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Unique, inexpensive, basses

#61
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Reactions: Joe Nerve
#62
Thanks Jay. Those Jaguars are excellent basses for the money. My brother has one he keeps on hand for people who come to his house to jam (he plays drums). I feel like I'm starting to sound spoiled here, but I guess I should make clear that I already have lots of great basses that I'm grateful for. In Fender/Squier land I own an MIA P that I love, an antigua Jazz, a Jaguar, and a Fender 6. A Squire would have to be really unique in order to get me to consider it as I have absolutely no use whatsoever for it. If I were just looking for a backup or 2nd bass, a Squier would definitely be a consideration. I'm looking for something though that makes me go "wow" when I look at it, or a fretless.
 
#63
Joe Nerve said:
Don't remember as it was a long time ago. Was definitely their cheapest bass at that time. Was well under $200 new. I don't hate Yamaha, but for a cheap fretless I'd rather look elsewhere. There was nothing special, unique, or appealing about the one I had... Even if it played and sounded great. Which it didn't.

Had a cheap Ibanez fretless too, and an SX. Didn't like those either.
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That's not a bad approach when coming to a fretless. I don't agree with folks who think that you can fudge quality more on a fretless. If you want good fretless experience then you may have to pay a bit more.

If you're looking for an affordable fretless, I highly recommend the LTD Vintage 214 Fretless. One of the best fretless basses in the $3-400 range IMHO and probably the only unlined fretless in that price range. However, as pertains to this thread, the 214 is not really unique. Rather it's simply a well done affordable P-clone.
 
#64
Eilif said:
That's not a bad approach when coming to a fretless. I don't agree with folks who think that you can fudge quality more on a fretless. If you want good fretless experience then you may have to pay a bit more.

If you're looking for an affordable fretless, I highly recommend the LTD Vintage 214 Fretless. One of the best fretless basses in the $3-400 range IMHO and probably the only unlined fretless in that price range. However, as pertains to this thread, the 214 is not really unique. Rather it's simply a well done affordable P-clone.
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I agree. I owned the 2 previously mentioned fretlesses before buying myself a Streamer Jazzman fretless, and then I went running around talkbass screaming to everyone NOT to skimp when buying a fretless. The difference was beyond profound. There was no joy at all in playing the Yamaha or SX. They were lacking in everything. Couldn't get much mwah (if any), tone was dull and thuddy, and I couldn't get the action low enough to really make it fun to play. The SX also had a weird chorusy sound going on that wasn't a pickup thing. When I picked up the cheap Ibanez, it was actually pretty sweet sounding, but I wouldn't have been able to get it to cut in the mix with a row of SVTs. It was one of the thinnest sounding basses I ever played. It was also one of the bottom of their line, an SR something or other. I know it only cost me around $175 after some crazy haggling. And Ibanez jacked their prices up immediately after.

The only inexpensive fretless I ever played that I thought felt and sounded sweet was the Squier Jazz. Never owned one though, so I don't know how it would sound in a band mix. I'd have given it a go if it were an unlined fretless. I know the line thing isn't really a big deal, but for some reason I like the aesthetics and added challenge of unlined. It's more fun to play. For me.

Will check out the LTD now :). Thanks.
 

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