Best bass for $2000/£1100?

[New Born]

Essentially, I've come into a bit of money and have around £1100 ($2000 USD) which I would like to spend on a new bass, but I'm unsure what the best bass is in this category. Warwick immediately comes to mind, perhaps the Streamer Stage I or a Thumb bolt-on? I'm also tempted by a Rik, as I'm quite a big fan of their trebley tone. And then there's the American Deluxe P-Bass...argh! I can't make up my mind, do you guys have any suggestions?

Tonewise, I'm looking for anything good in regards to punch, low-end, growl, or anything that's just got a "smooth" sound to it. (Bare in mind that I'm not looking for a Fender Jazz or a Stingray, as I have owned these previously :)).

Thankyou!

[FunkMetalBass]

You might look into custom. I don't know if JP ships overseas or not, but check out a Winters Custom.

[Left Shoe]

how many strings are you looking for?

[Wintermute]

I'd look into a custom too. In particular check out Shuker (http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk). They're damn good basses, and the maker's friendly and helpful.

Personally, I've yet to play a factory built bass in that price range that I didn't think was overpriced.

[New Born]

Cheers guys.

FunkMetalBass: What's the address of JP's Winters website again? I've seen it before, but can't remember off hand, thanks.

Left Shoe: I'm after a 4 string.

EDIT: Wintermute, I've just checked out the Shuker website you kindly suggested, and some of the basses they've made are absolutely stunning! If I can get one made up for £1000, then I'm seriously considering having one built.

[Left Shoe]

for 2k, look into a pedulla

[Wintermute]

Unfortunately it looks like Shuker's prices have gone up recently - by a fair bit actually. But then he's becoming much more reknowned, and I'll bet demand's rising pretty quickly. Still, £1k'll get you a Bolt-on Deluxe, or a neck-thru or Jazz standard with change. More, if you buy from the stock list, instead of getting your own made up.

[Thunder Fingers]

Oh! the wonderfull world of: STATUS GRAPHITE!

You just get any bass with the hyperactive Pups! they sound bloody sweet! and they play REALY nice to...

[skingle]

For that money i would get a stingray, but then i haven't played a custom before.

[metalkingtiger]

I would go with a Rickenbacker.

[Wintermute]

For that money i would get a stingray, but then i haven't played a custom before.

The Stingray was one of the first to come to mind when I said I find most production basses in that price range are overpriced. :)

I suppose you're also paying for the convenience though. If you buy a Stingray, you take it off the shelf, pay the man, and go home. With a custom you have to wait a little while they actually *build* it. Of course, for a hand-made, custom built bass of a high quality, I'd say it's worth it.

[bobbass4k]

i agree with a status, or a modulus quantum

[T2k5]

Unfortunately it looks like Shuker's prices have gone up recently - by a fair bit actually. .
Yup, good thing I ordered it before the price went up. :naughty: The bass is ready now and Jon will send it next week. I hope I get it before christmas. :chug:

[rh15951]

for 2k, look into a pedulla

123

[Wintermute]

The bass is ready now and Jon will send it next week.

I am expecting so many pictures that you crash the photobucket server. :D

[Radiobass81]

Ken Smith

IMO, they are the best. They beat Pedulla, Warwick, any Fenders, Rickenbackers, Richman, G&L, anything I've yet to play.

[T2k5]

I am expecting so many pictures that you crash the photobucket server. :D
Nope, I will use my own 50mb space at mbnet.fi. There will be tons of pics, tons of recs, maybe a video and then a review after I have used it for a while. Our band has the studio reserved for Jan 4th-5th so you will hear the bass on our demo too (6 songs). :)

Teaser:
http://koti.mbnet.fi/astsgnl/bass/passo/DSCN2797.jpg
He hasn't sent any pics of the completed bass and I doubt he will.

[Wintermute]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/astsgnl/bass/passo/DSCN2797.jpg

Yes please...

[FunkMetalBass]

Is that a burl maple top-wood? That is seXXXy as hell. That is one of the few woods I don't feel needs a paint job, but it would still look good with a transparent finish.

[T2k5]

Is that a burl maple top-wood? That is seXXXy as hell. That is one of the few woods I don't feel needs a paint job, but it would still look good with a transparent finish.
Thats poplar burl. I love all the burls because you can use their natural colors. I'll get buckeye burl for my next bass. :)

[Led_Zeppelin678]

http://www.nordstrandguitars.com/index.html

With two grand, I'd go with either Nordstrand or Cliff Bordwell (http://www.cbbasses.com).

[Led_Zeppelin678]

Ken Smith

IMO, they are the best. They beat Pedulla, Warwick, any Fenders, Rickenbackers, Richman, G&L, anything I've yet to play.

That's weird. The ones I've played are crap.

[Radiobass81]

That's weird. The ones I've played are crap.

Truth be told, I only played one, but it was one of the cheapest models available, and it's still better then any other bass I've played, including those that cost more.

[Kibuddy]

Nordstrand or Stambaugh.

[tim_commerfordism]

Overwater.

[JoeDaddio]

My vote goes to this:


http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-1975-Fender-Precision-Bass-100-Original-Clean_W0QQitemZ7375091105QQcategoryZ64400QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem



I think I just ruined my pants.




joe

[Chris K]

Status graphite...save up £200 and get a Kingbass Standard.

[Jahmez]

A vintage Fender would be really nice. That's probably what I'd buy, or save up and buy another Cirrus.

[skingle]

The Stingray was one of the first to come to mind when I said I find most production basses in that price range are overpriced. :)

I suppose you're also paying for the convenience though. If you buy a Stingray, you take it off the shelf, pay the man, and go home. With a custom you have to wait a little while they actually *build* it. Of course, for a hand-made, custom built bass of a high quality, I'd say it's worth it.

Overpriced? probably, but i would kill to have one. The feel, the tone, the looks everything is so right for me.

[New Born]

Wow, some very tempting suggestions guys...

T2k5: I'm just DYING to ask you some questions -
1) How much was that bass? (and how much do you rekon it would cost now?)
2) How long did it take to build?
3) How easy was it to get custom built? (did they put on anything you wanted, were they as helpful as Wintermute said?)

I'm also expecting a horde of pictures and soundbites when you get it ;)

[T2k5]

Wow, some very tempting suggestions guys...

T2k5: I'm just DYING to ask you some questions -
1) How much was that bass? (and how much do you rekon it would cost now?)
2) How long did it take to build?
3) How easy was it to get custom built? (did they put on anything you wanted, were they as helpful as Wintermute said?)

I'm also expecting a horde of pictures and soundbites when you get it ;)

1) The price is 1275£+30£ shipping (DHL, Shuker pays the first 100£). He raised the prices with 200£.

2) Shuker said that it usually takes 12-14 weeks but it has taken about 23 weeks now. :mad:

3) It was easy, Shuker is a nice guy and tells you anything you want to know. He's a tad bit slow when it comes to mailing, though. The planning took a couple of months because he sometimes took over a week before answering.

[dragonzmad]

SMith + SWR == win

tobias + eden == win.

I hope your skills are worth 2k. Thats a lot of money to spend on a bass.

[Wintermute]

I've not actually bought anything off Shuker (yet?) but I emailed him a while back about pricing up a six string fretless. He emailed be back within the day with some options, and also offering a deal on a stock six-string he had lying around which he could de-fret for me.

jamie_dunce is getting a new neck made for his Schechter by Shuker, it's costing him about £250, I think. I'll prod him in the direction of this thread later on.

[T2k5]

I've not actually bought anything off Shuker (yet?) but I emailed him a while back about pricing up a six string fretless. He emailed be back within the day with some options, and also offering a deal on a stock six-string he had lying around which he could de-fret for me.

He has said that he can only answer mails at mon, tue and wed nights or he'll get into trouble. :rolleyes:

[New Born]

That's cool that he does custom parts too, like necks and stuff, so that's always an option if I wanted to save money by making a body or something.

T2k5 (again): What model exactly did you have made up? Was it a neck-thru/bolt-on, deluxe/elite etc? And which woods and electronics/pickups did you go for? I'm quite curious. Cheers.

(Has anyone checked out the Noordstrand website Led Zep posted the link to? Seriously, some of those basses are some of the most beautiful instruments I've ever seen).

[Kibuddy]

(Has anyone checked out the Noordstrand website Led Zep posted the link to? Seriously, some of those basses are some of the most beautiful instruments I've ever seen).


I concur. I've been wanting a Nordstrand for quite some time. Maybe next summer, when I have a job...

If you have the cash, though, I'd definitely take Carey's work into consideration. He's gotten nothing but praise from the people on Talkbass. Unfortunately, I think he stopped taking direct orders (backlogged), so you would have to order through a distributor.

[T2k5]

T2k5 (again): What model exactly did you have made up? Was it a neck-thru/bolt-on, deluxe/elite etc? And which woods and electronics/pickups did you go for? I'm quite curious. Cheers.

6 string bolt on custom bass ( http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/bocust.htm )
24 fret 35" scale
18.7mm string spacing
20.5mm depth at 1st fret, 21.5mm at 12th, gentle C profile

Poplar Burl facing wood ( http://koti.mbnet.fi/astsgnl/bass/puut/Dscn0517.jpg )
White ash body
black sycamore veneer between face and body
polyester basecoat, satin lacquer topcoat

5 piece maple / wenge laminated neck
composite fingerboard
poplar burl headstock veneer (black veneer beneath)
two way truss rod
medium frets
Mother of Pearl side dots
satin finish

Basslines ASB1 soapbar pickups
3 band eq (internal mid freq, circuit gain control)

Black hardware
Gotoh Gb70 tuners
Individual bridge units

Hiscox hardcase

There you go :)

[New Born]

I concur. I've been wanting a Nordstrand for quite some time. Maybe next summer, when I have a job...

If you have the cash, though, I'd definitely take Carey's work into consideration. He's gotten nothing but praise from the people on Talkbass. Unfortunately, I think he stopped taking direct orders (backlogged), so you would have to order through a distributor.

Absolutely. I probably would go for a Noordstrand, yet being in the UK I think the cost of the bass coupled with import tax/duty would bankrupt me. One day, perhaps...and if you do get a custom Noordstrand sometime, you do realise you'll have bombard us with pics and soundclips...

T2k5: Thanks for all the info man, you've been a great help. Now I've got an good idea of what I can get for around £1000. :thumb:

[Polyamarous]

I'd go and hunt for a Telecaster Bass, maybe need to save up a bit more..