Perfect P-Bass

[zbasstringer]

Ok, my Arbor P-Bass copy has a twisted neck. I was wondering, what is a cheap (under $400) bass with P style pick-ups and a bridge that could easily be replaced with a BadAss III? I don't care about the brand, I'm just looking for suggestions. I have a set of 62 Fender P-Bass pick-ups that I will be putting in the bass, and a BAIII bridge. Any help would be great.

 

[zbasstringer]

any body?

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Squier Vintage Modified P Bass. Hands down the best P in your price range and maybe a little above it

Another good way to go would be to pick up a Peavy Fury P bass on eBay. American made, rock solid, can't go wrong.

 

[dakpluto]

SX
and still have $250 for anything extra you wanted to throw at it.

 

[lf-p]

hi zbasstringer,
my experience is that its absolutly ok to take todays corean models as a base.
there is career, uunsung and their brands, silver star...... they make good basses.
when you take a good PU and a cool bridge you shouldnt have any problem to make it a good bass.
my advice would be to test the bass without connecting it to an amp.
most of the times i even dont take the basses of the wall , or out of the stand:
just pluck the open a- string or others. when it's sounding alive and ringing, you have a good base. compare the dry sound with other instruments in the shop. sometimes the cheap basses have more resonance than expensive ones.....
a bass that is happening dry will not disapoint you........ hwen you add good extra features.
p.e.: i own a super cheap -justin- chinese pj bass, that was just cool sounding resonnant and dynamic. i payed 99 eur for it (ca. 140 $).
i put on a pj bass lines vintage PU combination. its a real coll bass now.
i use it in the studio an especially in rehearsals, because its light as a feather; and that make carriying around so nice. the sound is dirty and warm, cool for rock but when you ad more j- pu , you can handle all styles up to jacko sounds.......
in the studio it is a real alternative and noone ever asked me it was cheaper than my alembics or music mans.

good luck
lf-p

 

[GobBass]

You'll need a P-Bass with a string-thru body option then.

 

[fretlessman71]

You'll need a P-Bass with a string-thru body option then.

Not necessarily. The BadAss III has the option for thru-body stringing, but doesn't require it.

If your bass has the option for it, and you prefer it (or at the very least want to keep it as an option), then the BadAss III is for you. However, unless you already HAVE the bridge and want to use it on what you get, you could just leave a stock Squier VM as is and be very happy with it.

Anything that has screw holes drilled 19mm apart will do you just fine. And if you're just dying to replace that bridge, maybe you could find a TBer with a BadAss II who would want to swap you straight across.

 

[zbasstringer]

ok. thank you for all the great advice. I love peaveys, so that may be a good option. hmmm, anybody want to trade bridges?

 

[savit260]

SX! I've been gigging this SX for well over 3 years now. Best $109 you'll ever spend IMO.

Throw that bridge and p/u in there, and you'll have a great sounding, decent player for short money.


If you really want to make it shine, have the frets leveled, crowned and polished (I'd sugest this on any sub $600 bass) and you'll have a very inexpensive, fantastic playing bass.

The SX also has the advantage of an Alder body over the Squier VM's basswood, if that matters to you.