classic Hoffner Beatle Bass, not new or most modern electronics, down right retro,
but a classic collectors bass.

Not the most bottomy sound, but if you like Paul McCartneys sound then this is a cool old unit. I would definitly play out with it.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3718160404&rd=1

A decent Yamaha here. I prefer neck through the body basses, but then again Precision's are not.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33033&item=3718536493&rd=1

A good Washburn http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3718548419&rd=1

A very cool Tobias The best one ~I have seen on the list. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3717957315&rd=1

Finally this G & L, a very interesting bass, it looks kinda country too. But not cheap either. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38079&item=3718775075&rd=1

Nothing else grabbed me a bit.
But I doubt you would be unhappy with any of these... in principal.
It is Ebay I don't know the sellers nor the condition of the basses other than the pictures etc, etc.

If I wanted another bass it would be, in order, the Tobias, The G&L or the old Hofner.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 April 2004 at 07:47 AM.][This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 April 2004 at 09:27 AM.][This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 April 2004 at 09:28 AM.][This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 April 2004 at 09:29 AM.]

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 18 Apr 2004 7:38 am

I like the look of the Tobias too but it's U.S. shipping only. There's this Precision which can ship worldwide...wonder about that one? http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3718212414&category=64401
And what about this Mexican Precision in Pennsylvania? http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3718068038&category=64401

CrowBear Schmitt · Post by **CrowBear Schmitt** » 18 Apr 2004 7:43 am

since good country is retro maybe this baby will do ? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4713&item=3717255054&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 18 Apr 2004 8:19 am

I was just commenting on the basses themslves, not the deal per se.

The 51 reissue is no over seas,
but you pay more for it being a reissue
It is pretty. Would work just fine.

The black one in PA is pretty vanilla, no active EQ. Just a stock unit. Not terribly interesting for me ,but a working bass, no problem.

This one is a pretty trick Precision

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3718212414&category=64401

Lots of sounds with active EQ, double jazz pick ups and the P type also.
Interresting bridge too ; standard or thru the body stringing.

The pick guard reminds me of my old '63. P bass.

if you want a precision jump on this one.
If you don't get it for your budget, another will turn up.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 April 2004 at 09:23 AM.][This message was edited by David L. Donald on 18 April 2004 at 09:25 AM.]

Keith Murrow · Post by **Keith Murrow** » 18 Apr 2004 6:10 pm

..[This message was edited by Keith Murrow on 26 October 2004 at 04:43 PM.]

Roy Ayres · Post by **Roy Ayres** » 18 Apr 2004 7:59 pm

A true story about the Fender Precision Bass:

I worked for Fender in '60 and '61 as Director of String Instrument Development. At that time the P-Bass had been out of production for some time. The demand for the P-Bass was so high that the Marketing Department decided we should issue a re-release. It turned out that none of the tooling (such as body templates, etc.) could be found anywhere in the plant or the lab. So, the next step would have to be to dig out the plans and have new tooling made. Problem: the plans couldn't be found either. We had to scout around and find an old P-bass that we could buy, then disassemble it and have the draftsmen draw up a set of plans from which the tooling could be made. I'm sure Gene Fields remembers it because he was a technician there at that time and supervised most of the work. Jody Carver probably also remembers the re-issue.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 18 Apr 2004 11:27 pm

Passive electronics versus active electronics is a matter of personal preference.

I believe Carvin makes a bass with an active/passive switch that can be played either way.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 19 Apr 2004 1:40 am

The main issue with active electronics is the availability of more sounds. Passive will sound just as it sounds. Turn the treble up or down, bo more no less.

But active can be some help compensating for a poor amp, or getting a fatter, or more attacky sound. Not neccesary, but prefered for those reasons.

Same Ash is reputable as a dealer.

Roy I love that story, I had a '63 P bass right after it was reissued.
A guy bought is and 3 months later got an oil gig in Iran,
put it in his attic for 15 years, came back and put it on consignment in a music store..
I walked in an hour later and grabbed it.
I though the japanese copies were looking a bit better these days, went over to look and went ~HUH...YOW!!!
Mine, mine, mine, here's $20 will I go find more cash!

I had it for 15 years till a former friend, with serious problems, stole it to hock.
I do miss it still 10 years later.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 19 April 2004 at 02:46 AM.]

Keith Murrow · Post by **Keith Murrow** » 19 Apr 2004 6:22 am

..[This message was edited by Keith Murrow on 26 October 2004 at 04:44 PM.]

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 19 Apr 2004 3:09 pm

Not being a real bass player, I can't really comment on the active vs passive thing for bass. But I can comment on it for guitar.

I have four active guitars. 2 Music Man Sabers (one of which has been converted to a 12 string) and 2 guitars retrofitted with EMGs. The active guitars are all much louder, and brighter and have more bass response (when I dial up the bass) but they also tend to sound colder and more impersonal. When I want a warmer, more intimate sound, I use one of my passive guitars.

Several years ago, EMG made 3 prototype sets of D-10 steel guitar pickups. I saw, but never heard them, and don't know what happened to them. But I've always wondered what they sounded like.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 19 Apr 2004 7:02 pm

Largemouth.
You will want a boat, too.

Cody Johnson · Post by **Cody Johnson** » 19 Apr 2004 8:42 pm

I own an american deluxe precision. It is an active bass and has an additional humbucker along with the precision pickups. I can get any tone imaginable out of it. I play jazz, country, rock, and funk gigs with it rather frequently. No other bass has met my varied tonal demands better. I can get some thick and round bass that is unbeatable for country! The newer ones, I think, have a dual jazz pickup in place of the humbucker. Mine is a 99' model.

~Cody J.[This message was edited by Cody Johnson on 19 April 2004 at 09:44 PM.]

Rick McDuffie · Post by **Rick McDuffie** » 20 Apr 2004 5:26 am

Rickenbacker 4001 w/ Rotosounds and an old tube Ampeg SVT.

Rick Aiello · Post by **Rick Aiello** » 20 Apr 2004 8:54 am

Speakin' of Ricky basses ... we are fixin' to add these to our line-up ...

Jason's already got a waitin' list for them

------------------

www.horseshoemagnets.com

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 20 Apr 2004 11:47 am

Well apparently my buddy has been approached to buy a used Yamaha (mint) by someone local. Does Yamaha make any decent basses?

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 20 Apr 2004 2:52 pm

Bill, Yamaha does make some nice basses, there is a very nice 6 string down at my local guitar store here, I tried it it was very good.
It wouldn't beat my Fodera, but that's real close to impossible

Rick McD. That is my old rig you posted a 4001 and SVT.
Plus I had it stereo and had a Lab L5 on top of the SVT with a momentary switch.
Step on the switch and a screaming lead tone came out on top of my bass line. for punching hooks.
Ah them's was the days.

Well today wasn't bad either. I had a Brazillian bassist with a 26 fret 6 string playing with me on my 28 fret 6 string and a strong latin drummer for about 5 hours today.

I also played about 2 hours of steel with this great latin rhythm section. Felt like Chalker!

Guys who can dig going on C6 from
P5+7, to 6+7 to P5, hit a minor major 7,
drop to minor6, up to P5+6+7, P6 with Ab and so forth..
FUN day.[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 20 April 2004 at 03:57 PM.]