TOP 5 bass guitars with passive pickups: the universal basis of the rhythm section

The Korean company Cort does not have a clearly defined "vintage" model, but its tools are recognized both by appearance and by the quality of the finish. The Action PJ model is one of the numerous representatives of low-cost lines that have managed to gain considerable popularity.

Despite the fact that the model is aimed at novice musicians with a small purchase low-cost, it absolutely does not deserve a negative attitude, on the contrary, numerous reviews show that it can be successfully used in different styles and directions of music. Rock, metal, jazz, blues — Action PJ fits equally well into any genre mix.

There are also quite satisfactory results of variations of its connection: whether it is a "line", a transistor or a tube amplifier, sound removal with a microphone or wired switching, the sound of the guitar is not lost, and clearly shows itself in any conditions.

The model is equipped with two pickups: bridge J and P in the middle position. Actually, the very name of the instrument already tells us about this, as well as the body made of solid poplar, made in the form of jazz bass. Despite the lightness of the wood used, the guitar is assembled very soundly and reliably, as, indeed, all Cort instruments. Poplar adds clarity to the sound with a predominance of medium frequencies, and the "loose" connection of the maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard traditionally gives the attack sharpness, although to the detriment of sustain.

Separately, I would like to highlight the matte coating with an open pore. It looks very stylish, pleasant to the touch, resistant to abrasion, and with light blows, the paint does not crack and does not peel off.

In addition to the tone control, there are two potentiometers, each of which is responsible for the volume of its pickup. This allows you to change the sound during the game for more tonal coloring. Die-cast die-cast systems work smoothly and keep the formation well. All the fittings are chrome-plated and against the background of three body colour options: black, red and burgundy, it looks quite stylish.

The Cort Action PJ model is a well—balanced tool in terms of price, quality and external data for an entry-level game in any style. Due to the low-cost orientation, it is not equipped with a cover and a belt, and it is better to immediately replace the basic set of strings with something more expensive.

The famous Japanese manufacturer Yamaha is well known, first of all, for its keyboard musical instruments. Of the strings, acoustic guitars occupy the highest places on the podium. But the "Yamakhovsky" basses can be characterized by the following sentence: instruments that competitors should reckon with. One of the best models of Japanese brand bass guitars is considered to be TRBX174.

The instrument is perfectly balanced and ergonomically designed — the deep lower cutout allows you to quickly and easily reach even the uppermost of the 24 frets. The strings are initially at the correct height, the fixed bridge does not fail, and the closed pegs perfectly hold the formation even with new strings, so the user does not need any additional manipulations on deep tuning, you can start playing straight, as they say, "out of the box", the mechanics of the guitar, although low-cost, but very high quality.

The alder body and the bolted maple neck are a traditional combination that guarantees a balanced sound and high—quality resonance. The bolted design adds attack and medium-high components to the sound. On the other hand, the replacement of traditional rosewood for lining with cheaper sonokelin emphasizes the manufacturer's desire to save money.

The combination of P/J pickups is widely used in the production of basses — they perfectly complement each other, while at the same time giving a minimum of noise and distortion at the output. The timbre is regulated by only one potentiometer, but the volume of each pickup is controlled by a separate regulator, which makes it possible to change the sound from sharp and aggressive to smoothed and denser by simply turning the knob.

The tool is universal — it can be used equally successfully in various styles and directions, for training, conversion, jam and small performances. However, you may need something more serious to record.

When the manufacturer Ibanez says: "This is all you need to play," he really means everything — an instrument, a combo amplifier, a tuner, a cord, a rack, picks, a case, in a word, what is included in the IJSR190 bass guitar set.

A feature of the tool is its narrow specialization. It is perfect for fans of punk, alternative rock, metal, and similar styles of aggressive sound, but it is absolutely not suitable for performing jazz, blues, ballads and the like. This feature has both its pros and cons: the expected sound for a given style deprives the instrument of flexibility in sound settings. Nevertheless, in these styles, the tool shows itself "perfectly".

Traditional maple and rosewood were chosen for the fingerboard and fingerboard, but the body is made of linden. This tree gives a sharper sound than the traditional alder for instruments of this category. The properties of linden allow you to more clearly distinguish the main tone in the sound and decorate it with brighter medium frequencies. In the lower range, on the contrary, there is some dip. In general, the bass guitar cuts through the overall mix well, which is what it was created for.

In the bridge position we have a classic single sensor of type J, in a certain one – P split. The fixed bridge and cast pegs keep the formation well, the bolted 22-fret neck is convenient for playing and reliable, it does not lead, but an anchor is provided just in case. From the control knobs, there is a volume for each sensor and a general timbre.

The guitar set contains everything you need to play, you just need to connect. Nevertheless, the power of the supplied combo amplifier is sufficient only for home rehearsals, for something more serious, the stated 10 Watts will not be enough. In addition, in the reviews of individual users, doubts sometimes slip about the veracity of the claimed 10 watts, as well as a remark about the appearance of background and distortion at a volume level above 50%.

For those who want to go beyond home rehearsals, it will not be superfluous to replace the basic set of strings with something more solid and use a more expensive cable.

Ibanez IJSR190 is a convenient option for beginners and practicing bass guitarists who prefer heavy styles.

It is believed that every sufficiently serious bass guitarist should have at least one Precision Fender in his arsenal, and a random sample shows that, basically, this is what happens. The American Professional model was designed on the basis of its famous classical predecessors, and taking the best features from them, it was supplemented with new ones.

The model uses a 1963 standard neck profile, carefully copied and recreated from vintage models, and is one of the best that were once created. The neck radius has been increased compared to the standard to 9.5", which gives an additional 3.3 mm at the level of the first threshold. The neck fits perfectly in the hand, and creates maximum convenience when moving the hand up and down.

The instrument has only one pickup — the V-Mod model, developed by guru-designer Tim Shaw. The sensor demonstrates the warm and natural tones of the old splits, while providing clarity and dynamic range of the best modern designs. Two alnico magnets for the strings of Mi and La create warm tones, and five for the upper strings are responsible for the medium and high sound component. The bass has a classic clear sound, which is familiar and expected from Precision.

Although the instrument is similar to an old familiar model, it is armed with features that improve both clarity and sound. The first thing that catches your eye is the Vintage HiMass bridge with strings attached through a solid alder case. Paired with a bone threshold, it is maximally aimed to transfer most of the string energy into the body of the instrument, enhancing sustain and articulation. Light open pegs did not fail either, the strings respond very sensitively to the turn of which.

The Fender American Professional Precision Bass is a successful, but far from cheap, attempt by the manufacturer to improve the legendary instrument without changing in it what musicians of several generations have loved so much. Emphasizes the high status of a rectangular branded case with an external logo engraving and fur inside.

This was Leo Fender's second project after stratocaster, which was crowned with resounding success. Jazz, funk, blues, rock, reggae, country, Latin American musicians of all stripes found J Bass absolutely suitable for their music. Magnificent vintage finish, shiny chrome fittings, soft lines, classic shape — these are only the external manifestations of a high-class instrument. The model has been produced for more than 50 years and does not disappoint its fans.

Even before including the instrument in the amplifier, most users pay attention to its appearance and ergonomics. Immediately striking is the elegantly thin neck at the first frets, its satin, pleasant to the touch, surface and comfortable profile. The frets are perfectly polished, smooth, both from the ends and from the top, which is typical for the manufacturer. Mother-of-pearl picgard, smoothly turning into a chrome panel of potentiometer handles, the colour "3-colour sunburst" (there is also cream, steel, graphite and natural) and the branded body shape Jazz Bass made of solid alder emphasize the high level of the instrument.

The guitar is equipped with two branded Custom Shop 60 Jazz Bass single pickups, which made it possible, without abandoning the "branded" Fender sound, to slightly shift the tonal coloring towards medium and low frequencies. Also added a certain growl and clear articulation, audible in any mix.

The model received two important improvements that significantly affected the sound. The first is a tighter fit of the neck to the body, which gives a sharp and sharp attack. To achieve this goal, the parameters of the neck and the cutout for it were very carefully verified, and the amount of varnish and paint in the places of fit was calculated in the most accurate way. The second is the use of a bridge of the HiMass Vintage model with strings through the body, which significantly improves the sustain.

The instrument is made at the Fender factory in the USA, equipped with branded strings and a hard case.

Fender American Standard Jazz Bass is a real pleasure, both for the listener and for the musician. Really expensive…