That’s me why I picked the Gretsch G2220 short scale. I also bought the Gibson LP double cut tribute bass. It light but with thicker neck like some of my really old LesPaul guitars. Easy to play, it’s heavier in the bass growl than the Gretsch G2220. I bring them both to gigs and I survey the crowd to see who’s 1st string that night. Both have the neck dive. But I tried the Lekato air cell guitar straps, they do help
For me, i love Ibanez. I shouldn’t say this, but i’ve got a custom Flying V and a custom Explorer, but my Ibanez five string my favourite lady. She’s a BTB 305fm and, sadly they don’t make that model anymore. They still produce the BTB series, but only the higher end ones
Maybe I've been lucky, but I've never had a bass with bad intonation. And I've owned basses from $200 to $1200. It seems to be a much bigger problem with guitars than basses.
I don't have a 5 of the new line. but I can say that the B string on the basses I tested in the store blended in great with the rest of the bass. This is something Yamaha does really well.
I tried one in 2004, and put my other basses aside . My first was a Stilleto Custom 5... Ive had 3. I preferred them over the Studio 5 I owned and Especially over the Hellraiser 5... A year ago I picked up the Stealth 5 to have as a back up while gigging .. The Hot Passive Pbass P'up along with preamp kicks Ass, Big, Round, and Crystal Clear .. High output P'ups are not always a good thing. Schecter's design P'up has the higher output , no no distortion, required for a P bass split coil to fit in the Mix as they are famous for. And it's the most Natural modern design I've heard, not Colored like the EMG passive Buvkers In my Custom and Studio .. It felt wrong, like I was Cheating on my Lady, as my #2, so I didn't.. I just got another Stealth 5 for the #2 Bass, and put the Custom up..I know I'm late, but you should try the Stealth 5..just found your channel and Subbed
I have a stealth stiletto 5 and I like it a lot. It neck dives though, which drives me absolutely insane sometimes.... Makes me feel like I'm doing too much work. Besides that it's awesome. Sounds killer, the neck is great and it's just LOOKS awesome.
I’m very interested in the Ibanez Talman TMB605 “five string bass” Also the Cort B5 & Yamaha BB435 I’d love to see a comparison between these three basses...
Thanks for watching and for the suggestion. I don’t see a lot of Cort basses popping up in the US like I used to, but I am looking forward to trying one.
I've had a Schecter Omen Extreme since 2006 when I first really started playing bass and I have to say it's stuck around every day since. Even when I perform with higher end basses the Schecter moved on to being my reliable practice bass and I've even experimented with different string and tuning setups with it. Absolutely an underrated legend for the price.
Thanks for the invitation! The SUB basses were pretty good for $299, but it was the SLO special that really grabbed me. StingRays with maple fingerboards just seem make the world a better place.
Good question, Dudemyguy. I think you mean what I said about tuning stability. Get the bass in tune with itself first, then play how you would normally play. See if the bass going out of tune a after a few minutes. This could happen with brand new strings, but most basses don't sell that quickly, so if the instrument has been on the wall more than a week, and it is quickly going out of tune, you may want to ask the shop to look at it (unless you are really yanking on the strings.)
thank you for including the Gretsch short scale bass. I bought one and absolutely love it. as an older beginner player it really fits the bill. maybe review the Gretsch short scale hollow body.
Same situation. Bought a used Squier P bass but had to buy the Gretsch for the smaller size and cool look "something different".... and got a deal on a store demo model via Ebay. Now time to practice... Next purchase will be a diff amp. I don't see much in the way of bass amp reviews and recommendations out there.
i'd recommend the used schecter omen 4, they used to come with EMG pickups, but if you're buying new, i'd look elsewhere unless you can try it in person, they seem more hit or miss lately.
@@soundslikebenoh yeah, definitely, they're really underrated, and i think part of it has to do with the Schecter name being associated so much with metal, but they're pretty versatile too, kinda like Ibanez
SX and Harley Benton kick ass for well under $300... But I know you were trying to give some non-Fender type basses some attention. Yamaha doesn't get near enough love in the US. My first "real" bass back in the '80s was a Yamaha BB300. I eventually got the Fender bug, but I've often thought about buying a Yamaha again. Everything they make is to a high standard of quality. Even their lowest-tier models.
Yep, this video was made before that was revealed and I see comments popping up about that in the comments. At this point, I just remember really enjoying the bass. I’d buy it again if I ran across another torino green one in a store.
So I use to play back in my late teens/early 20's now wanting to pick it back up so been looking around watching reviews and listening to people play and found the StingRay Ray4 is a great starter bass and just wanted some feedback. Thanks 👊
I believe MM adjusted the EQ points last year when they released the special, so I’m not exactly sure how they compare now. The Stingray classics were supposed to harken back to the original 2 band EQ. Here’s a comparison from 2016: ruclips.net/video/UapIuZeKi98/видео.html
I have a Yamaha I paid 200 instead of 300 cause the battery pack was missing a cover. I took out all the electronics and rewired it like a P-Bass with the 2 smaller pickups and the volume knob. I just loosened the neck and the action is far but its easier and the notes are clear. ....I sm now looking for a %-string Bass for one of my songs, I want to be able to play a lower D ( 3rd fret on the Low B string ) instead of the open D string to E in higher notes, so for that lower once in a while note in my songs, which bass would you recommend,
Yamaha makes the BB435 with a low B. If you are looking for something different or more modern, I dig some of Schecter's 5 strings. My personal preference is for spacing that is on the smaller side - which is why I gravitate to Yamaha, Music Man, Ibanez, and Schecters over a 5 string Fender, but some people greatly prefer a 19mm spacing on their 5s.
I love Ibanez, they make some great stuff for under $500 But I think you are on to something, E"rybody has a P, J, or a PJ and I am looklng for something different Currently Ibanez makes bottom-of-the-barrel bass with a singlt MM p'up, I don't want to go that cheap I also want to try a 30" scale, so I am looking a Sterling, Gretch and Epiphone
I got a 4 year old Used Schecter Diamond Series Extreme Omen 5 bass for $300. Does anyone know much about this bass? I'm having a reall hard time finding videos or reviews of this specifinc bass and I'd like to know more. My gut told me it was a good deal so I bought it after thinking about it for only a day, it's going to be my first bass.
How about the peavey millennium 4 bop? I got one basically given to me. Same with my Schaffer explorer (really high action there tho), it’s the red with vh stripes which led to troubles for the manufacturer.
I had a Peavey Millenium 5-string that I gigged with for a few years before giving it to a family. Good basses although it has been quite a while since I owned it.
I hear the Harley Benton’s are good quality for their price point, but shipping them to the US adds to the cost considerably. Suddenly that $129 bass is a $210 bass. At that point, you’re within spitting range of a used bass that retailed for $350-$400 new. US distribution could change that equation significantly. Would love to try one out some day.
for under 500.00 bucks i bought the hofner ignition & danelectro '58 longhorn , both lefties . although epiphone don't make lefties anymore , i couldn't resist the epi "viola" , so i had it modified by a luthier . also 2 squiers...cv precision & vm jazz , all with flatwounds . budget basses really have upped their game .
Schecter also make afordable more fender like basses. That are great. I had tried a five string precision that also had a bridge humbucker. Awesome bass. Also a jazz bass. Both great basses and at half the price of a mexican fender. And a much better quality and tone. I am sorry fender fans. I do play a Precision Squier bass as a main bass. And I would like a Fender but the cheapest new fender can not compete with cheaper basses of other brands. I have the Sterling Ray34 with ash body and roasted maple neck. With a little EQ on the preamp. It gets you to the stingray tone. It is an awesome bass.
Hi, Undead. Thanks for watching and good suggestion. I have demo’d 3 of the basses from this video in separate videos. Hopefully the channel will soon be big enough that I don’t have to purchase every instrument I demo. That will help get the reviews out there more quickly.
It's okay, has been the budget bass to recommend to beginners for ages but has become somewhat outdated since other even far cheaper basses have become so much better.
Nice video and cool choice of price range. Which one would be best in slot in an electric blues cover band ? (a power trio: guitar - bass - drum) Can you compare the Sterling to a P Bass ?
Thanks, Wild Cat. It’s hard for me not to recommend the Yamaha BB434. I have been using it pretty consistently for the last 6 months and am really pleased with it. If the band is a bit more aggressive, I could see the Sterling being a solid choice too. The Sterling’s active preamp will give it more sizzle and cut, but the Yamaha will set well in almost any mix.
Also worth looking at are the Marcus Miller V3 and M3 by Sire. The V3 is a great (and very versatile) active/passive Jazz bass, the M3 a more modern take with active humbuckers. Prices have gone up since the version 2 was released about 4 months ago but expect to pay less than £300 new.
IDK why, but light colour Rosewood makes me thing of cheap and bad quality stuff. Like the instrument was build with a hand Saw, with no finish or quality control at all
Honestly I'd rather have a lighter rosewood than having it stained, or see more ebony fingerboards than rosewood if people only like rosewood for a dark color.
Squire Contemporary Jazz and the Vintage Modified series are ALL BADADSS. I have a VM Fretless and a Jazz Active V. Great instruments. The Contemporary Jazz 4 and 5 blow these all into orbit.
I'll have to check out the Contemporary Jazz basses, but I have to say the Yamaha is nuts good for the price. One thing is certain; there are a ton of good options in this price range nowadays.
@@soundslikeben I actually played a Yamaha BB a long time ago. Great quality. I prefer Yamaha acoustics. Yamaha has AMAZING quality control on every single instrument, drum and electronic device. I agree 100%. Yamaha basses are perfect for new players and they give a great introduction to quality instruments. I think playing a BB helped me appreciate basses like Fender which I play now. They are really not unlike the USA Precision I play now. But, My Jazz Deluxe......no comparison. 😁
I just sold my Squire VM and I think Im going to check out another BB for fun. I use the Squires to teach and I think I would like to add a Yamaha. GOOD call.
Sterling S.U.B. Jackson JS3Q these are the only sub $500 basses I have that are currently available on the market. I have a Schecter Stiiletto but it is over $500 new. I got it for $175. I have a Yamaha RB765A which is great. I also have a Laguna L B224 which I paid $75 for and it plays great. I love my Spector and I have some more expensive basses but these days you get a lot for your money when it comes to inexpensive basses.
buy sterling. Had bad incidents with Yamaha's so far. Tested 7 and all feel very flimsy. If you got big hands then you can consider Yamaha but I personaly have puny hands
Hi Jungmin, thanks for watching! Try and get them both in your hands to check out. They sound fairly different from each other because of the pickups and electronics. . I have another video about how to buy your first bass which you may find helpful. And welcome to the bass family pre-empitvely. :) How to Choose Your First Bass Guitar || Beginner Bass ruclips.net/video/A9ML6W9lSLE/видео.html
Sounds Like Ben thanks for comment! It’s easy to buy Yamaha in Korea. That’s why I choose yamaha , also cost friendly. Anyway your video is very helpful for me as I’m beginner
I almost bought a epiphone thunderbird and, I quickly put it down for a dean custom zone at $199.99. I've been playing guitar for 13 years on and off and decided to pick bass up and, yeah.
@@soundslikeben Oh do so, first thing was it stood out being a bright neon green, which at first was a novelty until picking it up and playing it. off the floor the Dean didn't have the same buzz, the action was lower, it played more smoothly. Though I can't speak for the pickups in comparison, I played them without plugging in since atleast first picking it up it mattered to me more about which felt comfortable. not like they don't make pickups for P basses anyways. it was listed at 229.99 on the floor but rang up as 199.99 at guitar center.
Weird. It seems aligned when I watch it. Is it off by a syllable or more? Am I doing an impersonation of a kung fu movie dubbed into English? Because that would be cool, although kinda not cool at the same time.
Thanks, Caroline! And all other subscribers :) I really appreciate all of you joining the channel and providing feedback. Hope you all have a great finish to 2019!
The bb sereies is a p bass style design. The trbx is a more modern body shape with a 24 fret neck. Different people prefer one or the other. Another difference worth noting is that the bb434 has an alder body while the trbx304 is mahogany.
sterling SUB compares it to the Gretsch 299.99, I want to buy one of those because I need a cheap basso to go to practice and I will love to hear your opinion on which one is the best to buy since both costs the same.
Hi Alex, I have spent more time with the Gretsch than the Sterling SUB. I like the Sterling’s that are one level up from the SUB ($399). At $299, I think I prefer the Gretsch unless you are specifically looking for a StingRay tone.
I play that Schecter. It's is a great rock solid bass. I bought it when I was out to spend at least double that price. Nothing in the store in the $800-900 range could compare.
It would have been nice to hear them.
I'd love to see a comparison on lightweight basses for us older guys and gals with bad backs!
I have a short scale shootout shot and ready to be edited. Stay tuned. :)
Hofner violin bass
Ibanez are the very lightest I believe, my SRF700 feels like maybe 3 lbs
Go headless.
That’s me why I picked the Gretsch G2220 short scale. I also bought the Gibson LP double cut tribute bass. It light but with thicker neck like some of my really old LesPaul guitars. Easy to play, it’s heavier in the bass growl than the Gretsch G2220. I bring them both to gigs and I survey the crowd to see who’s 1st string that night. Both have the neck dive. But I tried the Lekato air cell guitar straps, they do help
For me, i love Ibanez.
I shouldn’t say this, but i’ve got a custom Flying V and a custom Explorer, but my Ibanez five string my favourite lady.
She’s a BTB 305fm and, sadly they don’t make that model anymore. They still produce the BTB series, but only the higher end ones
Kinda thought you would play them
Maybe I've been lucky, but I've never had a bass with bad intonation. And I've owned basses from $200 to $1200. It seems to be a much bigger problem with guitars than basses.
Think you could do the same video but with 5 strings?
I don't have a 5 of the new line. but I can say that the B string on the basses I tested in the store blended in great with the rest of the bass. This is something Yamaha does really well.
Andertons have done one of these videos
Schecter's got a great series of basses. I love the way their necks feel.
I completely agree!
I tried one in 2004, and put my other basses aside . My first was a Stilleto Custom 5... Ive had 3. I preferred them over the Studio 5 I owned and Especially over the Hellraiser 5... A year ago I picked up the Stealth 5 to have as a back up while gigging .. The Hot Passive Pbass P'up along with preamp kicks Ass, Big, Round, and Crystal Clear .. High output P'ups are not always a good thing. Schecter's design P'up has the higher output , no no distortion, required for a P bass split coil to fit in the Mix as they are famous for. And it's the most Natural modern design I've heard, not Colored like the EMG passive Buvkers In my Custom and Studio
.. It felt wrong, like I was Cheating on my Lady, as my #2, so I didn't.. I just got another Stealth 5 for the #2 Bass, and put the Custom up..I know I'm late, but you should try the Stealth 5..just found your channel and Subbed
I have a stealth stiletto 5 and I like it a lot. It neck dives though, which drives me absolutely insane sometimes.... Makes me feel like I'm doing too much work. Besides that it's awesome. Sounds killer, the neck is great and it's just LOOKS awesome.
I’m very interested in the Ibanez Talman TMB605 “five string bass”
Also the Cort B5 & Yamaha BB435
I’d love to see a comparison between these three basses...
Thanks for watching and for the suggestion. I don’t see a lot of Cort basses popping up in the US like I used to, but I am looking forward to trying one.
Jon Rarmey, you won’t go far wrong with an Ibanez bass, especially a five string
@@richierottweiler923 Yamaha
I've had a Schecter Omen Extreme since 2006 when I first really started playing bass and I have to say it's stuck around every day since. Even when I perform with higher end basses the Schecter moved on to being my reliable practice bass and I've even experimented with different string and tuning setups with it. Absolutely an underrated legend for the price.
Awesome to hear long term feedback on the Schecter. Thanks for watching and commenting unamericano!
At first I thought you said “too many humbuckers” when you were talking about the gretsch
🤣me too
You forgot to mention Sterling by Music Man SUB Bass btw your welcome here facebook.com/groups/SterlingbyMusicMan/
Thanks for the invitation! The SUB basses were pretty good for $299, but it was the SLO special that really grabbed me. StingRays with maple fingerboards just seem make the world a better place.
Good video. I would have liked to hear them though.
Good video. What do you think of the Yamaha TRBX304? Thanks.
Good question. I like Yamaha basses, but have not played one of those.
How would you check it’s tuning? If you’re just in a shop
Good question, Dudemyguy. I think you mean what I said about tuning stability. Get the bass in tune with itself first, then play how you would normally play. See if the bass going out of tune a after a few minutes. This could happen with brand new strings, but most basses don't sell that quickly, so if the instrument has been on the wall more than a week, and it is quickly going out of tune, you may want to ask the shop to look at it (unless you are really yanking on the strings.)
thank you for including the Gretsch short scale bass. I bought one and absolutely love it. as an older beginner player it really fits the bill. maybe review the Gretsch short scale hollow body.
I plan on checking out a number of shorties at NAMM next month.
Same situation. Bought a used Squier P bass but had to buy the Gretsch for the smaller size and cool look "something different".... and got a deal on a store demo model via Ebay. Now time to practice... Next purchase will be a diff amp. I don't see much in the way of bass amp reviews and recommendations out there.
i'd recommend the used schecter omen 4, they used to come with EMG pickups, but if you're buying new, i'd look elsewhere unless you can try it in person, they seem more hit or miss lately.
I agree with the Schecter recommendation, although I have found them to be more consistent than some other brands.
@@soundslikebenoh yeah, definitely, they're really underrated, and i think part of it has to do with the Schecter name being associated so much with metal, but they're pretty versatile too, kinda like Ibanez
My opinion I've played all these. The BB and the TBird are a league of their own
I am going to buy a Schecter Stiletto Stealth, it's a bit over 500$ but that is completely worth it
Yep. They are killer for the money. Enjoy!
SX and Harley Benton kick ass for well under $300... But I know you were trying to give some non-Fender type basses some attention. Yamaha doesn't get near enough love in the US. My first "real" bass back in the '80s was a Yamaha BB300. I eventually got the Fender bug, but I've often thought about buying a Yamaha again. Everything they make is to a high standard of quality. Even their lowest-tier models.
Yamaha TRBX 304 = thats my choice. For super-low-budget = Jackson Spectra Bass JS-2. oNe LovE from NYC
I love my Soundgear SRX 400 active humbucker well under $500 around $300
Recently bought an Ibanez GSR200, good value imho. Combined with a Fender Rumble LT25 nice for home practice.
gretsch actually has single coil....not humbuckers ,,there was a big fiasco.
Yep, this video was made before that was revealed and I see comments popping up about that in the comments. At this point, I just remember really enjoying the bass. I’d buy it again if I ran across another torino green one in a store.
@@soundslikeben yeah I am thinking about getting one as well. And I was either way humbucker or not. Lol. Cheers bud !
@@chrisb48907 Check out the review I did of the Gretsch. Cool little bas!
Thank you, this good
Thank you too!
5:00 Smooooooooth lol
Haha. I know, right?!
Bought a Squier Jaguar Bass Vintage Modified, for 350 and the sound is just great. Huge versatility with a great tone!
Congrats or your Squier! Jaguar basses are tres cool.
What is the guitar with the 3 sided tuning machines on it? Love the look of those.
I've always loved the stingray,that big brick if a pickup at the bottom of that oval pickguard is awesome looking ,so are the 3 up 1 down tuners
I agree. Classic aesthetics on that one.
So I use to play back in my late teens/early 20's now wanting to pick it back up so been looking around watching reviews and listening to people play and found the StingRay Ray4 is a great starter bass and just wanted some feedback. Thanks 👊
I have a MM stingray with the 3 eq config. How does the 2 band eq differ in sound ?
I believe MM adjusted the EQ points last year when they released the special, so I’m not exactly sure how they compare now. The Stingray classics were supposed to harken back to the original 2 band EQ. Here’s a comparison from 2016: ruclips.net/video/UapIuZeKi98/видео.html
All talk and no play equals a great big 👎🏾
ESP-LTD B-204SM
Hey Ben,greettings from Uruguay !!!
I think it would be so well if you check Stagg basses,they use to cost between 420 - 470 dollars.
Have a nice day.
Hi Gonzalo, I’m not familiar with Stagg basses. Hope you have a great day!
The first Sterling was a 24 CA not the SUB 4
I have a Yamaha I paid 200 instead of 300 cause the battery pack was missing a cover. I took out all the electronics and rewired it like a P-Bass with the 2 smaller pickups and the volume knob. I just loosened the neck and the action is far but its easier and the notes are clear. ....I sm now looking for a %-string Bass for one of my songs, I want to be able to play a lower D ( 3rd fret on the Low B string ) instead of the open D string to E in higher notes, so for that lower once in a while note in my songs, which bass would you recommend,
Yamaha makes the BB435 with a low B. If you are looking for something different or more modern, I dig some of Schecter's 5 strings. My personal preference is for spacing that is on the smaller side - which is why I gravitate to Yamaha, Music Man, Ibanez, and Schecters over a 5 string Fender, but some people greatly prefer a 19mm spacing on their 5s.
WOULD YOU DO A DEMO OF THE SCHECTER OMEN EXTREME 4? LOVED THE ONE YOU DID ON THE GRETCSH.
I love Ibanez, they make some great stuff for under $500
But I think you are on to something,
E"rybody has a P, J, or a PJ and I am looklng for something different
Currently Ibanez makes bottom-of-the-barrel bass with a singlt MM p'up, I don't want to go that cheap
I also want to try a 30" scale, so I am looking a Sterling, Gretch and Epiphone
I’m a big fan of the little Gretsch.
I got a 4 year old Used Schecter Diamond Series Extreme Omen 5 bass for $300. Does anyone know much about this bass? I'm having a reall hard time finding videos or reviews of this specifinc bass and I'd like to know more. My gut told me it was a good deal so I bought it after thinking about it for only a day, it's going to be my first bass.
I like the Schecters. I think they are well setup from the factory and have great neck profiles.
How about the peavey millennium 4 bop? I got one basically given to me. Same with my Schaffer explorer (really high action there tho), it’s the red with vh stripes which led to troubles for the manufacturer.
I had a Peavey Millenium 5-string that I gigged with for a few years before giving it to a family. Good basses although it has been quite a while since I owned it.
Do a show on 5 Harley Benton intro price range ...comming in at half to a 1/3 of these prices here..but a great range ..😉
I hear the Harley Benton’s are good quality for their price point, but shipping them to the US adds to the cost considerably. Suddenly that $129 bass is a $210 bass. At that point, you’re within spitting range of a used bass that retailed for $350-$400 new. US distribution could change that equation significantly. Would love to try one out some day.
how bout " 5 Amazing Basses Under $1000? " What are your suggestions? Thanks :)
Good video suggestion! What do you guys think - should I make it 5 strings under $1000?
@@soundslikeben Absolutely! 4 or 5 strings....THANKS!
@@soundslikeben i think so, thats a good price range for a nice bass,
for under 500.00 bucks i bought the hofner ignition & danelectro '58 longhorn , both lefties . although epiphone don't make lefties anymore , i couldn't resist the epi "viola" , so i had it modified by a luthier . also 2 squiers...cv precision & vm jazz , all with flatwounds . budget basses really have upped their game .
Yes, they really have. Thanks for watching!
What is the difference between a maple fret board and a rosewood fret board?
Thanks for watching, doc roc! Conventional wisdom is that maple is brighter (more high-mids) and rosewood is warmer (more low-mids).
Schecter also make afordable more fender like basses. That are great. I had tried a five string precision that also had a bridge humbucker. Awesome bass. Also a jazz bass. Both great basses and at half the price of a mexican fender. And a much better quality and tone.
I am sorry fender fans. I do play a Precision Squier bass as a main bass. And I would like a Fender but the cheapest new fender can not compete with cheaper basses of other brands.
I have the Sterling Ray34 with ash body and roasted maple neck. With a little EQ on the preamp. It gets you to the stingray tone. It is an awesome bass.
We are blessed to have many great budget bass options that did not exist when I started out. I love Schecter necks.
Yamaha rulez!
Are the Epiphone Thunderbird and Yamaha BB434 both fully passive? No need to keep feeding them 9V batteries?
Yes they are
Good rewiew. How about budget 5 string basses& And how about playing/demo/examples&) Thx
Hi, Undead. Thanks for watching and good suggestion. I have demo’d 3 of the basses from this video in separate videos. Hopefully the channel will soon be big enough that I don’t have to purchase every instrument I demo. That will help get the reviews out there more quickly.
I just bought an Ibanez GSR200 as my first bass. Thoughts on this particular bass?
It's okay, has been the budget bass to recommend to beginners for ages but has become somewhat outdated since other even far cheaper basses have become so much better.
@@ithemba can you give me some examples?
How much of a difference is there between the music man classic and the music man sub?
The main advantages of the classic (to me) are the higher quality finish, better fretwork, and the nicer maple fingerboard.
@@soundslikeben For $300 or less what would you buy?
The Gretsch is $299. Besides that, I would try and get a used version of one of these or a Squier Classic Vibe if your taste runs more traditional.
SoundsLikeBen thanks
No mention of marcus millers
I had not gotten my hands on a Sire by that point, but I do have a Sire V7 5-string review up now.
You failed to mention Tim Commerford during the stingray,
Oh wow, I always thought he was a jazz bass guy. Didn’t realize the early RATM was a Stingray. Thanks for educating me!
Yamahatrbx504 and the Ibanez sr500
Also good suggestions. Maybe I should do 5 more basses under $500
Subscribed, I need a bass for home studio, always looking for inspiration.
great vid. woulda liked to hear them all against each other tho. : )
Yep. I agree. That was my first stab at a review video. Should I update this for 2023? What say you, bass family?
Nice video and cool choice of price range.
Which one would be best in slot in an electric blues cover band ? (a power trio: guitar - bass - drum)
Can you compare the Sterling to a P Bass ?
Thanks, Wild Cat. It’s hard for me not to recommend the Yamaha BB434. I have been using it pretty consistently for the last 6 months and am really pleased with it. If the band is a bit more aggressive, I could see the Sterling being a solid choice too. The Sterling’s active preamp will give it more sizzle and cut, but the Yamaha will set well in almost any mix.
What about the orange Obass.
I’m not usually a fan of 34” scale basses with LP style bodies because of neck dive and reach issues. Would love to see a short scale version of this.
Gail Anne Dorsey ! Music man
Yes, indeedy. Gail. Ann. Dorsey. For you folks who don't know her, check out her work with David Bowie!
Yamaha trbx504 , omen extreme4 , and ray34 shootout ???
i love how he stares at the text next to the camera lmao
Also worth looking at are the Marcus Miller V3 and M3 by Sire. The V3 is a great (and very versatile) active/passive Jazz bass, the M3 a more modern take with active humbuckers. Prices have gone up since the version 2 was released about 4 months ago but expect to pay less than £300 new.
Thanks, John. I just got my first chance to check out a few Sire basses this weekend. Looking forward to doing a review with one soon.
IDK why, but light colour Rosewood makes me thing of cheap and bad quality stuff. Like the instrument was build with a hand Saw, with no finish or quality control at all
It is getting harder and harder to find dark rosewood. Some companies have taken to staining the wood to look darker.
im pretty sure its not 'Proper" rosewood (it may be Pau Ferro, B. Rosewood, M. Rosewood, Bubinga, Grenadillo).
Honestly I'd rather have a lighter rosewood than having it stained, or see more ebony fingerboards than rosewood if people only like rosewood for a dark color.
Now do a video about
100 dollars bass
Time for the Glarry, eh?
Squire Contemporary Jazz and the Vintage Modified series are ALL BADADSS.
I have a VM Fretless and a Jazz Active V.
Great instruments.
The Contemporary Jazz 4 and 5 blow these all into orbit.
I'll have to check out the Contemporary Jazz basses, but I have to say the Yamaha is nuts good for the price. One thing is certain; there are a ton of good options in this price range nowadays.
@@soundslikeben I actually played a Yamaha BB a long time ago. Great quality. I prefer Yamaha acoustics.
Yamaha has AMAZING quality control on every single instrument, drum and electronic device.
I agree 100%. Yamaha basses are perfect for new players and they give a great introduction to quality instruments.
I think playing a BB helped me appreciate basses like Fender which I play now. They are really not unlike the USA Precision I play now. But, My Jazz Deluxe......no comparison.
😁
I just sold my Squire VM and I think Im going to check out another BB for fun.
I use the Squires to teach and I think I would like to add a Yamaha.
GOOD call.
An intelligent video.
Thanks, md54!
I meant Squier Precisiion modified 70s Jazz bass in that comparison.
could you compare the Sterling SUB Ray4, the Sterling Precision modified 70s jazz, and the Yamaha trbx304?
No Sire V7, no party.
They are over $500, but I have a V7 review in the works now. Stay tuned :)
Sterling S.U.B.
Jackson JS3Q
these are the only sub $500 basses I have that are currently available on the market. I have a Schecter Stiiletto but it is over $500 new. I got it for $175. I have a Yamaha RB765A which is great. I also have a Laguna L B224 which I paid $75 for and it plays great. I love my Spector and I have some more expensive basses but these days you get a lot for your money when it comes to inexpensive basses.
Is the sterling Ray24ca worth the extra $200 over the Sterling Sub Ray4 for a beginner?
Thanks. Im considering to buy yamaha 434 but Sterling one got a nice look. Im looking for my first bass guitar.
buy sterling. Had bad incidents with Yamaha's so far. Tested 7 and all feel very flimsy. If you got big hands then you can consider Yamaha but I personaly have puny hands
Knaertn, what happened with your Yamahas? Other than the tuning key, I’ve had no issues and other people seem to love them.
Hi Jungmin, thanks for watching! Try and get them both in your hands to check out. They sound fairly different from each other because of the pickups and electronics. . I have another video about how to buy your first bass which you may find helpful. And welcome to the bass family pre-empitvely. :)
How to Choose Your First Bass Guitar || Beginner Bass ruclips.net/video/A9ML6W9lSLE/видео.html
Sounds Like Ben thanks for comment! It’s easy to buy Yamaha in Korea. That’s why I choose yamaha , also cost friendly. Anyway your video is very helpful for me as I’m beginner
I almost bought a epiphone thunderbird and, I quickly put it down for a dean custom zone at $199.99. I've been playing guitar for 13 years on and off and decided to pick bass up and, yeah.
Thanks for watching, Neil. I’ll have to check out the Dean. And welcome to the low side :)
@@soundslikeben Oh do so, first thing was it stood out being a bright neon green, which at first was a novelty until picking it up and playing it. off the floor the Dean didn't have the same buzz, the action was lower, it played more smoothly. Though I can't speak for the pickups in comparison, I played them without plugging in since atleast first picking it up it mattered to me more about which felt comfortable. not like they don't make pickups for P basses anyways. it was listed at 229.99 on the floor but rang up as 199.99 at guitar center.
@@soundslikeben My only complaint though unwarranted for $200 is the fret wires aren't rounded off but they are seated just fine.
Sire V3
Not one Sire or Harley Benton?!
For the Thunderbird 4, the fretboard is listed as Pau Ferro, instead of Rosewood.
Any suggestions for basses under $150?
Not that I have personally played, but I do hear positive comments about Harley Benton basses in that range.
@@soundslikeben okay, thank you very much
Peavy Milestones are fantastic. II is a classic P/Jazz hybrid and can be found in good shape for under $150 used.
I also have heard positive things about Harley Benton basses!
Hey my dude your audio is slightly out of alignment
Weird. It seems aligned when I watch it. Is it off by a syllable or more? Am I doing an impersonation of a kung fu movie dubbed into English? Because that would be cool, although kinda not cool at the same time.
@@soundslikeben It went a bit wonky (out of sync and odd quality) at the end. Didn't make the video unwatchable though :-)
Glad you discovered Schecter.
Me too!
500th subscriber!!!!!
Thanks, Caroline! And all other subscribers :) I really appreciate all of you joining the channel and providing feedback. Hope you all have a great finish to 2019!
Nothing beats Marcus Miller Sire v2 in this price area. Nothing.
I have not played a V2 yet. I want to try the V5.
Where is bacchus...??????
Thanks for watching and good suggestion. That's a brand I haven't tried yet.
@@soundslikeben in my country it actually under 500$..😁
what is the difference between Yamaha BB 434 vs Yamaha trbx 304
The bb sereies is a p bass style design. The trbx is a more modern body shape with a 24 fret neck. Different people prefer one or the other. Another difference worth noting is that the bb434 has an alder body while the trbx304 is mahogany.
sterling SUB compares it to the Gretsch 299.99, I want to buy one of those because I need a cheap basso to go to practice and I will love to hear your opinion on which one is the best to buy since both costs the same.
Hi Alex, I have spent more time with the Gretsch than the Sterling SUB. I like the Sterling’s that are one level up from the SUB ($399). At $299, I think I prefer the Gretsch unless you are specifically looking for a StingRay tone.
Sire V3 $419.00
Thanks for commenting, Ted! Check out my review of the Sire V7. They do offer a good value. That’s for sure.
Kudos! Good video!
Thanks!
Really good vid man 🙂
G&L ?
Nice !
Thanks, Green Shinobi!
cool
Thanks!
I wish the Thunderbird came in variety like a PJ set
I bet this eBay seller could make one. www.ebay.com/itm/Bass-Guitar-Body-Unfinished-Ash-USA-Made-FBB-Made-to-Order-/392541777059
Thanks, this is extremely helpful as a beginner.
Thanks, Melon Felon!
I play that Schecter. It's is a great rock solid bass. I bought it when I was out to spend at least double that price. Nothing in the store in the $800-900 range could compare.
I am impressed with Schecter’s out of the box playability on every range of instrument.
Prefer Spector ha!