Does anybody gig with cheapies? Share your experiences!

[MadMark5]

I've done a ton of gigs on my cort b5. I bought it for 250 brand new at a mom and pop store that was blowing them out. it's got a decent set of mk bart's, and the wenge neck is a poor man's warwick "feel". it's currently my back up as it's a pretty versitile 5 string and can handle everything I've thrown at it....

mark

 

[Blues Bass 2]

I used an Lake Placid Blue SX SJB-62 five string as my main gigging bass last year.I bought a sunburst one to go with it and ended up getting rid of the blue one but both of mine have been great players and sound as good as any of the three Fender Jazzes I've had over the years.They aren't built as well as the Fenders I've had but on the gig it's how they play and sound that counts.I have been embarassed to tell other musicians what they cost but when I tell them they have a hard time believing it.

I also use a Schecter Elite 5 that I've played on a couple gigs now. I don't really consider it a cheapie much though it is a neck through 35" scale bass with EMG pickups for $600 new.For a neck through I guess it's as close to a cheapie as you can get.It's a very good bass at any price.

 

[Eric Perry]

I used an Lake Placid Blue SX SJB-62 five string as my main gigging bass last year.I bought a sunburst one to go with it and ended up getting rid of the blue one but both of mine have been great players and sound as good as any of the three Fender Jazzes I've had over the years.They aren't built as well as the Fenders I've had but on the gig it's how they play and sound that counts.I have been embarassed to tell other musicians what they cost but when I tell them they have a hard time believing it.

Mine will be here on Tuesday. YAY!!!

 

[dougjwray]

The first time I brought my '70s Univox P-bass copy ($199 with case) to a gig, I also had my Stingray 5. The sound man had some trouble with the Music Man, but thought the Univox sounded "fantastic" as soon as I played a couple of notes.
Maybe I was sending him too much low end with the Stingray, and the simplicity of the passive Univox (with flatwound strings) worked better in the concert hall where I was playing.
The Univox also records beautifully.
(Full disclosure: I put a Seymour Duncan Antiquities pickup in it as soon as I bought it.)

 

[guitarfrk03]

I Use a squire P Bass for a back up...Thats It

 

[plankspanker13]

Zombie thread revived!

 

[seang15]

Love my Squier VM Jazz Fretless! Why not gig it? Geddy paid $200 for his Jazz in a pawn shop. I paid $300 or so (with mods) for my VM.

 

[Turock]

I Use a squire P Bass for a back up...Thats It

Is it a Fendrre Squire?

 

[wraub]

I have 2 MIJ Squier basses, a P and a J. Many gigs on them.
Less than $200 for the pair.

wraub

 

[Johnny Crab]

Yes.
Fame/Hondo Mastercaster 001 ($248, eBay, re-attach neck, replace strings=main bass)
Galveston Flag bass($227, eBay, like new...owner was not a player)
Galveston clear bass($225)
Brice white T-Bird($199)
Greco LP clone with 3 Greco T-Bird pickups($200)
MM Clone($125)
Some pix below.

 

[levis76]

WOW! This thread was dead and buried for 5 1/2 years before someone dug it up today!! Nice.

I have gigged all kinds of "cheap" basses. Ibanez, Dean, Washburn. They all thumped just fine in a mix thru a PA.

 

[savit260]

My 2007 self would be happy to see that I'm still using the same SX workhorse (blue one pictured on page one that's been on duty since 2005
) as my number one main bass, and probably a bit surprised that the back up SX was replaced by a 2008 American Standard Precision in the backup role.

A bunch of years later, and still going strong.

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[mazareth]

Here's me with my Gretsch G2202 Electromatic:

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$189 plus tx.

It's light and roughly the same length as a guitar. Short reach and easy on the shoulder, which can be a plus at the end of a show. It has a great tone with medium gauge tapewounds.

I was jamming with my brother last week. He said it sounded "meaty."

 

[Rip Topaz]

I've always got a cheapie with me, even if it doesn't get played. My backup is a budget model Dillion.

 

[bogie1519]

imho Basses are made better today. be it usa made, mexico or indonesia
right now i'm playing a peavey millennium bxp 250 bucks.plays great, though pickups are
the weak link. 20 years ago any bass that cost 250 new you would need a grip like superman to press the strings down...

 

[Batmensch]

I don't gig (wish I did), but if I did, I wouldnt hesitate to use either one of my two Squier VMs, and not solely as backups, either.

 

[biohazed]

When I had my GSR200 I gigged it performed perfectly. Also have gigged a Carerra bass in the past as well.

 

[Russell L]

Been gigging my '87 Jazz Bass Special since '88 ($475 new back then, not too cheap, I guess). Plays like a MIA.

 

[Catbuster]

Gig a Squier CV Precision as a bass for flats or tuned a full step down.

 

[Flaked Beans]

Hi there, and happy new year to everyone! (this is my first post of 2007 ^_^)

So i was lurking around old threads and i found this one talking about the feeling that TB is kind of far from your standard Joe Bassplayer in terms of gear (with all our lucky fellows who own high end Wicks, Roscoes, Pedullas and so on).

But it seems that there are a lot of people (myself included) who prefer non expensive gear (particularly basses).

So i wanted to know about the experience of those who gig regularly with non expensive gear (Ibanez GSRs, Squiers, SXs, Yamaha RBXs, that kind of stuff)

C´mon, it´s exams season at my university and i am getting stressed. Tell some tales and help me to take it easy!

This is my 2008 fender american standard jazz bass (the cheapest bass I own) and it's my main gigging (4 string) bass since last november.

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Happy new year (2012) !