anyone have a sub $500 bass they really dig?

I have a Yamaha BBG5-S that I picked up used. I paid about $250 for it. It blew me away. I liked it more than the American Deluxe Jazz V I had prior to it.

 

I've got one of those Steinberger Spirit XZ-25's I'm defretting as we speak. Decent bass for under $300. Plays great. The sound I'm working on.

 

squier, heh

 

81 G&L L-1000......Mahog body with ebony board.........nothin better. I bought it for $450 8 years ago. Been through a couple more expensive ones, but they're all gone and my G&L is still here.

 

Hamer USA Cruisebasses go for right around $500 ... and mine is up there with anthing else I have. A great J clone with a sweet thin neck and great tone.

Also, american standard P basses are about $500 used, and are very solid. I cut a really great sounding record with one a while back, and only sold it after I picked up a '78. The '78 isn't better, just different.

 

I got a used Godin SD-4 for $220. It looks kinda funky but with TI Jazz Flats strung through the bridge it's one of the best-sounding passive basses I've ever heard.

You can get a lot of bass for $500 on the used market, especially if you don't mind cosmetic flaws. MIA/MIJ Fenders, American G&Ls, and Carvins can often be found used in this price range. I got a '92 StingRay --with some issues undisclosed by the seller --for $490. Lots of high quality "parts" basses by Warmoth and Allparts can be found too. I once saw a Pedulla Rapture for $600--sometimes people just need money quick.

New, there are a lot of good basses in this range--I'm quite impressed by the new Yamaha BB series and the Ibanez 506.

 

I bought a used 1983 Yamaha BB2000. It is neck thru and sounds and plays great. It is passive and is in excellent condition. I was lucky to get it for $350. It is Japanese made. They made excellent basses in the 80's.

 

I really love my Ibanez TR600 Expressionist II

 

Every bass I have, with the exception of my Geddy.

 

See the Peavey bass sale thread.

 

I really really really dig my Italia Maranello, which I picked up for $200 + an old hollowbody worth about $250, so I guess it's sub-$500.

Nice round tone, good output, and the looks are really quite unique and head-turning.

 

ibanez artcore
and
hohner b2a

 

MTD Kingston Active 5 - amazing bass and amazing value for money - even if Tim Cole's grubby hands touched it first!

 

I got a 85 yamaha BB300 recently ($100), put some SD 1/4 P bass pups in it and a Badass ll bridge. For rock, its tough to beat it with any other bass Ive ever owned! Very happy.

 

I really dig my SX! All I've done with it is put DR Hi-Beams on it. I also did a bunch of free stuff, such as a fret job, a nice setup, and refinishing the neck. For $110 plus $35 for the strings, I've got one heck of an awesome bass. As nice as an American Fender? No. But at $800 more, I wouldn't even consider an American Fender over this bass.

 

Yamaha RBX170 paid 130 $US for it...very cool little bass.

My wishbass cost me 300 $US...i really dig it, too.

my parts P-bass cost me about 450 $US all up to build (I built it in 1990 and was much cheaper to do so those days...today it would have cost me about $700 - $800 for the same bass.

so 3 of 4 of my basses are Sub $500...my carvin cost me $800...

I dig them all, or I wouldn't still have them.

 

I picked up a 1988 MIJ Fender Precision about seven months ago, swapped out the pickup for a Basslines 1/4 pounder, and it's still under $500. Great bass.

 

I agree. I paid $500 for my 2-Tek CruiseBass and I don't think I've ever spent $500 more wisely. On my first gig with it, we were about 24 bars into our first tune when the drummer motioned me over to him and said, "That bass sounds GREAT!" They will bury me with this bass.

I am a big proponent of used instruments. If you're patient, observant and smart (and lucky), you can find some incredible deals. I paid $300 for my fretless MIJ Fender Jazz Bass and $360 for my Reverend Rumblefish XL.

 

My G&L SB2 KILLS! Paid $400 used.