Practice Bass for $200???

[Bighouse]

So, let’s say you want to keep a full scale 34” practice bass around in your faculty office to twiddle with when you’ve got a few minutes of spare time. As the office isn’t super secure you don’t want to hang your valuable P-bass or Ric 4001 on the wall, but want to find a very playable, full scale bass that, if stolen/broken/loaned/lost, wouldn’t be missed much. What bass for around $200 would you buy???

 

[bholder]

Lots of decent starter basses in that space. Lots of bang per buck. SX at Rondo used to be a go-to, but their pickings have been slim lately. Harvey Benton also good in this range, from what I read. And of course Squier. Then lots of newer direct imports from China etc.. Others here know more than I, I'm sure they'll chime in.

Happy hunting!

 

[bholder]

Just checked Rondo - only 2 solid body SX 4 strings, both over $300, they finally bumped their prices. Plus a bunch of uke basses.

 

[Bighouse]

Just checked Rondo - only 2 solid body SX 4 strings, both over $300, they finally bumped their prices. Plus a bunch of uke basses.

Yeah, don’t want a shorter scale or a uke.

 

[ahbass2500]

Used Peavey Milestone series or Millennium BXP.

 

[BGroovy]

Peavey Fury's can be had for that and they're USA made!

 

[BassAgent]

Used Squier, Yamaha or Cort. Or buy a Harley Benton from Thomann, if you're in Europe.

 

[Faith Nicole]

Lost of broadly known inexpensive guitars out there. As a lesser known, perhaps try a Donner? I've not tried the bass guitars. I do have two of the 6-string and find them very well made - tuners tend to be on the cheap side but work. I paid less than $100 for each one. Bass is a bit more. Watch for coupons and sales.

 

[nickpc]

Squier Sonic P. Crazy nice for the $200 price!

 

[pisces_bass]

I use a squier affinity P in my home office and for something to grab when I travel for work. It was ~$200 when I got it a few years ago. It stays in tune, setup is okay.

 

[Queue]

My office bass was $150 used (before a few upgrades).

 

[brianrost]

What bass for around $200 would you buy???

Whatever's in my local Craigslist. It could be any FSO from any brand or something close like an Ibanez or Yamaha. I wouldn’t buy anything new.

 

[Nedmundo]

Used ESP could be a good choice. My brother (a drummer) wanted a bass, so he snagged an active ESP at GC for $200 a couple of months ago. I'm not sure how it sounds because I didn't plug in, but I was surprised at its excellent playability and at how good it feels generally. Provided I liked the tone, I would be happy playing it on stage.

 

[Reedt2000]

Plenty of used Squier basses at Guitar Center for less than $200. That's the direction I'd go. A bunch of comparable basses from other companies (yamaha, peavey, ibanez, jackson etc.) on there too.

 

[trevcda]

For my beater with a heater bass, I went with a Rogue LX205B. I got mine from a pawn shop for $65. It needed some minor repairs which did not add to the cost. New they are about $180, but I highly suggest being able to hands on play any bass in this price range before purchasing. I played several beaters and was able to thoroughly assess any issues before buying this one. I bought it specifically for camping at a Grateful Dead concert, so I wouldn't mind some dirty hippy's resin covered fingers touching my bass. But really for any situation where potential theft, destruction or neglect by myself and/or others would not keep me from enjoying the event, such as other camping trips, jam nights or loaning it out to others, who are always disappointed that I would not lend out my more expensive instruments.

 

[BobKos]

I would seek out a used SX. They play way above their price point. Rondo is no longer selling new ones, but the used ones are still good.

 

[OllieVT]

This is a worthwhile investment and, from experience, right down to it being a faculty office, I fully recommend it. I don't have useful advice beyond that. I went for a $300 short scale, a Gretsch Junior Jet, which I am very happy with and would be even if I hadn't managed to wrangle someone else to pay the $300. But not what you're looking for.

However, do it!

 

[DWBass]

Go out and check all the local pawn shops. You'll find plenty of basses to choose from. You can also go up on Amazon and order a Glarry bass for way less than $200. Here's a few Craigslist links near your area.

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[badgrandad]

Get a fretless! no one will bother it!

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

So, let’s say you want to keep a full scale 34” practice bass around in your faculty office to twiddle with when you’ve got a few minutes of spare time. As the office isn’t super secure you don’t want to hang your valuable P-bass or Ric 4001 on the wall, but want to find a very playable, full scale bass that, if stolen/broken/loaned/lost, wouldn’t be missed much. What bass for around $200 would you buy???

Unlike when I started playing... there are SO MANY decent ones in that price point, especially when you consider used, it's almost overwhelming to think about it. It's nowadays really about what kind/style of bass you want to play and simply finding one within reason around that price point. I played an (passive) OLP Stingray licensed EBMM design 4-string and for $99 or really any price point, that thing was KILLER. That was one bass I truly regret selling.