Just looking for sub $200 beater bass suggestions.

[jmlee]

Also, Peavey Foundation basses (J neck and 2 ferrite pickups) are a touch more expensive, but you should be able to find one under 225. Also, the "Foundation S Active" is a sweet American made P/J with active pickups that you might be able to find for under 225. Though folks are discovering their value and quality, there's alot of USA-made Peavy basses from the 80's and 90's that often pop up within your budget. Most of them will have 21 or more frets and be really well made instruments.

Agree completely. I've bought both a 1995 5-string Peavey Foundation (left) for $200 and an earlier, early 80's 4-string Foundation (centre) with the super-ferrite pickups for $150 over the last year-and-a-half. They're both very nice instruments, US-made, comfortable to play, built like tanks and very versatile. The fiver is an especially nice beast—and tremendous value for the bucks. [The T-40 on the right is *very* heavy, but the Foundations are rather light.]

 

[Eilif]

How heavy are those 90's era Peavey basses? I had a '79 T-40 that was just silly heavy.

Not bad at all. In general they seem to be lighter than similar fenders. The T-series instruments are indeed much heavier, but just about everything peavey has done since then has been more contoured, slimmer (in body and neck) and if not extra-lightweight at least average or less.

Jmlee's picture above is a pretty good example of the mass-difference between the two, and that doesn't even fully show the higher degree of contouring that you find in peavey instruments post '82.

 

[winegamd]

I think another brand worth mentioning is OLP. They are pretty great for the money and you can get them used pretty cheap.

 

[Lava]

I'd go the Squire route. They're much easier to upgrade (PUs, neck, tuners...) than a Yamaha.

 

[PortlandBass77]

Check CL for a Peavey Foundation, rock solid construction, amazing pickups, and lighter than the average vintage Peavey. They usually sell for around $200. Also look into any MIJ Ibanez P basses, they are high quality and can be found for $100 or less sometimes.

 

[Fishheadjoe]

Anything with Yamaha on the headstock, on the used market. You can pick up a BB or RBX for little money and once set up, they are work horses.
Fishheadjoe

 

[Artobass]

I recently picked up an early 90's Peavey Fury for well under $200. I can't say eneough good about this bass. I would certainly recommend this bass as a low cost back up.

 

[Eilif]

I'd go the Squire route. They're much easier to upgrade (PUs, neck, tuners...) than a Yamaha.

This is a reasonable point. If you're looking for a bass that you might someday swap the neck, body or pickguard on, then a Squire isn't a bad suggestion. However, if you don't mind being restricted to upgrades of bridge, pickup/electronics and tuners then I'd recommend a USA peavey.

Yamaha is an interesting suggestion. Though -except the BB series- they're not usually my my cup-o-tea I've always been impressed with their quality and value-when-used.

One other suggestion I'll throw out there if you want something new and are willing to drop to 20 frets is the Ibanez Talman bass TMB100. It's been getting some great reviews including a fellow on TB who I believe is even touring with it stock while opening for Blues Traveler! Seems like a great value at $199. I'd certainly go with a TMB100 before an affinity squire and the standard P/J pups give you alot of options should you want to mod/upgrade someday.

 

[dabbler]

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[Gorn]

Squier affinity PJ.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

I had to get a 5-string because of some of the songs we were playing and I was tired of dropping the E string on my Jazz. I had zippo money to do so and fellow on one of the forums suggested I grab one of the Rogue basses. He had three different ones including a violin bass. Said they were cheap, well made, played well and were switchable active/passive. So, I snagged one for about $200 (Rogue LX405 Pro 5-string). Made in Korea. Was impressed. It sounds and looks good. I played with the set-up a little bit to get it where I like it but it was definitely playable out of the box. Strings were OK, but I replaced them after a couple of months. I usually run it passive but can switch to active for more tones if needed. I call it my surprisingly good no-name 5-String. They make 4-string versions too. Worth a look.

 

[Kaden Daniels]

Agree completely. I've bought both a 1995 5-string Peavey Foundation (left) for $200 and an earlier, early 80's 4-string Foundation (centre) with the super-ferrite pickups for $150 over the last year-and-a-half. They're both very nice instruments, US-made, comfortable to play, built like tanks and very versatile. The fiver is an especially nice beast—and tremendous value for the bucks. [The T-40 on the right is *very* heavy, but the Foundations are rather light.]

View attachment 695558

Nice US peavey collection I wanna get on goin I have a t-40 and fury(pbass)

 

[Joedog]

There is/was a 90's Squier ProTone 4 string (P/J pups) on ebay. If memory serves, asking like $149? LOVE my ProTone 5! If I had room, I'd pick it up just to have the pair of them. Fairly rare, and well known for high quality.

 

[basslust]

I agree with Crusher47. The RBX series are quite solid, quality basses for their cost. You can typically pick up an RBX 170 in a PJ configuration used for about $170 Canadian, probably $120 in the US.

I picked up a RBX760a for $130 off the bay a few months back. An absolute steal, IMO.

 

[BooshBass]

Another vote for Peavey Fury. I just bought an all original '89 Fury off Reverb for $140 last week and I must say, its incredibly impressive. The thin neck is very comfortable for someone with smaller hands such as myself.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Yamaha RBX

Yamaha RBX?

I agree with Crusher47. The RBX series are quite solid, quality basses for their cost. You can typically pick up an RBX 170 in a PJ configuration used for about $170 Canadian, probably $120 in the US.

I will throw another vote for the RBX series. Very under-rated and can be had very cheap. I have bought several RBX basses under $100. Even in mint shape they are not worth more than $150, they are not easy sells.

I have bought pretty much every major entry level brand. I used to flip them regularly. Squier is the king of budget brands in my experience but Yamaha is a sleeper hit, this makes them even cheaper. I was always impressed with the RBX line. Import Peaveys and Cort basses all sound like wet farts in a blanket, I have never played a Cort I enjoyed (I am aware Cor-Tek makes other brands including Squier, I mean actual Cort brand basses.) If you can find a used American Peavey Fury they are a good deal. They are extremely over-rated on TB in my opinion but they are a great bang for your buck. If you look at Ibanez avoid anything with the word "gio" on it, total crap.

 

[Thebrownarrow]

If you were cool with having 20 frets, I would suggest getting the SX ash PJ bass with the Jazz body and P neck. I love mine. It's $189 plus tax.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I also vote for Yamaha RBX if you need extra frets. I got an RBX 270 that I'm considering to turn into a tenor bass for fun.

 

[Eilif]

If you were cool with having 20 frets, I would suggest getting the SX ash PJ bass with the Jazz body and P neck. I love mine. It's $189 plus tax.

Before the advent of the Talman and the Ursa headstock (I hate that thing) SX would have been one of my suggestions as well.

I've owned a few SX that were nice right from the box and a couple that definitely needed work. If you really want the fender look, don't mind the Ursa-Stock and yellow necks and are up for some work if necessary (nut, possibly a fret or two) then it's not a bad way to go. The solid alder P and J examples are hard to beat at the $120 mark.

However with shipping of one of the nicer Ash, block/bound SX's will take you past $200. That will get you a Talman or an MIA Peavey and with the SX you still might be on the hook for some nut/fretwork.

 

[Thebrownarrow]

The newer headstock has slowly grown on me. I definitely liked the older style more.