Good Begginer Bass???

[Unwell4]

Hey all i'm a Tenor Sax player and i love it, but i would like to start playing bass since my friends need a bassist i told them i would join.
We will be mostly playing 60s and 70s classic rock and some jazz so i would like a bass to suit that status. My limit is about 250 for a bass and 150ish for a amp...
I've heard the sx basses are good but there kind of a hit or miss... also im really short so i might need a short scale bass, but i don't want to lose any tone, so does short scale deprive of any "punch" from the bass?

Thanks ahead for any comments.

[itchy]

I'm sure there's no shortage of threads like this if you do a search.

I will say that two cheap basses that I have personally spent time with recently, and was very impressed by were:

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Precision
OLP MM2 (licenced Music Man Stingray clone)

Two different flavors...both out perform their price tags.

[BoomingBass]

Squier VM

[nickfurst]

The Vintage Modified line from Squier.
They sound like a Fender (even better than some).
You can choose a P or J and both come stock with Duncan Designed Pickups.
Plus, you can pick one up for under $300.
I'm actually using the VM J bass for shows right now, and it sounds amazing.

[Buslady7803]

Ditto on squiers....

Guitar center sells used ones cheap...just picked up one for 100-

[MrSaturdayNight]

I can really recommend the squire affinity jazz series of basses.

I have a metallic blue one and let me tell you this baby is great.

Great sound, great tone, the frets were well dressed and really
the only con about this instrument was that it badly needed a
professional setup out of the box. Other then that this bass stands
up to and trades blows with any of the $500-$600 mexican fenders
I've played.

Jazz basses have thinner slimmer necks then Precession basses do.

The yamaha RBX 170 is also a great little bass for the money.

As far as the amplifier goes, well I'll back track a little and tell you this...

Go to the local music store and play as many basses and amps as you can
until you find one that you like, that fits you and that you think sounds good.

Most guitar stores usually have at least one expert on hand that will be able
to tell you what kind of gear your going to wanna pick from depending on what
you'll be playing and so on.

[SBassman]

Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Short Scale for the win.

Suggest: Sweetwater. Great, great place to buy equipment. You'll have it in a hurry, shipped correctly.

[bunnykeeper]

I would pick up an SX bass from Rondo Music Home Page. You can get a very nice bass for under $150.

[Alvaro Martín Gómez A.]

This is my top choice for a beginner's bass guitar.

[Musician78]

Honestly, I would look on Craigslist and find a MIM Jazz or Precision (my choice is Jazz) off Craigslist. They can typically be found for between 250 and 375. My MIM Jazz is my main axe. And I also own a PRS bass.... so if that tells you anything....

[slaphappychappy]

squire or cort. i like cort.

[GM60466]

Squier Classic Vibe '60s Precision (shell pink with a tort guard)

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by slaphappychappy

squire or cort. i like cort.

Cort makes a fine low end bass. Very under rated.

[darkstorm]

Best thing Ive seen new in that price range that I think is good is the BC Rich eagle 1 bass. $249 thru internet stores. But you should reallly go used for such low budget.

[tekdiver500ft]

You can often find a decent Sterling by Music Man in your budget. Top-notch, active sound, good action. Another great option is the Squier (yes, another vote for Squier) Deluxe Jazz. Also active, also great sound (better than many of the MIM Fenders, really). They are regularly priced around $325, but can be found on sale new for $250-ish. The Standard Squier Jazz bass also has that great Fender Jazz sound, and is listed at $300, can be found on sale for $225. I would not go with used unless you bring a good bassist and/or luthier with you. You can spend hundreds just getting a used bass ready to play, thereby killing any advantage gained by buying used.

You will probably be able to run your bass through the board for now, so I'd spend a little more on the bass, and just get a decent little practice amp, like a Line6 or Fender Rumble 15 watt. Decent sound (and effects on the Line6) at home by yourself, and can run the headphone out to the board so you maintain the tone you're used to.

[Stevem627]

Simple choice for me. USA Peavey used -- fits your budget easily and plenty of models to choose from. Fury, and Foundation are some of the best buys dollar for dollar. You will not have to upgrade them ever, and they are as good as and Fenders I've had.