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Show us your bass that cost less than $700USD!

A

Aaron Saunders

Apr 27, 2002
7,384
21
Ontario
#1
Rules: Show us (or tell us about) your bass that cost less than $700 when you bought it. It can be WORTH more -- for instance, my Samick was probably around 250 new, but I'm putting a fair amount of cash into customizing it (new pickups, preamp, bridge, knobs for now, possibly a new neck for an end of school year present) so by the end it'll probably be over the 700 limit. As it stands I have the p'ups and preamp (not in, but they're about 5 feet away from me right now) and the bridge for Christmas. The Samick is a P/J with a pretty decent neck and a really nice finish, but the sound just isn't right, which is why it's being modded.

By the by, this also applies to basses that were worth 700 at any point in the 20th and 21st centuries -- that includes ridiculously old vintage stuff.
 
#3
I don't have a digicam handy, but you all know what mine will look like. I got a white MIJ Fender Jazz Standard fretless long ago. It now has a Black Pearl pickgaurd, EMG's, a Schaller Roller bridge, and vintage reverse tuners from Allparts.

But the original bass was $300 in 1989.

I bought it with a 'matching' Stratocaster, both the ivory white that Fender was using that year, and both with rosewood 'boards. The Strat never got modded and was always comparable to a MIM standard (maybe a better than average one, but still...) This year I am making them match again. The Strat is getting a set of Lace sensors, a new black pearl pickguard, a custom switching setup, and graph tech saddles. My Strat will finally be as cool as my Jazz.:hyper:
 
#5
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Reverend Rumblefish 5L. Paid: $430 USD.

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Reverend Brad Houser. Paid: $600 USD.

You can't beat these basses for those prices.
 
#7
Essex BG205, $120 brand spankin new!

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#10
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G&L SB-2 in black/silver swirl, $435 via a HC ad

A super value - US made from Leo Fender's last instrument company. I love the feel of these with the jazz-like neck and the sound from the MFD pickups.

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Godin A4 semi-hollow in black, $416 on ebay

Another great neck (jazz like) in a semi-hollow with piezo pickup in the fixed bridge. It will do a great acoustic-ey sound as well as a nice growling vintage-ey electric type sound. Also can do acoustic practicing at home - I leave mine on a stand so I can grab it any time I have a few free minutes.

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Fernandes Retrospect 5X in sunburst - $297 at Gear 1 Musci

This is a 5 with a super narrow neck (1-5/8" at the nut) that I think I'll be able to live with. It's in transit now and if I'm comfortable on it and like it then GAS is going to explode for me in a major way to get a "higher quality" 5 with a similar neck. It's got an alder body, maple/rw neck, jazz pickups -- all the necessary basics so who knows, maybe I won't feel the need for a "higher quality" 5.
 
#13
I was able to pick up this Ibaned BTB510E from a friend of mine who gave up bass, and decided to switch to guitar, I just couldn't see it go to anyone besides myself, I love the solid walnut look, and I got it for 450 practically flawless and with a hard case.
 
#14
Originally posted by Surferboy
Hey!

How does it play and sound? Is it any good, or is it just as good as a Squier....
Click to expand...

Well, I posted a thread about it when I got it, and now that I have the neck and the action set properly, it's even better. Qualiy seems ot be varying on these basses, a finnish forum I follow has quite a few threads where they bash this brand.
 

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