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shoe string basses (cheep basses)
- Thread starter s_mcsleazy
- Start date
Peavey T-40 w/ OHSC, missing bridge pick-up...$100 (CL)
Find of the century (for me)... '73 Fender P from original owner (came with soft case, the original strap and cord he bought with the bass)...$120 (CL)
I've always just taken my time and scoured CL
When did you get that P-Bass?
1973 Gibson Ripper. I traded the dude for a broken repaired neck silvertone acoustic and a squier strat body. So really I almost got it for free. It still needs some work though. Those damn Blue collar Tweekers.
Yea, this gets my vote for one of the coolest pics... screaming rawness and a violin bass... that's rockin'. Granted, you guys could have been doing an ABBA cover with a key-tar in the forefront but the pic suggests otherwise.
wow ha its 5 weeks later and i have sold all those basses
got a new one for this thread squier pete wentz 130$ shipped ebay
Yamaha BB400 I bought here for $140. Had to do some tweaking to it; fret level and dress, new nut, and new pots & cap. Added a rosewood thumb rest and moved the jack to the side. I plugged the hole and then covered it up with a sticker. I love this bass. It's my main p-bass right now.
Check out the flamey neck!
Next up is a mongrel p-bass. Body is MIM Fender that was drilled as a string-thru, stripped, and oiled. Got it here for $150 loaded with a Fender '62 RI pickup, pickguard, knob, and Gotoh string-thru bridge. The neck is an 80's JB Player. I bought the bass complete for $100. I sold the loaded body (EMG pickup, black Badass II bridge, mirrored pickguard) to a buddy of mine for $200. Sold the black tuners for $40. Bought some MIM tuners for $20. I stripped the neck and refinished it with Tru Oil and Minwax. Looks OK but I'm going to try and re-finish it again soon. Strung up with a set of old EB Power Slinkys I had lying around. Total cost $30! Sounds killer too! I may also install a DiMarzio Model One in the neck just to amuse myself.
Check out the flamey neck!
Next up is a mongrel p-bass. Body is MIM Fender that was drilled as a string-thru, stripped, and oiled. Got it here for $150 loaded with a Fender '62 RI pickup, pickguard, knob, and Gotoh string-thru bridge. The neck is an 80's JB Player. I bought the bass complete for $100. I sold the loaded body (EMG pickup, black Badass II bridge, mirrored pickguard) to a buddy of mine for $200. Sold the black tuners for $40. Bought some MIM tuners for $20. I stripped the neck and refinished it with Tru Oil and Minwax. Looks OK but I'm going to try and re-finish it again soon. Strung up with a set of old EB Power Slinkys I had lying around. Total cost $30! Sounds killer too! I may also install a DiMarzio Model One in the neck just to amuse myself.
I just got a Peavey G-bass for $300 w/ case. I think this bass is a ridiculous bargain - 35" scale, carbon fiber neck, great build quality. also, a 70'sish Ventura w/ a jazz-y neck and a p-bass body..on permanent loan from an uncle 
...
...
Ibanez SR400- $125
Wishbass Fretless Fantasy- $300 (was a gift though, so it counts)
Traben Array Limited 5- $280 (employee discount at GC)
All great basses, the Wishbass is my main player.
Wishbass Fretless Fantasy- $300 (was a gift though, so it counts)
Traben Array Limited 5- $280 (employee discount at GC)
All great basses, the Wishbass is my main player.
I have a Yamaha BB614 that I got for $250 with a Strongbox zippered case. I put DR Sunbeams on it and set it up and it has great meaty tone. My second bass is a Peavey Fury ll that I got for $125 in new old stock condition, great player. I just scored a Spector NS2A for for $350 with a case and shipping included, so I guess that could qualify also. I played a Jaco Pastorius Fender yesterday and I still can't figure out why it's worth $4,200. There are some great basses out there for a little cash.
I like this thread. currently I have a P bass that I got on ebay. I thought it was fender, and turns out it's a fake. But it's a great bass, and evryone that plays it loves it.
I have had a couple of SX's a lower Yamaha and Ibanez models.
I have kept a few expensive basses, and honestly having owned lots of basses so far I think that some cheap basses are pretty damn good!
I know from posts I've seen here that the SX has probably bad control quality, but the two I got were terrific.
Yes, on the more expensive basses the craftsmanship is much better, options as pick ups, preamps, tuners etc, do make a difference, although the discrepancy in price between a real good cheap instrument and another one that cost a lot of money because of the name tag and few indeed better upgrades just seem unreasonable.
I do admire musicians that can make great music with cheaper instruments.
To me at the end of the day the music is more important than gear.
but it took me a lot of years to learn that!
I have had a couple of SX's a lower Yamaha and Ibanez models.
I have kept a few expensive basses, and honestly having owned lots of basses so far I think that some cheap basses are pretty damn good!
I know from posts I've seen here that the SX has probably bad control quality, but the two I got were terrific.
Yes, on the more expensive basses the craftsmanship is much better, options as pick ups, preamps, tuners etc, do make a difference, although the discrepancy in price between a real good cheap instrument and another one that cost a lot of money because of the name tag and few indeed better upgrades just seem unreasonable.
I do admire musicians that can make great music with cheaper instruments.
To me at the end of the day the music is more important than gear.
but it took me a lot of years to learn that!
My $99 SX fretless 5 and my $130 Peavey Milestone 5:
And my $100 Craigslist Helmsmann (still has neck issues):
And my $100 Craigslist Helmsmann (still has neck issues):
The bass and hard case cost $150. It has Grover tuners, Schaller bridge,and EMG pups. The neck is as slender as the one on my Ibanez and it plays like a dream. The less than professional paint job is the only thing wrong with it.
