bass advice

[timiscott]

Thinking of getting a bass to record with. Squier vi or Fender Mustang... Any advice?

[fuzzking]

mustang

[timiscott]

MIJ Jag basses seem to cost the same used. Any thoughts on those?

[windmill]

MiJ bass have a range of sounds, parallel and series, also active and passive modes

The active circuit can generate a lot of noise so check that everything has been shielded.

[Beyer160]

The three basses you're asking about are totally different- I'd get thee to Banjo Mart and try them out. Unless your music specifically calls for a VI or short scale bass sound, I'd go with a "normal" 34" scale instrument like a P or J.

I have a MIJ Jaguar bass, and was actually cutting some demos with it yesterday. It's a fine instrument, after you shield the cavity and rewire it. MIJ electronics are uniformly awful, and this one had multiple problems until I replaced all the thin, shitty wire that kept breaking off. The ceramic stock pickups are acceptable, but I punted mine for a Fender '60s J bass set. Here's my thread on this bass from AGF:
https://www.aguitarforum.com/threads/nb ... st-1461475

If you get a chance, check out the Squier VM '70s Jazz bass (maple neck and black block fret markers)- the ones I've played have been really, really good and you can sometimes find them cheap used.

[Mickster]

^ Beyer160's advice is spot on. All 3 are very different bases.

The VI is great, but is a fairly specialised sound & feel and isn't the same as a regular bass. The Jag is closest to a regular long scale bass and like Windmill says has loads of tonal options tho can be a bit EMF noisy for recording.

If you're a guitarist looking to dabble in a bit of bass for recording etc i'd go with a Mustang - the short scale means easier reaches for yr feeble guitarists hands ( ) and they can still sound huge / classic / cutting with the right strings on them. Get some flat wounds for Motown / Jamerson chocolaty thump, or round wounds for edgy aggression / zing / slap. Easy to play on and still sound like a 'proper' bass.

[Larry Mal]

Best of luck to you.

[Beyer160]

If you're a guitarist looking to dabble in a bit of bass for recording etc i'd go with a Mustang - the short scale means easier reaches for yr feeble guitarists hands ( ) and they can still sound huge / classic / cutting with the right strings on them. Get some flat wounds for Motown / Jamerson chocolaty thump, or round wounds for edgy aggression / zing / slap. Easy to play on and still sound like a 'proper' bass.

Excellent advice on the flats, they sit in a mix beautifully. They'll sound clanky and weird at first, but give them a week or two to break in.

I've never understood the "short scale basses for guitarists" thing, though. 34" scale basses aren't hard to play, you just have to make a mental adjustment, like going from a Jazzmaster to a Jaguar or a Strat to a Les Paul. I've also never liked the tone of short scale basses, except for Jack Bruce. In the end it's all about personal preference, though.

[NICQ]

I bought a 2nd hand Squier Jazz Bass and put Thomastik Infeld Flats on it - sounds great and is totally sufficient for recording and occasionally playing bass if you're a guitar player...

[Embenny]

When it comes to bass, i currently play a VI, a Stingray, and a Ric.

I also recently got an Ibanez Mikro and let me tell you, that thing is no slouch!! Smaller and lighter than a JM...28.6" scale with a shockingly authoritative low E string. Mine was set up perfectly out of the box with no fretwork issues.

It's worth checking out in person. You'll either love or hate how tiny it feels. I have no problems playing a 34" scale, but the 28.6" opens up new techniques and fingerings I never considered on 34".

I had a few illogical reactions to it at first "(ha! No way this E string will be useful." "Eww, Ibanez") but then I realized I was having some of the most fun I've ever had playing a bass.

It's also as gentle on the wallet as you could ask for. Am I insane for picking up a cheap bass that the Internet would claim is for kids, when I have a USA-made Stingray? Don't care, am having too much fun playing it to notice...

[Larry Mal]

Best of luck to you.

[cestlamort]

I picked up a bass for the first time in years (and years) for a one off show, using my wife's backup old mim jazz bass (over her Rickenbacker) and it was not only a welcome shift in perspective, it does a lot of the sounds that I imagine for a bass. Don't worry about the longer scale; it's nice to have to rethink the parts.

[Larry Mal]

Best of luck to you.

[timiscott]

Hi. Thanks for the advice - it's really useful!

To put it in context, It's not the first time I would be picking up a bass to record so scale length doesn't matter. However, it would be the first time I have bought a bass and I was looking at Offsets as I play Jags and Jazzies...

Owning both Squiers and Fenders US and MIM, I know the quality differences in guitars but Have no idea how much that will carry over into basses. If it's a Squier, I don't want to be dragging it in and out of workshops for upgrades if I can help it.

Also, I love Barry Adamson's white jag bass... But don't want to pay more than for a Mustang. Sigh.

Anyway, long post... Any more thoughts?

[sears]

Listen to Larry. Or, see what's being played on your favorite records. A P is just so easy to record.