JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
- 14,723
- 20,970
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
If you like cheap basses, you should pick up a stealth MM benton. It'll blow that sterling out the water. For like half the price.
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I love cheap basses!
- Thread starter bigdaddybass12
- Start date
Outstanding! My Epi EB-0, is the best bass I've owned, and played. It's also had the most inexpensive price tag on it of any bass I ever owned.
I own 21 basses,many the product of a misspent retirement.I am constantly amazed at cheapo basses available these days.I research these offerings before purchase and they have usually exceeded expectations, leaving me pleasantly surprised upon arrival.And though I own a few high enders I'd not hesitate using one of my lowenders on a gig.
As for your EB O I have always loved the body and headstock design.One of the all time classic basses look wise.And of course they have a sound all their own.
Im in search of a cheap bass myself. The best thing about them is that you never worry about dings or scratches and if someone wants to play something you just hand the thing over. You just play the hell out of it and enjoy it. I have more fun with cheapies than the expensive stuff that gets babysat everywhere.
Got my 2001 epi eb0 used for about 150ish. Then stepped on output jack so got all my money back (GC warranty). Paid for a new jack and that was it. Of course I dumped a lot in mods for it.
Eastwood airlines jetson jr got mint used for 1/2 off ($250) and it came with gigbag and matching strap. She is stock except for bridge cover (seemed naked without it). Tempted by geezers as a sabbath lover but love how she sounds already with low tension flats.
Speaking of cheap basses, I recently bought a Harley Benton rb 414 Chickenbacker that totally kills it.I love the look of Rics but at this point in time not enough to shell out 2 grand.Then I got one of the new Epiphone Embassy basses.They're so nice and sound and play great. They cost under six bills together.The cheap bass market is in it's prime.
I have three of four basses that have started out as “cheap”, the most expensive was a Squier VM Jazz V purchased brand new at $348 out the door.
Another started as a used Squier Affinity Jazz V for $120 out the door.
The third is a parts bass with a Squier Affinity JV body.
With the amount of upgrades to the factory original versions of these basses that I feel are satisfactory, puts them into the middle price bracket.
I do like cheap basses, but I wish they came with better components....but then they’d be the anti-cheap bass...
Another started as a used Squier Affinity Jazz V for $120 out the door.
The third is a parts bass with a Squier Affinity JV body.
With the amount of upgrades to the factory original versions of these basses that I feel are satisfactory, puts them into the middle price bracket.
I do like cheap basses, but I wish they came with better components....but then they’d be the anti-cheap bass...
We can't have it both ways.But customizing them is half the fun.Some may have a point thinking me crazy, but I've spent more than the price of the bass on upgrades in a couple of instances.
i haven't purchased (or assembled) a bass in about 20 years that was based on anything but feel. once you narrow the choices to one, guiding 'parameter'/principle = cost goes way down, immediately. i learned the usual/hard way (buying the "best") that if it doesn't feel right: it doesn't make any difference about the "fit and finish" BS.
anyone can assemble (or have it assembled) an ax from the best parts to make the best possible instrument for his/her playing. whereas i used to think a good ax started at about 3K, i now realize that it's difficult to spend over $500 -$750 for a better, custom instrument.
while 'looks' are fun (it's kid stuff!) it's all about feel/balance, maybe weight, when you're actually gigging. you can mod/make any ax to look and sound like what you want, but if you can make it play like what you need = priceless!
these also look good, but it's the modification of the weights/balance and necks that make them better than all the other axes i've ever owned, at any price:
they all started as cheapies --- they were modified to be better players for me. the necks are phenomenal, none have neck dive, and they're all lightweight enough to help an older brother out on a 4-hour gig!
anyone can assemble (or have it assembled) an ax from the best parts to make the best possible instrument for his/her playing. whereas i used to think a good ax started at about 3K, i now realize that it's difficult to spend over $500 -$750 for a better, custom instrument.
while 'looks' are fun (it's kid stuff!) it's all about feel/balance, maybe weight, when you're actually gigging. you can mod/make any ax to look and sound like what you want, but if you can make it play like what you need = priceless!
these also look good, but it's the modification of the weights/balance and necks that make them better than all the other axes i've ever owned, at any price:
they all started as cheapies --- they were modified to be better players for me. the necks are phenomenal, none have neck dive, and they're all lightweight enough to help an older brother out on a 4-hour gig!
agreed: it's fun!
if you end up with a better playing/feeling ax = it would be crazy not to "upgrade."
the group that thinks it's goofy to put money into a cheap ax (just because it's cheap --- without regard to its feel and potential as a player) is the same group that shops by price and looks. looks are for kids, and price-as-a-basis is stupid in its own right. i know that because as i inferred: i was once stupid myself!
every custom ax i've ever owned was someone else's version/interpretation of what i said i needed. they were not cheap...just inferior.
no i didn't. all of the bodies were stock as i ordered them (or the bass to which they belonged). i changed out the necks (or re-contoured them) to fretless, and i changed the hardware for better/lighter stuff (i,e., schaller, hipshot, gotoh). the pickups were upgraded from cheapie/stock to the usual suspects, e.g., dimarzio, quarter pounders, etc. i went from active axes to passive axes with this bunch.
Cheap basses? -Didn't like the Glarry p-bass, found it too chunky for me. -Ditto with the SX. -Nah...
But IMO my Ibanez GSR100EX is beautifully stylish in oiled mahogany, and is an absolute delight to play! Gonna stick on some LaBella white tape wounds on it next, plus a neat 4" long mahogany thumb rest to give it some elegant custom looks...
Greywoulf
But IMO my Ibanez GSR100EX is beautifully stylish in oiled mahogany, and is an absolute delight to play! Gonna stick on some LaBella white tape wounds on it next, plus a neat 4" long mahogany thumb rest to give it some elegant custom looks...
Greywoulf
I am pretty sure I already posted my Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro Bass that I have had as my main bass since I got it back in 2011, but not sure I posted it after I transplanted it's neck, which got perfect enough fretwork from stock to get the string action exactly as low as I prefer it without any fret buzz whatsoever, and is the most stable neck I ever had on any bass or guitar, to a GSRM20B Weathered Black finish body, which is Mahogany as the original, but much lighter, and without the insane thick poly finish of the original, as well as it the neck pocket was a super tight fit for the neck heel, overall resulting in improved resonance and sustain.
Here it is before the body transplant (with a DiMarzio Model P wired directly to the output jack socket and the J pickup from the precviously installed EMG Geezer Butler P/J set, but lowered and disconected) :
And here it is after (with just a DiMarzio Model P wired directly to the output jack socket, though I later swappep it for the EMG Geezer Butler P pickup also wired directly to the output jack socket. Also installed a regular front mounted output jack socket in one of the redundant pot holes, instead of the stock side mounted barrel one) :
Love it!
Here it is before the body transplant (with a DiMarzio Model P wired directly to the output jack socket and the J pickup from the precviously installed EMG Geezer Butler P/J set, but lowered and disconected) :
And here it is after (with just a DiMarzio Model P wired directly to the output jack socket, though I later swappep it for the EMG Geezer Butler P pickup also wired directly to the output jack socket. Also installed a regular front mounted output jack socket in one of the redundant pot holes, instead of the stock side mounted barrel one) :
Love it!
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I like to buy basses that don't cost me a whole lot.
These were $40, $60, $125, $150, $280, $289, $300, $325, $350 ...not in the order they are pictured.
Six are made in USA, one in Taiwan, two in Indonesia.
I swapped in better pickups in two and pickguards on two which raised the number.
These were $40, $60, $125, $150, $280, $289, $300, $325, $350 ...not in the order they are pictured.
Six are made in USA, one in Taiwan, two in Indonesia.
I swapped in better pickups in two and pickguards on two which raised the number.
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I admit it I troll pawn shops and craig looking for cheapo basses to upgrade. My latest purchase was a mikro that plays great but the pups suck, typical. So probably I'll put in The GB emgs, the small form factors ones. I'm mulling over buying a HBenton jazz bass to see if I can lite it up. Nothing funner than this
First bass I bought was a Fury. Killer basses in general (still play it, still love it) really liking that buttery Fury of yours. Super nice collection you got goin there.
