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Under $400 Bass Recommendations
- Thread starter RitterSport
- Start date
Sterling? Harley Benton? I've owned 2 Squiers, and neither one felt cheap to me.
Hard for me to admit it, but this one looks pretty good if you have to have a Fender.
Get a second hand Sire V3. There is in on reverb now for $260.
I would go used Peavey. Lot's of value, playability and likely to get your money back when it comes time to sell.
Below is what I found on my local CL search.
"Peavey Grind basses feature a neck-through-body design, are crafted of mahogany with maple stringers, and sport a fast mahogany neck with an Indonesian rosewood fingerboard."
Below is what I found on my local CL search.
"Peavey Grind basses feature a neck-through-body design, are crafted of mahogany with maple stringers, and sport a fast mahogany neck with an Indonesian rosewood fingerboard."
This is hands down the best advice you’ll find in this thread. You can roll the dice on something online and maybe it’ll be what you want/need. BUT you’re really leaving that up to chance, and leaving yourself open to being disappointed. If a bass comes in the mail and it’s not what you want, then that leaves room for you to feel like the TB community has given you bad advice/steered you wrong. If you can get to a shop, go play around with anything and everything in your price range, then buy the one that checks your boxes.
I bought a Sawtooth P Bass clone in Surf Green that I was really surprised with.
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I'd try one of the 40th anniversary Squiers before ruling them out. I tried one at Guitar Center recently, and to me a 40th anniversary P was the better instrument than any sub 1K MIM Fender I could find there.
It sounds to me you need to try some for yourself and find what you like. You just want something that you like and do not need to fight with. If you like G&L and a P-bass, why not just try a bunch of them, and also G&L website, they sell use basses, currently they are low on stock but they will randomly sell I'm guessing rebought or return basses for stupid cheap around seasonal changes.
Good luck.
Good luck.
i just goggled that for you and couldn't find a peavey foundation for more than ~$400. get something you know you like and enjoy your two weeks a year! good luck with both!
or you could be a real cool dad and borrow back the peavey from your daughter as you present her with a brand new bass!
Squier’s have a great overall reputation but, if you don’t like them, you don’t like them.
If you’re buying new, here are some great options. If you buy used, that amount can buy you considerably more bass for your money, but these are worthwhile considerations if buying new:
If you’re buying new, here are some great options. If you buy used, that amount can buy you considerably more bass for your money, but these are worthwhile considerations if buying new:
- Sire V3 - I have a V5R, which is above your limit but, based on my Sire and threads I’ve read here on Talkbass, I’d suspect the V3 would be an outstanding value.
- Sterling by Musicman Stingray Ray4 – This was a close runner up when I bought my Sire. I’m a huge Stingray fan and own two different USA models, so I’d be totally comfortable with another Stingray. But I ultimately decided I wanted something different from my Musicman basses just for the sake of getting something different. I like Jazz basses but have always had active Jazzes, so I decided to try a passive Jazz and bought the Sire.
- Yamaha – BB235 – This is a PJ bass that I gave serious consideration before buying my Sire. I've never owned a PJ and am interested in eventually trying one. This bass is another that gets consistent praise for being high-value.
- Ibanez Talman or SR300 – I haven’t played either but these also get consistently praise for being very high-value basses.
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Players are very good instruments. I never understand the attitude towards them
Now available from dealers in the USA.
Harley Benton
The P bass and Stingray copies are under $200.
Harley Benton
The P bass and Stingray copies are under $200.
I just picked up a Harley Benton JP 450 OP for under $200 because it felt great, sounded good, and played WAY beyond its price point. I couldn't justify NOT buying it.
Definately something you could keep at a seperate location and still have a great player.
Definately something you could keep at a seperate location and still have a great player.
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.
Not sure why this shocks you. Every Squier i ever picked up felt cheap.
