Providing they're an outlet for the manufacturer, any good store worth its weight in salt will order a model they don't have in stock if you request it. You might have to wait a few days before being able to test it, but the important thing is, you'll still be able to give it a test flight.
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Best bass for 300$
- Thread starter Drubio8119
- Start date
Providing they're an outlet for the manufacturer, any good store worth its weight in salt will order a model they don't have in stock if you request it. You might have to wait a few days before being able to test it, but the important thing is, you'll still be able to give it a test flight.
Traben basses
I don't know what else to say Joe, but all these last posts you've made are all stuff I've believed for a while now, It's good to see that I'm not the only one is getting a little tired of the "As soon as I get my bass, I'm gonna change out the pickups,tuners,bridge,electronics,neck, body, and paint. Oh, and the screws, too." posts. Desn'y make sense to me.
I also prefer getting a new bass, and for the same reasons as you, and as I get them all online, I am assured at most, the only others who've played it, were testers at the factory, and MAYBE a warehouse guy or two and that's all.
And I also agree you really should try before you buy, but like me, not everyone can do that and have to buy them online sight unseen. It's best to try them out, but you can get a good one online, I've done it 4 (5 if you count the Strat) times in the last year and a half. I did a lot of research on the various instruments beforehand, but I've been pretty lucky, I think, as well.
BTW, to the OP, I also recommend you give Squiers a try. I'm of the thought why save up and spend more money to get a used bass when you can get a brand new Squier that's just as good for only $300.
I also prefer getting a new bass, and for the same reasons as you, and as I get them all online, I am assured at most, the only others who've played it, were testers at the factory, and MAYBE a warehouse guy or two and that's all.
And I also agree you really should try before you buy, but like me, not everyone can do that and have to buy them online sight unseen. It's best to try them out, but you can get a good one online, I've done it 4 (5 if you count the Strat) times in the last year and a half. I did a lot of research on the various instruments beforehand, but I've been pretty lucky, I think, as well.
BTW, to the OP, I also recommend you give Squiers a try. I'm of the thought why save up and spend more money to get a used bass when you can get a brand new Squier that's just as good for only $300.
Would a music store really be willing to order a new bass just for you to try? What if you do that and don't like it? (and not because there are real problems with it, what if you just don't like it?)
I'm pretty sure a store wouldn't - but there are exceptions too to that reasoning.
Since I regularly go to GC and so far (OK - one exception - maybe two by now) I always buy from it and I'm recognized and I have a yearning for that Reggie Hamilton P/J that they won't stock.
I've been told that they will get it in for a customer who is like me and buys there all the time.
That service may not be for everyone nor for those who just walk in cold and ask for it - but if you develop a secure relationship with a store then it's a greater possible happenstance.
Even if I don't make a big purchase and just go in to kick a few tires, I always buy SOMETHING and they really like that. Even if it's a harmonica or some strings or only helping with a sale - it all adds up.
Become a familiar face and it will open doors for you.
I wish my GC was close enough for that kind of thing. It's over an hour long bus ride to get there.
The guys at my local shop at the very least recognize me. I almost never buy anything there but I always go to them for any repair work I need on my bass. My brother does the same with his guitar. It's a small shop that doesn't have much selection but they do quality setups.
At least you get someone to drive the bus - me I have an hour mountain driving and then going through Yuppie Land with H2s and limos and Porsches that race on both sides and all drive by myself to get to my GC too.
Not to mention the snow, ice and muddy washouts from the rain and goats, sheep and loose cattle that are on the road and the buzzards eating slow tourists to get around.
56+ miles one way and gas is over #3.00/gallon and tires, lunch, etc., it all adds up.
Then going home - uphill - I usually get motorhomes, RV trailers and people driving their horses to somewhere to ride them and trash trucks and they all do 12¼ MPH in a 55 zone and nobody will let you pass.........................................the bluehairs* are even honking their horns to pass.
What this country needs is dedicated police snipers in towers with a 7.62 NATO AP rounds and scopes to pick these people off and just leave the bodies in the motorhomes and RVs to rot and warn future slow drivers.
*Escapees from Seizure World
I think I forgot my meds this morning - sorry.
Not to mention the snow, ice and muddy washouts from the rain and goats, sheep and loose cattle that are on the road and the buzzards eating slow tourists to get around.
56+ miles one way and gas is over #3.00/gallon and tires, lunch, etc., it all adds up.
Then going home - uphill - I usually get motorhomes, RV trailers and people driving their horses to somewhere to ride them and trash trucks and they all do 12¼ MPH in a 55 zone and nobody will let you pass.........................................the bluehairs* are even honking their horns to pass.
What this country needs is dedicated police snipers in towers with a 7.62 NATO AP rounds and scopes to pick these people off and just leave the bodies in the motorhomes and RVs to rot and warn future slow drivers.
*Escapees from Seizure World
I think I forgot my meds this morning - sorry.
I've had a couple - a CV-4 and a Damien 4. Both were very nice, well constructed and easy to play and had good tone, great in the case of the CV-4. I have no idea why they stopped making those, that's gotta be one of the all time best basses.
I'd go with the Epi T-bird personally (infact I'm gassing for one so badly right now it hurts). Neck dive is fixable from what I've been told.
jkGreat thread..... an innocent query about the best bang-for-buck instrument turns into an argument about modding. Have fun, play what you like, buy what you want...ENJOY BASS. Just don't ever start putting it on plastic.....
Seen it mentioned a few times - Squier PBass. $300 can get you an Affinity series set-up professionally with a new set of strings (Originals suck outta the box) with some cash left over. If you have this bass tweaked for lower action and intonation it can easily stand next to a $750 bass. Pure tone and most importantly FUN for each dollar.
Seen it mentioned a few times - Squier PBass. $300 can get you an Affinity series set-up professionally with a new set of strings (Originals suck outta the box) with some cash left over. If you have this bass tweaked for lower action and intonation it can easily stand next to a $750 bass. Pure tone and most importantly FUN for each dollar.
OP sorry its taken me so long to respond- I recommend the epi t-bird because it was my first real bass and enjoyed it alot, forgiving, decent fretwork, can take bumps and drops, and most importantly it looks bad ass. Not to mention you can get a fair amount of tone but it really depends what your looking for. Like others have said as well your first instrument should be a new one and it should be something you never sell. good luck and if all else fails take a day and go to as many music shops as possible and play as many basses as possible. you never know what you will find.
forgot to mention I have had a lot of schecters in the past, theyre higher end stuff is decent but any of the models that are the lowest in the series (they usually have three levels per model) are usually pretty poorly built.
"Pots" is short for potentiometers. They are variable resistors that are used for volume and tone controls.
Jim
well if your looking for under $300 you can do what i just did and order all the parts for a bass off guitarfetish.com, if the bass parts are as good or quality as the stuff they use on the guitars( and i have heard good things about their bass parts too) then i'll have a pretty damn kick ass custom jazz bass for under $300.
sj_bass
Supporting Member
Ok, so I've read through the posts and I felt like chiming in about online sales via privateers (eBay/CL)...
These sources are definitely NOT for the n00b; you have to do A LOT of research, and you have to know your instruments - also, there are descriptions that can be very misleading ("I believe it's a genuine 1962 Fender Jazz" DOESN'T mean it IS...)
That being said, experienced bass GAS guzzlers can find great deals - I've managed to find 2 Lakies and a Status bass online, and nothing needed to be modified - heck, I gigged with my JO5 the day it came in the mail!
Going back to OP's question: I have a couple of MIM Fenders, and I think that these instruments are the best value - at $300 or so, you'll have an instrument that can be used for rock, pop, jazz, funk, soul, r&b, country, bluegrass, gospel, disco, or greek bazuki...
YMMV...
These sources are definitely NOT for the n00b; you have to do A LOT of research, and you have to know your instruments - also, there are descriptions that can be very misleading ("I believe it's a genuine 1962 Fender Jazz" DOESN'T mean it IS...)
That being said, experienced bass GAS guzzlers can find great deals - I've managed to find 2 Lakies and a Status bass online, and nothing needed to be modified - heck, I gigged with my JO5 the day it came in the mail!
Going back to OP's question: I have a couple of MIM Fenders, and I think that these instruments are the best value - at $300 or so, you'll have an instrument that can be used for rock, pop, jazz, funk, soul, r&b, country, bluegrass, gospel, disco, or greek bazuki...
YMMV...
My vote goes towards the vm p bass. I love mine. It sounds great with a nordstrand np4 and new strings.. I had a epiphone t bird but hated it. I liked the tone but the neck dive and the huge baseball bat like neck convinced me to sell the bass. I also own an sx j bass and love it as well its very good quality for the price but since you can only go with what guitar center has id get a squier of some kind. Why not have them order you a jag since thats what you seem to want.
We used to do it quite frequently when I worked at Thoroughbred Music. If someone didn't like it, then we'd just put it on the wall and sell it that way. It's not like the store is losing money by doing this. Like I said, the bass will eventually sell after they put it on the floor. What the store doesn't like is that it can take longer for it to sell (which is why they usually don't order certain, more expensive items) to sell than the masses of cheaper gear they move.
If you don't like it for whatever reason, then the store will have to get over it. It's not your fault they didn't have a certain model in stock for you to try prior to ordering one. I, and many I know that work in retail music, believe music stores should carry at least one of every model from their distributors.
I would love that. There's several models of basses that I've been wanting to try, but haven't been able to because they weren't in stock.
The reason I didn't ever ask is I didn't believe that the store would be willing to order an instrument and then when it turns out I don't like it have them go "Oh, don't worry, it's fine, we'll just put it on the shelf."
Glad to know there are stores that actually are willing to do that.
Of course, it doesn't really matter since I'm now set on just assembling a parts bass. That way I can be as picky as I want.
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