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Favorite Cheap Bass
- Thread starter tcbassist
- Start date
I marvel constantly at how great my 3 Peavey's ('81 T40, '86 Foundation & '89 Fury) are.
When I go to music stores and sit down with the "latest, greatest", I'm never convinced to give 'em up. Collectively, all 3 cost me less than $500. They're not cheap per se, just inexpensive.
Lately, the only bass that made me turn my head was a Sterling Ray. Wow, was I surprised at how great that bass felt and sounded (through the store's Markbass JB combo, too!).
When I go to music stores and sit down with the "latest, greatest", I'm never convinced to give 'em up. Collectively, all 3 cost me less than $500. They're not cheap per se, just inexpensive.
Lately, the only bass that made me turn my head was a Sterling Ray. Wow, was I surprised at how great that bass felt and sounded (through the store's Markbass JB combo, too!).
edmidlifecrisis
Registered mediocre bass player
The guy in the video used a Dean EUB for a few songs the night I saw the band and it sounded great. (I asked him during a break what it was). A good player is a good player, I guess, can make anything sound good.
Wow, is a $600 bass really CHEAP? Well, it depends on the person I guess. In such a case, all my 4 basses are "cheap". And I love them all, except for a Yamaha 5-stringer, which I'm now selling.
To tell you the truth, I'm not sure if I'd ever buy a bass that costs more than $1500 (and only one, the rest would still be cheapos). In fact, I GAS quite a few Classic Vibe/ Vintage Modified Squiers, all below $400, all looking awesome, sounding awesome, playing awesome. But I got one already, so I'll get another one in a year or so.
By that definition, all of my basses are cheap. This one is not my fav overall, but it IS the one I get the most fun out of telling people it was $149!
SX Ursa 2 6 3TS
Plays and sounds wunnnnnerful, wunnnnerful!
i was about to say the same I modded mine with a glow in the dard pickguard & knobs and ditched the tone knob love that bass
I have an old Ovation Ultrabass that I bought when I was 19 (I won't say how many years ago that was...) for $150 or so. I bet the go for less than that now. I had it set up a long time ago and it has been a great work horse bass over the years. It was cheap but came with pretty nice hardware and I still love the feel of the neck. I'd be curious if anyone else has one of these old warriors. It's definitely my favorite el-cheapo bass.
The most favorite bass that I don't own is the Danelectro longhorn owned by my cousin! That bass has the most amazing feel and tone even though you know it's a piece of crap!
My own next to most favorite cheap basses are my herd of SXes. I especially love my two SX 6 stringers (one with rounds and one with flats) I also love the SX fretless as well. $99 and simply rocks the house! And Oh, while I'm going over my cheapo collection I might as well mention my OLP. $100 New (but demo unit) from GC. Had to totally rework electronics to get it right, and of course like any stingray it is sort of specialized, but when it works, by god it WORKS!
But my all-time favorite cheapo bass is seen below:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Dig. $300! Was EXTREMELY high mileage. Had HUGE grooves worn in the frets. Tuners were actually WORN OUT! And years of mung all over it. Original plan was a refinish job. But a fret job cost me $80 (luthier said next time it would take a refret) I got a new set of gold tuners from Carvin and after totally disassembling to clean crud off it, it didn't need refinished after all! Oh man! EVERY time I play this bass I'm just AMAZED at how spectacular it is!
Think about it. The fact that someone else had played it into the ground gives you the big hint that this was a wonderful bass. Luckily for me, the previous owner didn't realize that for a few bucks it could be pulled back from the dead!
My own next to most favorite cheap basses are my herd of SXes. I especially love my two SX 6 stringers (one with rounds and one with flats) I also love the SX fretless as well. $99 and simply rocks the house! And Oh, while I'm going over my cheapo collection I might as well mention my OLP. $100 New (but demo unit) from GC. Had to totally rework electronics to get it right, and of course like any stingray it is sort of specialized, but when it works, by god it WORKS!
But my all-time favorite cheapo bass is seen below:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Dig. $300! Was EXTREMELY high mileage. Had HUGE grooves worn in the frets. Tuners were actually WORN OUT! And years of mung all over it. Original plan was a refinish job. But a fret job cost me $80 (luthier said next time it would take a refret) I got a new set of gold tuners from Carvin and after totally disassembling to clean crud off it, it didn't need refinished after all! Oh man! EVERY time I play this bass I'm just AMAZED at how spectacular it is!
Think about it. The fact that someone else had played it into the ground gives you the big hint that this was a wonderful bass. Luckily for me, the previous owner didn't realize that for a few bucks it could be pulled back from the dead!
My beater bass is a Yamaha RBX170 I got for $20. Cleaned it up and put new strings on it and it's quite nice to have around.
I bought a 5-string Schecter Stiletto Extreme a few months back for $600 brand new.
The only down side I've found is that the upper harmonics are too audible and makes the low end sound a bit undefined, other than that she's an absolute ripper of a bass.
The only down side I've found is that the upper harmonics are too audible and makes the low end sound a bit undefined, other than that she's an absolute ripper of a bass.
- Jan 12, 2011
- 4,578
- 2,460
- Disclosures
- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
OLP MM 5 $279.00
SX Jazz Bass $139.00 before they became popular. I still have them both.
Brubaker Brute MJX5 $600.00
I'd go to war with any one of them, or all three.
SX Jazz Bass $139.00 before they became popular. I still have them both.
Brubaker Brute MJX5 $600.00
I'd go to war with any one of them, or all three.
I bought a 5-string Schecter Stiletto Extreme a few months back for $600 brand new.
The only down side I've found is that the upper harmonics are too audible and makes the low end sound a bit undefined, other than that she's an absolute ripper of a bass.
That's a nice bass you got there. I own a 4-string version of that bass and it sounds awesome.
I think I paid $600 for this one. It's my favorite bass ever, period.
That's an awesome bass you got there. I've recently bought a peavey millennium bxp 5-string bass in a metallic blue finish and it looks and sounds awesome. it's a definite keeper.
- Jan 12, 2011
- 4,578
- 2,460
- Disclosures
- Artist, Trickfish Amplification Bartolini Emerging Artist, MTD Kingston Emerging Artist. Artist, Tsunami Cables
I'd have to say my OLP MM5 copy. Paid $279 for it but made thousands with it. A true return for my money I'd say. The next would be my Brubaker Brute MJX5 for $600. Although she hasn't made me any money yet.
I have two different types of basses that may
apply here.
The best bass I ever played cost me $420 in 1985.
Actually, $420 was more money back then and a
70's or 60's Fender was just a used bass and could
be had for a little more money.
Mine is a Westone Electra X640 N with 18 volt preamp,
More recently, I scored a USA made Peavey Fury for
$60 at a pawn shop,
I have put some black hardware, new shielded wiring,
pots, high mass bridge and Original Fender 62 pickup.
This bass is amazing. It's neck is thinner than a jazz
bass and plays outstandingly. It is the best sounding
P bass I have ever played,
Tabdog
PS,
The total cost of the Peavey Fury with upgrades was
about $260.
TD
apply here.
The best bass I ever played cost me $420 in 1985.
Actually, $420 was more money back then and a
70's or 60's Fender was just a used bass and could
be had for a little more money.
Mine is a Westone Electra X640 N with 18 volt preamp,
More recently, I scored a USA made Peavey Fury for
$60 at a pawn shop,
I have put some black hardware, new shielded wiring,
pots, high mass bridge and Original Fender 62 pickup.
This bass is amazing. It's neck is thinner than a jazz
bass and plays outstandingly. It is the best sounding
P bass I have ever played,
Tabdog
PS,
The total cost of the Peavey Fury with upgrades was
about $260.
TD
Well that makes both of my basses cheap... Which they kinda are.. My Peavey Grind BXP. Awesome neck through bass for $400 new. and my parts pbass i threw together, ebay neck and body. grover tuners. high mass bridge, and SD pickups <--- that one gets more playing time by far. for around $450
in march I posted that, but now I'm mostly playing my EVEN CHEAPER Memphis p-bass that I bought from a pawn shop for $35 with a broken neck & put a $100 Mighty Mite on. It's my main player now. I think I actually might be (back to) a 4-string guy after playing the 5-er for 5 years
