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good bass sub-$500?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by RHCFlea, Dec 6, 2001.

  1. Dec 6, 2001 #1
    RHCFlea

    RHCFlea

    Jun 16, 2001
    Washington DC
    Yeah I was wondering what a good bass would be for a unde/around 500 dollar (American) price range?

    I want to buy a new bass, so I was wondering what I should try.

    Also the best amp you can reasonably get under 200?

    For the bassm I want a deep, rounded, sound kinds like Jason Newstead when you can hear him.

    Also, I like the Flea sound and the Tim Commerford sound.

    Anyway, could you guys help me out?
     
  2. Dec 6, 2001 #2
    jljohnson85

    jljohnson85

    Nov 27, 2000
    Woodstock, GA
    You can't go wrong with a MIM Fender, Ibanez BTB400, or an MTD Kingston. Nice basses for not a lot of money.
     
  3. Dec 6, 2001 #3
    RHCFlea

    RHCFlea

    Jun 16, 2001
    Washington DC
    thanks. What about an amp?
     
  4. Dec 6, 2001 #4
    jrthebassguy

    jrthebassguy

    Apr 19, 2000
    Houston, Texas
    Hate to burst your bubble, but ive never found a good and loud amp over 200 bucks. Or 300, for that matter.
     
  5. Dec 7, 2001 #5
    ebozzz

    ebozzz Supporting Member

    May 17, 2001
    Colorado
    There are still a couple of the MTD Beasts around.

    At Access Bass there's at least one Beast and a Kingston. The person is just getting the business started so this may be the time to get a good deal. On the site there are some sound files that will give you an idea of what the Kingston and Beast sound like. Check it out.
     
  6. Dec 7, 2001 #6
    RHCFlea

    RHCFlea

    Jun 16, 2001
    Washington DC
    see, I don't really want a good amp, just the one that came in my bass pack is horrible, and doesn't even get the line in half the time
     
  7. Dec 7, 2001 #7
    craigb

    craigb G&L churnmeister Supporting Member

    Jan 27, 2000
    Spring, TX (Houston metro)
    I'll second ebozzz on the MTD Beast. It's discontinued so it's a super deal if you can still find one.

    If you are willing to go used you should be able to find a US Fender or G&L in that range. I wasn't sure if by wanting a "new bass" you wanted something different or actually something brand new. You pretty much always get more for your money buying used.
     
  8. Dec 7, 2001 #8
    Velkov

    Velkov

    Jan 17, 2001
    Lansdowne, Ontario
    For a bass the MIM Fender Jazz is awsome. And whenever you feel like you want to spend more money on it, upgrade. There is tons of upgrade parts for jazz basses. I've been upgrading mine gradually and I love it more and more every day. I like it so much I'm going to get a new one (fretted) very soon.
     
  9. Dec 7, 2001 #9
    ebozzz

    ebozzz Supporting Member

    May 17, 2001
    Colorado
    Very true Velkov. The Beast is very easy to upgrade also. You could drop an active Grendel preamp in it for around $150.00 and have a bass that would be hard to beat even at twice the cost. To tell you the truth, I like mine so much that I don't know if I'll ever try to upgrade it.

    With the MIM Fender I kind of feel like an upgrade would be necessary at some point. I love Fenders and I own two. Neither is an MIM but I just personally think that you could get a lot more mileage out of the Beast without having to upgrade.
     
  10. Dec 7, 2001 #10
    bertbassplayer

    bertbassplayer Supporting Member

    Jul 7, 2000
    Carlsbad, NM
    I have to say if your going for the Flea type sound you should go for a P or a MM Style (MTD Kingston or OLP Stingray)
     
  11. Dec 7, 2001 #11
    Gabu

    Gabu

    Jan 2, 2001
    Lake Elsinore, CA
    for $300 I will pitch the fender bassman 25. I would compare it to the ampeg ba 50 in volume, and I like it's tone better.
     
  12. Dec 7, 2001 #12
    Christopher

    Christopher

    Apr 28, 2000
    New York, NY
    My rec would be to get a Fender MIM Jazz and a Carvin PB100-10. Quality stuff that you can sell if you get sick of bass or decide to trade up.
     
  13. Dec 7, 2001 #13
    embellisher

    embellisher Holy Ghost filled Bass Player Supporting Member

    Apr 18, 2000
    Heber Springs, Arkansas
    $269.00 at GC.
     
  14. Dec 7, 2001 #14
    seamus

    seamus

    Feb 8, 2001
    Jersey
    MTD Kingston would be a nice buy under $500
     
  15. Dec 7, 2001 #15
    RHCFlea

    RHCFlea

    Jun 16, 2001
    Washington DC
    wow, I'm getting a lot of input!!!!
    Thanks everybody.
    I'm gonna check my local store first, and then I might have to go to guitar center (shudder). Well anyway, I'll try the MiM Fender and the Beast. I'll have to wait a while for the amp, though :( . Don't have much money.
     
  16. Dec 7, 2001 #16
    ebozzz

    ebozzz Supporting Member

    May 17, 2001
    Colorado
    Get the Beast or the Kingston. Either of those two basses will take you a long way. You may not be able to try the Beast as it's been discontinued. That place that I suggested to you has at least one left and if there are any more to be had he'll know about it. The Kingston and the Beast are similar in body style and the way that they feel. If you like the way the Kingston feels you'll like the Beast. They've got different pickups with the Beast having 2 J-style versus the single Music Man style pickup of the Kingston. Both have very nice tone but they are a little different. You can't go wrong with either and both can be easily upgraded if you decide to do that at some point. BTW, I own a Bassman 25 also. Great little amp!