• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Favorite bargain basses lately

#61
kmon said:
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....
Click to expand...

I fully agree and want to add some specifics:

My Ray35CA has awesome build quality and after modding it to have a switch for series/parallel it sounds like the "Original ".

OTOH an absolute bargain is a used G&L Tribute L-2000 (especially the carved top version with tinted maple neck) - if you love thicker necks and want a flexible bass - this is the one to get.
 
#63
B-Mac said:
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.
Click to expand...

Somehow I totally missed this color. I've only seen the neon and pink ones but didn't know about this black/maple, it's awesome.
 
  • Like
Reactions: B-Mac
#66
In the "Unmitigated Crap" category, I'll vote for most of the Dreck available on Aliexpress. The few Ive actually played were a nearly unplayable disaster. Probably not true of all of them, but with so many excellent low budget options available from reputable manufacturers, I dont know why anybody rolls the dice. Its odd, because if South Korea and Indonesia are fully capable of making excellent basses, why so much crap from China?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mickey666
#68
B-Mac said:
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.
View attachment 4834088 View attachment 4834089
Click to expand...
Yeah mine is yellow :)
upload_2022-10-5_8-22-45.png
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: B-Mac and DJ Bebop
#71
alex1fly said:
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.
Click to expand...

Literally every cheap ibanez

I don’t have time for my typical 4 paragraph rant about it, but I think Ibanez makes the best cheap bass on the market, and I don’t think it’s close.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Riff Ranger, KevInDaBassment and Bassiclees
#72
Plectrum72 said:
Squier Affinity Jaguar H, that passive humbucker in the sweet spot sounds killer. Satin neck too (my preference). Played it in the local music store, loved the sound, and bought it (also like supporting local businesses). It's become my (and my band's) new favorite sounding bass.
Click to expand...

I picked up one of these, mainly for the 32" scale--makes a difference in places where the band gets stuffed into a corner. For $260, plays well, sounds OK, decent fit and finish.
 
#73
two fingers said:
Stretch your budget about forty bucks and get a Yamaha TRBX174. $249 at Sweetwater. I used to work in a music store. We carried all kinds of brands. Every brand from Lakland to Febder to Ken Smith to Ibanez had good basses and bad basses I'm every model. Every Yamaha of the same model felt exactly the same every time. Period. You want a sure thing? Get an inexpensive Yanaha. You won't have to do a thing to it. If you want you can swap out the electronics. But they're even fine.
Click to expand...
You don't even have to stretch it if you shop around a bit. I bought a used 174 at GC for $190 last year. Was just checking out the wall and liked the look of this EW (mango top). But the playability is what sold me. Frets and neck are fine (YMMV on the former). Replaced the strings with some Ernie Ball roundwounds. Sounds great on a Fender Rumble 40. Bonus: It's a 34" and has 24 frets, 4 more than than my Fender P bass, but the neck extends more deeply into the body - so it plays like a short scale. And for this price? Highly recommended. Both GC and Reverb carry used 174s.
 
  • Like
Reactions: two fingers
#75
Plectrum72 said:
Squier Affinity Jaguar H, that passive humbucker in the sweet spot sounds killer. Satin neck too (my preference). Played it in the local music store, loved the sound, and bought it (also like supporting local businesses). It's become my (and my band's) new favorite sounding bass.
Click to expand...

Was all set on one of these. Then a 97 Squier musicmaster popped up on CL for not too much more. Nabbed that instead.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Plectrum72
#76
I really haven’t played too many in that price range, but I did buy my son an Ibanez TMB and I thought that bass was great for the money. After a little setup work, it played and sounded great. I don’t even think it needed any parts swapping. It was solid.
 
#78
About to thin the herd in exactly this arena. Things that stay are CA24, the 300 and 500 series Ibanez, Squier jazz and PJ, Sire V3-5 and Epiphone embassy. Ones that go are sire V7, sire U5, Ray4, Yamaha TBRX 304 and 305.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back