Love your videos! Been playing for 40+years and am not a bass player but because of you being you, I find myself loving your channel.

Picked up the Action Jackson! What a great playing bass! Great content as always! Thanks for your thorough reviews and keep jammin'! 🤙

Good commentary. Thanks for the info.

Thank you sir that was informative.

Your best quality is the no bullshit approach . Bravo , sir .

As someone who bought a NG3-5 in gold (when it released 2021) I absolutely love it and I feel like I would never have gotten into 5 string bass if not for it. Also now getting a Dingwall PJ (pricey) but now I'm just a dingwall fan.

Pretty cool list, bully. Based on your list, I would definitely say the Jackson spectra is the best bass. I’ve tried one out at a guitar center a few years ago and it sounds awesome. The one I’ve tried was a js3v model In a silver burst finish and I thought it looked phenomenal. And I will say that Personally I’m not a big fan of thunderbird basses. It just doesn’t appeal to me at all. I would like to share that one of the best basses I own is a Yamaha bb235. Considering that it’s a lower leveled bass, it does sounds phenomenal. It’s passive, punchy, and it sounds incredible with effects. I highly recommend this bass and other Yamaha basses. Especially since they’re underrated.

Dont know how I have not stumbled upon your channel before today but definitely subsrcribing👍

@BullyThaKidd

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you and welcome

Just subscribed ..been looking into taking my playing to the next stage, and am looking to upgrade to something "semi-pro"...after playing a Warwick...I fell in love with modern-esq basses (am a vintage guitar nerd) so I stopped into GC today...looking for active basses...played an Ibanez SR300...a Stirling active 5string...and the saw the Jackson Pro Spectra......plucked, thumped, and slapped that for 2 hours. Will be trading up....hands down, the best sub $1,000 bass I've graced

I have the Fender American Performer p/j bass and couldn't be happier. Fell in love with it straight away. I am going to have to go in to Sweetwater and try out one of the Jackson basses you mentioned. I am looking for a 5 string.

@josevega7498

2 жыл бұрын

i was going to buy that jackson he mentioned but ended up getting a fender because they didnt have it anymore but the jackson is way more expensive now than when i wwas gonna buy it it went up like 500 dollars

Andy Fraser from "Free" sounded great doing a funky finger-style on his EB-3. At a recent 201? concert (triple bill- Paul Rodgers, Anne Wilson, Jeff Beck) The bass player with Anne Wilson had an EB-3 and it was very well defined in the mix .

@kevmac1230

2 жыл бұрын

Andy was a great player.

Hello Bully, I have a Ibanez EH and I can't put it down, it is becoming my go to bass. But the residual chunk of headstock is capable of letting it be hung. I thought the same as you but Ibanez had it figured out. It hangs just fine.

I have an Ibanez EHB 5 string and you can hang them with the newer hercules hangers and the narrow neck sleeves. It has more than enough to grab onto with the slight flare where the headstock would be.

Yeah, the EB 3. You could stay in the back and hold down the rhythm if the head stock doesn’t snap in two. I agree with your picks.

I love my Epiphone EB 3. Works and plays great for me. I like old school tone and sound but thats just my opinion. I did have a bit of a neck dive issue but i fixed it by extending the strap a little longer and then looping a leather string around the headstock. Are there better basses that play and sound better for the money? Probably yes. But for now i am happy keeping this in my Bass Stable and using it when i see fit.

I love the Japanese Squiers from the last Eighties.

I bought an Epiphone EB-0 because I love the SG body look.I like every thing about it as it was Approx.$225. And it's well made. That said with one pup in the neck pos. it is very limited,no slap with this bass.But I find it a nice comfortable player.I put a Lace Alumatone in the bridge position and now it's a horse of a different color.

I own the Jackson pro series spectra 5. It is a tonal beast. The pickups sound great active or passive. The on-board preamp is great. It does not have a time nob for passive mode though, which is my only complaint. It has an extended scale so the b string sounds a lot tighter then other 5-strings. The neck is fast. Yeah it is unbelievably great.

I love my 1986 Ibanez Roadstar II rb650 bass I play it more than my Dean VX guitar I wish Ibanez can remake the Roadstar II basses because they feel so good especially playing Grunge like I use it for.

#Respeck on how even you were about your likes and dislikes. I always get frustrated when people state their opinions as facts. Good reviews, great video!

Hello Bully ! I’m from Belgium (Europa). Since Covid period and war in Ukraine war, average price for Player PBass went from 649€ to 859€ in Europe (Thomann). But, wait, they now have a special edition with British Racing Green and SD quarter pound pickup for 1045€ 😅 Things are going nuts and I am wondering if Fender isn’t scamming their customer with such prices ? I did order a Squier Sonic PBass, it should arrive tomorrow. It did cost 188€ (shipment included from Thomann). I ordered it because of the thinner neck and body. Tuning machines and pickup will probably be replaced as I don’t have high expectations regarding those areas. My only hope is the neck and frets will be ok. Keep on with the good work 👍

Great picks in this video. My favorite bass of 2021 is my 2021 Squier Jazz V. For the price it can't be beat.

Happy I bought myself a HB PB20 ;)

would love to hear/see your opinions on 6 string basses...preferably the more affordable ones....(but not IBZ Gio's).

@BullyThaKidd

Жыл бұрын

That's not a bad idea

I absolutely love the look of the epiphone EB-3. Unfortunately, I find it’s sound to be very lackluster and muddy. What a shame.

Thanks for the review Bully. Merry Christmas

I bought a new Mike Lull passive jazz 5 string for $2600. I knew Mike back when I lived in Seattle. I sold my 63 Jazz to Mike years earlier. Within two years the truss rod stopped working on a mind you $2600 dollar bass. I had medium strings on it. I even took the neck off and put it in a setup with a c clamp in the middle with a back bow for two days. I could only use the bass with the lightest strings I could find. I should have paid the $100 upgrade to get a quarter sawn neck. I guess I could have had it steamed but that’s only a temporary fix. After that I switched to a Sire and had neck issues with that. Bought a classic vibe and that had issues. I then bought a squire infinity jazz and switched out the pickups. The five string infinity has been the most stable of all of them. It seems that the real issue is that the wood used on the basses aren’t cured, it’s probably coming from small young trees. By far the best bass I’ve ever owned was the 63 Jazz bass. It weighed less than 7lbs. It was white with an ash body. I put it on layaway at the Guitar Trader back when Jennifer Battan was giving guitar lessons there. I only paid $750 for the bass. I told Ed the owner, you could probably sell this thing if you put some new strings on it. He threw me a set and as soon as I plugged it in I said I’ll take it. He let me put it on layaway for six months and did the same on a mint condition SVT. Guys like Ed were one in a million and should never be forgotten. They are the unsung hero’s of the business putting great tools in players hands. Back in SD in the late ‘70s you had to play either a P bass, jazz bass or a musicman along with the SVT as your amp to get a full time well paid gig.

I'm with you on the P Bass thing, I've played dozens of them all different price ranges, all sound the same to me. J basses a different kettle of fish By the way Bully did you find the electronics on the Jackson a bit noisy ?

@BullyThaKidd

Жыл бұрын

not on mine... i have read that on some blog pages though

Great stuff, was turned on to your channel by Low End Lobster AND I see you got Raider gear in the back ground! LETS GO! RAIIIIIDAHHHS!

I did like the 21 NR Thunderbird. Lobster sent me here, subscribed

Thanks Bully. That Jackson is intriguing.

Just wondering if you have tried any of the schecter or G&L basses at all?

I ordered an NG3 5 string, and though I loved its tones and playability, it had some minor construction issues that as I was told they didn't have to repair them because the overall sound of the bass was not affected....I sent it back and now I just can't trust dingwall for another order.

@BullyThaKidd

Жыл бұрын

Wow.. that's unfortunate

Great video Bully!! Quick question for you...Fender American Professional I versus Fender American Professional II....I have the Fender American Professional I Jazz bass and was wondering how much of an "upgrade" the American Professional II is (if at all)? Also, in your opinion, what's the difference in sound among other things? Thanks so much for this channel!!

@BullyThaKidd

2 жыл бұрын

I think it feels better... and they changer the combo of pick ups on the p

I just bought a Jackson Guitars Pro Series Spectra Bass SBP IV, Caramelized Jatoba Fingerboard - Transparent Black Burst. I agree they agree total sleepers. Amazing tones and feel. I was really surprised at how much sustain they have considering how light they are. I love the Fender P and jazz basses, but , this one just gives me fuller richer tones. I have tried it with flat wound, round wound and tape wound strings all have unique qualities and give the instrument and different vibe. Absolutely love it. An all arounder bass for what I think is a really affordable price point for what you get.

I wish you elaborated on the gretsch. Was it the shape? Tone? Lack of output? Ergonomics? I’ve been looking for an old-school bass like the Cassidy or guild and would love to have heard your take on this gretsch. You didn’t mention one thing which led me to believe you felt it was so bad it wasn’t even worthy of words. Thank you for your list though. I really enjoy your content. Peace!

Thanks for the review! 👊😎👍😁

Great video, really enjoyed this over my morning coffee. Greetings for Wales, UK 👍😀

I have fender player and its worst than my old squier afinity.

SOLID REVIEW Bully!! Thanks very much. Would have loved to hear the Musicman in your list of “best of 2021”, but I appreciate that they are not for everyone. Keep up the great work!

Absolutely agree on the Fender Player P Bass.

I'm with you on the player p bass. I tried one. I was dissapointed. I did buy a player jazz, but I had to change the bridge, the electronics and as always my hipshot. Now its great but the fender logo doesn't warrant the price.

I have that exact Spectra bass. I paid $850 with a coupon at GC and agree that it is a fantastic bass. It looks like an Ibanez but is so much better quality. I did have to take it in for warranty repair because the battery was dying even with nothing plugged in. I don't love the color but it sounded so good when I played it, I just had to have it. It is one of my favorite "sounding" basses and I own 13.

@aaronwright6891

Жыл бұрын

I got one last year. Best bass I have personally owned. I was torn between it and the American j-bass 5. Jackson won it because $$$.

@danielroos5426

Жыл бұрын

@@aaronwright6891 It sounds amazingly good and is well built for the money. I would rank it over my two Stingray HH's on every aspect except the color and those were $2300 basses.

I don't even play or have a bass, idk what I'm even doing but im diggin the background music, is yours?

@BullyThaKidd

2 жыл бұрын

Yep

Checked out Lowend Lobster Amp and now Bully one more and it's live stream time looking forward to it

Ok boss. You mentioned Texas. What's your fav BBQ spot? I got to ask......

Love my HB JB 75 $130 + $35 ship sounds amazing only neg is heavy But sounds as good if not better than Fenders at $600 to $1000

I've always felt that Fender logo adds $500 to the price. Happy New Year to you and family.

I agree. I love the Fender American Preformer Pj bass ( they say P bass)

Jack Bruce while in Cream played and EBO as did Felix in Mountain. Jack played through a Marshall stack and Felix played through a Sunn 2000s. The Sunn had JBL D140’s in it. It had a low end bass switch that Felix used 24/7 on his rig. Both those guys were the first guys that played with more of a lead style because there was no keyboard or second guitar to fill things up. Believe it or not Jack Bruce was a big influence on Nathan East. kzread.info/dash/bejne/aXyazbWzo9zOYag.html

Nice. I love my CV 60s P bass and hate all the player basses sounds. I love love my Fender P bass ii with a maple fretboard. The CV and ii play so easily.

I've had an Epi EB-3 for years - absolutely love it. There's some good tones to be found if you take the time to look for them. I'm not disagreeing with you, it's probably not the best bass for slap, funk etc, although the bridge pickup can be real bright - really cuts through. Aaaaand, I'm playing Rock, so it really works for me. Also, I'm not really a bassist. I'm a guitarist who dabbles (a lot!). I love the feel of it's wonderfully slim neck, it's a fantastic player. (I also have a Squier PJ that I really enjoy too.) Love your channel. Thanks for the great content! Wishing you and your family all the best for the New Year, and greetings from Essex, U.K.

@josephcorner4201

2 жыл бұрын

bullythakidd uk gang

@Owen-ne6pe

2 жыл бұрын

yeh nah an epi eb-3 is probably the worst for slap so i can see why he doesnt like it

I agree with the list.

The best ones are for you guys KZread Talking Heads, the worst ones are for us, poor masses of subscribers. The only good and positive thing is, that you can grab a good and simultaneously fairly cheap bass these days, especially a second-hand one. Who cares about Dingwalls. Most of us will have no chance to put our hands on it ever.

@BullyThaKidd

2 жыл бұрын

So you think that we as youtube people are different than you. You can get any bass you want and think what you do about it. If u search where they are you can play them. Then if you have the money available you can buy it. If not you leave with the experience. I don't understand the comment.

2 bases I bought in 2021. Sterling by MM Stingray Ray34HH Stealth Black. $899, though now over 1k. The roasted maple neck is freakin awesome. The range of sounds is amazing. Definitely a great bass and worth 900 bucks. The other was an American Pro II Fretless Jazz bass in Dark Night. A great bass with great tone and playability. Glad I got both before the price increases....paid 1499. see they are are 1799 on the fender site.

Does the Non-Reverse Thunderbird have better balance? Does it still have the massive neck dive of the regular Thunderbird?

I'll add I've liked the Fender Player basses I've tried, but I agree about the price tag issue. By the time you get a case for it, you're pretty well into American Fender range. Might as well just do that.

No Spector?

It’s an honest and good list I would stand by it.

Love this list, Bully! I have only played one Gretch in my life and never look at one again! LOL!

Bully, there's lots of info on Talkbass from owners discussing how to hang the EHB. I dont want to be wrong so I'll point you there instead of saying what I remember

Good list- I have one of those Gretschs put some TV -Jones pickups in it and put flat rounds on it and a neck mute and it's a groove monster .... Just my two cents

@Bully Have you played any of the Sandberg basses? If so….What’s your thoughts?

pretty sure I have seen a wall stand for the EHB.think 5hey were custom made it was hand fixed to the wall hope this helps

Those player series p basses went up and are now at $799, i totally agree with you on that one 😵‍💫

@DeodateDivision96

2 жыл бұрын

They are $950 in my country. So many better options at that price imo

@NoMoreMrNice

2 жыл бұрын

They went up again, actually. They now list for $849.

In Australia the price difference between the Squier Classic Vibe P-Bass to the Fender Player P-Bass is $270. For that extra $270 I'll have the Fender sticker on my headstock thanks.

Great video! Thank you for making it and taking the time to share your opinions.

great video but have a question. I am a very new player. I heard you mention on the Ibanez that you couldn't hang it. is it better for a bass to hung rather than on a stand? thanks for your time

Oh yes this was a great video no complaints here I agree with the list that Gretsch bass OMG

It is just your opinion - that's why we love ya, sir

I enjoyed your take on these instruments, but I respectfully disagree with your take on the Player Precision. There are more differences in quality of material & workmanship between a Player series and a HB than there are between a Player series and an American Standard, by my measure. I can't help but think you put that out there to ruffle feathers though, as the player series has been out for several years though (tee hee!). I've owned American Fenders, Mexican Fenders, Squiers, and any number of import Fender copies over the last 30+ years, and I build basses from scratch, so I have a pretty informed opinion, but its all just opinions. While there are some lemons out there as far as MIM (or American for that matter) Fender basses, they still consistently out-perform the others consistently. I personally don't think the American models are superior enough to justify costing double what a MIM does, especially if you think the MIM is overpriced! I'd love to sit around and debate this with you all day! Great video- got me to subscribe!

I agree with all your dislikes, especially the SG bass, I've always thought those were junk lol even the Gibson version. Harley Benton is really impressing me with their specs lately, ash bodies for $150?? That might actually be what I buy next lol.

@MuRpHyKn0t

2 жыл бұрын

Good luck ever getting your hands on it. I ordered a Harley Benton this past April. Every time the shipping date came due they backed it up by a few more months. I finally gave up in November when they pushed it back to April of this year and cancelled my order.

thanks for the review - I'd get Fender American Performer if it was available as a 5 string. I don't get why J Player is available as 5 string and PJ Performer isn't.

@MattyBoJangles

Жыл бұрын

I got a Sire P7 5er for this very reason.

and here i am... shopping for a 5 string!! i haven't played the jackson yet, but looking it over closely, you may have sealed it... it is either that, or a 10s 5st...

@BullyThaKidd

2 жыл бұрын

I did a vid on it... u should check that out

I think you should re look at the EB3. I have tried it as my friend has one, it is not made for slap but other genres it really can go.

Idk why but I thought this said bassest forever and was ready for it to get spicy lol

I have a player series jazz, it’s just ok, just ok. Picking up a Ultra p pretty soon.

Great list!! I would say the new stingray basses are amazing! I know the specials came out a few yrs ago but even the 2021 models are super!!!

Generally speaking, you are better off going with a used American Fender in good condition than a new Mexican-made one, with a handful of exceptions. The MIM ones are perfectly good basses but they cost too much new.

hahaha "Fender if you watching..." But yeah your demo on that Jackson showed me some that i liked the bass for more than just it's looks. Y'all check out his jackson pro series spectra video kzread.info/dash/bejne/eGaYj5WJn9W-l6Q.html

Of the top 3+, I would get all of them.

So funny, I picked up that exact Jackson and was like "hmm who made this?!" Jackson?! Wtf! Lol

I kinda have the same opinion about the Player Series. The MIM Fender sound like a more defined squire, but compared to an Made in USA/Japan they sound cheap & unbalanced. Personally i like the MIJ Fender the most, they sound like the most well balanced of all.

@livefromadive6751

2 жыл бұрын

Very valid opinion. As far as MIM vs Squier, gotta wonder how much of the comparison is because of the improvements in the Squier lines rather than any failure of Fender Player series

@angrywhiteman

2 жыл бұрын

@@livefromadive6751 I think you got a point there

The problem with that Epiphone is that it's full scale. It should be 30.5" scale to complete the journey to the low end.

Thanks fam!

Super Minion was #1!

Yeah there's no tone control on the Jackson. That's my ONE issue with it. It feels like the passive mode is more a failsafe if the battery dies, and not a usable feature of the bass. If I got one I'd definitely see about getting a tone control added. Otherwise? It looks, feels, and plays amazing.

Huh I'm suprised by that Player P Bass qualification. I have Player Mustang and I love the sound of P pup and feel of the instrument especially that satin neck finish which I didnt experience on any other bass but I dislike short scale of it, cause response of tone is different and also my fingers cramp up on fretboard. Recently I have bought Squier Affinity PJ Lake Placid Blue, looks just like American Performer, just to try if I will like P bass neck width, and I loved it, but I hated those ceramic pickups and finish on the neck, even tho specs said it was basically same finish as on Player series, it was nowhere near it. So I sold it. Next obvious step for me was to get standard scale Player Series P or Jaguar, but I'm leaning more towards P cause of the neck width. And yes gotta agree about Squier CV 70 since I own the jazz, and it's really solid instrument for the price, but that gloss neck is meh. So what do I do? P.S. I'd go for AMPerf but it a bit pricey for my taste. Also I avoid getting those very cheap basses cause theres higher chance of getting a dud. Eve tho Im repair savvy I lack many of tools needed to cover all parts.

Any Squier CV or Sire is good enough. We don’t need waste money for a Name

I’m kinda agree with your worst list. I can’t say anything about the Gibson tb, since I haven’t tried it yet. But the rest: Gretsch, a full hollow with 34” scale length is just too bulky to play. Epiphone EB3, it can give you those big boomy vintage tone, if that’s what you prefer. But,the neck dives…. SG with 34” scale length is probably one of the worst design ever. Fender Player, just feels cheap.

Bully, I have an Ibanez bass with what appears to be the same controls as the Jackson you showed. If it works like mine, the treble knob of the eq becomes a tone control when in passive mode.

I think bare bone American fenders are some of the worst value for the money. For every American p or jazz there’s an Indonesian bass that matches or betters it at a fraction of the cost.

Value your opinions Bully. Thanks. I do agree that Harley Benton is grossly underrated. I dont know if they plan on making them again but my BZ-6000 Deluxe (6 string, neck thru, 35 inch scale) is an absolute MONSTER!

Fender Performer Precision Bass was released in 2019 !!!

the Gretsch, Gibson, and Epiphone wouldn't even give a second look at the store. Just not my taste.

"if you want to play slap- god forbid" LMAO love it

Fyi, I hang my EHB on the wall from a string swing mount.

The best Thunderbird I ever played was a 2015. It had options for coil splitting and sounded great (way less woofy than others). I think with all SG basses, Gibson or Epiphone they need to move that mudbucker to the middle. The one bass I've had my eye on are the Gibson Les Paul juniors. Haven't tried one yet. Til then, I'm sticking with my Lado custom fretless, 1980 BC Rich Eagle and Rickenbacker 4003.

I dont not get the reasoning for the Fender Player series. I dont want a Fender that bad.

One thing I have learned over the years is so much is hype and not worth the price.