Favorite bargain basses lately

[Mike Mulligan]

SBMM what?
Ray 5 HH
Ray 25 HH
Ray 35 HH

The nomenclature for MM basses is confusing enough.

Must have been used for under $400

Yeah, MMs nomenclature does kinda get confusing...

This one is a Ray 5 HH limited addition Ruby Red Burst Satin...

...as far as I can tell!

And it was "used". Originally purchased for a girlfriend who found it to be too big for her and returned it. It still had the plastic film on the PG. $400 out the door with a gig bag and strap locks and all taxes. Tag on it said $285...

 

[BradH]

G&L Tribute LB-100. Mine is capable of nice low action & I think the pickup sounds great.
Paid $499 for it a year ago. The necks are thicker, but are comfortable to play IMO.

 

[B-Mac]

Yeah, MMs nomenclature does kinda get confusing...

This one is a Ray 5 HH limited addition Ruby Red Burst Satin...

...as far as I can tell!

And it was "used". Originally purchased for a girlfriend who found it to be too big for her and returned it. It still had the plastic film on the PG. $400 out the door with a gig bag and strap locks and all taxes. Tag on it said $285...

Now that’s a bargain especially when looking at new prices!

Ya dun did gud!

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Sterling StingRay Ray4 bass
View attachment 4833763

I've been meaning to try one of these lately. I'm fully capable of proper setups, nut massaging (stop it, you dirty bastards!), and the occasional fret work. I've heard a lot of good things about Sterling Rays.

 

[J Wilson]

If 'bargain' means really solid new axes orbiting around the $500 retail price point, these are the golden days. I've never seen so many serviceable basses in what used to be the 'beginner' price range, and I've been at this since the '70's. I'd have killed to pay that little in 1977 for a new axe, the 'beginner' basses back then were just God-awful.

I've bought three Squiers over the last few years (the James Johnston Signature Jazz, the Precision Five, and the Contemporary Active Jazz Five HH) and for a little over 1200 bucks, they are simply amazingly capable basses. And Squier is just one choice of many available.

Bargains in used axes are out there, but as always you need to know your prices, how to evaluate a used piece, and know when to hit the BUY button. . . . and when to keep looking.

 

[Ken R]

Used.
Used basses are the bargain I can't pass up.

 

[kmon]

G&L Tribute, Squier CV, Ray34s (if you can handle the weight, CAs are my favorite). Look for 'em used, get ya into that bargain range....

 

[H2okie]

If we’re considering used instruments U.S. Peavey used to be the go-to answer here, but asking prices on those have doubled in the past year, and I’m not going to find out actual selling prices since I’m pretty set with my current fleet. ‘80s and ‘90s MIJ instruments still remain bargains in my estimation.

for me it used to be T-40’s. But now at $800+ I’m no longer considering that a “bargain”. But foundations and fury’s seem to fit the bill at the $350 range.

I used a fury to try various PUP variations and ended up with my favorite P bass ( Bill Lawrence pups ). It was VERY much an accidental “bargain”.

 

[dabbler]

By bargain I assume you mean good value for the price. The best cheap bass I've ever owned was a SX Jazz 5 string.

Current stock is kinda limited on SX basses at Rondo. But if you can find one new, or used, I am a fan.

 

[Riff Ranger]

for me it used to be T-40’s. But now at $800+ I’m no longer considering that a “bargain”. But foundations and fury’s seem to fit the bill at the $350 range.

I used a fury to try various PUP variations and ended up with my favorite P bass ( Bill Lawrence pups ). It was VERY much an accidental “bargain”.

While I suppose Furies and Foundations remain bargains even in the 300–400 USD range, I remember those going for 200 all day long just a year or so ago.

 

[Inky13]

Yamaha RBX series.

 

[B-Mac]

Sawtooth

check out their lower priced offerings

I bought one of their Precision Style basses with a discount code for $149.99 and was very surprised. A definite step above my 3 Glarrys and One SX bass.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[B-Mac]

While I suppose Furies and Foundations remain bargains even in the 300–400 USD range, I remember those going for 200 all day long just a year or so ago.

A year or so ago they were in the $300 to $400 range.

I bought 80’s Fury, Foundation and a T-20 all with cases last year (Spring/Summer 2021) all between the stated range. All in great shape.
'84 Fury

1982 T-20

1983 Foundation

eBay, off eBay and CL in the order of appearance.

 

[Lowbrow]

The AMAZING Guild Star Fire I.

 

[B-Mac]

Cort has been coming out with some impressive 'bargain' basses lately. The C5 is a lot of bass for the money.

Cort ans Samick make so many basses for other companies and yet so many TB-ers dump on both Cort and Samick even though they make many of the basses that they actually praise without knowing it. I commend you for mentioning Cort as they really do hit above their weight.

 

[B-Mac]

The $150 monster.

View attachment 4833711

That looks very close to the Dean Zone bass that this new bass will be replacing. Single pickup, gnarly neon green, terrible hardware but somehow felt and played like a dream while it lasted.

I called it "The Lean Mean Green Dean Machine"

One of these, Dean Custom Zone, but you'll most likely only find it in Neon Pink, Fluorescent Yellow or Nuclear Green. Most likely, as being a lower tier level for Dean (and the Jackson above) they were probably made in the same Chinese factory. Easily less than $190 used. Black was only available first year of manufacture.

 

[B-Mac]

What are y'alls favorite bargain basses lately? Assuming online purchases in the USA... I don't mind doing fret and electronics work but a shielded cavity would be nice.

Don't forget Schecter. They have a lot of great basses for prices I can't believe. They have a bass with Fishman Fluence pups that is going for a ridiculously low rice. I can't recall the model name right now.

Also ESP/LTD

ESP and Schecter are both owned by Hisatke Shibuya. I just found this out recently.

 

[Riff Ranger]

A year or so ago they were in the $300 to $400 range.

I bought 80’s Fury, Foundation and a T-20 all with cases last year (Spring/Summer 2021) all between the stated range. All in great shape.
'84 Fury
View attachment 4834038

1982 T-20
View attachment 4834041

1983 Foundation
View attachment 4834043
eBay, off eBay and CL in the order of appearance.

Maybe more like two or three years ago, then. I got my (thrashed but totally playable and functional) ‘84 Fury in 2020 for $175, but seem to remember seeing those and similar for around 200. Mine might have come with bags, but definitely not hard cases.

 

[B-Mac]

Maybe more like two or three years ago, then. I got my (thrashed but totally playable and functional) ‘84 Fury in 2020 for $175, but seem to remember seeing those and similar for around 200. Mine might have come with bags, but definitely not hard cases.

I looked for a while too.

The extra $$ may very well have been due to the very good condition as well as HSC’s included.

 

[DJ Bebop]

"Bargain" is a very subjective term depending on your available funds.

If I was going to buy a "good value" bass now (for me, that's $350 to $600), it would likely be a G&L Tribute (I got a used SB-2 Tribute a couple of months ago for less than that range, and it is excellent) or a Squier CV. Both seem to be well built, good quality control, and easily upgraded if you care to.

For less than that range, I was looking at a Tagima at one point. I liked the look/idea of their PJ, the TW-65.
TAGIMA - Bass Guitars

@LowEndLobster reviewed them not to long ago and they were good for the cost.


That said, things like cavity shielding will be hit or miss depending on the brand. I just bought some copper tape from Amazon for about $10 and shielded my 2000 MIM Fender P and it made a big difference.
(edited for typo...)

Glarry has a new 6 string bass