help choosing a cheap bass
 

Hey guys, looking for a little advice on what i should get for my first all electric bass. My local store carries ibanez, dean, epiphone, jackson, and schecter. The closest GC is nearly an hour away, so I'd like to stay with something from my local store. That being said, I'm really gonna be looking for something pretty diverse with a budget at $300 which I know is a lot to ask, but it's all I can do right now. Thanks in advance guys.

All the brands you mentioned have nice stuff for $300. Play them and see what feels most comfortable to you. Does your local store have used basses? You might get much more value for your money with a used bass.

Of those I would look at the Ibanez models. Personally though I've never been a fan of their basses, and would recommend you compared them to equivalently-priced Squier and Yamaha offerings if you had access to them.

$300 isn't a big budget but there's a lot of quality at the bottom of end of the market these days. You should be able to get a bass good enough to gig. Also look at the used market - I have only ever bought one bass new and even that was reduced to half price because it had done a trade show.

Used is the way to go. I like the offerings from Schecter, but it depends what your looking for. What kind of feel, tone etc.

Go used and play everything. Buy whaty feels best TO YOU.

Keep us posted, and post pics when you make your selection.

Unfortunately, the store doesn't sell used gear, and the only basses I've played in their shop were the epi t-bird and the eb-3, which aren't really what I'm looking for anymore... To bassgod: I'll post pics soon as I get my new bass, but it'll probably be a few weeks as I've got to save up a bit more, and sell my AB-10 first.

Oh, I forgot to address the tone question, I'm gonna be playing everything from jazz to blues to rock, so I'd like something that'd handle all that pretty well

IT sounds like your best options will be Ibanez or Schecter. personally, I would probably get an Ibanez unless he had one of those Schecter P-bass fives or that model with the two humbuckers a coil splitting pot.

I think the one you're talking about Dr.Cheese is the raiden deluxe( don't quote me on that). It definitely interests me, but I haven't actually gotten to play it yet to see if i like it

That's it. I think they are nice and would be easy to mod with different pickups or a preamp if that's what you want.

+1 Ibanez

http://www.amazon.com/Squier-Fender-...ntage+modified

http://www.amazon.com/Sterling-Music...icman+sub+bass

I own a VM Jazz just like that one and have played about 15 of them in the last 2 years. They are all VERY consistent with each other and therefore I think it would be safe to buy a new one online sight unseen. Just make sure the seller will allow returns within 15 or 30 days so you have an evaluation period to make up your mind on keeping it.

That's exactly what I did with my VM Jazz as well as my VM P (and all my instruments, really) And I am very happy with what I got.

You don't have access to Craigslist?

I only push used gear, because where I live, I see used Ibanez basses by the truckload, each day.

In any event, welcome aboard, and I hope you get something that makes you happy. :-D

You cant go wrong with a Squier

Same here. My area is lacking with good basses most are Squier Affinities or Ibanez starter pack Gios. Sometimes a worthy instrument shows up. Got an almost new GSR200 for $90. I dont consider it a beginners only instrument. But it definitely could be. So there can be some great deals had with the right patience and luck.

Lol, yeah, i have access to craigslist, but on my local cl we get a lot of p-basses and not much else, there is however an LTD B-50 for sale right now for $100 if anyone has any experience with one of those that'd be helpful. It appears to have the same pickup configuration as the schecter raiden deluxe.

If I were to do it all over, I'd find a used USA Peavey Foundation, or any USA Peavey. I recently found something in the P/J,six-bolt-neck,24 fret flavor in a Yamaha 800AF. I got it for less than $200. 90's Yamahas are pretty affordable nowadays.

to nomeX: I've been looking local for a USA Peavey, with no luck, or if I do find one, it's priced unreasonably high