Sub $150 New Basses Poll / Super Cheap Junk

[hondo4life]

I was just recently browsing the cheapest new basses that are currently available online. Most of these prices even include shipping. Sweet! Companies that don't make guitars... somehow make these really cheap guitar-shaped pieces of wood.

Best Choice Products is probably the best choice, right? What is a Diadem? Even ISIS makes a cheap bass... or is it ISIN? Half of these probably roll out of the same Chinese factory, but I don't know about the other half. The Alston DIY kit sounds neat, but it costs almost twice as much as a Goplus® and nearly as much as a Squier! What is a Squier? Sounds like junk. At least I know Yamaha makes awesome motorcycles.

If someone just could not buy used... if they just had to have a freshly cut piece of green wood that had never played a note before, and only had $150 left on their credit card ... which is the least crappy for the least amount of money?


Goplus® Blue Full Size 4 String Electric Bass Guitar, with amp, cable, bag and strap! $78.99

Rogue SX100B Series II. $89.99

Best Choice Products Electric Bass Guitar Includes Strap, Guitar Case, Amp Cord and More. $94.95

Diadem Solid Wood Electric Bass Guitar. $96.90

Crescent's Premium Electric Bass. $99.95

Huntington 'Outlaw' P-Bass. $99.95

Stedman Pro Electric Bass Guitar. $99.95

Stagg P300-SB Standard P Bass Guitar. $112.22

Dean Zone XM. $119.00

SX Ursa 1 MN 3TS. $119.95

ISIN Electric Bass Guitar with Power Wire Tools. $119.99

Rogue LX200B Series III. $119.99

Alston Guitars - DIY Electric Bass Guitar Kit, Solid Mahogany Body & Neck. (Assembly Required) $129.00

Dean E09M Edge. $135.00

Squier Affinity Series Bronco. $149.99

Yamaha RBX170Y. $149.99

 

[Stinsok]

The Yamaha is totally gigable.

 

[P. Aaron]

I said Stagg 'cause the name sounds caustic and rad & kinda back-alley.

 

[hondo4life]

I said Stagg 'cause the name sounds caustic and rad & kinda back-alley.

Sounds like something sold on Cutlery Corner. You had better call now, quantities are limited.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

The Yamaha is totally gigable.

Yeah.

 

[jd56hawk]

I know nothing about SX basses but I see the name day in and day out, so...

 

[A-Step-Towards]

My first bass was a Dean edge, It was used and I got it 13 years ago and still have it. Its a very solid bass, gotoh knock off tuners and highmass bridge. Solid maple neck and it sounds pretty decent, if for some reason it was all I had on hand I wouldnt be afraid to gig it and I abused the hell out of it as a teen, still solid. I just checked the MF reviews and its a 4.3/5 and thats with 24 reviews, not a popular brand on TB but some solid low cost products.

Those $78 basses could be tempting but the few dollars between that and the Dean, Squier, Yamaha or SX would get you a bass probably 2 or 3 times nicer in quality.

 

[Yahboy]

Harley Benton PB-50 and PB-20
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[hondo4life]

I know nothing about SX basses but I see the name day in and day out, so...

I voted SX because I have one, though I am most curious about the cheap Deans. I have not seen one in a store.

 

[jd56hawk]

When I first saw this post I thought it was going to be about bargain basses found at pawn shops, yard sales, etc...yeah, even though it said "New" in the header!
I was going to post this.

 

[UNICORN BASS]

I tried out the Dean when they first came out and it had the worst/sharpest fret ends of any bass i had ever laid my hands on. I have heard they have been improved of late though.

 

[NightCat]

I have the Douglas Pisces single coil P bass from Rondo @ $125. Pickup was bland but the wood is surprisingly good quality and the hardware is good enough that I haven't felt the need to change any of it. I trimmed the head stock to look more telecaster and put an Antiquities II pickup in it. It's no Sting Sig but it doesn't suck either.
The Bronco's are junk. Might be the worst bass on the list, though I haven't seen all of them on the list.

 

[kikstand454]

I would focus on the sx and the last three basses you listed.

I played a mid 90s Dean edge5 for 15 years. It is quite different from the ones put out today, but in general it's a great value.

 

[electracoyote]

I've played a lot of those, owned a few.

The Yamaha RBX series is a great value, very well-made. SX Ursa too.

I'm all for saving some coin and playing a budget bass, there's a lot of satisfaction that goes with that, but a lot of basses at this price point just won't set up worth a darn without the heroic measures of a good tech, and then you've at least doubled your investment.

 

[johnson79]

I'd focus on paying down my credit card, but that's just me...

 

[Duder]

I said the Bronco, mostly because I prefer short scale. However, I spent a few hours at a Sam Ash trying out "cheaper" basses and I preferred the Bronco way over the Matt Freeman sig. I haven't tried an SX yet, but I'd like to.

 

[BobDeRosa]

I'll bet the Yamaha beats the crap out of all the others. They're a great, quality-conscious company, even with the low end.

 

[tjh]

I was just recently browsing the cheapest new basses that are currently available online. Most of these prices even include shipping. Sweet! Companies that don't make guitars... somehow make these really cheap guitar-shaped pieces of wood.

Best Choice Products is probably the best choice, right? What is a Diadem? Even ISIS makes a cheap bass... or is it ISIN? Half of these probably roll out of the same Chinese factory, but I don't know about the other half. The Alston DIY kit sounds neat, but it costs almost twice as much as a Goplus® and nearly as much as a Squier! What is a Squier? Sounds like junk. At least I know Yamaha makes awesome motorcycles.

If someone just could not buy used... if they just had to have a freshly cut piece of green wood that had never played a note before, and only had $150 left on their credit card ... which is the least crappy for the least amount of money?


Goplus® Blue Full Size 4 String Electric Bass Guitar, with amp, cable, bag and strap! $78.99

Rogue SX100B Series II. $89.99

Best Choice Products Electric Bass Guitar Includes Strap, Guitar Case, Amp Cord and More. $94.95

Diadem Solid Wood Electric Bass Guitar. $96.90

Crescent's Premium Electric Bass. $99.95

Huntington 'Outlaw' P-Bass. $99.95

Stedman Pro Electric Bass Guitar. $99.95

Stagg P300-SB Standard P Bass Guitar. $112.22

Dean Zone XM. $119.00

SX Ursa 1 MN 3TS. $119.95

ISIN Electric Bass Guitar with Power Wire Tools. $119.99

Rogue LX200B Series III. $119.99

Alston Guitars - DIY Electric Bass Guitar Kit, Solid Mahogany Body & Neck. (Assembly Required) $129.00

Dean E09M Edge. $135.00

Squier Affinity Series Bronco. $149.99

Yamaha RBX170Y. $149.99

 

[deste]

The only bass iI know is the Yamaha, and it's a nice bass at a correct price.

 

[Toddcaster64]

Be it high end or low end, I've never played a bad Yamaha product. Ever.