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The $99 bass experiment
- Thread starter bluespenny
- Start date
I gig a Godin A4 fretless and upright these days, but I bought a Squire ($70.00, Musicmaster P/J if memory serves) a few years ago. Plays like crap but it is my experimental piece. Although I am used to tweaking my upright to suit my needs, I had never owned or played a BG prior to the Squire.
It was great for learning how to adjust intonation, string height adjustments, truss rod adjustments, fret dressing etc. Eventually I intend to put different pups on her, maybe pull the frets, relic the shiz out of it.......and if goes badly I'll donate it to a local group that has a free youth rock music program.
If it turns out unplayable, I'll burn it in the campfire!
It was great for learning how to adjust intonation, string height adjustments, truss rod adjustments, fret dressing etc. Eventually I intend to put different pups on her, maybe pull the frets, relic the shiz out of it.......and if goes badly I'll donate it to a local group that has a free youth rock music program.
If it turns out unplayable, I'll burn it in the campfire!
No P's in stock, there weren't any fivers on the wall when I was there, and I was looking for a four, so I can't speak to those.
Nope, held tuning fine through Sundays rehearsal, I took it home Monday, changed strings, did a setup on it and took it back to rehearsal, truss rod held, tuning and intonation both held just fine.
That's cool. I personally wouldn't be able to trust a cheapo like that for gigging, but to each their own.
Yep. This is exactly what I've found, too.
Neck stability and intonation issues. Much more troublesome than iffy electronics, which I can easily replace.
OP's POST GIG REPORT: Well, I'm impressed, with a couple of footnotes.
The gig was three hours, four sets, and the back-up bass stayed in the case - so there's that.
The $99 bass was reliable, at least for three hours of hard playing in a hot bar - and that's after being trucked to the gig in winter, with temperatures in the cold car starting around -5C. It seemed to handle the temperature changes well, and that's more than I can say for some of my more expensive basses.
Soundwise, it was very good. Slightly growly and very articulate through my Ampeg pf-350. At least when I played it.
On a few songs, our guitar player takes bass while I sing lead, and in his hands, the $99 bass was occasionally farting and sounding anything but clear. His playing approach isn't always subtle, and the bass didn't respond well - perhaps because of the set-up (strings too close to pups?). So it seems, with some irony, that a more experienced bass player helps tame a $99 bass that might appeal to a beginner.
Tuning was another minor issue. It needed a little more tweaking than my Fenders, every three or four songs. Then again, brand new strings and not very good ones, so that might explain.
Overall, it was a very decent bass. Not amazing: there something a bit lacking in the overall feel of the instrument. That unexplained magic that makes basses like my Fender Japan P-62, and my 1971 Mann Jazz so fun to gig with. But maybe time, better strings and a different set up would fix that too.
If this was my only bass, I'd be really happy to own it, and more than proud to play it.
For $99, it's a damn good deal. I can't say if it's durable, but so far, so impressive.
The gig was three hours, four sets, and the back-up bass stayed in the case - so there's that.
The $99 bass was reliable, at least for three hours of hard playing in a hot bar - and that's after being trucked to the gig in winter, with temperatures in the cold car starting around -5C. It seemed to handle the temperature changes well, and that's more than I can say for some of my more expensive basses.
Soundwise, it was very good. Slightly growly and very articulate through my Ampeg pf-350. At least when I played it.
On a few songs, our guitar player takes bass while I sing lead, and in his hands, the $99 bass was occasionally farting and sounding anything but clear. His playing approach isn't always subtle, and the bass didn't respond well - perhaps because of the set-up (strings too close to pups?). So it seems, with some irony, that a more experienced bass player helps tame a $99 bass that might appeal to a beginner.
Tuning was another minor issue. It needed a little more tweaking than my Fenders, every three or four songs. Then again, brand new strings and not very good ones, so that might explain.
Overall, it was a very decent bass. Not amazing: there something a bit lacking in the overall feel of the instrument. That unexplained magic that makes basses like my Fender Japan P-62, and my 1971 Mann Jazz so fun to gig with. But maybe time, better strings and a different set up would fix that too.
If this was my only bass, I'd be really happy to own it, and more than proud to play it.
For $99, it's a damn good deal. I can't say if it's durable, but so far, so impressive.
Intonation issues: Are you guys saying that low-end basses have frets and/or bridges installed in the wrong places?
I have seen that, yes.
It's rere-r these days because of CNC technology. But that and just necks that won't keep a set.
Especially when you can go through a stack of them and find the good ones like OP did. Deal!
It has gotten to the point that instruments are disposable.
Here is the problem.
As musicians we are still playing for the same wage if not less than 30 years ago.
Prices of instruments MIA has gotten crazy.
"Blood Basses" like Blood Diamonds come from who knows where.
Let's face it, you buy Nike shoes that cost 200.00 made in Malaysia and no one says a word.
Buy a bass made in Indonesia and you are having to apologize.
I own 2000.00 basses and 200.00 basses. My new Fender Squire for 200 feels great but my MIA Jazz makes me feel good.
Go Figure. I also drive a Jaguar. Do I need to, NO, but it makes me feel good.
Here is the problem.
As musicians we are still playing for the same wage if not less than 30 years ago.
Prices of instruments MIA has gotten crazy.
"Blood Basses" like Blood Diamonds come from who knows where.
Let's face it, you buy Nike shoes that cost 200.00 made in Malaysia and no one says a word.
Buy a bass made in Indonesia and you are having to apologize.
I own 2000.00 basses and 200.00 basses. My new Fender Squire for 200 feels great but my MIA Jazz makes me feel good.
Go Figure. I also drive a Jaguar. Do I need to, NO, but it makes me feel good.
Yeah, but you're (self-professedly) rich. Not everyone is. (Not that I'm complaining, personally, I'm definitely a charter member of the "more gear than talent" club).
Hi very cool bass. I'm a spector guy middle of road models. NS2A Rebop and NS2K4. I know have two Franken basses both built around 100 dollars give or take a few either way.
Blue one is a Affinity with a Squier Special Place neck and a dragonfire pickup.
White one is a Japanese body on a black stained neck. Neck has been shaved but it sounds nice boom and edgy.
Blue one is a Affinity with a Squier Special Place neck and a dragonfire pickup.
White one is a Japanese body on a black stained neck. Neck has been shaved but it sounds nice boom and edgy.
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