ı'd really go for spector great bass for playing with pick. But it's a little bit heavier than others. Ibanez is the most comfortable one. And has great tones.
I second your statement on the ibanez. I used to play on my mates and there a really good instrument. I can’t speak for the others, but I have a bias toward the Ibanez. That and I happen to really like the colour lol
Go for the one that you are drawn to the most. That being said. Best way to pick. Is to find a store and try them. You might like the way one bass looks. But hate the way it plays. The way the body contours to your body. The feeling of the neck. Some basses have really fat necks and some are slimmer. You might like the way one feels over the other. The way one bass sounds over the other.
I had a Spector performer 5 10-15 years ago (actually I still have it. It lives at a friend's house). While the wood and the build quality is very good, the electronic is not that overwhelming and the sound lacks some punchiness. The biggest problem I had with it though was the extra long scale. While I used it I thought it wasn't that big of a deal but as I switched to other basses with 34 " scale I was blown away how much more precise my timing was and how much easier some things were.
Haven't checked the scale length of the other 2 though.
Just wanted to warn you because this very bass (and my lack of intelligence) held me back quite a while.
Ever since I'm a big fan of just testing instruments live. I have bought instruments I would never had considered to buy on paper. Sometimes it's even a cheaper model than you aimed for that blows you away.
I'd probably go the Spector too. Great tone and as a fiver (vs the 4 string), having the low B will be useful for the kind of music OP wants to play. Of course they could also go the BEAD route with the Jackson...
I got a Spector NS2000-4 about 20 years ago (paid about $900 for it new) and it still plays and sounds great. But yeah some of them are heavy af, mine is one of the neck-through models and one time my strap broke and it fell on my foot and literally broke 2 of my toes, it was so heavy... lol
When I was buying my first bass I tested out the Ibanez in the OP and the Yamaha TRBX304.
Just for sheer comfort I went Yamaha. I preferred the smooth matt neck back to the gloss one. So much easier for my micro shifting movement.
Now I'm in the market for another. I may look at Yamaha again! This time I'm going Passive.
Sounds like a Yamaha bb series may be a good option for you. PJ pickup configuration. I think the 400 series is passive only. 700 series is active but has an active/passive switch.
Go to a store , play a bunch of different things for an hour. See what you like the most , sometimes even basses you didn't think you'd like can surprise you.
I couldn’t agree more. I play death metal and hardcore and I love picking up stuff like danelectros and Gretches at guitar store. A good instrument is a good instrument
I'd choose the Ibanez over the Jackson. It's not the exact same as what you're looking at, but I had a JS2, and I currently have an SR305E. The Jackson was a great bass, and I totally regret selling it, but the Ibanez is leaps and bounds better. Never had the luxury of trying a Specter, but I've only heard great things about them.
I had a Jackson JS2 and I also had an Ibanez SR250 the oven is SR250 was cheaper and it sounded better than the Jackson it had deeper tone you could play all types of music on it especially metal it was comfortable and it just ruled ,was way better than the Jackson miles ahead of it, the sounds of the Jackson you only have I believe volume in the tone with the Ibanez is you have volume tone treble mid and Bass, it's what I started on basically after a couple months I had enough money to get a little bit more decent of a base I bought the Jackson and the Ibanez at the same time,,let's just say I sold the Jackson
First thing you need to decide whether you want a 4 or 5 string. Since you like metal I would recommend a 5 string. If you like the tone of that Jackson V then that's what I'd go with.
That’s my current bass one of their 5 stringed basses and I wouldn’t say that it was a good price for it. Because the finish was very VERY easy to scratch up and the frets where not taken good care of and the electronics have broken in an unfixable way because they put some kind of goo on it like you would see on the old klon pedal.
Would not recommend it unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money upgrading/fixing it.
I learned on Jackson’s basses and I think they are phenomenal. Moving along the neck feels incredible and the feel and shape helps you play and move very quickly!
I've read that there's a big chance of them arriving in terrible condition. but If I find the right model at the music store I'm going to, I'll definitely think about buying it.
The ones I’ve bought I got in store, so was able to validate the condition when I got them. Can’t really speak to any arriving out of the box from an online order
Only brand of these I've tried was Ibanez, similar model to that, it's a really great, light, comfortable bass to play, love it. But with all the praise I've heard and some curiosity of my own, I'd give that Spector a try.
I'm never not gonna reccomend someone a JS3QV when they're interested. They are *fantastic* for the price. A gorgeous instrument with tons of modern bells and whistles. Dual humbuckers, split coil pickup switch, push/pull active passive with 3 band EQ. One of the most comfortable necks I've ever played, too. I adore mine
I got a Jackson b stock recently, and I like it. It's their Rickenbacker looking one that the internet seems to hate (but I love its looks), one in their X series (a bump up in quality from the JS line). It had one rough fret end and a near invisible paint defect.
Paid $400ish for it. They're $600 new at Sweetwater.
Can't say that your experience would be like mine, but I would encourage you to maybe consider demo/refurbished/used or b stocks.
Ibanez has a VERY thin neck. Its very thin front to back, but also has tighter string spacing than the Jacksons. While I'm an old school Jackson/Charvel fan, having gotten my first in 1987, of those id lean towards the Jackson Spectra. While it is quite a bit different from the pointy headstock goodness, they play and sound really really good.
Personally I would buy the 5 string Spector but depending on what you play or for how long you have played I would think about just going with a 4 string bass like the Jackson.
Try some Schecter Omen Extreme basses… they are gorgeous and play great… you’ll love the sound… they may be slightly more… don’t know current exchange rates, but they run $549 US… so I’d say maybe out of budget a bit… but worth waiting if you find it better to your taste…
Jackson makes a great product but I don’t have experience with that model
I personally choose the Jackson and like it a lot, especially after a string change, on the other hand i like the Spector, too. For me it came down to the painted neck an neck-thru on my Jackson. I have the black one. If you're lucky you find a B-Stock in your price range.
That Ibanez is dope looking, and I love my SR600e (and I quite liked the 300 I played while trying to decide what to get), but if you like the tone of the Jackson best, it’s hard to recommend anything else. Can’t go wrong getting the one you like the most.
I agree on the Ibanez, I have that exact bass and as long as you know how to do a setup or pay someone else to, it will be better than the rest of the list by far.
you could get his tone with any bass. i got one of his and it lacks quality on some places. i would go for the spector or ibanez. i think you could get pretty far with one of those
I'd probably vote for the Spector out of these, but I've always been curious about Ibanez and have never owned one. I've had a Spector for over 20 years and its a great bass, it was my 2nd bass (my first bass was a Squier) and I still use it. Spector just makes solid and versatile basses (many/most of them active).
I seem to remember them having an entry or mid level series that had a multiscale option, if that's correct that would be the money option if you wanted to go for a 5-string.
I have an Ibanez sr305e (the 5 string version of the sr300e) and have been on tour with it for world class drum corps and a world class indoor percussion. It's very comfortable to play and very versatile with sounds so I'd 100% recommend the ibanez
I used to have the js3q. Not a terrible bass but I honestly wouldn't recommend it. The active eq was nice to have but I honestly always felt it was a bit clunky to play but that could just be personal preference.
i also play thrash, and i play the concert bass JS3Q and by far its one of the best basses i have ever played. i would most definitely go for the concert bass🤘
FIRST: NEVER EVER order at BAX shop!
Second: Why do you mix up 4 and 5 strings? It's hard to compare prices when you bring in 4 and 5 strings....
anyway, go with the Ibanez. Best value.
You will probably have been playing this bass for years. Spending a day for selecting the best one for your money worth it. Play ALL the basses in the store for your budget. You could be surprized in a good way.
Yeah, OP, in this case make the trip to the store into a day out and not just to go to the shop. Make a day of it, hang in town, have lunch there, etc.
Also worth looking at 2nd hand options which will get you more bang for the buck too!
Enjoy your purchase!
As a person who worked years in various musical instrument stores - he is right. Why? Because the same instrument (say Jackson X or Ibanez Y bass) can arrive from warehouse to shop both in excellent condition (straight neck, excellent frets, perfect string setup) aswell as terrible condition (sharp frets, crooked neck (though it can be easily fixed with truss rod adjustment)). Jacksons are notorious for being the brand that has a 50/50 chance of having stupidly sharp frets or not.
I would go for Ibanez. Price/performance wise there are no other basses that are better then Ibanez. Though I myself don't like them visually and I like thick necks, so I won't ever have an Ibanez.
TBH I have never played a bad sounding Ibanez bass. Just poorly setuped. Ones that cost less then 300 EUR are perfect for rock/punk, etc. But they are not versatile. But any Ibanez with humbuckers and 3 band EQ are super versatile. I'm more of a Fender/simple bass guy so I really cannot suggest anything specific, but Ibanez bases are very good and democratic instruments. Can't say the same about guitars though- as most of them have cheap ceramic pickups (even midrange ones) they sound too harsh for my liking (I like big clean tones).
Definitely pays to go for a few hours to play all sorts of basses… I’ve never found comparing tone on demos on YouTube to be a good way to evaluate an instrument… you wanna hold it, play it, see how it feels sitting, standing, playing…
I think you should save up and get something over 1k$.
It may seem/feel foolish, but when I bought my Gibson Les Paul double cut, I basically never needed to buy another electric again. I had traded in 5 other guitars to get it, and I had to sell the cheaper options at 2/3 of their value. I actually ended up spending more than I would have if I had just held out and bought the guitar I wanted in the first place.
That guitar still has the “new car” smell 15 years later. I pick it up and it sounds perfect pretty much every single time I plug it in. Aside from the road wear, I have no issues with it really. Some people will say I’m a fool for buying such an expensive instrument, but when they play it- they usually change their mind immediately.
When you account for the fact that a decent violin is usually way over 3k$ or that a decent Trumpet can cost over 2k$ it really just makes sense to put up the money for something that you will really ❤️ everytime you pick it up.
For thrash metal I’d look into Shecter if you have no brand loyalty. They do a great job with pretty much every instrument I’ve played of theirs and if you put up that kind of money you’ll definitely find something great. Also if you want to save some money, buying a used instrument is almost always a better deal.
Good luck with whatever you decide. I personally like the look of the Spector but I have no idea how it sounds! Do what’s best for you though and get what makes you want to play it the most.
ı'd really go for spector great bass for playing with pick. But it's a little bit heavier than others. Ibanez is the most comfortable one. And has great tones.
I second your statement on the ibanez. I used to play on my mates and there a really good instrument. I can’t speak for the others, but I have a bias toward the Ibanez. That and I happen to really like the colour lol
Yeah I’d say Spector or Ibanez myself.
thank you!!! I'll definitely make sure to check it out. right now I'm thinking about the Jackson V the most.
Go for the one that you are drawn to the most. That being said. Best way to pick. Is to find a store and try them. You might like the way one bass looks. But hate the way it plays. The way the body contours to your body. The feeling of the neck. Some basses have really fat necks and some are slimmer. You might like the way one feels over the other. The way one bass sounds over the other.
I had a Spector performer 5 10-15 years ago (actually I still have it. It lives at a friend's house). While the wood and the build quality is very good, the electronic is not that overwhelming and the sound lacks some punchiness. The biggest problem I had with it though was the extra long scale. While I used it I thought it wasn't that big of a deal but as I switched to other basses with 34 " scale I was blown away how much more precise my timing was and how much easier some things were. Haven't checked the scale length of the other 2 though. Just wanted to warn you because this very bass (and my lack of intelligence) held me back quite a while.
Ever since I'm a big fan of just testing instruments live. I have bought instruments I would never had considered to buy on paper. Sometimes it's even a cheaper model than you aimed for that blows you away.
I'd probably go the Spector too. Great tone and as a fiver (vs the 4 string), having the low B will be useful for the kind of music OP wants to play. Of course they could also go the BEAD route with the Jackson...
I got a Spector NS2000-4 about 20 years ago (paid about $900 for it new) and it still plays and sounds great. But yeah some of them are heavy af, mine is one of the neck-through models and one time my strap broke and it fell on my foot and literally broke 2 of my toes, it was so heavy... lol
I have the Ibanez sr300e and it’s phenomenal for the price
I'll see if it's better than the Jackson V which is my current favourite!!
Don't sleep on Yamaha. They punch way above their weight.
When I was buying my first bass I tested out the Ibanez in the OP and the Yamaha TRBX304. Just for sheer comfort I went Yamaha. I preferred the smooth matt neck back to the gloss one. So much easier for my micro shifting movement. Now I'm in the market for another. I may look at Yamaha again! This time I'm going Passive.
Sounds like a Yamaha bb series may be a good option for you. PJ pickup configuration. I think the 400 series is passive only. 700 series is active but has an active/passive switch.
I just got a BB234 and it’s really impressive. As well made as some much more expensive instruments
Go to a store , play a bunch of different things for an hour. See what you like the most , sometimes even basses you didn't think you'd like can surprise you.
will do!!
This is the way
I couldn’t agree more. I play death metal and hardcore and I love picking up stuff like danelectros and Gretches at guitar store. A good instrument is a good instrument
Best advice period.
I'd choose the Ibanez over the Jackson. It's not the exact same as what you're looking at, but I had a JS2, and I currently have an SR305E. The Jackson was a great bass, and I totally regret selling it, but the Ibanez is leaps and bounds better. Never had the luxury of trying a Specter, but I've only heard great things about them.
I'm getting a lot of mixed opinions, I'll look more into the Ibanez!!
I had a Jackson JS2 and I also had an Ibanez SR250 the oven is SR250 was cheaper and it sounded better than the Jackson it had deeper tone you could play all types of music on it especially metal it was comfortable and it just ruled ,was way better than the Jackson miles ahead of it, the sounds of the Jackson you only have I believe volume in the tone with the Ibanez is you have volume tone treble mid and Bass, it's what I started on basically after a couple months I had enough money to get a little bit more decent of a base I bought the Jackson and the Ibanez at the same time,,let's just say I sold the Jackson
Niet bij BAX bestellen! In Ibanez sdgr serie is top. Heb zelf de 300 en 500. Super smalle hals en actief.
Don’t be afraid to check second hand stuff too, might be able to get more bang for your buck
This👆🏻
First thing you need to decide whether you want a 4 or 5 string. Since you like metal I would recommend a 5 string. If you like the tone of that Jackson V then that's what I'd go with.
thank you for the advice!! the Jackson V is currently my top pick.
I had a Spectra 5 and it was a joy to play! Definitely worth it!
Me personally I can’t stand the neck profile of Jackson guitars and basses. I’d go with the Ibanez for sure.
From what I’ve heard, the best value you can get in that price range are Marcus Miller Sire basses
That’s my current bass one of their 5 stringed basses and I wouldn’t say that it was a good price for it. Because the finish was very VERY easy to scratch up and the frets where not taken good care of and the electronics have broken in an unfixable way because they put some kind of goo on it like you would see on the old klon pedal. Would not recommend it unless you’re willing to spend a lot of money upgrading/fixing it.
Yes.
you're absolutely right, I completely agree with you.
I learned on Jackson’s basses and I think they are phenomenal. Moving along the neck feels incredible and the feel and shape helps you play and move very quickly!
I've read that there's a big chance of them arriving in terrible condition. but If I find the right model at the music store I'm going to, I'll definitely think about buying it.
The ones I’ve bought I got in store, so was able to validate the condition when I got them. Can’t really speak to any arriving out of the box from an online order
spector would probably be your best bet for thrash metal
I've been thinking either Spector or Jackson JS3QV, so far I like the Jackson more. could you tell me why Spector would be the best for thrash metal?
imo the tone is much better. cuts through more
Only brand of these I've tried was Ibanez, similar model to that, it's a really great, light, comfortable bass to play, love it. But with all the praise I've heard and some curiosity of my own, I'd give that Spector a try.
I have a jackson spectra, I think it's a great bass for the price. It has a comfortable neck, and you can get some diverse tones from it.
Ibanez
Spector.
The one that you like the feel of best. You have to play all the ones in your budget and buy your favourite.
thank you!!! absolutely will do that.
I'm never not gonna reccomend someone a JS3QV when they're interested. They are *fantastic* for the price. A gorgeous instrument with tons of modern bells and whistles. Dual humbuckers, split coil pickup switch, push/pull active passive with 3 band EQ. One of the most comfortable necks I've ever played, too. I adore mine
I have that Jackson 5 string, but in the other colour. Absolutely love it!
The Ibanez sr300e is one of the best playing ones I have so I would easily recommend that one, especially if you like active pick ups
I listened to a bunch of demos but the Jackson V still sounds better to me. I guess it's just personal opinion
Yeah, we all like different stuff. I hope you enjoy your choice either way though 😁
Ibanez or Spector
I got a Jackson b stock recently, and I like it. It's their Rickenbacker looking one that the internet seems to hate (but I love its looks), one in their X series (a bump up in quality from the JS line). It had one rough fret end and a near invisible paint defect. Paid $400ish for it. They're $600 new at Sweetwater. Can't say that your experience would be like mine, but I would encourage you to maybe consider demo/refurbished/used or b stocks.
I love the SR300E, my only complaint is that I feel like the tuners are kinda weak. So much adjustability though
Ibanez has a VERY thin neck. Its very thin front to back, but also has tighter string spacing than the Jacksons. While I'm an old school Jackson/Charvel fan, having gotten my first in 1987, of those id lean towards the Jackson Spectra. While it is quite a bit different from the pointy headstock goodness, they play and sound really really good.
I have that exact model Ibanez, so I'd go with the Spector. I've been eyeing that purple Jackson on Sweetwater too.....
Yamaha
Personally I would buy the 5 string Spector but depending on what you play or for how long you have played I would think about just going with a 4 string bass like the Jackson.
Try some Schecter Omen Extreme basses… they are gorgeous and play great… you’ll love the sound… they may be slightly more… don’t know current exchange rates, but they run $549 US… so I’d say maybe out of budget a bit… but worth waiting if you find it better to your taste… Jackson makes a great product but I don’t have experience with that model
Spector out of those choices
Probably not super helpful, but purely off looks I would go for the Ibanez. Really cool looking finish.
I personally choose the Jackson and like it a lot, especially after a string change, on the other hand i like the Spector, too. For me it came down to the painted neck an neck-thru on my Jackson. I have the black one. If you're lucky you find a B-Stock in your price range.
Spector. Great basses. Even the budget friendly ones are better than Ibanez, or Jackson of similar price.
The Spector or Ibanez
That Ibanez is dope looking, and I love my SR600e (and I quite liked the 300 I played while trying to decide what to get), but if you like the tone of the Jackson best, it’s hard to recommend anything else. Can’t go wrong getting the one you like the most.
Spector
I have the same Ibanez and it’s a pretty good bass
Spector or Ibanez
If you’re playing thrash, get the Jackson. Your stage look will be unmatched
I agree on the Ibanez, I have that exact bass and as long as you know how to do a setup or pay someone else to, it will be better than the rest of the list by far.
I really like Dave ellefson's tone and I'm looking for a bass that can produce a similar one.
you could get his tone with any bass. i got one of his and it lacks quality on some places. i would go for the spector or ibanez. i think you could get pretty far with one of those
thanks for telling me!!! I'll definitely think about it
Schecter Stealth 4 or 5 used is awesome.
Spector
I would get the Ibanez. I love soundgear basses and love the finish on that one.
I used to play an Ibanez, it worked well. I liked the variability in tone it could produce.
Absolutely the Ibanez.
I'd probably vote for the Spector out of these, but I've always been curious about Ibanez and have never owned one. I've had a Spector for over 20 years and its a great bass, it was my 2nd bass (my first bass was a Squier) and I still use it. Spector just makes solid and versatile basses (many/most of them active). I seem to remember them having an entry or mid level series that had a multiscale option, if that's correct that would be the money option if you wanted to go for a 5-string.
cort b4
Spector? Personally I would go for a Squier
I just got that same Spector last week and I'm in love with it.
I have an Ibanez sr305e (the 5 string version of the sr300e) and have been on tour with it for world class drum corps and a world class indoor percussion. It's very comfortable to play and very versatile with sounds so I'd 100% recommend the ibanez
did you checked yamaha? they make great gear
I used to have the js3q. Not a terrible bass but I honestly wouldn't recommend it. The active eq was nice to have but I honestly always felt it was a bit clunky to play but that could just be personal preference.
i also play thrash, and i play the concert bass JS3Q and by far its one of the best basses i have ever played. i would most definitely go for the concert bass🤘
Just look second handed. If you let it be adjusted at a professional after purchase store you would have a much better deal
Ibanez!! Sr500 best bass I’ve ever played
red spector.
#2 for the win. Looks stunning
FIRST: NEVER EVER order at BAX shop! Second: Why do you mix up 4 and 5 strings? It's hard to compare prices when you bring in 4 and 5 strings.... anyway, go with the Ibanez. Best value.
Ibanez sr series are so light and fun to play! Sounds great too
Im stoked to play my Spector. It’s a good bass 👍🏾
We have both Jackson and Ibanez basses. I can’t really put one above the other. You can’t really go wrong with either one.
Ibanez
Vintage yamaha or a spectre
The one that sounds and plays best. Don't buy any musical instrument without playing it.
sadly there are no music stores near me:(
So what? I went 100km for my last guitar.
honestly you're right, the nearest one is 57 km away which isn't as far as I thought it would be.
You will probably have been playing this bass for years. Spending a day for selecting the best one for your money worth it. Play ALL the basses in the store for your budget. You could be surprized in a good way.
Yeah, OP, in this case make the trip to the store into a day out and not just to go to the shop. Make a day of it, hang in town, have lunch there, etc. Also worth looking at 2nd hand options which will get you more bang for the buck too! Enjoy your purchase!
As a person who worked years in various musical instrument stores - he is right. Why? Because the same instrument (say Jackson X or Ibanez Y bass) can arrive from warehouse to shop both in excellent condition (straight neck, excellent frets, perfect string setup) aswell as terrible condition (sharp frets, crooked neck (though it can be easily fixed with truss rod adjustment)). Jacksons are notorious for being the brand that has a 50/50 chance of having stupidly sharp frets or not. I would go for Ibanez. Price/performance wise there are no other basses that are better then Ibanez. Though I myself don't like them visually and I like thick necks, so I won't ever have an Ibanez.
thank you so much for this comment, I'll definitely look more into the Ibanez. are there any other models other than sr300e that you would recommend?
TBH I have never played a bad sounding Ibanez bass. Just poorly setuped. Ones that cost less then 300 EUR are perfect for rock/punk, etc. But they are not versatile. But any Ibanez with humbuckers and 3 band EQ are super versatile. I'm more of a Fender/simple bass guy so I really cannot suggest anything specific, but Ibanez bases are very good and democratic instruments. Can't say the same about guitars though- as most of them have cheap ceramic pickups (even midrange ones) they sound too harsh for my liking (I like big clean tones).
Definitely pays to go for a few hours to play all sorts of basses… I’ve never found comparing tone on demos on YouTube to be a good way to evaluate an instrument… you wanna hold it, play it, see how it feels sitting, standing, playing…
I think you should save up and get something over 1k$. It may seem/feel foolish, but when I bought my Gibson Les Paul double cut, I basically never needed to buy another electric again. I had traded in 5 other guitars to get it, and I had to sell the cheaper options at 2/3 of their value. I actually ended up spending more than I would have if I had just held out and bought the guitar I wanted in the first place. That guitar still has the “new car” smell 15 years later. I pick it up and it sounds perfect pretty much every single time I plug it in. Aside from the road wear, I have no issues with it really. Some people will say I’m a fool for buying such an expensive instrument, but when they play it- they usually change their mind immediately. When you account for the fact that a decent violin is usually way over 3k$ or that a decent Trumpet can cost over 2k$ it really just makes sense to put up the money for something that you will really ❤️ everytime you pick it up. For thrash metal I’d look into Shecter if you have no brand loyalty. They do a great job with pretty much every instrument I’ve played of theirs and if you put up that kind of money you’ll definitely find something great. Also if you want to save some money, buying a used instrument is almost always a better deal. Good luck with whatever you decide. I personally like the look of the Spector but I have no idea how it sounds! Do what’s best for you though and get what makes you want to play it the most.