BASS guitar recommendations needed!

I have a cheap $150 Dean acoustic/electric bass that was working fine when I bought it, but lately it has been buzzing ALOT and before I waste time buying new strings in the hopes that the buzzing was somehow caused by them instead of the "warped neck" problem that I just read about on more than one site (2 sites to be exact!!)

I was hoping someone with knowledge in this area could help me out by recommending a bass that would be good for my style of music (hard rock/classic rock) and my budget (below $300.) Another thing to consider is that I won't be using an amplifier, I will plug it into the computer and use simulation amps and effects. I know, it's not glamorous... but it's a step up for me!

In the meantime, I continue my quest for a better sound ...

later gators

[TonyMiller]

Originally Posted by James Oakwood

Also, why people would want a 5-string bass? - Maybe the thinner strings are for those guys who couldn't cut the mustard on rhythm geetar (or lead) and the thin strings give em something to ease their pain before trying to twang the girders I naturally associate with bass.

You shouldn't need Hank to tell you that the 'extra' string on a 5 string bass is a B lower than the low E, ya dozy bugger!

I use an active Aria scrounged off my daughter's BF. 4 strings, and I use em all!

[James Oakwood]

All I know is that on a 4-string bass its fat string is "E" at 41.2Hz and that on a 6-string it's fat string is "E" at 82.4Hz i.e. an octave higher. From this I summize that using more than two strings on a bass is a bit pointless if ya want it to sound like a bass rather than a lead. Of course this is a bit tongue-in-cheek cos I do use the third string now and then and the fourth bass string too but much less frequently.

Are 5-string basses tuned differently then Hank?

[TonyMiller]

B, E, A, D, G

[James Oakwood]

Ah.... I am enlightened - OK so the fattest three strings on a 5-string bass are good, all the rest are pointless lol