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Budget basses that will get you through!

#42
asolo said:
SX makes a broad range of basses with a variety of shapes (including Jazz), specs and sizes that are excellent values. Stepping up in price, an Epiphone SG (Gibson copy) is a great choice, but not a Jazz-like tone. Fender Mustang and Squire Bronco are also good choices. All of these are available short scale. My son started playing bass at age 8 with a Bronco and an SX short scale jazz. Both lasted several years until he graduated to a Gibson SG and then finally a full scale Fender jazz.
FWIW, I believe well maintained used instruments are great sound and playability values. Nothing can be more discouraging to a new player than a poor sounding or uncomfortable instrument. Good luck!
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Bronco is another we are looking into. I don't mind them myself, tbh. I also agree with you to an extent. You really don't want an instrument that fights you every step of the way. Yet, I'm sure that we both cut out teeth on something that did - at least in comparison to what we play now.
 
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#44
I can't believe nobody suggested the Squier Classic Vibe '60s Mustang:

0374570557_gtr_frt_001_rr.jpg
 
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#50
SixtyCycleHum said:
Hey gang!

So, pretty cool thing here. My 14 year old cousin has decided to try her hand at playing bass and I'm going to be teaching her some stuff. Not lessons, per say. I ain't qualified, and I'm doing it for fun. Just kind of showing her some fundamentals and basic maintenance. Good times!

So she has tried out some of my basses which I don't really play anymore. Fender/Squier is too heavy, she doesn't like the Danelectro Longhorn (fair enough), and she wants something a bit more interesting than the Yamaha RBX series, albeit it fitting her perfectly otherwise. So going by that, we're going shopping, y'all!

So my question is this. While I'm very aware of what is available in a certain price range and the fact that second hand stores are a thing, I'm just looking for GOOD recommendations for budget basses that you can do a lot with. Preferably short scale, she's a little 'un so while long is fine, I think she will like short so much better. I want to see what YOU guys know of. It will show me some stuff I haven't seen yet, and that's the idea.

Without further ado, bombs AWAY!
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Ibanez mikro

G&l fallout

New Squire Jaguar

Ray Shorty

Pretty much any others you can think of.

If it has strings and pickups, there's a lot you can do with it.
 
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#54
I've seen the SX 30" scale P bass (often called a 3/4 size, reduced body size, so presumably less weighty) for $299 AUD at several places, the short scale jazz, from them, not so much, but worth a look if you can find one. Given there's more wood in a jazz body and they generaly run a bit heavier than P basses, even a 34 size jazz might be a little weighty, though I believe SX are mostly Basswood bodies these days.

The Ibanez Mikro at is probably as small and light as you'll find and their build quality is pretty good, they come with a PJ pickups set, you should find one for a little under $400 AUD at the moment.

I've seen Squier Bronco's advertised for $275, Jackson JS Minion, 28.6" scale, (same as a Mikro?) for $375, if a pointy headstock sort of vibe suits and a Squier Affinity Jag short scale bass for $439, but it only has a single humbucker.

Sadly the range of available short scales down here doesn't match the numbers available in the states and of course our prices are 30 to 50 percent higher, so recommendations from our US brothers and sisters might not fit within your price range, or simply will not be available. (Importing from OS, particularly the USA has almost become cost prohibitive, shipping on a cheapish bass might be more than the cost of the bass.)

Good luck with your search, hopefully your cousin will find something that suits.
 
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#55
SixtyCycleHum said:
Sigh. As much as I hate that it only has one knob and I feel like the $ is better spent, she is really liking the idea of the Mark Hoppus signature bass. It's light, fast neck, ticks her boxes. I can't shake that she's going to outgrow it fast, but I approve. I guess.
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What happened to the "Budget" part of your inquiry? Yeesh. lol. I only paid a bit more for my 55-02.

But if it's the pink one.. well I mean.. good luck changing her mind on that.


When "Weight+Budget" are in the same post regarding basses my mind instantly goes to Ibanez Soundgears. Haven't played a mezzo but the SR500 in my avatar was really light weight. I later learned I preferred a wider string spacing.. but string spacing isn't a huge issue for me. I ended up not really loving the Bartolini branded pickups and I sold it. I kind of wish it had been a thought on my mind to drop some Aguilar soapbars in and maybe swap out the preamp because it would've been a killer bass, which, is an option should she commit to playing bass.
 
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#60
GodsLove66 said:
SQUIER BRONCO!!!!! My first bass was a Bronco and I still have her to this day!!!! It's a SUPER reliable short scale that is also SUPER friendly to mods!!!! It ticks all the starter bass boxes for sure!
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I have a Bronco too but let's be honest: the single coil pickup is very noisy, the tuners are extremely imprecise and the two saddle bridge is very hard to intonate. Mine weighs 3.6kg which is not light considering it's a short scale.
However the neck is fantastic and the body is shell pink :)
 
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