Help me choose a cheap bass

[zanzibar jorge]

I’ll be living in Florida this summer and flying home to TN to play at church a few weekends.

This means I’ll have to travel with a bass and my original thought was to purchase a flight case and bring my Spector euro bolt back and forth with me. After thinking about it further, I could also just purchase another bass for around $400 and come out ahead bs checked bag fees plus a proper flight case.

I play 4 string in Bead tuning and have been considering purchasing the following models but I’m open to suggestions as well. Used is fine.

Spector Performer (possibly similar feel to what I currently have?)

Squier classic vibe p or j (concerned about qc and having to possibly roll the dice on the internet)

Sire p or j bass from the v3 lineup

Sterling ray 34

So which of these do you think would be the most bang for the buck and sound halfway decent with a b string?

 

[five7]

Spector sounds like the logical choice, otherwise the sire V3.

 

[Tj smith]

I’d leave the bass at church so u don’t have to transport it.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

FWIW I've flown with my Laklands simply carrying it on in a gig bag and putting in the overhead storage. Never ever a problem. In fact, some people realized I was carrying an instrument and were very respectful regarding putting their carry-ons next to my bass.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

(concerned about qc and having to possibly roll the dice on the internet)

Whatever you buy, this is a good reason to buy it from Guitar Center. While they're often my last choice, it's the easiest return on the planet if you get a dud.

 

[OlyWhite]

Whatever’s cheap, feels good and is available on Craigslist or the nearest GC used?

 

[Plain Old Barry]

FWIW I've flown with my Laklands simply carrying it on in a gig bag and putting in the overhead storage.

Have you ever flown on a regional jet? If you're guaranteed a Boeing or Airbus, you're fine. Many RJ's, not so much. Some even have so little overhead space there's only bins on one side, and they're much shorter than full size airliners.

 

[funk generator]

I would either get a sire to leave in TN, or get something like a used headless or short scale that can fit in a guitar gig bag. Easier to get in the overhead bins.
or if you really want to treat yourself, go with a custom builder that makes travel basses. I am partial to Maurizio Uber basses and he has a whole line of basses that break down quickly for air travel.

 

[braud357]

You might also look at the Harley Benton basses and the Xaviere basses offered by Guitar Fetish. My P-bass is a Xaviere, and the quality is awesome for the price !

 

[VeryTallBassist]

If you want a feel closer to your Eurobolt, I'd find a used Legend. They're in your price range and the body is curved, unlike the Performer.

Edit: I would also leave it at the church.

 

[Bassdudeman]

If you carry -on your bass you are taking a risk.
If there is no bin space left (or it's a regional flight in a small plane) they will throw it in the belly of the plane.
Not good for an instrument in a gig bag!

IMHO Get an SKB or similar case, it's made out of heavy-duty polymer, and check it.
It has TSA locks that require a special key.
It's light, has wheels and plenty of handles. I've toured all over with this case and it has never let me down, my Sadowsky's never got a scratch.

Now I do have quite a collection of TSA leaflets, the ones they leave you when they search your case... the case looks like a gun case, so TSA almost always takes a look.
Every time I check my bass, the first question the clerk asks me is, "Is that a gun case?".

Otherwise, I'd do what the others suggested, buy the bass and leave it at the church or with a friend.

 

[backin82]

I vote buy a basic Squier or other similar cheap instrument, and leave it at the church.

 

[mrperkolator]

Sire U5 and leave at church. U5 so it doubles as a good learning platform for much smaller aspiring bassists.

I’m not sure about BEAD with short scale though. I know some have tried it, but I haven’t so I can’t comment.

 

[nickpc]

My Squier Sonic P handled BEAD without any adjustments (besides the truss rod). Build quality was great, nice neck and it sounds great.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Wait until you get to TN and buy something when you get there, leave it at the venue, then sell it after you’re done (or bring it home with you, it’s your bass).

 

[Bass Viking]

I’d leave the bass at church so u don’t have to transport it.

+1. Or you could remove the neck from the body so it takes up less space?

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Have you ever flown on a regional jet? If you're guaranteed a Boeing or Airbus, you're fine. Many RJ's, not so much. Some even have so little overhead space there's only bins on one side, and they're much shorter than full size airliners.

air travelers usually know what exact aircraft they will be flying on. All the fly dates that I've done have involved large commercial aircraft. Again absolutely ZERO issues carrying my bass on in a gig bag. Many of my colleagues have had the same experience. One of my guitar playin' buddies flys internationally and has had ZERO issues. The only time I had a problem was early on when I first started doing fly dates and I checked my bass in a flight case. Upon the return trip it didn't show up at the baggage claim. I damn near had a heart attack. They eventually "found it" a couple hours later. Never again!

 

[DWBass]

I’d leave the bass at church so u don’t have to transport it.

This. Have the bass shipped to someone at the church in TN. Occasionally, I visit NY and I leave a bass and a small rig at my mom's house.

 

[zanzibar jorge]

To clarify, the point of the new bass would be to leave behind so I don’t have to fly back and forth with one but could still practice.

 

[zanzibar jorge]

This. Have the bass shipped to someone at the church in TN. Occasionally, I visit NY and I leave a bass and a small rig at my mom's house.

Yeah that’s kinda what I’m looking to do. We’re driving to get there, so I can transport one down easily, just planning to leave it there after that