Question Upgrading to a 'real' bass

[whyachi]

I've been playing a cheap Fender Jazz knockoff for about a year now and I'm finally comfortable enough with bass to buy a 'real' instrument. I love my Slinky's, they make even my budget bass sound decent, and the look of Music Man basses has always appealed to me.

I'm just not sure on the models. The Bongo is a bit too, eh, too something for me, I really can't get into the shape at all, but the Sterling and Stingray are beautiful. I'm hunting a 4- or 5-string, depending on the how the neck feels I might just string it BEAD, that will give me a nice fat rock / metal sound. I don't have too much experience with combonations of pickups, like the difference in two humbuckers or humbucker / single or whatever...

Can anyone point me in some direction? I like the playability of the narrow J-bass style neck I have now, but besides that this thing is horrid. I'm running an Ampeg 4x10 half-stack, if that makes any difference.


Also, and slightly OT, how do flatwounds stack up against rounds for tone? I haven't been able to get a hold of a bass with flats on it to test it out myself.

 

[MrMusashi]

that depends on what kind of sound youre after.. flats on a bongo is a combination from heaven (if you love the uhhmff from james jamerson sound)

if you like smaller necks the sterling might be right up your alley. the bongo is also fairly slim.

as for sound, i love the double humbucker basses: gives me a lot of variation in sounds with just a flick of the switch (or twist on the knob on the bongo)

if possible go somewhere you can try em all.. who knows, after trying a bongo you might be in love even if it wasnt love at first sight

MrM

 

[mmbassplayer]

Of all my EBMM basses... my Sterling still gets the most play. Very slim fast neck. Body is lightweight and very easy to dial in any sound from Rock to blues to metal. I have the HS model which is my favorite of the Sterlings. JOSH

 

[the unrepentant]

Go try out a sterling, if you like your jazz neck you'll love a sterling, they're pretty similar in that respect, but it ends there! Basically if you like the stingray sound, get a single H. Sure the others are a bit more versatile but i find that's really all you need. The sterling is pretty versatile anyway with the coil tap.

 

[iamcatwarrior]

Try a Sterling 4 or a Stingray 5 HH. Either way, you win. The latter bass hits like a ton of bricks.

 

[Kristopher]

I say go for a Sterling HS. You get both single coil and humbucker tones, plus you get the best neck you can get your hands on.

Head over to a Guitar Center and check out some basses if you can!

 

[syciprider]

Give the Bongo a whirl. The neck splits the difference between the SR and the Sterling and that IMO is perfection.

 

[hankSRay]

If you want a slim fast playing neck the Sterling is hard to beat. That said, I'm with syciprider on this one. The Bongo's neck is perfection to me.

 

[ekb16b]

sr4 H for simplicity

 

[martin shane]

I'm an SR4 guy, but i would suggest trying the sterling if you like the slimmer neck ....

 

[RaginRog]

I agree

sr4 H for simplicity

The simpler, the better. I had a Sterling HS, and between the pickup selector and EQ, it had entirely too many settings. The stingray is basic. It has a standard tone I love, and I basically cut some highs, or add a little depending on the song's genre.

 

[strummer]

Bongo 5 HH, all I can say.

 

[PzoLover]

be brave

hey Whyachi, syciprider and strummer have good points and although I'm an SR5 guy, I'm regassing for a BONGO and almost had one, but until I lucked out for a 20th SR5 HH, I'm stuck on the H/Piezo config and I'm curious about any Sterling 5,I know I'm not much help, but that's your answer from the rainforest, alls else I can say is get to a GC if you can and start sweating over what colours
All TheBass
/PL

 

[Straight UP]

If you are looking for -- Limitless variations of tone.

Go Bongo..

 

[Duarte]

I'd say try a Bongo H for the most aggressive sound imaginable, with rounds. Flats will give you that james jamerson motowny sound.

May not look good to you now (it didn't to me when I first saw it) but now I just love the looks, and since trying one it is all I can think about!

 

[Rano Bass]

For rock i say go try a HS, or H Sterling.
Punchy, in your face, and a great neck.

 

[bradfordws]

Sterling 5HS or 5H!