What bass next?

stickyfiddle

As titled. Currently have a parts P bass that does the classic 60s thing *perfectly*. If I wanted to buy something else to compliment, what should I look at?

Generally I really like nitro finishes and things that feel old. My instincts are along the lines of a nice Jazz, or possibly 4003 or Stingray. More extreme wildcards could look like a Thunderbird, EB-2/Rivoli, Hofner Club or 500/1. I'm not super interested in flashy active stuff though something simple wouldn't be the worst thing, maybe?. I don't have a specific budget so let's assume a $4k ceiling and go down from there... 

My band is playing a mix of motown, soul, disco, pop and rock and I have no intention of taking multiple basses to a gig, so it'd be nice to have something that could cover that stuff if I wanted (applying the usual caveats of "you can play anything on anything")

What thinke ye? 

stickyfiddle

...and obvs the right answer is "go try everything!" which I would absolutely love to do but have no good shops within 2000 miles. I'll try and hit a couple when in the UK in a couple of weeks. And then it's entirely possible I'll order another MJT... 

GoFish

I am a Bass fundementlist (ha!), so I'd lean towards saying a P-type will do everything you need and nothing you don't. Maybe have another one strung with something else? The one's you've mentioned sound good for a change- Thunderbird for rawk, Hofner for that Beatles look and the short scale. Don't forget to try a Ric! Regardless of anything else, an afternoon spent playing a bunch is a fine investment.

I'd also consider P-adjacent basses like Yamaha BBs or Stingrays. As a wildcard, your budget nudges you up against a player grade CBS bass, which would be a hoot,

ICBM

stickyfiddle said:

My band is playing a mix of motown, soul, disco, pop and rock and I have no intention of taking multiple basses to a gig, so it'd be nice to have something that could cover that stuff if I wanted (applying the usual caveats of "you can play anything on anything")

With that list it’s got to be a Jazz, although a Rick would do it quite well too.

You could always justify it by putting rounds on one and flats on the other… I would go with flats on the Jazz if you get one, but flats on the P if you get a Rick.

stickyfiddle

Clearly the answer is still "go try some", as expected  

I will be keeping to flats on the P but a Jazz with flats could also be a nice addition. Not sure about the narrow necks though no I'm used to the chunky P. I did try a Ric 4003S in almost-dayglo red back in 2020 just before I ordered the MJT. I thought I liked it at the time but hadn't a clue what I was doing really. Now I'm actually halfway-competent I'd like to try one again.

GoFish said:

 

I'd also consider P-adjacent basses like Yamaha BBs or Stingrays. As a wildcard, your budget nudges you up against a player grade CBS bass, which would be a hoot,

Yeah I was actually pleasantly surprised at how much cheaper old basses are vs old guitars. A 60's Gibson EB2 for well under 5k?! You won't see change from double that for an ES335!

stickyfiddle

Aaaand looking at Carter Vintage is an error, as usual...

roberty

stickyfiddle said:

Aaaand looking at Carter Vintage is an error, as usual...

Oof glad I'm sitting down

Sporky

Stingray, obvs.

Or a Jaguar bass, just because they look ace. 

Koa

You can’t go wrong with any that have been mentioned so far. A Jazz is probably the natural progression but have you considered a Mustang with flats? Would do everything you want and a nice contrast to what you have, super easy to gig with too.

prowla

The answer is always a Rickenbacker; it's just a matter of how long it takes you to realise it...

JCA2550

prowla said:

The answer is always a Rickenbacker; it's just a matter of how long it takes you to realise it...

Took me 30+ years

louis_LLM

The answer is actually the JMJ Mustang i've got in the classifieds! 

stickyfiddle

louis_LLM said:

The answer is actually the JMJ Mustang i've got in the classifieds! 

Honestly those do look really cool. Just needs a black or tort guard. 

fretmeister

1 bass for every gig only has one real answer.

Fender Urge 2.

fretmeister

But - TBH you might as well do it properly and get a Jazz and a 'Ray.

louis_LLM

stickyfiddle said:

louis_LLM said:

The answer is actually the JMJ Mustang i've got in the classifieds! 

Honestly those do look really cool. Just needs a black or tort guard. 

It comes with a black guard as well! 

Whitecat

Definitely a Jazz next, but I'd also check out a few short scales - they can be mega fun.

Or the left-field answer - a fretless of some description.

stickyfiddle

Whitecat said:

Or the left-field answer - a fretless of some description.

Oh god, do I have to?

stickyfiddle

fretmeister said:

Fender Urge 2.

Well that is certainly one of the basses that exist... apparently....

fretmeister said:

1 bass for every gig only has one real answer.

Well worth noting that I'm not after proper Swiss army knife "HSS Strat/PRS DGT of basses", but just something different to a P that at least might be capable of doing a whole gig (or at least rehearsal) so that I actually have a good chance of using it outside the house! 

In an ideal world of course I'd have one of everything I listed (and probably multiples with different strings), but we live in a world where I could probably buy more than one it might lead to divorce, not least because our spare room is already overflowing with stringed instruments...

Sporky

stickyfiddle said:

Whitecat said:

Or the left-field answer - a fretless of some description.

Oh god, do I have to?

How often do you need, as an artist, to make rubber-bandy "bwaaaaang" noises? 

fretmeister

stickyfiddle said:

fretmeister said:

1 bass for every gig only has one real answer.

Fender Urge 2.

Well that is certainly one of the basses that exist... apparently....

I had one for years in sparkly blue.

It was very good indeed.