Favorite Cheap Bass

[tcbassist]

Allright, So I have a simple question with this one..

What is your favorite cheap bass you have ever played?

When I say cheap bass, I mean under $600, but it can go down to the $50 dollar special if you like it.

If you could include what the bass was good or bad at, what the tones were like, and whether you thought it was worth the value (which should be pretty easy to meet).

Thanks for Looking

Put as many responses and opinions as you want below

 

[Hamerguy]

I have a Gibson Q-80 that I bought for $ 350 (without case) in 1996. The playability and sound are okay. It is not my favorite bass, but it was cheap and I like to use it a lot. Mahogany body w/ bolt on maple neck. Ebony fretboard, Schaller hardware, the pickups are good.

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[JPrinos]

I'm really enjoying playing my $150 Douglas WEB825! I just can't believe this bass is so inexpensive.

 

[martyman5000]

Most of the time I get to try a cheap bass its been sitting in some guitar players back up practice bass. 90% of the time its a MIM Squire that the action is high and the strings are cheap (probably the originals)

 

[AgIdoc]

my all-black $329 squier deluxe active jazz V is my fav bass of all time...and also my fav "cheap" bass

the ebonol fretboard & thin neck are soooo sweeeeeet.

 

[Kenner]

two words..... Guild Pilot

 

[TheGinBass]

Ibanez SR300

 

[Jay Corwin]

I bought a Squier VM P-bass used for $110. Set it up and put new strings on it - completely gig'able bass. Sounds good for the price, and it is an easy player with the thin necks on those. I even gigged it twice for kicks.

 

[ghostdog93]

Two more words: Squier Bronco.

 

[MegaSwing]

With a little guile and a careful hand, you can build a nice cheap Fender/Squier-type bass from used parts and end up with a flame thrower in your hands. I've made some great ones that are uniquely mine for a couple hundred bucks or less.

 

[Rickengeezer]

Peavey Foundation. Less than 2 cents per pound of tone.

 

[jperala]

ESP LTD EC-54, cost 180€ and i love to play it

 

[oldrookie]

Peavey Foundation. Less than 2 cents per pound of tone.

+1

 

[souportugues]

It took some time, but I got a fairly good setup on a fretless SX (heresy, I know), which streets for somewhere around $100. Of course, the TI flatwounds probably helped out in that department. What does it say when your strings were almost as much as the bass...?

 

[cdef]

BaCH P-51, cost about $250. Excellent, no-frills 5-string instrument.

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

I picked up a Squire Deluxe Active 5 here for $225 to have as a spare. I picked up a Hipshot bridge for $63, added some Sadowsky pickups and a preamp that I snagged here for $200, and now have one of the best sounding basses I have ever owned. While I am making that statement, that is in comparison to basses that cost over $2k, many over $1500, and way more over $1K. This bass is a flat out tone monster. I used it at a large venue last weekend, and two of my buds (both Sadowsky players) said the tone was amazing. Truly, the best $500 I have ever spent on a piece of gear.

 

[Din Of Win]

I've never spent more than $380 on a bass... haha, never really had the means to...


My top 3 faves:

-SX P/J with a MiM Fender P neck... $75 (total)
-'95 ATK300 bought in '00... $100
-Squier Bronco moded with new pup and some flare... $140 (total)

 

[tangentmusic]

Squier Vintage Modified Jazz: $300 new

 

[desertsolace]

Used ibby atk 750... amazing bass for $350. I would definitely pay more for this bass.

 

[JPrinos]

love my fretless SX five string

It took some time, but I got a fairly good setup on a fretless SX (heresy, I know), which streets for somewhere around $100. Of course, the TI flatwounds probably helped out in that department. What does it say when your strings were almost as much as the bass...?