Bassists, aid me!

[Vanguard_Ex]

So I've outgrown my old bass guitar and am looking for a new, better one. Can anyone tell me a good make that will put me anywhere between free and 200 pounds? (310 US dollars/235 Euros?) Go go go!

Extra info: My current bass is a Vintage Metal one, but I don't like it anymore. It was fine starting out but the shape is impractical, the noise is too metal-ish, and it looks a bit camp. I want something with a more indifferent look and more versatile sound.

<spoiler=Here is a picture>http://www.musicroom.com/Images/Catalogue/fullsize/VWR99HBF.jpg

That damn point on the right side digs into your thigh; there's no way to sit comfortably with the fucking thing.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I'm a guitar player myself but I hope you won't hold that against me. At that price, I would take a look at some of the Ibanez basses.

'Course not, thanks. Ibanez seems to be popping up quite a lot, might have to pry further.

 

[shadowelancer]

I managed to pick up my Squier Jazz Bass for around 400 dollars canadian

 

[viranimus]

Depends on your style.

Personally I play loud and aggressive metal with my bass lines overdubbed. One layer for clean one layer for distortion.

For a distorted, metal bass sound, I swear by BC rich. My 15 year old NJ series warlock is still my primary bass.

For classical, clean sound, you would prolly want something from ibanez or Fender.

Edit: you can get an entry level "Bronze" warlock bass for 250-300 USD

 

[Julianking93]

I'm a guitar player myself but I hope you won't hold that against me. At that price, I would take a look at some of the Ibanez basses.

I agree with Fargo. Ibanez makes great guitars and basses. Though, Epiphone makes nice basses too. And both are very versatile brands.

You can't go wrong ^-^

 

[stutheninja]

i've got a nice LTD from that price range, it works great even after 4 1/2 years.

 

[Julianking93]

Nah, Ibanez is better than epiphone, at least for basses. They're more versatile. When it comes to guitars it's a whole different matter, but epiphone basses have always seemed pretty bleh to me.

Although, Vanguard, it depends on what you play. For something like Foo Fighters or Radiohead, Epiphone basses are actually pretty good, so if that's your thang I would check those out too.

Wow, I just completely contradicted myself <.<

*slaps* Don't be a contradicting hypocrite! :3

Anyway, I see what you mean if you're wanting to play metal. Ibanez is awesome for that, which is why I have 2 Ibanez guitars, but for basses, I've found that epiphone and fender were quite versatile.

 

[dingles]

I wouldn't discount epiphones right out of the box. My friend got a viola a couple months ago. Reasonably priced, lightweight, warm sound, and very easy on the eyes. Not sure what genre you usually play, but if it's anything rock oriented (namely beetles), you have my recommendation

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I'm a guitar player myself but I hope you won't hold that against me. At that price, I would take a look at some of the Ibanez basses.

I agree with Fargo. Ibanez makes great guitars and basses. Though, Epiphone makes nice basses too. And both are very versatile brands.

You can't go wrong ^-^

Nah, Ibanez is better than epiphone, at least for basses. They're more versatile. When it comes to guitars it's a whole different matter, but epiphone basses have always seemed pretty bleh to me.

Although, Vanguard, it depends on what you play. For something like Foo Fighters or Radiohead, Epiphone basses are actually pretty good, so if that's your thang I would check those out too.

Wow, I just completely contradicted myself <.<

I'm quite a range when it comes to my thang...Arctic Monkeys, RATM, Enter Shikari...I guess I want something that can handle versatile, and something more than chugging metal bass :]

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I'm a guitar player myself but I hope you won't hold that against me. At that price, I would take a look at some of the Ibanez basses.

I agree with Fargo. Ibanez makes great guitars and basses. Though, Epiphone makes nice basses too. And both are very versatile brands.

You can't go wrong ^-^

Nah, Ibanez is better than epiphone, at least for basses. They're more versatile. When it comes to guitars it's a whole different matter, but epiphone basses have always seemed pretty bleh to me.

Although, Vanguard, it depends on what you play. For something like Foo Fighters or Radiohead, Epiphone basses are actually pretty good, so if that's your thang I would check those out too.

Wow, I just completely contradicted myself <.<

They tend to be a little more than £200 though... I would probably suggest an Ibanez or a Squier. There's a lot more choice around the £200 mark than you get with Epiphone.

 

[Julianking93]

I acknowledged my contradiction. That makes it totally okay, right?

Ibanez guitars have never done anything for me, with a few exceptions. They're very well-made and overall great guitars, but I just don't like the feel. But now you've brought up Fender I must go into full fanboy mode and tell everyone Fender are freakin' amazing and everyone should own even if they don't play music at all. It should just sit there in their room and exist.

Really? Hm... well, I can't agree with that. My personal favourite guitar I own right now is the Ibanez JTK2 [http://www.zzounds.com/item--IBAJTK2]. It plays a lot like a Fender Jag with more pickup options :3
But yes, Fender's are awesome and I'm currently saving up for a Tele :3

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

I have an Ibanez, and love it.

Try Ibanez.

Suggestion accepted, thank you.

 

[bad rider]

Whoops thought this post said racists, guess I'll just leave then.



[sub] Joke [/sub]

 

[EscapeGoat_v1legacy]

I've got an Aria bass, which is pretty good, and I managed to pick mine up for just under a hundred quid. However, I'm not sure whether its much of a step up from whatever you have. I've got a BC Rich as well, which I managed to get for a fair amount, but they do tend towards the "chugging metal bass" stereotype.

Other than that, the only other basses I've experience with using are Fender ones, and they can be fairly cheap and are pretty versatile, so I guess I'd recommend those. By the sounds of it, an Ibanez might be a better bet, but I avoid Ibanez instruments, so I couldn't comment.

 

[dragonslayer32]

You should get this badboy...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BC-Rich-WARLOCK-Bronze-Series-Electric-Bass-Guitar-/260695361533?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cb2a787fd

 

[AugustFall]

My bassist uses an ibanez gio, it's by no means a fantastic bass but it gets the job done. What's wrong with your current bass? If it's the sound then look at new amps.

 

[Enigmers]

I mostly play String Bass (in the school band), and they have a few Electric Basses as well. Out of those, I believe the Squier one was the best-sounding (It's a Squier MB Bass, but without the skull and crossbones.)

It's probably a lot cheaper than your budget though, so if you can spend more money that's probably a good idea.

 

[Jonluw]

I've got a Yamaha rbx374. I got it plus an Eden Nemesis amplifier for £500.

Granted, I haven't had any other basses, but I'm quite happy with it. It sounds good, and can create a decent variety of sounds. Rosewood fretboard and maple neck. I use roundwound strings. It has two active humbucker pickups, so remember to unplug the jack when you're not playing it, or else you'll drain the 9 volt battery quite quickly (The first time my battery died, I had no idea what had happened, and was terrified that I had broken my bass).
Here are some reviews. http://www.instrumentguide.com/basses/yamaha/rbx374/

Edit: Of course, you could always get a Fender Jazz bass. *drools*

Edit: The Yamaha rbx375 actually holds the third place on that top 10 budget basses [user]5-0[/user] posted here. http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/guitars/10-best-bass-guitars-under-300-226841/8#content
I don't know in what way the 375 is different from the 374, but they look almost exactly the same. Oh, wait, according to this article [http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?doc_id=97686] it might seem the only difference is that 375 is the five-string model. I should have guessed that.

Edit: My only complaint, really, to the rbx374, is that the knobs sometimes come loose, and have to be tightened with an alan-key. Not much of a bother, but when I feel one knob is loose, and I'm too lazy to tigthen it, I sort of feel like it might come of any minute.

 

[5-0]

Well, a bass-playing mate is after a Squier Jazz Bass. Also, the website musicradar did a user vote on the best bass under £300; the Epiphone Thunderbird came up on top. Here's the full list http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/guitars/10-best-bass-guitars-under-300-226841

It's a bloody good website. I recommend it.

 

[Ham_authority95]

So I've outgrown my old bass guitar and am looking for a new, better one. Can anyone tell me a good make that will put me anywhere between free and 200 pounds? (310 US dollars/235 Euros?) Go go go!

$310? Ibanez. No doubt about it.

I've been using an extremely cheap Ibanez bass since my first day playing the intrument, and it's always sounded decent. Plus, the action is really low, so it's easy on your fingers if they're small like mine.

Also, what's wrong with your current bass? Is it the sound? Because if it's the sound, you might want to just get a new amplifier...