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Under $400 Bass Recommendations

R

RitterSport

Apr 20, 2020
455
431
#1
I have a second place that I rent out most of the time, but I spend a few weeks a year up there, and often play with some guys while I'm there. Rather than finding room for a bass in my car, along with the dog, various luggage, oh, and my family, I'm tempted to buy a bass just to keep up there.

I don't want to spend too much, but I also don't want something that I'll get annoyed at when I'm playing.

My current basses are a G&L L2000 and a P-Bass clone made by Bass Centre (their Bruce Thomas Signature).

Squires have always felt cheap to me, so I guess I would avoid those. I had a Yamaha TRBX that I gave to my son -- I don't love that bass and I had a few real initial quality problems with it, but he loves it. I had a Peavey Foundation that I gave to my daughter that I really liked.

Thoughts?
 
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#2
RitterSport said:
I have a second place that I rent out most of the time, but I spend a few weeks a year up there, and often play with some guys while I'm there. Rather than finding room for a bass in my car, along with the dog, various luggage, oh, and my family, I'm tempted to buy a bass just to keep up there.

I don't want to spend too much, but I also don't want something that I'll get annoyed at when I'm playing.

My current basses are a G&L L2000 and a P-Bass clone made by Bass Centre (their Bruce Thomas Signature).

Squires have always felt cheap to me, so I guess I would avoid those. I had a Yamaha TRBX that I gave to my son -- I don't love that bass and I had a few real initial quality problems with it, but he loves it. I had a Peavey Foundation that I gave to my daughter that I really liked.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I'm surprised you find Squiers cheap feeling. I've h ad a few of the CV and VM models and they were good basses; however, you might try Harley Benton. Their basses a very good for the price range.

But I do find it interesting you are willing to leave a musical instrument in a place you rent out.
 
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#4
RitterSport said:
I have a second place that I rent out most of the time, but I spend a few weeks a year up there, and often play with some guys while I'm there. Rather than finding room for a bass in my car, along with the dog, various luggage, oh, and my family, I'm tempted to buy a bass just to keep up there.

I don't want to spend too much, but I also don't want something that I'll get annoyed at when I'm playing.

My current basses are a G&L L2000 and a P-Bass clone made by Bass Centre (their Bruce Thomas Signature).

Squires have always felt cheap to me, so I guess I would avoid those. I had a Yamaha TRBX that I gave to my son -- I don't love that bass and I had a few real initial quality problems with it, but he loves it. I had a Peavey Foundation that I gave to my daughter that I really liked.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I’m getting hammered with emails from many on line retailers for Black Friday and early Black Friday sales. Sweetwater, Zzounds, American Music Supply just to name a few. This is the time to find a deal on new basses. They’re out there.
 
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#6
RitterSport said:
I have a second place that I rent out most of the time, but I spend a few weeks a year up there, and often play with some guys while I'm there. Rather than finding room for a bass in my car, along with the dog, various luggage, oh, and my family, I'm tempted to buy a bass just to keep up there.

I don't want to spend too much, but I also don't want something that I'll get annoyed at when I'm playing.

My current basses are a G&L L2000 and a P-Bass clone made by Bass Centre (their Bruce Thomas Signature).

Squires have always felt cheap to me, so I guess I would avoid those. I had a Yamaha TRBX that I gave to my son -- I don't love that bass and I had a few real initial quality problems with it, but he loves it. I had a Peavey Foundation that I gave to my daughter that I really liked.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Squiers have always felt cheap to you?
Are you talking the Affinity basses?
Have you ever tried any of the good Squiers?
I have two USA-made L2000s but they've both been collecting dust since I bought these two.
Everything you expect from a P or J, including some of the smoothest, player-friendly necks available.
 
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#7
jd56hawk said:
Squiers have always felt cheap to you?
Are you talking the Affinity basses?
Click to expand...
I don't know which ones. My nephew had one and the neck felt cheap and the whole thing had this light, cheap feel. I think it was a Jazz?

The Yamaha my son now has is the TRBX604 -- the jack was loose and ended up having to be resoldered, the switch broke almost immediately and had to be replaced, and the set up was terrible. It's all fine now, but it made a bad first impression.
 
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#8
RitterSport said:
I don't know which ones. My nephew had one and the neck felt cheap and the whole thing had this light, cheap feel. I think it was a Jazz?

The Yamaha my son now has is the TRBX604 -- the jack was loose and ended up having to be resoldered, the switch broke almost immediately and had to be replaced, and the set up was terrible. It's all fine now, but it made a bad first impression.
Click to expand...
Jazz what?
Vintage Modified? Affinity? Classic Vibe? These are all different tiers.

The devil is in the details. Peeps here throw abbreviations around that you may not be aware of. These all mean something in value, price and performance.
 
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#12
RitterSport said:
I don't know which ones. My nephew had one and the neck felt cheap and the whole thing had this light, cheap feel. I think it was a Jazz?

The Yamaha my son now has is the TRBX604 -- the jack was loose and ended up having to be resoldered, the switch broke almost immediately and had to be replaced, and the set up was terrible. It's all fine now, but it made a bad first impression.
Click to expand...
Sure, I feel the same way about some basses too, but not only did I buy the Squier 40th-Anniversary Vintage P and J, I also bought these two, and I was very surprised by the quality and craftsmanship.
(Bought all four July/August this year. Never did anything like that before.)
 
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#16
Agreed on the Peaveys. I'm actually parting with a white foundation now, and that'll leave me with only 3.
I'd try to grab one again if I were you.
Great basses... bullet proof as far as I'm concerned. (Sorry mines local sale only. ;) )
 
#18
If you like P-basses, the US-made Peavey Fury (or Forum, if you want a PJ) can't be beat, and are routinely available in that price range.

I have one of each currently (after foolishly selling one of each, then coming to my senses and getting replacements!):

Peaveys.jpg
 
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