Practice Bass for $200???

[dune]

Maybe something like a Sterling Ray4 scratch and dent?

 

[CascadeBass]

Came here to say what others have-- Ibanez Gio. Also Yamaha RBX.

 

[Wfrance3]

A used bass of pretty much any quality brand; am thinking Squire, PV, Ibanez, whatever there's a deal on...
Here's an example I just searched up:

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My apologies to future generations, this link will go away at some point when whoever this is sells their bass...
When that happens, you would be looking at a lower-end blue Peavey 4 string jazz with white pg.
It fits OP request. Am sure it needs a setup, but then it could be an office bass...

So, find something like that and then set it up, or have that done and you'd be good.

 

[Ellery]

Yamaha BB235

 

[MuseChaser]

Used Peavey Grind?

 

[MidlifeBeginner]

As someone posted, buy the Amazon exclusive Squire if not finding something reasonable used locally.

The cheapest Glarry basses are on Ebay. Some you can pick up for about $70 including shipping. They can play really nice with stock hardware after putting in a little work. There is more selection on their website for about $110.

The Rogue and Mitchell Guitar Center/Musician Friend store brands have big discounts sometimes. I haven't played one.

Whatever you get, ugly it up. Sticker bomb it or something to make people know at first glance it is not valuable enough to swipe.

 

[Altitude]

This is how I use my ESP TL-5. It’s a semihollow, which is nice for this application because it creates a bit more unamplified volume. I think I bought it for $425 though.

 

[pcake]

if you're in the U.S., you could get squier debut bass on amazon for under $150. i've owned and owned many basses under $200, and almost all of them were playable and sounded fine after some minor work, which is usually the same minor work i put into more expensive basses. a couple times, i got one that needed to be exchanged, so i did that and the replacement was always fine.

debut p bass

Amazon.com

all basses on sweetwater between $100 and $200
https://www.sweetwater.com/c581--4-...6eyJQcmljZSBSYW5nZSI6WyIkMTAwIHRvICQyMDAiXX19
i have 2 of the ibanez GRS100EX, one in black and modded, and one in that woodly finish. i also own mini precision, have owned several mikros and still own 2.

btw, this seems like a good deal

Squier Sonic Precision Bass Guitar - Limited-Edition

Get the guaranteed best price on 4 String Electric Bass like the Squier Sonic Precision Bass Guitar - Limited-Edition at Musician's Friend. Get a low price and free shipping on thousands of items.

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it's $209 elsewhere right now. i got a sonic bronco; i did have to exchange it, but the replacement is super.

i would only get a glarry P if you like a wide, chunky neck. the neck is deeper than a P bass or pretty much any bass neck i've ever held.

 

[prom311]

Less than $150 during the holiday sale. I've paid more for pickups.

 

[ACRock]

Ibanez GSR 200. I paid $80 for mine. Very light and extremely resonant

 

[Bighouse]

Im gonna be a devils advocate and say once you’ve tasted the goods of high end equipment it can be tricky to view the sub $200 category as anything but a toy.

I say bump the budget by 2x and buy used. LOTS of good stuff around $300-$400 and you can probably sell it for what you got it for in 1yr or 10yrs all the same.

hmm, I generally don't twiddle around with my basses, but if I did it would probably be an older MIM Fender bass

Do you noodle around???

 

[Bighouse]

Stopped by a local pawnshop. They had some kind of a Peavey, an Ibanez, a Yamaha, and a Johnson. I’d never heard of a Johnson before.

 

[MidlifeBeginner]

Stopped by a local pawnshop. They had some kind of a Peavey, an Ibanez, a Yamaha, and a Johnson. I’d never heard of a Johnson before.

I fixed up an old Johnson jazz bass for my brother. They also sold as the AXL brand. The brand is a defunct budget brand. It was a P bass neck on a jazz body. Pickups had alnico bar magnets. It was solid after I cleaned up the wear, tear, and neglect.

 

[PNW Tony]

These Dean basses are a really good deal. Some are factory rejects because of minor scratch or dents. I got one for $99 just out of curiosity and it was flawless. Pretty good quality, especially for the price. I'll end up giving it to someone who needs it, but don't regret buying it. https://reverb.com/item/87228928-dean-edge-2-4-string-bass-spalted-charcoal-burst-41027

 

[Neck Diver]

Squire Sonic P.
Used or new Yamaha Rbx 174 & you get 24 frets.
Sterling Ray 4 new or used.

If you go Harley Benton calculate shipping into your price and diminished resell value.

Good luck, have fun.

 

[Gopherbassist]

4 String Electric Bass | Guitar Center

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[Discount Bassy]

I gigged a ratty Jay Turser P-clone that was notably overpriced at $100 for about ten years. An office edition player shouldn't need to cost much more. Go used and look at the necks very carefully. There are some great, ugly instruments out there with golden hearts.

 

[Bighouse]

If only I had my old fender mustang…but then again, I’d probably want to secure that at home.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Used on CL.

 

[Bighouse]

Surely no one would ever steal this bass.