I just started playing a Sire U5 and am absolutely loving it! Nothing wrong with my Lakland, but it hasn’t really been played since I got the Sire a month ago
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I love cheap basses!
- Thread starter bigdaddybass12
- Start date
I'm glad that you "corrected" the "Cheap" in the title. I sort doubt that anybody around here really likes "cheap" - but I don't doubt that most of us would gladly take an "inexpensive" bass" - if it performed reasonably well. However, that raises the question: just what do you - or anyone else - consider "inexpensive"? What's the upper limit? I doubt there's a lower limit - I'd gladly take a one dollar bass, if it looked nice, played well, and sounded good. And was left handed...
People that can casually put a Lamborghini on their Amex card would probably consider, say, a new Alembic to be "inexpensive"; I doubt most of us are in that happy position. Personally? I'm in the reasonably happy position of considering any bass that costs me less than, oh, about $1,800 to be pretty much inexpensive. While I do have about half a dozen basses - and one guitar - that cost more than that - some of them a lot more - most of my herd falls into that category. But, I also have several instruments that cost a lot less. I like them all a lot, too. I only have one bass that I'd consider to be "cheap"; a Chinese violin bass that, new, cost me $139 - shipping included. But, I didn't buy it to play; I bought it to be the bass equivalent of a Med student's cadaver; something I could practice repair, modification, and maintenance on, without fear of ruining something a lot mo' better. After I was done with that, though, I "resurrected" it. And, with the exception of a G string that is a "Dead Spot" from one end to the other? It's actually a pretty decent little bass. And, when I fix that little problem, it will be a player - and a keeper...
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No knock against expensive basses here, they’re excellent if that’s what you want.
But IMO there’s nothing better than cheap basses, as long as they’re solid. No buyers remorse because I drained my bank account. No worries of hurting the resale value with a mod, or even a scratch. If the pots are scratchy or the pickups are bad or whatever, just stick something else in there and play with it. Learn to do setups yourself without fear of wrecking an expensive bass. You can learn a lot with a cheap bass. Learn it inside and out. You’ll be your own guitar tech.
And there’s the unique factor. With an expensive bass you get something predictable and consistent. With a cheap bass you either like it or you make it into something you do like. Whatever you wanna do to it, go for it, no worries. And unlike expensive basses where you expect a certain sound, a cheap bass is likely to give a unique sound. You might get a combination of plywood, plastic, no name pickups, and odd wiring that give a sound that you would have never thought of. Exploit the inaccuracies and make it your own! Like Geddy did with his pawn shop Jazz.
But IMO there’s nothing better than cheap basses, as long as they’re solid. No buyers remorse because I drained my bank account. No worries of hurting the resale value with a mod, or even a scratch. If the pots are scratchy or the pickups are bad or whatever, just stick something else in there and play with it. Learn to do setups yourself without fear of wrecking an expensive bass. You can learn a lot with a cheap bass. Learn it inside and out. You’ll be your own guitar tech.
And there’s the unique factor. With an expensive bass you get something predictable and consistent. With a cheap bass you either like it or you make it into something you do like. Whatever you wanna do to it, go for it, no worries. And unlike expensive basses where you expect a certain sound, a cheap bass is likely to give a unique sound. You might get a combination of plywood, plastic, no name pickups, and odd wiring that give a sound that you would have never thought of. Exploit the inaccuracies and make it your own! Like Geddy did with his pawn shop Jazz.
I hear you!! My financial position is not quite as good as yours! My 2 best basses add up to $1800! I have a couple of other hobbies that require funds too. I just built this in my living room.
I used to service equipment in a mattress factory. I watched the guys making inexpensive and expensive mattresses side by side. Same guys, same tools, some of the same parts. The last guy ironed the brand name/mattress label in it. (Different brand names) I would bet good $$ that the same happens for indo made guitars and basses. That is why you get that lesser name indo made bass that is fantastic and a better name indo bass that has issues.
I envy you. I can't work with wood at all; it practically shoots splinters at me, every time I try. I'm probably the only kid in the history of American education that actually failed Woodshop in Jr. High. But, the fact that they wouldn't let left handed kids use the power tools probably didn't help much, either...
Haa!! We did not have any shop class! Been a long time ago! I ruined a lot of stuff for many years.I envy you. I can't work with wood at all; it practically shoots splinters at me, every time I try. I'm probably the only kid in the history of American education that actually failed Woodshop in Jr. High. But, the fact that they wouldn't let left handed kids use the power tools probably didn't help much, either...
Glad someone else does this! I am looking at a Jackson p/j for a real beater,
Leave in the truck- backup. Gotta talk them down to about $125.
Have done this all my life. Can't help it.
Same here ! Love finding a killer basically no-name bass !
Cheap instruments has been my thing. My saving grace is being able to do my own work and the tools to do most of it. I do all my own setups and if needed fret dressing and TUSQ XL nuts on those with cheap plastic nuts.
The first bass I started with was my daughter's SX Ursa 1 (P bass copy). When She moved out, I got my first bass. It's a Donner DPB-510BK. Using mostly budget parts, I modified most all of it, but the tuners. The most expensive part would be the pickguard, as I don't like all the PVC shavings when cutting, filing and drilling the blanks. I can deal with saw dust, but not the PVC. I do have a set of tuners, but they don't seem to be any better than the stock tuners. Not an immediate need, as the stock one work okay, they just have a little too much backlash. It's my number one player.
My other basses are a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass in Sonic Silver, with new pickups, wiring and pickguard. Next is my Ibanez TMB-100 (see avatar)with all new preamp and pickups. Las one I received was my Sterling StingRay RAY4, it only had a SD SMB-4A pickup installed. With the pickup swap, I'm not so sure I want to replace the preamp now, I'm liking it as it is now.
I just ordered a Harley Benton PB-50SB. The only thing on the mod table, at the moment, is swapping in a set of LaBella DTB flat wounds, as I've been wanting a 50's style single coil P with flats for a while.
The first bass I started with was my daughter's SX Ursa 1 (P bass copy). When She moved out, I got my first bass. It's a Donner DPB-510BK. Using mostly budget parts, I modified most all of it, but the tuners. The most expensive part would be the pickguard, as I don't like all the PVC shavings when cutting, filing and drilling the blanks. I can deal with saw dust, but not the PVC. I do have a set of tuners, but they don't seem to be any better than the stock tuners. Not an immediate need, as the stock one work okay, they just have a little too much backlash. It's my number one player.
My other basses are a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass in Sonic Silver, with new pickups, wiring and pickguard. Next is my Ibanez TMB-100 (see avatar)with all new preamp and pickups. Las one I received was my Sterling StingRay RAY4, it only had a SD SMB-4A pickup installed. With the pickup swap, I'm not so sure I want to replace the preamp now, I'm liking it as it is now.
I just ordered a Harley Benton PB-50SB. The only thing on the mod table, at the moment, is swapping in a set of LaBella DTB flat wounds, as I've been wanting a 50's style single coil P with flats for a while.
Good luck hope that works out…I have to stop searching locally every so often because I can’t help myself when they pop up (and they pop up often). Here is an OLP I picked up for next to nothing…
Love it! I think it is a sickness!! I am looking for some more speakers in my music room. L kinda passing on basses right now. Looking for cheap speakers!!
I have six basses. Only one of them cost more than $1K (and that one is for sale, now).
Excluding that one, the most I've ever spent on a bass is a '79, all-original P-Bass (will also be on the chopping block soon). That was $800 a few (? five, maybe?) years ago.
After those two. My most expensive bass cost $400.
I am a proud lover of "cheap" basses.
Excluding that one, the most I've ever spent on a bass is a '79, all-original P-Bass (will also be on the chopping block soon). That was $800 a few (? five, maybe?) years ago.
After those two. My most expensive bass cost $400.
I am a proud lover of "cheap" basses.
I hate it when other people call my basses "cheap" but in the scheme of things I guess it's true. I've never had the desire to seek out or play a bass that costs thousands of dollars. The only two new basses I've ever bought were an SX SS Jazz and a Hofner Ignition club. But both were sold over time because I always come back to my Musicmasters.
I only have two basses, seems I've successfully beat GAS.
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Just updating my own post in this thread from 2021.
I now added two Mustangs to my Musicmasters. All 4 basses are fun SS's that get gigged regularly. Thanks to things I've learned on TB I was able to do work on them myself. All 4 have set me back under $1,500.
