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A good starter bass

#3
 
#4
If you have someone to help you check the quality of a used bass, your money goes so much further. My 16 year old just upgraded to a Ibanez srx2ex2 for $240 including a hard case, strap, strap locks, and a pick holder. Nice action. New strings. It was near flawless. The pickups are their newer large humbuckers. Can't wait to borrow it.
 
#5
depending on who's starting (either a kid or smaller person or someone switching from guitar) and also depending on type of music one good route is a "beatle" bass copy - something cheap, like Rondo's Douglas WVEB (or its clone the Rogue from MF).

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The point is: short scale and easy to play (also light). Sounds good (if not great for what it is/costs) and no mods necessary (except strings). Once the student decides to get other basses, this one can still be kept around. They really are fantastic basses (unless you're playing metal or funk) - they will lay down the lows/groove with plenty of authority. Not as "beatly" as hofners, but I prefer that - they have a bit more sustain than hofners and are a tad more versatile. Flatwounds are recommended (you need medium scale even though the bass is short scale - due to tail piece).
 
#6
Yamaha RBX models are perfect. I bought an RBX765A years ago for pretty cheap and it's still one of my main basses. I've played a good amount of basses, but this thing has seen a lot of play time.

If you can find a used Spector for $300-$400, I'd go for one of those, too.

Ibanez SR or BTB series would be another good choice. They're damn good basses for beginners or experienced players.

Squier's Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified are pretty good basses, too. They're definitely within the $300 price range. If you go used, you could get two for $300!
 
#7
Used Peavey Foundation, Fury, Forum or Patriot is the way to go...should be able to get it under $200. Which leaves you $35 for D'Addario Chromes or GHS Pressurewound strings and $25 for a Comfort Strapp and $40 for a decent tuning pedal or a monster cable/cord... Fender's PT-100 is a good one to get to stay in tune.
 
#9
Bredian said:
If you have someone to help you check the quality of a used bass, your money goes so much further. My 16 year old just upgraded to a Ibanez srx2ex2 for $240 including a hard case, strap, strap locks, and a pick holder. Nice action. New strings. It was near flawless. The pickups are their newer large humbuckers. Can't wait to borrow it.
Click to expand...

Got one and love it. Bought it new for $300 (without case). Found a case on Craig's list for next to nothing. This is way better than a beginner bass at a beginner price. It has a very fast neck (easy to play) and tons of tone options.
 
#10
For $300 I havent seen anything as nice to me as the Ibanez SR300. Only other contender I can think of would be the ESP Ltd B154dx which is ussually sold for around $349. The Yamaha RBX basses are nice though I like the two I mentioned better for sound and playability.
 
#12
When I was going through this process the best advise I got was to go in the store, and play every bass you can. The bass I thought I had researched out and was taking home was not the bass I left with. You dont pick the bass, the bass picks you. Feel and fit matters as much as price.
 
#13
Get a Squier VM Jazz or Precision. They are amazing! They are less then $300, plus either one has great tone and great playability. When I started out, I bought a Jazz, it is a BEAST!!! But I bought the Squier VM Precision bass and my mind was blown. It is nice and light, plays great, and the tone is amazing. I wouldn't get a normal squier, but VM is the way to go. Also, if you want like a Fender MIM, go on craigslist. I bought mie there for $300. It was barely used and it still is amazing! Go Squier VM.

Huge piece of advise;
DON'T BUY GEAR IN PACKS!!!! The quality is horrible.

Try looking at these:

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#17
I own a Yamaha RBX-374, its a great bass, the build quality its excellent, a nice bass for hard rock or metal styles, not for funk or jazz, the bass lacks mids and low mids, and only have controls for bass boost and treble, if thats your music styles it would be a great choice over the squiers.
 
#20
Yammies are perfect starters...and for professionals too. Another great choice is to buy a used Peavey Foundation or Peavey Fury. Stick to those made in the 1980s. They are American made, and rival American made fenders costing nearly ten times as much. I've gotten several of them for 150 bucks or so.
 

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