Looking for sugestions on a backup bass

[Mike Jenkins]

Finding another Smith would be my first suggestion but If you're looking for a relatively inexpensive alternative to a Smith bass I would consider an Ibanez BTB Prestige. The necks of this series of Ibanez feel pretty good. They are thin (from the fingerboard side to the back of the neck) and fast. The SR Prestige series of Ibanez basses play very good as well with thin and fast necks but the string spacing is pretty narrow. Each has custom Bartolini electronics. With a price well below any Smith out there you won't be to disappointed if something were to happen to it.