I am a beginner looking for a decent used bass. I would like to spend under $100, any brand or model, as long as it is in good condition. Or, if you could suggest a good site where I can get one used that would be appreciated.
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Used Basses?
- Thread starter Bass Against
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Welcome to TB. Check out the TB classified section. Not too sure you'll have success with your budget no matter where you go. Craig's List, local pawn shops, local music shops, yard sales... all are potential gold mines. The problem is that you can easily end up with a piece of firewood, so if you have a friend who knows basses, bring him/her along to check them out before you buy. Hope this helps.
If you can bump your budget up a little you can get a new bass for $150-$200. I saw musicians friend a sale on the full size Squier VM Jaguar for $149 for the next few days.
Save up enough to afford one of the less expensive ones on Rondo, unless you want to spend a lot of time shopping. Great deals can be found used, but in <$100, not going to find much playable. Unless you're really really lucky.
There are some cheap Yamaha four string basses that will show up used on GC's website from time to time for less than $100. They aren't luxurious, but they are playable.
This is my honest advice if you are on a budget; finance a decent instrument.
I have a $500 bass that I paid $40 a month for. You can make that by saving on gas, cancelling cable, ect. Find a way. It's not that much.
The reason I say this is that if you buy a budget bass you'll spend $100, but then if you like it you will want a better instrument so then you'll buy another for $300 now you've spend $400 already and you have 2 mediocre instruments. Plus cheap basses are lower quality so set ups and warped necks and stuff like that will creep up on you.
Spend $400-$600 on something decent from the get go. It is cheaper in the long run. Finance it so you can take it in smaller chunks.
Source: Experience.
I have a $500 bass that I paid $40 a month for. You can make that by saving on gas, cancelling cable, ect. Find a way. It's not that much.
The reason I say this is that if you buy a budget bass you'll spend $100, but then if you like it you will want a better instrument so then you'll buy another for $300 now you've spend $400 already and you have 2 mediocre instruments. Plus cheap basses are lower quality so set ups and warped necks and stuff like that will creep up on you.
Spend $400-$600 on something decent from the get go. It is cheaper in the long run. Finance it so you can take it in smaller chunks.
Source: Experience.
For $100 or less you'll have to hunt and haggle but you should be able to find something decent, I'd start with craigslist, pawnshops (both in person and online), used sections in music stores (both in person and online). Since reading this post I found an Ibanez mikro for $80 and a Washburn P for $100 on my local craigslist, as well as several other basses that could be talked down to $100 . Ebay may be another option, yard sales and thrift stores too.
Guitar Center Used and the TB classifieds are excellent. Craigslist and EBay work too but you may have to deal with nutjobs and wackos.
I would look for a Squier Vintage Modified or Squier Classic Vibe. They are very decent basses for the money.
I would look for a Squier Vintage Modified or Squier Classic Vibe. They are very decent basses for the money.
I don't know where you are located,but Music-Go-Round has always been a local favorite of mine for used low cost instruments.There might be one near you.Invalid Link Removed
Use the store search to find one near you.Some VERY inexpensive basses on the last page of used basses!
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I see a lot of entry-level instruments for $100 and under on CraigsList. They're usually accompanied by "...bought it for my kid who never learned to play". Some of them are fairly decent instruments or have the potential with a decent set-up.
Riis
Riis
http://used.guitarcenter.com
Don't be afraid to call them and offer less, the prices are always negotiable.
That does seem to yield some interesting results - there's a Peavey Fury II on there right now for very cheap, for example. Could be something wrong with it, but worth asking about for sure.
Sorry to have to be the one to say this, but I think a budget of "under 100 dollars" is simply unrealistic. I agree that it is possible to get lucky and find something decent for this price, but I think it is more likely that something in this price range will wind up being something you regret buying, and wishing you'd saved the money for something better. And of course there's also the issue of having an amp, too, which also costs money to get something decent.
My advice to beginners is always to do what I did, if at all possible, which is to borrow a bass and amp while getting started learning the basics. If you don't know anyone to borrow from, maybe consider renting a bass and amp for a few months. The more experience you have playing, the better position you'll be in when it comes to deciding what bass to buy that is right for you. You have to reach a certain level of ability to be able to try out basses to determine what you like and don't like. If you can do this, you can start saving up money while you're learning, so you have a reasonable budget when the time comes to go shopping.
My advice to beginners is always to do what I did, if at all possible, which is to borrow a bass and amp while getting started learning the basics. If you don't know anyone to borrow from, maybe consider renting a bass and amp for a few months. The more experience you have playing, the better position you'll be in when it comes to deciding what bass to buy that is right for you. You have to reach a certain level of ability to be able to try out basses to determine what you like and don't like. If you can do this, you can start saving up money while you're learning, so you have a reasonable budget when the time comes to go shopping.
There's lots of wisdom in Lobster11's advice about borrowing before buying, if at all possible.
However, if you're able to afford the purchase of a used instrument, you should also budget for a professional set-up as well. A bass that's difficult to play won't be conducive to maintaining a productive practice regimen, and if you're just starting out, you likely won't have any idea whether or not the instrument is set up properly.
However, if you're able to afford the purchase of a used instrument, you should also budget for a professional set-up as well. A bass that's difficult to play won't be conducive to maintaining a productive practice regimen, and if you're just starting out, you likely won't have any idea whether or not the instrument is set up properly.
You won't want to hear this, but you need to get a part time job, mow lawns, rake leaves, shovel snow, etc. and save up a couple hundred dollars. If you don't know anything about basses, you are far more likely to get taken advantage of in the sub $100 market than get a good deal. For $200 you are into the Fender Squiers and those are good basses by most people's opinion.
Huh, that's at my local shop. I'd offer to go look at it, but I'd be lying.
Used Peavey, Ibanez and Squires all day long under $100 in my area...plenty of decent P bass types...some are even really solid older Japan models that just need a decent setup & strings
I do confess I see many excellent used mid to higher end basses used for $200 to $300 in pawns & used stores.
Personally, I prefer solid P copies for under $100....then go for a really good amp & speaker setup.
Those $100 P copies are easy to flip without losing money too.
I do confess I see many excellent used mid to higher end basses used for $200 to $300 in pawns & used stores.
Personally, I prefer solid P copies for under $100....then go for a really good amp & speaker setup.
Those $100 P copies are easy to flip without losing money too.
wintremute
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I'm another who advocates Guitar Center's used site. The biggest reason is that if you get the bass and you don't like it, you can return it to your local Guitar Center and get your money back.
My friend who's a guitarist asked me what bass could he get for under $150 to use for recording. I said Ibanez has a "I think RBX 170, I'm sure about the model being a 170". Anyway couple months go buy and he got one used for $100 from GC online. I checked it out and for even the new price it's worth it, has a P pickup and a jazz (best of both worlds). I would then spend a lot of time playing while you save for a really good one, even if it takes years I would buy a really nice one and be potentially done (your perfect bass). I learned the hard way when I was younger as I was too impatient to save my money and even though each bass got better and better if I would have just saved longer I could have had a really well made great sounding , easy playing (good fret job). I originally wanted a US MusicMan stingray because as soon as I got my hands on one and really played it I was amazed how easy to play and great sounding it was, but no I was impatient. I did eventually get one but many years later. I look back at my first Ibanez ($100 brand new, it was similar to the 170) and it was real a good bass, not the stingray but plenty good enough for where I was with my playing. Anyway, hope you find what you want. TB classifieds is a great place to look!
