I love cheap basses!

[WI Short Scaler]

L

Love the Grumpy pickguard

Thanks, that body was originally black and that's when the guard was painted. But the black was pretty beat up so had it redone in CAR. Now my son is redoing the same face in the actual colors.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

I wouldn’t necessarily say that I like cheap basses. I do appreciate getting a good bass for the least amount of money .
My Squier CV60’s Pbass gives me all I want and need for that Classic Pbass sound. Coupled with a nice broken on set of TI Flats and I’m good. No need to spend more or look any further . Best $250 I’ve ever spent .

My Sire V3-5 is another great bass at low cost. The tuners aren’t best but they aren’t the worst either. Nice weight just under 10lbs. For $450 bucks with gig bag ... I’m not complaining .

The biggest shocker for me was ringing a mint condition Carvin SB5000 with case for $700. This bass rivals boutique build and quality and it literally kicked my Fender Elite Jazz V out of the house. What an amazing bass. Best 5 string I’ve ever encountered.

My Fender American Geddy Lee is my most expensive bass. I still feel like I stole it. $1400 new full warranty . Probably one of the last ones around before they became impossible to find new due to covid and being backorder . These basses are the best quality I’ve ever seen from Fender. Rivals custom shop in every way. I wanted a great example of a 70’s Jazz Bass that was built better than the originals and I found it.
Well worth every penny and a whole lot more. I honestly don’t think Fender builds a better Jazz Bass.

 

[JimmyM]

I have semi expensive and very cheap basses, and I love them all, but I'll admit having been spoiled by the better ones. Not enough to go buy a $5000+ bass, but my favorites are the ones that go for a grand or more new.

 

[FreeJBass]

My main bass is an affinity pj squire that sounded and played really well from the get go. I tried it out in the store and i instantly liked it alot.

But then it's not so cheap. Because I then gave it a freeman signature neck that I found for a good deal. Then I put geezer emg pickups in it.

I think this bass is amazing for what I put into it though. I think the precision design is so simple that it doesn't cost alot to make a damn fine instrument on that pattern. Even more so pj as I think that's about as ideal as it gets for pickups set

 

[C Stone]

As I said on a previous post here, I have a thing for sub-$100 basses just picked this up today for 60 bones. Solid bass, plays really well, (CY) Yako I believe, pick ups sound just fine "as is" and fully functioning.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I love my 34 AND 35 basses. I wouldn't get rid of them for the next step up. With that being said..... if you love that 4, why get rid of it!?!?!?! Save up for a 34. Don't sell what feels like home

Yeah, you are right, it is the only one I play now! Every gig for almost 2 years. I have not touched my Fender P in many months. The p is muddy sounding. The ray4 is much cleaner.

 

[dzcandemir]

We have so many expensive basses in the classifieds. I guess I’m just too poor to be able to afford such instruments. But deep down I also don’t feel the need to spend that much on an instrument and I’ve been playing for a long time at this point. Maybe I can splurge once my everyday expenses lessen and my income (hopefully) increases.

 

[Blues Bass 2]

All my basses are under $650 and I don't have much gas for anything else . My Sire V3 5 and my G&L JB Tribute fill the Jazz itch for me and The Talman TMB605 does the PJ thing as well as anything I have played . The Squier Contemporary Jazz 5 HH is the wild card . It sounds a lot like a Jazz but with the ceramic soapbars it can get deep and clear and is dead quiet .
Love em all .

 

[NOVAX]

$25 American

 

[PWRL]

I like cheap basses as long as they work properly.

 

[NOVAX]

Neck straight. Frets good.
Parts is parts. I don't know where to get a 2 tone burst P body with a swimming pool pickup route and some extra hardware attached to it for $25
Lol.

 

[FreeJBass]

What's a good cheap 90s bass? Alot of them have risen in value quite a bit.

Something like Peavey fury but those are getting high too nowadays. Peavey t40 also cool but same thing, pretty pricey.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Lucky man you are. Since I own sadowsky basses, I can only play and own Highland stuff. Everytime I play something else, I miss my basses. Even those high end Fenders, musicman and so on feel like lower end basses to me.

Basses are like cars, more you pay the more it will cost you in the end.

 

[baxter_x]

Basses are like cars, more you pay the more it will cost you in the end.

Well, once you buy a bass it doesn't cost much anymore. Unlike cars.

 

[droo46]

I usually play a Fender Jazz bass, but just for fun, I took the Squier CV Jazz for a gig last weekend, and I completely forgot which one I was playing halfway through. It's funny how much of the appeal of expensive basses is just vanity.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

This thread makes me feel like a bad bassist! Of course I just started playing bass 2 months ago. The bass I am playing is a Lakland 44-64 custom PJ. It is a Skyline so for Lakland it’s cheap, but of all the basses I played in the local guitar store, nothing sounded or felt so good as the Lakland. I am fortunate enough to have the extra money to pay $1300, and I understand not everyone does. I am not better or lesser because I can.
What I am saying is I could tell the difference between the less expensive basses I played. FWIW... I love the openness we can converse in the forum. I mean no offense to anyone else.
Sprout

Like playing golf. When you own a nice set of pings, they feel right. Others can play a great game with anything. I played golf with this guy who would bring 6 or 7 mismatched clubs and hit close to par. What ever works.

 

[bpc]

I played golf with this guy who would bring 6 or 7 mismatched clubs and hit close to par

While I understand what you are saying, and agree, perhaps each of those six or seven clubs was carefully chosen by the guy as being the best of their types for him. The Harley Benton, Glarry, Dimavery etc of golf clubs? Was it a different set each time or did he always bring the same ones?

 

[bigdaddybass12]

While I understand what you are saying, and agree, perhaps each of those six or seven clubs was carefully chosen by the guy as being the best of their types for him. The Harley Benton, Glarry, Dimavery etc of golf clubs? Was it a different set each time or did he always bring the same ones?

Nah, just beat up clubs in a beat up bag. The driver was probably the best club he had. We would have our nice matching sets & bags, and he would show us all up. Like Serena Williams could beat you stupid with a no name tennis racket.

 

[bpc]

Like Serena Williams could beat you stupid with a no name tennis racket

Fair enough, just like any decent player could beat me stupid with a no-name bass.

 

[kevmac]

Ok, I admit it, I like a inexpensive basses. I currently play the latest version of a Sterling ray 4 I got on sale for $269. I got it as a beater, but I have played it at every gig for almost 2 years. Restrung, adjusted the pickup height, and never quit playing it. I have been looking at selling the ray4, & my fender p, and getting a Ray34 and but the ray4 is solid. Anyone else like me?

My latest cheapo.KTone semi hollow,$250 and it exceeded my expectations upon arrival.