affordable oddball bass ideas

[DaveParker39]

So, I'm saving for another Spector, but I'm wondering what fun basses might be out there in a reasonable price range that would add something different to my arsenal.

I have a Two Precisions (one rounds, one flats), a Jazz, a Spector with the classic EMG/Haz-style preamp, and another Spector with a passive P.

The Orange O-Bass looks cool, but might be close to my Precisions?

Any ideas?

 

[JonathanPDX]

You can only play one bass at a time. Are you looking to collect just for the sake of having more stuff on your wall, or is there something you actually need that's missing from the tools you have available?

If you just want something different you could take one of your basses and tune it a fourth higher (in "tenor" tuning) ADGC or EADGC for a 5-string. Or you could use piccolo stings and tune it EADG but a whole octave above your normal register.

 

[WaldoNova]

A Stingray?

 

[Element Zero]

A fretless StingRay!!! Or an old Gibson Grabber!

 

[crazycloud]

Keep the money in your wallet.

 

[ardgedee]

1. String something BEAD
2. ...or ADGC
3. ...or upside-down, GDAE
4. ...or in fifths, such as CGDA
5. Get a 5-string

 

[chris_b]

+1 for a 5 string.

Be brave, be adventurous, change your life. . . . for the better.

 

[klyph]

If you’ve never owned a Danelectro, they can be lots of fun and a slightly different tonal palette than a Fender. They’re cheap and lightweight, too.

 

[ctmullins]

Define “reasonable price range” please.

 

[Flatwound]

I have a couple of oddball Fenders, a 1990 Jazz Plus, and a 1992 Longhorn Jazz Bass. Not sure how odd you want to go, but even in the Fender world, you have JP-90’s, Performers, Dimensions, the Heartfield line, Boxers, and more.

For really odd, there’s the Bender Collision.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Best bet - check through FB Marketplace and CL and what cheap mistakes others might be looking to offload.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

Hofner contemporary or just save your money.

 

[thump54]

A couple of months ago I picked up a CAR Squier Rascal for $299 and free shipping. It's a little quirky, plays great, sounds great (and unique), wonderful fit and finish, plus it looks very cool IMHO. Probably not a stage player (9 lbs after adding Hipshot ultralights) but for that price it's a nice collectors piece and fun couch buddy! Highly Recommended!

 

[CaptainRuss]

Stingray would be a more practical option rather than oddball. Reverend would get you into oddball territory and still be practical.

 

[Saetia]

I tried micro scale ABG while back, wow did it sound amazing. Never really cared for acoustic bass guitar but this thing was so full and rich, had me thinking. There was a bounce and growl to the low tension that was a ton of fun.

Maybe something very different from what you have?

 

[Lobster11]

Keep the money in your wallet.

This. I don't understand why, if you are "saving for another Spector," you want to buy another bass in the meantime.

 

[brianrost]

Danelectro

 

[JbassRick]

How about a Fender Bass VI ?
Or a fretless?

 

[mercbass]

Best bet - check through FB Marketplace and CL and what cheap mistakes others might be looking to offload.

best way to go about it. don't hunt for oddball used gear in weird places, just browse marketplace and wait for it to come to you.

someone's gonna make a terrible financial decision, or inherit something they don't want, or get a gift they hate, or run into some hard times and try to offload their weird old bass gear. it'll be something you never considered or even knew existed.

sometimes it's stupid cheap too. the thing about affordable oddball gear that we all know about is that they don't stay cheap long because we all know about them.

 

[MegaSwing]

Since you’re soliciting suggestions…

Never had a Peavey bass that didn’t deliver the stuff or that I overpaid for.

Just sayin’.