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No money no bass...

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Does anyone know the best way to get a super cheap bass? I don't have the money to spend on even the low end so this is important for me. And I'm sure other people know that problem too so any suggestions are gonna be helpful to someone!
 
The cheapest (used) bass on Guitar Center's website is $70, I've seen them on Craigslist for cheaper than that sometimes. Short of that, your best (and probably only) bet would be to find someone willing to just give you an old beater. I don't mean to sound crass, but if even the cheapest of cheap is out of your price range, I'm not sure being a musician is the right hobby for you.
 
I don't know if this will help but there are a few people on craigslist that advertise that they have everything but the player, although you may have to play what they want (if you're good enough), and if you are really good and they like you (personality wise) they'll even come get you too. I have seen this, I have done this.
 
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I picked up a peavey milestone II used at GC for $59, and just the other day a beat up peavey foundation with case on Craigslist for $40. Sometimes you get lucky. Check Craigslist often. The foundation had elixirs on it that seem to have plenty of life. That's worth a portion of $35 in itself! I moved them to my #1 jazz bass.

Hard to go wrong with a peavey for the money.

And there is always SX from rondo, but those are about $120+shipping now.

$50 basses that are decent are out there.
 
I don't know if this will help but there are a few people on craigslist that advertise that they have everything but the player, although you may have to play what they want (if you're good enough), and if you are really good and they like you (personality wise) they'll even come get you too. I have seen this, I have done this.
True, some bands have a rig and a bass. But not sure they would let you bring it home to practice.
 
I don't mean to sound crass, but if even the cheapest of cheap is out of your price range, I'm not sure being a musician is the right hobby for you.

I gotta +1 this. Unless you're unemployable for some reason (or a kid who's parents absolutely refuse to buy him/her a bass) I think it might be better to first focus on doing whatever is necessary to be able to afford $150 bass.

But in response to your actual question, there are those websites like Invalid Link Removed. You might want to try your luck there.
 
1) Until you remedy the dollar situation, maybe spend your free time "trying out" basses in music stores. If you spend enough time in a music store, you'll get to know the employees. Apply for a job at the same music store. Use store discount to buy bass.

2) Make friends with bass player. Borrow bass. I don't know who you are or what you do, but you probably have some sort of craft to trade.

3) Wait for rich relative to die.

4) Sell stuff on eBay.

5) Give blood. Buy Bass. (Or make t-shirts that say this. Sell them. Buy bass.)

6) Beg on the street.

7) Get trash bag. Walk along side of highway collecting aluminum cans. I'm not sure where you take them, but use the money to buy a bass.
 
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Geez, you're gonna need an amp too!

Sorry for being arrogant about it...after all, I don't know you or your situation.
But common sense says to me if you can't afford a bass, then you can't afford an amp.
I can offer a potentially useful suggestion, if you're still a young person (as in school age), you could
seek to join your school orchestra and take bass lessons through them. Even though they'd give you a big
upright bass, the notes on the neck translate directly to the electric bass (I played in my H.S. orchestra
and to be honest it made playing lectric bass easier... the scale of the double bass is much longer, making fingering
a 34" scale bass neck seem easier, and with no frets it helped develop my ear for intonation).
 
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