Sub $150 New Basses Poll / Super Cheap Junk

[CGremlin]

Count another vote for Yamaha. While I'm sure they do produce the occasional clunker, everything I've played has been solid and well-built. I don't particularly like their tubas or pianos, but that's a personal preference that has nothing to do with the outstanding quality.

 

[RED J]

Douglas Pieces

Did it come in pieces ?

 

[ERIC31]

I had a Rogue LX200 bass back in 96-98. I got because it was cheap and sort of resembled an Ibanez SR. It played great right out of the box. I changed the strings and was off to the races. Recorded demos and played many gigs in my HC band back then and it served me well. Wish I still had it. Sold it to "upgrade" to a Jackson bass (which sucked).

 

[Billybladez66]

Had a Dean Edge 6 with factory EMGs...it's my greatest loss yet...had a Dean Edge 4/I took on trade for lessons...traded it off...had a Dean Edge 5/with factory pickups....traded it....had a Rogue LB6... horrible electronics but awesome neck action...strung it with my low strings a G and C from an old six string set and finished it with a piccolo set...tuned it all in fourths...traded it. It sounded better as a kind of guitar than a regular bass...but again, neck was killer and I liked the bridge. Wish I could try an SX to see how solid they really feel and lowend Yamaha....not sure at all.....SQUIER...its hit and miss per each instrument. 2 of the exact same modelnside by side...one sucks ....one is killer....what a conundrum....

 

[ERIC31]

I upgraded my nieces Bronco and once doing so it is a pretty decent instrument both playing and sounding. I know this takes it out of 'super' cheap category (at least if comparing 'stock') but it's certainly not junk, especially for a newbie bass-player who stands 5' tall. Upgrades included Seymour Duncan sc pu, nice small-plate Fender clover-leaf tuners, a Fender threaded-saddle bent-plate bridge, a TBX tone pot, cavity shielding, new strings and white numbered knobs. Even adding in the upgraded parts (most of which which I already had in my parts bin) the overall cost was still directly proportional to her needs.

Way to go Uncle!! Nice bass and your niece looks a lot like Kathy Valentine (ex-Go-Go's bassist).

 

[JIO]

Way to go Uncle!! Nice bass and your niece looks a lot like Kathy Valentine (ex-Go-Go's bassist).

She'll probably ask me who the Go-Go's are!

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

firewood. All of it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Remember, the lower you go in price, the less consistent the quality will be, most likely.

 

[Blankandson]

When I was thinking of going 5-string I got a Rogue to learn on. If it didn't work out it was not an expensive loss. Neck is wood, body is particle board. Which means the neck outweighs the body by a few pounds. Can you say 'Neck Dive?" Yeah, but the thing played nice. Horrible electronics and stock strings but for what I bought it for it worked. I got $125 worth of experience out of it. Donated it to a local church that was starting up so I never had to sell the thing.

 

[bassbenj]

firewood. All of it.

Nonsense. I've got nine SX basses. most all of them under $150. Some like my first fretless as low as $99. I still own and still love that old bass! 5 string, alder, rosewood, Fender clone, fretless what is NOT to love? And hey check my Avatar! That was about $15O new. I got three and a half of them. They without doubt blow the doors off ANY USA Fender (Fender doesn't believe in or sell 6 string basses). Or do you say MIA Fenders are firewood?

And I can also vouch for Yamaha though I don't own any Yammy basses. Every one I've ever played was killer in any price range. I don't much dig their wide string spacing, but that's just me. Two down.

And I've also played Rogue and Dean. Maybe not up to absolute top of the line, I like my SX 6er much better than my cousin's Rogue 6er, but he likes it well enough. I've played it and I didn't barf.

There are lots of brands there I'm not familiar with, but nevertheless I can vouch for at least two and perhaps a couple more not being firewood.

 

[hondo4life]

When I was thinking of going 5-string I got a Rogue to learn on. If it didn't work out it was not an expensive loss. Neck is wood, body is particle board. Which means the neck outweighs the body by a few pounds. Can you say 'Neck Dive?" Yeah, but the thing played nice. Horrible electronics and stock strings but for what I bought it for it worked. I got $125 worth of experience out of it. Donated it to a local church that was starting up so I never had to sell the thing.

My five string SX had some bad neck dive until I changed the tuning machines to Hipshot Ultralights. Does it make sense to get $110 in tuners for a $160 bass? Maybe not. But it does make sense to pay $270 for any bass that plays this well.

 

[Ronbeast]

I have a 100% stock Squier Bronco that I gig. It's nice and light, easy to play. Definitely play before you pay though. I picked the best one out of three.

A fun little gem that stacks nicely against my more expensive basses.

 

[DreadyDiggs]

I have a Rogue P-Bass 4 string. Don't know which one it is exactly. I bought it used for like $60.00

Sounds great, feels great. Bought the bass not knowing it had a stripped tuner. Found that out, haven't fixed it. Bass is in pieces. I don't gig 4s so I am in no rush to fix it, but I plan on keeping it.

I also have a Squier Affinity PBass 4 and definitely prefer the Rogue. They are both sentimental though so they sit in the corner getting dusty.


Listen to the Rogue in action. Just a playalong in the room through a full stack.
If anyone knows which one it is let me know so I can vote haha.

 

[NoBlackTShirts]

I only know the Bronco, but I love it to death (I got a good one). A $1000 instrument would be meaningless to me. The Bronco might sound a little thin by itself but the sound is perfect in songs and is pretty much what an engineer would put in a record. And it's as fun as a puppy.

 

[tgriley62]

A little more than $150 but, I have good reviews of the Xavier bass' from guitar fetish

 

[blkpwdr]

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.

Few years ago I had a used fretless Yamaha in my hands, Jazz like,it was beautiful,like new under $175,trouble was I was new at bass and thought I would struggle to much with it (I have a Fender p bass and now a jazz),I Remember playing it and thinking "that must be that fret less mawhaa they talk about" lol I get annoyed when I think of that bass!!!

 

[EatS1stBassist]

Here is a pic of my recent project. I love this Bronco

 

[Eilif]

I voted for the Yamaha. I truly hate that body shape, but Yamaha makes a very solid product at all their price points and I'd trust it far more than any of the other basses listed. Second place goes to the Squire Bronco which I've always been reasonably impressed with, but it's a short scale with crappy tuners. Also, the Dean might not be total junk, but I'd rather not find out.

Really though I can't think of any new-production bass that I'd really want that retails (not sale price) for much less than $200. The Ibanez Talman TMB100 is such a sweet little bass (well made, looks sharp, has a useable active boost) for $200, and is often available on sale for less, so there's not much reason to spend $150 on an inferior product.

 

[EatS1stBassist]

I only know the Bronco, but I love it to death (I got a good one). A $1000 instrument would be meaningless to me. The Bronco might sound a little thin by itself but the sound is perfect in songs and is pretty much what an engineer would put in a record. And it's as fun as a puppy.

Here's my project:

 

[Eilif]

Just wanted to add that I looked up the Yamaha and it seems to list for $200. Are we considering sale prices? If so, then maybe basses like the TMB 100 or the Squire Jag might be in range?

One other thing to consider is that when you order a value-brand bass online, the value might be good, but there's a good chance you may have to figure in the cost of a fret leveling, etc which is a place that alot of cheap basses tend to cut corners . That can be $50 or more. If you buy a mass produced bass in person, you can often try several examples and ensure that you don't have to do any work beyond a basic setup. A 125 or 150 dollar bass plus shipping and fret leveling and you can easily exceed $200 which puts you in the range of better quality instruments.