I apologize in advance if this title offends anyone and I really do appreciate great quality instruments.  However, on a tight budget, I want to pickup an electric bass to start playing in bass parts instead of using midi.  I use GR 5 Pro and have other amp sims.  So my question is, if I bought a Fender Squire Precision (for example) for $300 and sent it through the amp sims, will I notice a big difference compared to have used a much better bass?  

I realize that the way the bass feels is very important.  In my budget, I am not planning to use the bass for anything else but recording so if the action is not the greatest, I may be able to learn to live with that.  

Any comments?  I am researching Fender, Ibanez, and other brands at this point.  If you all have already discussed this question could you please point me to that thread if you know where it is?  

Thanks much.

Rimshot

Great question and don't feel bad for asking it. Although expensive instruments are nice, there's nothing wrong with lesser expensive instruments. The Squier stuff will sound fine for what you are trying to do. 

I had a Yamaha bass as my first, and to be honest, it sounded great. I think I paid $249 for it in about 1999.

Rimshot


I apologize in advance if this title offends anyone and I really do appreciate great quality instruments.  However, on a tight budget, I want to pickup an electric bass to start playing in bass parts instead of using midi.  I use GR 5 Pro and have other amp sims.  So my question is, if I bought a Fender Squire Precision (for example) for $300 and sent it through the amp sims, will I notice a big difference compared to have used a much better bass?  

I realize that the way the bass feels is very important.  In my budget, I am not planning to use the bass for anything else but recording so if the action is not the greatest, I may be able to learn to live with that.  

Any comments?  I am researching Fender, Ibanez, and other brands at this point.  If you all have already discussed this question could you please point me to that thread if you know where it is?  

Thanks much.

Rimshot

Squire Bass and replace the pickup with Seymour Duncan Quater Pounder pickup. ~$400 (depending on installation cost). No one will ever hear the difference. You could shop around for a "original" pup. They do pop up from time to time.

I bought my wife one of these:









Cause I liked the color. Now that color is on sale cause I may be the only one who liked that color.


It sounds great. It's gas to play because it uses a Baritone guitar scale length.


It's lighter than air.


My wife finally likes playing bass!!!




anyways...




best regards,
mike

bapu
Squire Bass and replace the pickup with Seymour Duncan Quater Pounder pickup. ~$400 (depending on installation cost). No one will ever hear the difference. You could shop around for a "original" pup. They do pop up from time to time.

 
I've been thinking of getting this, and changing the pick up per your spec ... any ideas, thoughts, or am I just being silly?
 
Fender Deluxe P Bass Special 4-String Bass ... every time I look at it, the pickups look rather cheap. Looking for that Mike Howlett "look" and style/sound, I suppose that you could say. Other than that the sound that John G Perry got on Caravan with his SG Bass on "For Girls who Grow Plump inthe Night", or the similar bass sound that Manfred Mann's Earth Band had during the 70's when that player was also using the SG (Colin Pattenden) ... of which I have the cheapie and have had a hard time with it ... small hands!

Moshkiae

bapu
Squire Bass and replace the pickup with Seymour Duncan Quater Pounder pickup. ~$400 (depending on installation cost). No one will ever hear the difference. You could shop around for a "original" pup. They do pop up from time to time.

 
I've been thinking of getting this, and changing the pick up per your spec ... any ideas, thoughts, or am I just being silly?
 
Fender Deluxe P Bass Special 4-String Bass ... every time I look at it, the pickups look rather cheap. Looking for that Mike Howlett "look" and style/sound, I suppose that you could say. Other than that the sound that John G Perry got on Caravan with his SG Bass on "For Girls who Grow Plump inthe Night", or the similar bass sound that Manfred Mann's Earth Band had during the 70's when that player was also using the SG ... of which I have the cheapie and have had a hard time with it ... small hands!

Small hands? Ibanez for sure then. I find them to small for my hands (from wristline to tip of middle finger is a hair under 8 inches).

Rimshot

 if I bought a Fender Squire Precision (for example) for $300 

$179 at Musicians friend, no case.

I love my Squier P-Bass. It's been through hell and back and still plays great. However the stock pickup isn't the greatest for recording and I'd like to replace it with something that has a little more oomph. The newer models may come with better pick ups though. This one is from the early 90's.

Beeps. Quater Pounder. See the link in post #3 herein.

If that's the pickup you recommended to me a few months ago I've got it in my bookmarks anxiously awaiting some cash to start flowing again. ;-)