I love cheap basses!

[C Stone]

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…

…Thanks to things I've learned on TB I was able to do work on them myself.

The is key… if you can do your own work/setups it turns “cheap” basses into inexpensive gigable instruments. I personally get so much satisfaction in making these unwanted and just sometimes ugly basses (covered in stickers/grime/or missing a part or two) and giving them new life turning them into solid players…my EB-O shorty was covered in stickers, missing a tailpiece and flat out unsightly, now a solid player.

 

[J-Mags]

My solid #2 bass (behind my beloved Carvin LB75) is a Squier VM Cabronita I got off CL for $100. Dropped a TV Jones Thunderblade pickup in it and a set of precision flats and OMG!
(The pickup was $140 but well worth the investment) Total cost @ $260.

View attachment 4185427

What a find! I have the guitar version, and it's amazing.

All my basses are on the cheap side, and the one I've been playing the most over the past few weeks is a Tagima TW-73 Jazz bass.

I did put a set of EMG pickups in it (the classic regular active ones). They sound great with the bass and only cost $100 new b-stock.

 

[J-Mags]

The is key… if you can do your own work/setups it turns “cheap” basses into inexpensive gigable instruments. I personally get so much satisfaction in making these unwanted and just sometimes ugly basses (covered in stickers/grime/or missing a part or two) and giving them new life turning them into solid players…my EB-O shorty was covered in stickers, missing a tailpiece and flat out unsightly, now a solid player.View attachment 5041400

One of the most helpful things I learned to do was simple fretwork: levelling, crowning, and filing down the ends. My fret ends would never pass a visual inspection, but I can make a fret sprout-era Squier or cheap Ibanez play smooth. The only routine setup work I won't do even on a cheap bass is filing a nut. I'm pretty sure I'd make a bass unplayable in no time.

I gave myself a moritorium on soldering for a while after some mishaps, but I'm not gonna pay someone big bucks to attach a pickup or input jack, so I started soldering again, this time with better results, but there's a reason that the basses I own that have replacement pickups have EMGs. Nowadays, I'd be more flexible.

 

[Seth DuSith]

All I own is cheap basses lol. Cort action V-A 5 string, Jackson JS2 Spectra, and a new one on the ray... 4

I love my Jackson JS2 Spectra a lot. Even tho it's only got an active bass boost, it has a fantastic sound. My Cort is fantastic too. Reminds me of a lot of tones I hear people with Warwicks dial, and it makes me wonder if that's who Cort was imitating when they designed this bass.

I can't wait for my Sterling Ray4 to be in.

I love cheap basses. They're fun to mess around with and upgrade. I got a new bridge, and new tuners coming in for my Jackson, I'm gonna change the hardware to a brass/gold color

 

[ejaggers]

The is key… if you can do your own work/setups it turns “cheap” basses into inexpensive gigable instruments. I personally get so much satisfaction in making these unwanted and just sometimes ugly basses (covered in stickers/grime/or missing a part or two) and giving them new life turning them into solid players…my EB-O shorty was covered in stickers, missing a tailpiece and flat out unsightly, now a solid player.View attachment 5041400

Nice cleanup job....What strings are you using?
057912

 

[C Stone]

Nice cleanup job....What strings are you using?
057912

Thanks, it took a lot of elbow grease Goo-gone and Magic Erasers but it did clean up well. Strings I can’t remember but pretty sure they are long scale stock take-offs from a CV P bass so 7250M’s…

 

[bigdaddybass12]

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…
View attachment 5040634

Love it!!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I am looking at a LTD that may cost me $425. Getting on the top of the inexpensive bass price.

 

[rpt50]

I bought a neglected Ibanez Mikro that responded beautifully to a set up and neck work. In fact, it played so well that my daughter-in-law could not put it down when visiting, so it became her Christmas present.

Now I'm fooling around with an $80 Cort precision bass. A little filing, sanding and tweaking of the neck and I swear it is in the same league as the Nash basses at the fancy shop here in town. The pots, jack and tuners could be upgraded. The tuners work fine and hold a tune, but they are heavy and a little sloppy. The pickup is outstanding however. That is staying put!

I also have a Talman TMB30 that has responded incredibly well to neck work.

Every time I play one of these basses I wonder why I've spent big money on other instruments. I can't bring myself to sell my good stuff yet, but I'm sure I won't be buying anymore high-dollar instruments. The cheapo fix up is so much more satisfying.

 

[JC BASS 91]

When I got back into playing again about two years ago, I told myself that I absolutely would not spend money on anything that was NOT a high end instrument.

I used to have a major thing for SX basses back in the early 2000s, and was constantly buying, modding and collecting them. When I cleaned house and sold all but three of my basses, I then backed off of all of that. Recently, though, I find myself being attracted back to the idea of working on basses and taking a low cost bass and making it something stellar (sometimes all it takes is a little TLC, some fret work and a good set of strings!).

So, now, I am stuck in a constant argument with myself: "Ooohhh...this Glarry is only $100 shipped! I could do this...and this...and this...and it might be a killer bass!" "No, you said you wouldn't do that kind of thing anymore, so stop looking." "But, buy it, upgrade and fix it all up and then maybe give it to some kid who wants to learn bass but doesn't have the money!" "No...you should be practicing instead of doing all that!" "Aw man, you're no fun." "Go practice!"

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Every time I play one of these basses I wonder why I've spent big money on other instruments. I can't bring myself to sell my good stuff yet, but I'm sure I won't be buying anymore high-dollar instruments. The cheapo fix up is so much more satisfying.

It is fun to find a good deal and make it great! Makes you realize that there is not so much difference between a good inexpensive bass and a high dollar bass

 

[bigdaddybass12]

When I got back into playing again about two years ago, I told myself that I absolutely would not spend money on anything that was NOT a high end instrument.

I used to have a major thing for SX basses back in the early 2000s, and was constantly buying, modding and collecting them. When I cleaned house and sold all but three of my basses, I then backed off of all of that. Recently, though, I find myself being attracted back to the idea of working on basses and taking a low cost bass and making it something stellar (sometimes all it takes is a little TLC, some fret work and a good set of strings!).

So, now, I am stuck in a constant argument with myself: "Ooohhh...this Glarry is only $100 shipped! I could do this...and this...and this...and it might be a killer bass!" "No, you said you wouldn't do that kind of thing anymore, so stop looking." "But, buy it, upgrade and fix it all up and then maybe give it to some kid who wants to learn bass but doesn't have the money!" "No...you should be practicing instead of doing all that!" "Aw man, you're no fun." "Go practice!"

the fun of inexpensive bassin’ is buying that inexpensive bass and making it great! I have a ray4 that about to be modded a little!! If you buy a high end bass, you are stuck with it. Can’t mod it. then you feel guilty for not playing it. Then you are too afraid to take it to that rough beer joint gig..
enjoy life ! Play inexpensive basses!!
( wanted to say cheap basses but it is a little degrading)

 

[JC BASS 91]

the fun of inexpensive bassin’ is buying that inexpensive bass and making it great! I have a ray4 that about to be modded a little!! If you buy a high end bass, you are stuck with it. Can’t mod it. then you feel guilty for not playing it. Then you are too afraid to take it to that rough beer joint gig..
enjoy life ! Play inexpensive basses!!
( wanted to say cheap basses but it is a little degrading)

Yeah, there is a lot of fun to be had with the inexpensive basses, especially ones you snatch up for $100 or less. They are REALLY great for learning how to do your own work; setups, fret work, electronics upgrades, etc. If you screw them up, you learn even more by fixing what you messed up! If it gets too badly messed up, you can toss it in the trash bin and buy another and start fresh.

 

[bassdude51]

I love high quality "build" "cheap basses". Better known as "parts basses".

These can be assembled for under $800 and are equal in quality to $1,500 to $2,000 new ones.

$500 V

$450 V

$600 V

There are other examples but we get the point!

 

[rutabaga bob]

I bought my Mikro new...put different pickups in it...but the Epi EB-0 and the Epi Accu-bass were just knockabout basses I came across.

Kind of reminds me of Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree in ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’; you see these basses that need a little TLC, take them home, fix ‘em up - nice!

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I love high quality "build" "cheap basses". Better known as "parts basses".

These can be assembled for under $800 and are equal in quality to $1,500 to $2,000 new ones.

$500 V

View attachment 5058256


$450 V
View attachment 5058257

$600 V
View attachment 5058258

There are other examples but we get the point!

Looks good. I would like a jazz pickup assembly on a p bass body. I can’t dig the weird shape of a jazz body. Plus it sits crooked on a stand. Yes, I use the good stands at my gigs that hold the bass from the neck

 

[bassdude51]

Looks good. I would like a jazz pickup assembly on a p bass body. I can’t dig the weird shape of a jazz body. Plus it sits crooked on a stand. Yes, I use the good stands at my gigs that hold the bass from the neck

I totally agree with you bigdaddybass12

Here's another one of my builds dating back around 25 years ago. I made the body from scratch. Warmoth neck no fret dot markers. A P Bass body with J pickups. Probably have about $600 in this but...........hours and hours and hours of work.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I totally agree with you bigdaddybass12

Here's another one of my builds dating back around 25 years ago. I made the body from scratch. Warmoth neck no fret dot markers. A P Bass body with J pickups. Probably have about $600 in this but...........hours and hours and hours of work.View attachment 5059322 View attachment 5059324

Love it!! $600 plus 600 hours!!

 

[dabbler]

I prefer the phrase "value basses" because that is what they are. Here are 4 of my favs.

(Left to Right) Harley Benton JB-25, , SX Parts, Harley Benton MV-4JB Gotoh, SX SJB-62 MG

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I prefer the phrase "value basses" because that is what they are. Here are 4 of my favs.

View attachment 5059631

(Left to Right) Harley Benton JB-25, , SX Parts, Harley Benton MV-4JB Gotoh, SX SJB-62 MG

You are right! I still have not found much difference between a value bass and an expensive bass. Expensive basses You still have to tune, adjust the neck, replace the battery, Shows dings and scratches, strings go bad, jack comes loose,