retro basses???

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I need a new bass and i cant afford my ideal instrument a Rickenbacker, but Im interested in retro looking basses. I like the Hollowbody and Surf looks they had in the 60s and all, but i dont know of any. So can anyone suggest a brand or a bass thats less than 800$ and sounds pretty good?The only one i know of is the Epiphone Jack Casady bass, which i like , but i hear bad things of epiphone so i dunno.
Thanks a million.

 

[angelopb]

As far as hollow bodies, I really liked the Ibanez Artcore. They sell for around 350-ish new.

I would try to find a Reverend PJ in '29 orange. You could have got that new for 700, but they recently went out of production.

You can get a pretty nice Ric for $800. You are only a few hundred away from a new one.

I really like the essex '62 jazz. It looks very retro and is only 140 clams. . .a photo of which is attached herein.

A used guild starfire would be nice.

and a used Warwick Fortress Flashback, also out of production, sell around 500-600.

These are just a cross section of retro-looking axes. A Fender P or J bass is retro in that it has changed very little. With the chrome covers it has looks to die for.

 

[Dave Siff]

Find a used Reverend and don't look back.

 

[The Hammer]

The Ibanez Artcores are great for the money but I definitely would also check out the Washburn AB90. A great semi-hollowbody bass for not alot of green

 

[seanm]

Actually, the most retro bass you could get would be a solid body P

 

[Philbiker]

Yeah, I'd love a Sting bass personally. That's retro like nuts.

 

[Thornton Davis]

Check out the new Fender Jaguar IV Bass, very retro style with modern electronics. $699.00

This is one very cool bass.

TD

 

[watspan]

reverend rumblefish
epiphone allen woody signature
end of search

 

[dangnewt]

Not sure if you are looking for new or used but the best selection of used basses that I know of that fits that description is at Diamond Strings in Rochester, NY. I have never been to the shop or had any dealings with them, but I get a kick out of the 60's and 70's vibe of the basses on their website.

http://www.diamondstrings.com/inventor.htm#Basses

 

[bongomania]

I have bought a vintage bass from Diamond Strings, and the deal went well. The price was higher than "Ebay value", but it was worth it as he would have taken it back if there was anything wrong. He was very helpful on the phone and by email.

Also, check this thread. Talk about cool vintage looks!

 

[petch]

Reverend Rumblefish, naturally!

 

[TheMightyQuinn]

Gretsch

 

[rllefebv]

I just have to chime in here with a GREAT find that I recently acquired... A '70 Hohner XB250 nearly identical to this one on the Diamond Strings site... Mine is a bit more 'used' looking and I am in the process of partially restoring it... It had an aftermarket bridge added that skewed the string spacing, (it looks to be .625" center-to-center rather than the .75" that the aftermarket bridge had), and the wiring was very poorly redone. I got a good deal on it, and it had exactly the vibe I was going for... Sounded very good with my roots/rock band and I can't wait to finish it up and play it again!

Now back to the retro bass thread, currently in progress...

-robert

 

[8guy]

Find a Hondo Danelectro copy, Ultra vintage look with a good P bass sound!!!!!!

 

[toad]

Italia Mondial

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[bassman275]

+1 on the ITALIA!

 

[dangnewt]

+ 2 on the Italia

A friend of mine has an Italia guitar - appears to be a high quality instrument. If you want to go new - it would be a fine choice - the design certainly has that 60's vibe.

 

[Cthulhu]

Danelectro longhorn!

 

[Rob Martinez]

Check out Waterstone basses. Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick designed a 12 string bass with them, and a short scale Indra 4 string bass. These basses have a great tone, look cool, and play REALLY nicely! Check them out at waterstoneguitars.com
I own a few and am VERY happy with them!

 

[Trevorus]

Someone beat me to the Italia, but not the modulo. That thing is retro as well. Older danelectro DC basses, and the current longhorns are sweet.