Choosing in guitars basses can get tricky because the options are not all the same kind of purchase. One shopper may be looking for a right-handed electric bass with a specific neck and pickup setup, another may need strings for low tunings, and another may need a rack case for DJ or PA gear. The right choice depends less on a universal "best" pick and more on whether you are buying the instrument itself, an accessory for tone and tuning feel, or gear protection.
Quick take
- Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan is the most complete instrument-focused pick here, with a solid ash body, ebony fretboard, maple neck, 24 frets, EMG humbuckers, and right-handed setup.
- 1979 Aria Pro Ⅱ TSB-550 Tri Sound Bass -Owned by Neal Schon - Journey is the vintage-style choice in this group, with a 1979 model year, Japan origin, solid body, rosewood fretboard, and used condition.
- Heavy Gauge Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings (63-130) - Ultimate Sound for Pros fits shoppers who are buying strings rather than a bass, especially if the visible 63-130 gauge and nickel wound construction match the setup they want.
- Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U is not a bass; it is the utility pick for DJ or PA gear, with plywood construction and a 4U rack case title.
Listed price comparison
The price spread is wide: the lowest listed item is the strings, while the highest listed item is the Crews Maniac Sound bass. That makes it important to separate instrument purchases from accessory and gear-case purchases before comparing price alone.
| Product | Listed price | Relative price |
|---|---|---|
| Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan | USD 2,500.00 | |
| 1979 Aria Pro Ⅱ TSB-550 Tri Sound Bass -Owned by Neal Schon - Journey | USD 749.50 | |
| Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U | USD 179.99 | |
| Heavy Gauge Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings (63-130) - Ultimate Sound for Pros | USD 49.99 |
Decision matrix
If you want a modern full bass
Choose the Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan if your priorities include a right-handed solid-body electric bass, 24 frets, an ebony fretboard, ash body material, maple neck material, and the listed EMG humbuckers. Its description also points to a 34-inch scale, 45mm bone nut, Gotoh tuners, Hipshot A type bridge, original 2-band preamp, and bypass switch.
If you want a used 1979 Japan-made bass
Choose the 1979 Aria Pro Ⅱ TSB-550 Tri Sound Bass -Owned by Neal Schon - Journey if the appeal is a used Aria bass with a 1979 model year, Japan origin, rosewood fretboard, and maple/walnut neck material. The title and description make the ownership story a major part of the item's identity, so it is best suited to shoppers who care about that context as well as the bass itself.
If you are replacing strings
Choose the Heavy Gauge Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings (63-130) - Ultimate Sound for Pros when the purchase goal is a set of bass strings. The title's 63-130 gauge and the nickel wound, uncoated construction are the key decision points. It is also the only item here where the included components are bass strings and Element Shield Packaging.
If you need a case for rack gear
Choose the Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U when the need is a Seismic Audio rack case rather than a bass instrument or strings. The product title centers on 4U ATA rack case use for DJ PA gear, and the attributes include plywood body material and 32.10 lbs item weight.
Concise product notes
Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan
This is the strongest fit for a shopper who wants the most instrument-specific spec list in the group. The solid ash body, beige body color, ebony fretboard, maple neck, right-handed handedness, 24 frets, EMG humbuckers, and 2-band preamp give it a clearly defined electric-bass identity. The description also names a spalt maple top, Macassar ebony, 34-inch scale, Gotoh tuners, Hipshot A type bridge, and 4.1kg weight. The main limitation is the listed price position: it sits at the top of this comparison, so shoppers who only need strings, a rack case, or a lower-priced bass will be looking at a very different purchase.
1979 Aria Pro Ⅱ TSB-550 Tri Sound Bass -Owned by Neal Schon - Journey
The Aria is the better match if the appeal is a used bass with a specific year and story attached. Its 1979 model year, Japan origin, brown solid body, rosewood fretboard, right-handed setup, and maple/walnut neck material make it distinct from the newer Crews Maniac Sound bass. The description also emphasizes Tri Sound Series identity, neck-through-body wording, tone selector features, and the included original case. The limitation is that its condition is used, and the description mentions minor dings while also saying there is no major damage or issue. It is also a more specialized choice because the title's Neal Schon and Journey connection is central to its appeal.
Heavy Gauge Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings (63-130) - Ultimate Sound for Pros
These strings make sense when the goal is a targeted string change rather than a new instrument. The visible 63-130 gauge, Beefy color description, nickel body material type, nickel coating description, uncoated finish, and included bass strings give shoppers concrete setup cues. The description names low tunings such as BEAD, Drop B, and Drop C, so this is aimed at bassists thinking in that direction. The limitation is simple: this is not a bass, and it will not solve needs around body material, fretboard, pickups, neck material, or handedness. It belongs in the cart only if the string gauge and nickel wound, uncoated format fit the bass already being used.
Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U
The Seismic Audio SATAC4U is the outlier, but it can still be useful for a guitars basses shopper who also manages DJ or PA gear. Its title identifies it as a 4U ATA rack case for flight, road, DJ, and PA gear, while the attributes list plywood body material, new condition, SATAC4U model, and 32.10 lbs item weight. That gives it a practical role separate from the instruments and strings. The limitation is that it is not a guitar or bass component; it will not address playing feel, tuning, tone, fretboard material, or instrument construction. Choose it for rack-case needs, not as a substitute for any bass-related purchase.
Final recommendation
If you are choosing strictly within guitars basses and want an actual bass, start by deciding between the two instruments. The Crews Maniac Sound Be-Bottom 24 Fret Electric Bass Made In Japan at USD 2,500.00 is the pick for the shopper who wants the newer, spec-heavy 24-fret right-handed bass with ash body material, ebony fretboard, maple neck, EMG humbuckers, and modern control layout. The 1979 Aria Pro Ⅱ TSB-550 Tri Sound Bass -Owned by Neal Schon - Journey at USD 749.50 is the more fitting choice if a used 1979 Japan-made Aria TSB550 with rosewood fretboard, brown solid body, and the title's Neal Schon/Journey connection is the draw.
For non-instrument needs, the decision is narrower. The Heavy Gauge Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings (63-130) - Ultimate Sound for Pros at USD 49.99 is the direct choice for heavy-gauge nickel wound bass strings, especially with the 63-130 gauge visible in the title. The Seismic Audio 4U ATA Rack Case Flight Road Mount DJ PA Gear SATAC4U at USD 179.99 is the better fit only when the task is carrying or housing 4U DJ or PA rack gear. Across the full USD 49.99 to USD 2,500.00 range, the smartest choice is to match the item type first, then compare price.