These are $199 new. Less if you can find them used. They sound exactly like a P bass. Nobody will steal them.
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under $200 "idgaf" bass
- Thread starter nikolozj
- Start date
These are $199 new. Less if you can find them used. They sound exactly like a P bass. Nobody will steal them.
^^^^ And not only will nobody steal them, you won't be able to lose them! Win-win!
(I've never played one but the 80s kid in me loves them.)
(I've never played one but the 80s kid in me loves them.)
I suggest you get one of those old japanese rip-offs, you can find some pretty good players, for very low dough. I have 2, both for around 100. your mileage might vary though.
All the reviews I've seen say the same two things.
Sounds like a P. Colors are even brighter in person.
Squier, but go ahead & look for a Vintage Modified. It will be worth the few extra $$. There is a Squier VM jazz natural finish at a local pawn shop for $199, prob get it for $170 out the door. As bad as I don't want to say this, it is nice. I have a VM Jag special that I paid $150 for it at a pawn shop that is great. Hate to admit that too,,,,
+1 on SX basses... they cut costs in the right places, and keep the important stuff good. So you get head dive and other minor compromises. BUT. Good wood, good pickups, good tone.
I don't want to seem dismissive of your original question, but when I need a cheap instrument I look at my local CL and hit some pawnshops. I don't go straight to "buy new." It has to feel and sound good, regardless of the name. I may not GAF about what it says on the headstock, but I very much GAF about what it's like to play the thing. Determining that is a process that involves hands-on time and legwork, not the online opinions of other players.
You'd have to not G too much of A F to seriously weigh an EB-O against a P or J, too. Definitely try a EB-type bass; they look cool and there are people out there who seem to connect with how they feel and sound. But they are nothing like a Fender-type bass in feel or sound. Different animal.
You'd have to not G too much of A F to seriously weigh an EB-O against a P or J, too. Definitely try a EB-type bass; they look cool and there are people out there who seem to connect with how they feel and sound. But they are nothing like a Fender-type bass in feel or sound. Different animal.
This. I just tried one of these at guitar center the other day because it was the closest thing to the amp I wanted to mess with. It blew me away. I had to keep checking the tag and headstock to prove it was a Squier affinity.
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I need to pay them off to make this in a short scale! Its amazeballs.
As others have said, Ibanez Mikro is a steal for $179 and most the SX basses are pretty good too.
Rondo has a fair amount of sweet short scales too I think but the really nice ones are around 300$ I believe.
Here is one for 290 or so:
They have fretted ones as well this was just one of the better reasonably sized pics I could find.
Here is one for 290 or so:
They have fretted ones as well this was just one of the better reasonably sized pics I could find.
Ibanez TMB100 for sure. No other bass at the price point comes close.
The Squire Bronco basses REALLY suck. Like hardcore suck. I worked in a tiny music shop where that was one of the only basses we ever had in stock (read no one ever bought it). I tried to acquaint myself with all the instruments and even gave them all a basic setup. That thing was unlikable. It feels awkward and cheap, plays terribly, and the pickups sound like butt hole. That thing is still hanging on the wall of that store 3~ years later.
The Squire Bronco basses REALLY suck. Like hardcore suck. I worked in a tiny music shop where that was one of the only basses we ever had in stock (read no one ever bought it). I tried to acquaint myself with all the instruments and even gave them all a basic setup. That thing was unlikable. It feels awkward and cheap, plays terribly, and the pickups sound like butt hole. That thing is still hanging on the wall of that store 3~ years later.
These are $199 new. Less if you can find them used. They sound exactly like a P bass. Nobody will steal them.
Huh? Sounds exactly like a P bass? Seriously?
I Don't see tort. Get your eyes examined.
Get an Ibanez TMB100 or TMB300. Best cheap bass on the market imo. They just sound, look and feel great. I bet guitar center even has a used one somewhere. Check their site.
Squire basses are more money and cannot compare to the tmb. I even ordered an SX 5 string Fender copy and sold it a week later around Christmas. Even with an ash body, it was just not a good bass. It absolutely would not intonate properly above the 12th fret. A lot of people seem to like SX , which is why I ordered one out of curiosity and I was very disappointed. Pickups were awful too. Admittedly though... it was a cheap bass.
At $200 new or even less on sale or used the TMB 100 Ibanez delivers huge!
Squire basses are more money and cannot compare to the tmb. I even ordered an SX 5 string Fender copy and sold it a week later around Christmas. Even with an ash body, it was just not a good bass. It absolutely would not intonate properly above the 12th fret. A lot of people seem to like SX , which is why I ordered one out of curiosity and I was very disappointed. Pickups were awful too. Admittedly though... it was a cheap bass.
At $200 new or even less on sale or used the TMB 100 Ibanez delivers huge!
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If you have to have new instead of shopping on REVERB for used don't forget Jay Turser. They have a lot of iconic copies that are decent for cheap
Jay Turser JTB-402 Bass Guitar
Jay Turser JTB-402 Bass Guitar
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My vote is for the Silvertone LB11, a Precision copy. Inexpensive, well built and tons of output. I got mine used in excellent condition for $50. Even new they're under $200.
Some Xaviere guitars really tempted me for awhile, a p90 jaguar esque solid body and some beautiful semihollows. Wish I needed more guitars...
Lots of good recommendations here. The Squier VM Jag Short Scale recommended is very nice. I have one and it's so nice I don't take it to parties.
What I do take to parties is the Jay Turser Mini P-Bass I picked up used a few years ago for 50 bucks. I bought it only because it was a shorty and so cheap, but over the years I've really grown to appreciate it as many other shorties have come and gone through my music room. It's not my number 1 bass, but it's solidly my number 1 backup and party bass.
It has a very small body, is light as a feather (mine is exactly 5 lbs), fits in a regular guitar case and the stock pickup is pretty decent. The best part that's it's a 30" scale with a really nice chunky P bass neck. It's almost indestructible.
I've taken my Turser Mini P to countless parties, done outdoor gigs in horrible weather, dropped it down the stairs... it just plays. In fact I like it so much I recently threw a set of Quarter Pounders in it
They're about $150 new on Amazon or 50-75 bucks on Craigslists everywhere.
Amazon.com: Jay Turser Bass Guitars Jtb-40-tr 4-string Bass Guitar, Transparent Red: Musical Instruments
What I do take to parties is the Jay Turser Mini P-Bass I picked up used a few years ago for 50 bucks. I bought it only because it was a shorty and so cheap, but over the years I've really grown to appreciate it as many other shorties have come and gone through my music room. It's not my number 1 bass, but it's solidly my number 1 backup and party bass.
It has a very small body, is light as a feather (mine is exactly 5 lbs), fits in a regular guitar case and the stock pickup is pretty decent. The best part that's it's a 30" scale with a really nice chunky P bass neck. It's almost indestructible.
I've taken my Turser Mini P to countless parties, done outdoor gigs in horrible weather, dropped it down the stairs... it just plays. In fact I like it so much I recently threw a set of Quarter Pounders in it
They're about $150 new on Amazon or 50-75 bucks on Craigslists everywhere.
Amazon.com: Jay Turser Bass Guitars Jtb-40-tr 4-string Bass Guitar, Transparent Red: Musical Instruments
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