Basses you got cheap

[Gintaras]

In 1975 I bought a 1959 Precision for $200 but the deal was that I had to sell it back to the owner if I decided to get rid of it. In 1979 I quit playing and started a new career. Now I am on my second go around with music and really miss the Fender.

That was an incredible bass

[bound'n'blocked]

My first jazz bass, a Squier, I got from eBay for $100 shipped. It actually had better fretwork than an MIM I had later.

BnB

[Wookieonbass]

A couple of years ago I picked up a used 2002 Warwick Thumb 5 bolt on neck model for $700. From the local Guitar Center of all places!

[Ric5]

I got this 1968 4001 Rickenbacker bass for $150 in 1973. I sold it for $6800 about 8 years ago.



I got this stingray clone for under $140.

[moonshinegtrs]

A couple of years ago I found a neck-thru Peavey unity bass (metallic red) on CL. Guy that owned it was a college student, bought it to play in a band & ended up never doing anything with it. Said he was tired of it taking up room in his closet & he'd take $100 for it (with hard case!). I asked him if everything worked & he said it played just fine when he took it out to take the pictures; he did say that it needed a good cleaning & a set-up.

I did drive about an hour to meet him; bass looked good. Dirty, but in good condition under all of the crud (gold hardware was pitted). It played pretty decent, nothing a set-up wouldn't fix. I plugged it in to a guitar amp that was there & nothing... I pulled the cable out & touched the end & there was noise. Plugged it back in & nothing. He seemed genuinely surprised. He kept saying "it worked the other night". I asked was the battery dead & he said No; I put a new one in.

My only comment was that it kind of sucked to drive an hour & the bass doesn't work. He immediately said "will you give me $70 for it? Hard to say no to that.

End of story: Drove home, opened battery compartment... No battery; New battery solved everything. Ended up trading the bass for a green glitter Peavey G bass.

Every once in awhile, you just get lucky.

Moonshine

[srxplayer]

I got my ATK 305 for $224.00 brand new. I originally purchased it for around $465.00 with free shipping on sale through the Guitar Center website. Then someone on Talkbass posted some crazy blow out pricing on ATK's from another online retailer. After seeing that price I sent an email to Guitar Center with a link to the ad and they refunded my AMEX the difference plus 10%. G.C. didn't question anything. So I ended up paying $224.00 total.

I believe Talkbass members snapped up all of the ATK inventory over next couple of days because of the member who posted the link to that crazy cheap deal. I don't know if that was a misprint by one of the retailers but it created a nationwide run on the ATK. It pays to be a Talkbass member...

[boombloom]

73 Jazz in original case for $300 in '86. It's in a closet now, gathering value. If my daughter doesn't steal it from me I might end up selling it to help pay for her tuition.

[Figjam]

Slightly modded,refinished to natural Fender P 1978/79 for $700

[Cookye]

I bought an Alembic Spoiler, fretless for $900.00

[Tanner5382]

Last month I got a 1970 Guild JS-1 for 200 bucks.
Once got a Gibson Les Paul Premium Plus bass with Bartolinis for 500.

[Lenwood Dinard]

Used to have a girlfriend at a pawn shop. I always loved the phone calls from her work number. Picked up a Godin Freeway 5 for $65 and a Les Paul Studio for $65, all in the same transaction. That was a good day. Found a Geddy Lee CIJ for $400 at the local music store. I still do the acoustic shows with the Godin A4 I got for $205 from the pawn shop.
Currently accepting applications for a new pawn shop girlfriend as the last one (obviously) got fired.

[joe vegas]

'66 P-bass, mint, in case complete with brand-new case smell, $250, june '75.
a most valuable ally, i put decades of gig, road and vibe into it.
My heart & soul till it was time to transition to a 6. Still have it.

[Jazzdogg]

Cheap is relative.

I got a 1973 Fender Precision bass, in brand new condition, for $300 - including hard case, strap, and case candy.


Of course, that was in 1973.

[sarcastro83]

I scored an Epi Thunderbird years ago for about fifty bucks... I stupidly let it go to fund an amp purchase when I joined my first, real band.

In retrospect, I really, really liked that bass.

[noisetherapy]

Not exactly a well known bass, however it is my absolute favorite.

Washburn Taurus T-25.

In summary,I missed out on buying the last one in that was selling for $700 in the guitar store above a studio I was working for, So I had them order me in one. So I instantly got a discount right there (cost + 10%) and on top of that, Washburn was Discontinuing it so the Rep sold it a "discontinued price" I ended up getting the bass for $150+tax and it was the best instrument I've ever owned.

love it.

[Showdown]

I got this Yamaha BBG4A for $180. Played it on a gig last night. It sounds great, and it is a good bass to take to dodgy places:



I got this Peavey G for $250. A steal for a US made bass with a carbon-fiber neck:

[Bassfacist]

I bought a Fender Aerodyne Jazz two months ago from guitar center for 630$ when they wanted 800$ for it. But I just called ahead and asked the manager if he would do 200 off and he said sure if I payed sales tax. Worked out nice. I don't know if that counts but I consider it a win.

[JamieIsOnline]

I got a Rockinbetter (Ric Copy) for £250 instead of £500 through part ex, yet all the gear I traded in was only worth roughly £100 so I was quite happy with the turn over. (I guess It helps to be a regular customer)

[Dr. Cheese]

I bought my Peavey TL-5 for $319 with the OHSC. Other than a noisy preamp, it is a perfect bass in every way.

[Dave Bassincus]

1972 Fender Telecaster bass w/ Polytone amp for $200 in 1992.
SX Sunburst Jazz 5-string for $75 a few weeks ago.