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Basses that are a steal...REAL value here!

#81
I once had (many years ago) a bass that looked like a giant violin, some @#$%^&*( pinched it.:bawl:
On the headstock were the letters EKO.
I have read somewhere recently that this particular bass is now worth a few bucks....anyone know anything about that particular bass ??:confused:
I owned it approximately 30 years ago.
 
#82
Do the Tobias (Gibson) Tobys count? I bought a Toby Deluxe 5 for less than $500 almost 10 years ago off the MusicYo.com website and it was my main workhorse until recently when I upgraded to a Lakland JO5. A decent, well made instrument. You can see me playing this 'Toby' on youtube (dwalmz) with my old band Jigsaww. It is still my go to bass when I'm playing Jazz.

The bass had to be decent as I've only had to have the neck tweaked once since I've owned it. Granted the pre-amp has low output but I just plug into the passive input on my amps. No big deal. I also owned a Brice Douglas 5 string jazz style bass (no longer sold) that I bought from Rondo Music for $299 and it was a pretty nice bass. I should have kept that one.
 
#84
Couple of basses come to mind for me .....

If you can find the older SGC Nanyo Bass Collection basses used you can get a fantastic pro-level value for super cheap. Also look for any of the old Matsumoko knock-offs from the late '60's/early '70's that were sold under a bunch of different brand names (Kent, Goya, Aria, etc). Just be sure that they aren't the plywood bodies ...

As far as current production basses, the Brice Z6 neck-through 6 string is a crazy-low-priced way to get into the ERB world with a bass that is fully capable of working a pro level schedule ..... :cool:
 
#86
I did not read all 4 pages - but the Spector Performer Deluxe I have is one sweet bass for the Money - I was stunned when I started playing it - I ended up buying two more Spectors after having sucha great experience with this model. I would recommend it to anyone - great neck - slightly thicker than my MIM P-Bass - fast and punchy - great bass!
 
#87
Too many people are giving price itself way too much consideration. Yes, it is somewhat about price...but not necessarily about getting a deal. It's more about "percieved" value in the real world of gigging versus the actual price paid for the bass.

Sometimes a deal comes along on a well known, highly TB praised bass. Perhaps it was a new MIA Fender Jazz you got for $100 at a pawn shop. :eek:

Yeah...that's a steal to be sure. But the purpose of this thread was to point out those basses that get no respect here. Those basses that brand new might not even cost $300 - $400. Or maybe they did at one time, but now are long forgotten.

Look, marketing by a big company and the never-ending praise here of sought after, lusted after basses that cause GAS on the boards here, aren't exactly "hidden gems".

I'm looking for all those basses that can be bought for very little and are wonderful, gig-worthy basses in their own right.

Sing their praises. So younger musicians who want to play bass don't get some stupid idea that they can't be professionals unless they have the latest "flavor of the month" gear.
 
#88
Sundogue said:
... It seems to me, most of the appeal of these higher priced basses is name brand recognition, marketing, snob appeal and dare I say it...TalkBass itself (which I think is the major contributor to GAS). :D ...
Click to expand...
I don't totally agree with you aboout the appeal of higher-praiced brands because in some cases, they simply are built better -- with attention to detail that you won't find on cheaper brands/models.

That said, I think you are spot-on regardiing GAS, snob-appeal, and Talkbass as a contributor to same. I am a Lakland snob and I have no problem admitting it. That said, if not for Talkbass, I doubt I would have found out about some of the Brands/Models that I have owned and lusted after. Nothing wrong with that but it's also very cool to acknowledge that it simply isn't necessary to spend more than $500 on a good, serviceable, gig-worthy bass these days.

This thread delivers! :bassist:
 
#90
IotaNet said:
I don't totally agree with you aboout the appeal of higher-praiced brands because in some cases, they simply are built better -- with attention to detail that you won't find on cheaper brands/models.

That said, I think you are spot-on regardiing GAS, snob-appeal, and Talkbass as a contributor to same. I am a Lakland snob and I have no problem admitting it. That said, if not for Talkbass, I doubt I would have found out about some of the Brands/Models that I have owned and lusted after. Nothing wrong with that but it's also very cool to acknowledge that it simply isn't necessary to spend more than $500 on a good, serviceable, gig-worthy bass these days.

This thread delivers! :bassist:
Click to expand...

Well, my point was that many here would be drooling over a bass they had never seen in person, much less played themselves...based on nothing but the hype here and marketing (which I include to be GAS inducing photos). Worse, is that younger musicians might feel that bass is a necessity if they are ever going to get out of the basement/practice room.

Heck, the pics of my bass in my first post would have caused me GAS just on looks alone (for me anyway). But I never would have bought it if I didn't play it. I did...and that's what sold me on it.

And I don't disagree with you that for the most part, higher priced basses are well built and play and sound great...on a consistent basis. Thus the well deserved reputation they get.

But...there are a lot of lower priced basses that are just as high in quality, especially nowadays given it is much easier to outsource parts and then put them together.

I am just as guilty of snobbery and GAS. Heck, every time I see a Sadowsky thread I have to look. Someday I may get one. And I do want everyone to know that I feel the high priced and boutique basses are worth drooling over and worth every penny they command. People should buy whatever they desire. Desire is a great thing. I just thought this thread would help to counteract that somewhat and clear up some misconceptions about the difference between "want" and "need".
 
#92
After reading all the rules and addendums I've think that I actually may have one in my arsenal that fits the criteria as set forth.

And that is...(cue drummroll)

An original St Blues Bass (P/J).

(cue fireworks and marching band)

No wait...wait...STOP THE MUSIC.

That's not it.
 
#93
I'll toss in my opinions on the following:

I second:
Peavey t-4O, Fury, Foundation, Patriot, and all the other USA made Peavey's and Carvin.

The cheapest of the cheap:
I'd like to add to the jackson/charvel statement, that anything with a pointy 80's/early90's headstock is likely to be the best deal you will find in an instrument. There are alot of fine MIJ, and even some MIA instruments that can be had for 200-400 bucks if you are ok with a pointy, downturned, or hocky-stick headstock. I see many that are probably priced at less than half of what they would be if they had a more traditional shaped head.
I unfortunately can't stomach the headstock, but if you can, there are some amazing bargains to be had.

Beginner/intermediate/player
I would disagree with the gentleman who suggested a below 400 was beginner, and above 1000 was professional player. That may be one person's opinion, but I don't think it's the opinion of all -or even most- "professionals".

There are alot of instruments available out there that cost less than 1000 dollars (some even new for that price), that are regularly used by "professionals". I frequently see professional working musicians with instruments like older Carvins, Guild B-series, Skyline Glaubs and many others.

EKO bass:
EKO violin basses currently fetch 2-400 bucks. Definatley a good deal if you want a true hollow vintage bass that does the Hofner thing very well.
 
#95
DWBass said:
When I lived in New York and gigging regularly in NYC, I saw quite a lot of Squier instruments. QUITE A LOT! All used by fulltime gigging professionals!
Click to expand...

My guess is that the majority of full time gigging musicians care more about their chops than the instrument they play those chops on.

I knew a bass player that had killer chops, a fabulous sense of time, the best ability to groove, etc. and all the guy ever practiced on was a guitar. He didn't even own a bass. I saw him go onstage and play on all kinds of basses from very nice, expensive basses to the biggest pieces of junk even I would never own (and that's saying a lot).

And the guy just plain blew everyone away...and more importantly he sounded like himself regardless of what instrument he played on. I would go with him to open jams and I'd be playing a bass that sounded like crap, and played even worse. He'd go up onstage and play the same bass and just floor me.

It was quite an eye opening experience.
 
#96
I do a cable access TV show at a music store and was told that 200 dollar bass's are much better these days and I believe it.I know some less then stellar players with real expensive instruments and I know some phenomenal players with mediocre instruments,A wise old bassist told me many years ago its all in the finger technique and I will say this is true.You can make a instrument in the 300 dollar range really sing
 
#100
To the people who've disagreed with my comments on the price and they ask why, I'm going to say experience. My comments on price also had to do with new prices. I've been fortunate to have had a lot of opportunities to play many different kinds of basses and to have owned quite a bit more than most people will at one time or another.

Yes, in many things, you do get what you pay for. I think this rings true for musicial instruments, though there is the law of diminishing returns. No, better gear won't make you a better player. I never said it would.

But when you're spending under $150 for an SX P-Bass from Rondo you'll have a nice little bass, however it'll be far from perfect and won't have nearly as much attention to detail as a higher priced instrument.

If I felt like playing standard pounding root notes all day, then maybe I'd be happy with a cheap bass. However, I do things that aren't standard practice on bass that I've run into problems with on cheaper basses.

I'm sorry if I like a tight neck pocket, good fretwork, full sounding pickups, etc. I don't want to worry that what I'm playing will fall apart in my hands. I've already busted one bass from Rondo that was, as well as MIM Fenders. Newer Ibanez models feel like cheap toys to me.

If a bass can't take the abuse I put it through, then it doesn't last very long with me. So far I've yet to find a bass that cost in the sub $400 new range that would do that for me.
 

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