The best cheap bass?

I have a few HBs and they ARE a great value. Let me start off by saying that there reeally is no absolute "best" <insert adjective> bass because what's good to one player is not the preference of another due to feel, and other things... different strokes for different folks.

I can't do a direct comparison because most of my SXes were bought prior to the current price jump AND none of my SXes were active whereas some of my HBs are, but, of all the basses I own, I consider my SXes the best value.

So all I can do is say, HBs and SXes are/were great values!

 

Hard to beat that one or these two.

 

Personally, I think it's hard to beat the Sterling Sub series basses. I have an American Ray, but the Sub is much too close in quality considering it costs 1/5 as much as the American.

 

my 2 best are a P and Bird, neither Fender nor Gibson, and were dirt cheap used, if the HB T beats their P in tone/s like mine does then that would be impressive. but in playability & feel too?

 

The best cheap bass?
"it depends," right?

i've looked at the cheapies as platforms since very few of them come as fretless axes and even those that do have limited options for the fretless player. but i've only heard/read good things about the HB instruments as they always seem to get positive reviews, especially in the bang-for-buck category.

 

Squier.

 

Can’t go wrong with a Classic Vibe. Especially if you’ve got a lil extra dough and know how for some small upgrades.

 

Bacchus BJB1RSM.

Has same level of build quality to Yamaha TRBX 504 and Fender Performers J.
Awesome factory fretwork and rock steady roasted maple neck.
A bit thicker neck profile compare to Fender slim J neck which great for me who prefer P neck.

 

Without question , for me , it's the Harley Benton PB-50.

Bought brand new for £76 , that was over 8 years ago. I don't view it as a "cheap bass" , more it's a "very affordable" bass. It has 1000's of hours on it , never needed to adjust the neck , bridge/tuners still stock. Pots/cap/jack socket - still stock , as are the strap buttons and nut.

 

I’d say Yamaha makes excellent low cost basses.
My trbx174ew with mango wood top look great plays great and sounds as it should.
The only thing I changed were the plastic control knobs to something nicer.

 

I have 10 basses, the cheapest by a long shot is an Ibanez 305. The fit/finish and fretwork is better than anything in it's price range IMO.

 

"cheap" is a relative term. If cheap means inexpensive, then my early 2000s MIM Fretless Fender jazz was $299. That's an excellent bass for the money. My 1992 MIJ 50s P bass (PB57) was under 7 bills out the door when I bought it last year. That's a good bass for the money. My 2019 Geddy Lee (MIM) was under 7 bills. Again, great bass for the money.

 

The one with a straight neck that you like the feel of.

 

CV with 50 bucks in Pots and Bridge…

I don’t think inexpensive is a bad thing at the moment. No one seems to be working or wants to work and Indonesia is kicking out lots of stuff.

 

Gretsh G2220 Junior Bass II.

 

Its not a value if you have to spend more on "upgrades"

 

Yawn OK

 

Any cheap bass, in fact, the cheaper the better. If the body is usable it can be built up to be something custom and affordable.