seeking better bass

[supermutt]

im looking for a cheaper version of a stingray. it has to have the active eq in it tho. if possible a jazz pickup in the neck. also if possible to be under $600. if you could post any basses that meet this criteria please let me know.

thanx

[Dante5Inferno]

OLP makes a modest copy of the Stingray (actually licensed from Ernie Ball).

http://www.olpguitars.com/usa/mm2_4_string_bass.htm
http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/Data4/OLP/MM4-StingRay-01.html

I hear the electronics are passive (they sound okay), but since the bass is ~$229, you could use the money saved to buy a great active humbucker (though truth be told, I haven't checked if there is room in the back for the electronics).

I don't know of any copies that use jazz pick-ups.

[supermutt]

i was aware of the olp knockoff. i tried it out and it didnt have the same feel or tone(because it was passive). ive already told myself that if i wanted to get a bass somewhat similar to the stingray i would at least get one of better quality.

ive been told that the schecter stilletto series would have the sound that im looking for. if any of you guys know if this is true or if you have any extra info please post it.

thanks

[3D Steve]

check out fernandez...
my friend picked one up at a pawn shop for like 120...
5 string, active...sounds good...looks stupid...
i don't know what model it is...but then again i'm not a bass player.
peace in the middle east

[Dante5Inferno]

Gotcha.

By similar to the Stingray, what exactly are you looking for? Shape? Humbucking pick-ups? Active electronics? Feel?

It's hard because in my mind Music Man basses are rather unique (I've owned three; love the Sterlings) and their bright sound is different from any other bass out there.

IMHO the Stilleto is radically different from the Stingray.
Also with Schecter, like the OLP, the lower models are made in Korea (if that kind of thing matters to you).

Have you looked into the Warwick Rockbass line or any Ibanez?

[supermutt]

its not so musch the look im going for(not saying that stingrays dont look good) but its more of the sound. and again it doesnt matter to me where it was made just as long as it sounds good and doesnt feel like a toy. thats my main qualm about gewttingan olp. ive tried the warwicks but not the rockbass series. i was a little disssapointed by them though. they had great thump a lot of punch but when it came to the highs and mids, it kinda died off.

thats the reason why i love the stingray 5. i can get that bright slap sound( like flea). i also need to be able to dial in a rock tone. lots of lows and a lot of high mids for a little crunch(justin chancellor or jason newsted). as for plucking i want to be able to get a lot of punch with lots of high mids. or its a lot of lows for almost a dub sound (thats why i wanted that j at the neck).

i know that my sounds are very demanding but the stingray satisfied most of those needs.

ps. do you know if carvins are any good. they dont look great but it has a lot of the features im looking for. the only thing is that i cant test one out

[Dante5Inferno]

Unfortunately, I don't believe there are many basses out there that fit your specs for under $600. You might want to look into used Stingrays of G&L S-1500s (very similar IMHO to the Stingrays in sound and feel) in the Harmony Central classies, E-bay or your local music store.

Another option may be looking into a synthetic bass. I'm not a big fan (I like to feel the wood on the neck), but they may be able to fit your sound requirements (even Flea has a signature synthetic bass by Modulus). There are synthetic Ibanez basses in your price range.

As for Carvins, I've played a few and haven't been all that impressed. I'm not sure where you live, but there is a Carvin store on the Sunset Strip in LA.

Also, what are you playing though amp-wise? Obviously that will be a major factor in obtaining the sound you want. You might not even need to look for a bass with active electronics. For Load, Jason Newstead used a '58 P-Bass and an '81 Spector:
http://archive.bassplayer.com/artists/newsted.shtml

Ultimately when it comes down to it though, for your sound requirements, I think investing the extra money into a Music Man is worth it.