Anybody have a cheap bass they'd always keep?

[fourstringbliss]

Anybody here have a cheap bass they'd always keep? I'm going to define "cheap" as <$300.

Not to sound too self-serving, but I asked this question because I have to make a choice. I've owned some really nice basses in the past and because of stupid choices either sold them, traded them, or modded them so that now I play a couple of SX basses because that's all the bass money I had left.

However, the MM/J is pretty darn nice! The neck plays really well after I leveled the frets, and the body vibrates really nicely. It has a good unplugged sound and sounds good plugged in. I've replaced the tuners with a different set I had laying around and replaced the bridge with a high mass brass saddle one. I've shielded the cavities, installed a split coil switch for the MM, and a push/pull series/parallel switch for the two pups. It was a pretty good bass and with some work it's even better.

These are sound clips from this bass:

60's

70's

MM/J

Now, I'm going to be getting around $200 for my birthday and I could probably get another $300 for these two basses. $500 buys a lot of used bass. BassNW has a minty Lakland 44-01, a nice upscale Ibanez, and a Fender Jazz 24 all for $500 each. Would they be better, though? This is my dilemma.

So, which cheapie bass(es) would you never part with?

And

What would you do in my situation?

[jet_king]

old Japan univox half-scale my friend gave me. The thing is so retro but i'd never go on live with it

[Bongolation]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

I'm going to define "cheap" as <$300.

MSRP? New? Used? Expensive, but on sale?

Be clear.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by Bongolation

MSRP? New? Used? Expensive, but on sale?

Be clear.

No problem. I mean a bass that either has a MSRP of under $300 or is a sub $300 CL or garage sale find. I don't mean the MIA Fender Jazz that the crazy guy down the street sold you for $250 to get booze money.

[RhynoRock]

My very first bass guitar, the one I learned to play with, is an old Peavey Fury that I'll never get rid of. Even went and bolted on a Badass bridge, just to spice it up a tad.

[Odyjon]

My first pbass. Upgraded it a bit. Fender squire for 100 bucks. Stuck some real fender p pickups. in there.

[Noosh]

Ill probably never get rid of my peavey millenium bxp and my ltd b55. Both were christmas gifts the year I learned to play and im still playing both of them 8 years later. I also have an Ibanez ATK 750 that I dont forsee myself even thinking about selling either, but I paid a little more for it.

[willbassyeah]

My Harlem pj cost like 150... First bass that my dad bought for me

[Wallace320]

It's a made in Taiwan model from early '90s on which I learned to play (yeah: I started very late in time... a former record collector, I instilled in my younger brother the passion for hard n'heavy music and already a bass player himself he taught me a bunch of chops in return)

I presented him a Yamaha BBN5 back then and a Yamaha Attitude Special on his wedding day.

These're all made in Taiwan instruments from early '90s...

Yamaha BBN5 is the only completely stock; Yamaha Attitude Special was luthier scallopped on last 5 frets, then reglossed, and it had both DiMarzio WillPower (neck and split pickups... the original one havin' just poor reproductions) and a Hipshot BT7 bass extender.

My Yamaha RBX350 is now equipped with Fender flats, sports a Hipshot GB7 bass extender and dual EMGhz (P/J pickups) in place of original average output ones

They're killer basses and, even with all other 19 basses in my stable, they're still gettin' playin' time and sure goin' nowhere

Cheers,
Wallace

[Bassic Playing]

My first bass, yamaha rbx 170. Defretted, modded and painted, but Ill always have it.

[C.Linton]

I guess my two Squiers, a VM P and VM J. WOuld really like to keep both of those for a good long time, if I can.

[Orangeclawhamme]

My Squier SS Jag. This was introduced six months after I wrote Fender a letter requesting such a bass. I have no idea if anyone at Fender actually read it, but like to delude myself that I had an influence in the design of this bass.

[Kmonk]

I got rid of my cheap basses but I wish I had kept my Ibanez EDB600. I paid $290 for it abut 10 years ago. It had the fastest neck I had ever played and sound great. Also, my Schechter Stiletto. I bought it last year for $275. Nice sounding bass that played well.

[StoutFellow]

I was lucky enough to snag one of the YamahaBB425 on Amazon/MF for just 299 delivered:-)
I can't imagine ever selling it. It's a beautiful bass. And came in just under your threshold for "cheap"
But the only thing cheap about my BB425 is the price.

[Diesel Kilgore]

Originally Posted by Orangeclawhamme

My Squier SS Jag. This was introduced six months after I wrote Fender a letter requesting such a bass. I have no idea if anyone at Fender actually read it, but like to delude myself that I had an influence in the design of this bass.

Thanks man! I am keeping mine too.

[optikhog]

Originally Posted by Noosh

Ill probably never get rid of my peavey millenium bxp

This. I picked one up used and it's now my favorite bass by far. I've gone so far as to send my much more expensive basses to new homes.

[fuzzy beard]

Ibanez Mikro I got off CL for 40 bucks. Stripped the finsh and had custom art work done by my mother inlaw. Great little bass!

[Flyingfrets]

Still got my Rogue VB100. Replaced just about everything but the pickups and it was still well under $300. Plays like butter and has has a much wider variety of sound than I'd thought possible from a supposed "one-trick pony." What else could you ask of a bass regardless of what the price tags says? Can't imagine getting rid of it.

[Rob Martinez]

Keeping my Danelectro Dano 63 short scale bass I bought for $175 used. Keeping my Hofner Icon violin bass I bought for $265.

[ShowLow]

Fender MIJ Precision Lyte Deluxe. Bought used via TB at a bargain price. Keeping it forever.