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Best 4-string bass under €250 ?

V

Vobidy One

Jun 5, 2012
25
0
Ireland
#1
I'm currently playing on a Chinese no-name 4 string that I paid €10 for - needless to say, it isn't quality. It was okay to learn on, but the input jack has packed it in so it won't even make a sound that way.
I recently sanded it down and it turns out it's made of laminate, which is pretty disappointing. I intended to fix it up a little, new pickups and fix the input - but since it's made from rubbish to begin with, I don't see the point of wasting ~€60 on it.

So I'm going to do my best to save up ~€250 and invest in something new. Suggestions?

Ideally, I'd like
- Real wood; preferably not laminate or basswood!
- A decent name on the headstock, something that won't look too amateur on stage.
- Best possible tone.

I realize €250 is a tiny amount of money, but I don't have a job (I'm still in school), and so I really would like to get the best possible for my money. €250 is a lot of money to me these days.
 
#2
For old-school tone, Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass or used Yamaha BB414/424/424x IMO. They are great inexpensive basses.
If you want something more modern, i.e. active pickups and/or onboard preamp, I've no idea at this price point.
 
#3
Thanks for the reply :)
All those suggestions are slightly out of my price range, though.. I also need to buy an amp, so €250 really is the most I can spend.

I'm looking at the Dean Hillsboro J at the moment, or the Dean Edge 1. I've found nice prices for both.

Any more suggestions?
 
#4
Vobidy One said:
Thanks for the reply :)
All those suggestions are slightly out of my price range, though.. I also need to buy an amp, so €250 really is the most I can spend.

I'm looking at the Dean Hillsboro J at the moment, or the Dean Edge 1. I've found nice prices for both.

Any more suggestions?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't touch a Dean with a long stick. Try a squier standard or affinity? Also, what currency is ~?
 
#6
@josiah goldfish
I use "~" to mean "approximately" :)
I don't really like the idea of owning a Squier, it would just feel cheap to me. I know that they are great budget instruments but the name on the headstock would just depress me a little every time I looked at it.
Deans have some reputable musicians behind them though, like Dave Mustaine and Dimebag. I suppose it's opinion, but a few friends of mine reckon anything with Dean on the headstock is guaranteed to be decent.

@MakoMan
I'm still a bit iffy about owning a Squier but if there is no option that sounds as good with a more ideal name on the headstock, I'll probably go for that Jaguar.
 
#8
I'll keep that in mind. I actually really like the look of that Squier Jaguar..
I think I'm being silly! I actually prefer the look of that Squier to both Deans, it's just the name on the headstock that's putting me off, which is silly.

I think I will look into getting that Jaguar, and if it really comes to it I might do something about the name on the headstock.

Edit: Turns out that Squier is €330+ :( I'll have a look at some of the other Squiers
 
#9
Squier has in some circles and still is in others becoming a very respectable name. Plenty of pros own them and some of those are even using the bass for live shows and recordings. Nothing wrong with the Squier and the quality is great on the VM series (and superb on the CV series).

Best bet is buy a used CV series. If the logo bugs you that much it isn't too difficult to make it go away. (even easier on the VM series because the logo isn't buried underneath clearcoat).

Heck, you've been playing a piece of JUNK and aren't too worried about that, or so it seems.

And...basswood IS real wood. Fine for making a guitar, if not great.

So: Buy a USED CV (after playing it first to make sure it's a keeper - most of them are) - AND PROUDLY SHOW OFF THAT SQUIER LOGO!

:)
 
#10
Thanks! I'm mostly just afraid of getting lip from Fender snobs about owning an "imitation" instrument.
Thanks for the reassurance :)

I'll look into both options you mentioned.

Oh, the reason I don't mind playing a piece of junk is because I'm just at home learning.. but most reason I need a nice new bass is because my friends have asked me to play bass for their band, and I want something that'll look decent.

Is the Washburn T14 any good..? Squier is top of the list right now, but I like the look of the Washburn and it's within my pricerange.
 
#11
There is also Yamaha RBX 270, not a bad choice IMO, but I'd go with Squiers.
Don't buy them online though, go to a store and select the one you like best and you'll be set :)

P.S.: as for Fender snobs giving lip to you, I believe there is something like "gabh suas ort fhéin" in Irish Gaelic. Exactly for cases like this ;)
 
#13
Don't go for Dean. I have a Metalman Z (somewhat different from the Hillsboro J...) and even that is nudging on the alright level. Personally I hate the thing and regret buying it. I used to think that Dean were the bomb, but I've since realised otherwise.

A Kramer Disciple will run you around your €250 mark and it's a fantastic bass for the money. It's a high end bass with quality parts (that could still be upgraded over time). I've played Warwicks, Fenders, a Musicman Sterling, Cruiser, Harley Benton, Shine, Dean, Squier, Fleabass, Bass Collection and Ibanez (maybe a few forgotten, but these were mostly all tests in a music store aside from a few), and the Kramer is on par or better than all of them in terms of feel for me. Sound? Sure, there are signature tones you're missing (Warwick for example), but the Kramer has sounds and looks of its own (even the pickup and preamp could be swapped out at some point with minimal effort, probably).

I'd say go for a Kramer. I bought it blind off of the internet and it was the best thing I've ever bought. But, nothing beats going to your local music shop and trying things out there and getting the feel of a few basses there.
 
#14
@Mizu
Haha, I'll keep that in mind :P

@alexgeddy
Squiers are a different story, though! And I thought Dave Ellefson only ever endorsed Jackson and Peavey?

@dcalde78
I was looking at the Metalman Z as well. After reading the advice on this thread, I'm not so keen on Dean anymore.
Kramer Disciple looks interesting too, I'll have a good look at it.
 
#15
The Metalman Z is big, heavy, neckdives like hell and demands either a hardcase or softcase specifically from Dean at a minimum cost of around £50 for the softcase. An all around PITA.

Mind you, the Kramer has the opposite problem. It's so small, it moves around in a standard case! Mind you, you can fix that problem by getting some polystyrene and cutting an insert for the case. I can't praise the Kramer enough. It's perfect for me but I do realise that everyone has different taste.

But there are universal plus points. It's light and perfectly balanced. You could easily go 3 hours with a standard width strap. My only real complaint comes from having active electronics, and that's because 9V batteries are kind of expensive (branded ones anyway).
 
#16
Vobidy One said:
@MakoMan
I'm still a bit iffy about owning a Squier but if there is no option that sounds as good with a more ideal name on the headstock, I'll probably go for that Jaguar.
Click to expand...

I can see from some other replies you're coming around. I've actually gone through the same thing, however I''ve started to warm up the Squier name because they make great basses.
Remember... it says 'by Fender' right beneath the Squire logo :)
The cheaper Deans are pretty mediocre. I'd rather have 'by Fender' on the headstock than 'Dean'.
 
#18
Vobidy One said:
@josiah goldfish
I use "~" to mean "approximately" :)
I don't really like the idea of owning a Squier, it would just feel cheap to me. I know that they are great budget instruments but the name on the headstock would just depress me a little every time I looked at it.
Deans have some reputable musicians behind them though, like Dave Mustaine and Dimebag. I suppose it's opinion, but a few friends of mine reckon anything with Dean on the headstock is guaranteed to be decent.

@MakoMan
I'm still a bit iffy about owning a Squier but if there is no option that sounds as good with a more ideal name on the headstock, I'll probably go for that Jaguar.
Click to expand...

Maybe in the guitar world that is the case. Bass world is a little different. I would not worry what someone thinks of my bass. Like has been said on TB numerous times, most people in the audience don't know the difference. Only other musicians would and I think a lot of bassist have no problems with squiers now days.
 
#19
@MakoMan
True :) Thanks again for the reassurance

@RaginRog
Really? Comparable to a USA standard?

@bassguitarthund
That's a very good point you made. Before I actually started looking for a new bass, I didn't have much idea about the brand names, so I suppose most of the audience wouldn't either.

Thanks for all the replies guys :) I've decided to take the majority advice and buy a Squier! It seems they have the best tone and feel on a budget, and it seems silly to waste my money on something sonically and ergonomically sub-par over a vanity issue like brand-names!
I'm going to go with a Squier Classic Vibe, haven't decided exactly what model just yet though.

Thanks again for all the advice!

EDIT: Oh, just wondering - any opinions on the Washburn T14?
 

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