Sire V3 (jazz style) or P5 (pbass style) if you want to go new under $500 would be my recommendation. Sweetwater has quite a few under that price point.
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Bass guitar recommendations under $500
- Thread starter wohnjalker
- Start date
Squier, Cort and Yamaha. In my opinion, there is no better choice than either of those three. Super consistent in quality.
A former G&L employee posted similar (different quality levels) about the Tribute instruments. Said they bought a lower quality tier from Cort then had to spend significant time cleaning things up at the US facility before shipping them out.
My Tributes have all played fine after cleaning up some sharp fret ends. I expect to need basic setup work at that price point.
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Squier Debut Series. Less than $200. Amazon.
I'm just illustrating that they can obviously build a good bass for many companies at various price levels.
Why not skip a middle man?
I find them more trustworthy than these other companies, which could switch factories if it saved them a nickel, to serve their board of directors.
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Just sayin'... I would always choose a used bass of better quality that's already been setup over a new bass of lesser quality that just costs as much because it's got retail markup. However, I also do my own setups on instruments, so often I can buy a bass that's used for a great deal because it's setup terribly and the former owner didn't have a clue... and then it becomes a brilliant instrument after I've worked on it. I know that's a unique to me situation. But still, if you find a used bass that plays well up and down the neck and looks and sounds how you like, it's a good bass, period. Can't go wrong that way.
The dangers of affordable P basses are that they are often considered entry level instruments by manufacturers and even by purchasers, and they cheap out on pickup quality and pots quality (can be unreliable pots and pickups may simply not sound nearly as good as they ought to on a P). And neck fit and finish, tuners quality etc. Gotta watch out for that. I haven't been a Precision player really for decades, but they can be great instruments... but out of the box, most of the Ps I play these days are less than musically interesting... even some fairly pricey ones. Nothing like the great old 70s america precision I played during the 80s... hifi pickup tone, fairly low action, solid as a rock and reliable, classic old sunburst...
The dangers of affordable P basses are that they are often considered entry level instruments by manufacturers and even by purchasers, and they cheap out on pickup quality and pots quality (can be unreliable pots and pickups may simply not sound nearly as good as they ought to on a P). And neck fit and finish, tuners quality etc. Gotta watch out for that. I haven't been a Precision player really for decades, but they can be great instruments... but out of the box, most of the Ps I play these days are less than musically interesting... even some fairly pricey ones. Nothing like the great old 70s america precision I played during the 80s... hifi pickup tone, fairly low action, solid as a rock and reliable, classic old sunburst...
For a little more you can get a Sterling Ray 34 at musicians friend today as a stupid deal of the day. $549 today. I have no affiliation.
That’s a pretty great bass and can get a lot of different tones.
That’s a pretty great bass and can get a lot of different tones.
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Excellent Bass if you can cough up $234 more.
Fender Player II Precision Maple Fingerboard Limited-Edition Bass Guitar Ocean Turquoise
Guitar Center Exclusive
On sale - Guitar Center Exclusive color
$739.99
Original Price -
$869.99
Save: $130.00 (15%)
Fender Player II Precision Maple Fingerboard Limited-Edition Bass Guitar Ocean Turquoise
Guitar Center Exclusive
On sale - Guitar Center Exclusive color
$739.99
Original Price -
$869.99
Save: $130.00 (15%)
I’ll throw my vote in for Squier CV instruments made in Indonesia. The Samick and Cort-built Squiers I have seen recently are very well-constructed instruments and, surprisingly, the pickups, while not being top of the line, do not suck. I always upgrade tuners, bridges, and controls, but, to keep the total cost down, you can keep the Squier pickups and live with them comfortably.
Another vote for the Squier CV P. Either the 60s or 70s version - your style, your choice. Personally, I dig the block inlays on the 70s. Solid bass, just under your budget max.
Cheaper options for a straight P bass? Squier Debut or Sonic. I haven't had hands on the Debut series, but the Sonic line is pretty nice for the low retail price.
Also, as already mentioned, the Sire P5 is a really nice instrument but currently just over the $500 mark.
If you consider a P/J setup, your options grow.
EDIT: I didn't realize the CV 70s P had crept up over the $500 mark, so maybe stick with the 60s series.
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If these are still available out there, they are very close to your price point and are a steal at the liquidation prices:
I just looked and there is a reseller on Reverb with 25 of these left. There are discussions in the thread I linked above about people offering just over $500 and getting them for that price. These have first rate hardware and electronics and are well build by all accounts. This is a lot more bass than a Sire or a Squier.If these are still available out there, they are very close to your price point and are a steal at the liquidation prices:
It doesn't meet his preferences, but does meet the needs expressed in the original post. And the cost of the tuners, bridge and pickups alone are worth over $500. Seems worth making him aware of the option.
