Vintage Basses For less than 1000$....

[Nolan Farr]

I think its time for me to buy a new bass. I'm looking for something older, something unique, but still have it be a quality guitar. If anybody has any recommendations of basses that would be great. My price range is anything for 1000$ or less. Thank you.

 

[LukeSlywalker]

what kind of bass do you use now? are you looking for a real vintage instrument or just the look?

you could look here:

Vintage Bass Guitars on Reverb | Reverb

 

[LukeSlywalker]

and welcome to Talkbass!

 

[lukatch]

If you like short scale basses, you should try a 70's Fender Musicmaster ($600-800). Great old-school vintage tone and still an affordable vintage 70's Fender. Even those in Daphne Blue are under $1K.

Also check out early 80's Gibson Victory basses.

 

[KyleSerlington]

Peavey T-20 or T40 would be good. Also, I bought a Gibson Grabber for less than a grand a few years back, also a great bass

 

[Doctor J]

Old? Unique? Quality? The answer is in here

Are Ibanez basses collectable?

 

[TinIndian]

Late 70's to mid 80's Ibanez basses are great values. Not sure if they will ever fetch big money or not.

Early G&L's seem undervalued. Lots of nice ones for under a grand.

 

[drumsnbass]

The Peavey TL series are pretty cool. I'm practicing on one right now, a TL6. I never would have considered buying one if not for all the TB cheerleaders here, as well as the neck-thru design.

In the end for under $600 shipped I feel I got a pretty damn cool bass for something that's now like 25 yrs old.

But then, that may not be vintage enough when you start thinking 60's basses or so...

Holy crap. I just realized if a 1990 bass might be considered vintage , I'm on my way to dinosaur status!

 

[finfrocka]

I would like to suggest an ovation magnum iii

Vintage, cool look, and cool tone. Had the opportunity to play one and I was pleasantly surprised. Very cool piece.

 

[DigitalMan]

Aria Pro II is an interesting choice if you consider the 80's to be vintage enough.

 

[aaronious]

Depends on what you're looking for. How vintage we talking. Just about any 80's Ibanez can be had for waaay under a grand and are amazing basses. Perhaps a musician. Anything Fendery will cost more. Maybe some G&L's are in the budget. Definitely not and vintage Fender or Music man stuff. There's some nice Gibson's out there. And a ton of off the wall stuff that's hot or miss. Basically you have lots of options as long as you're not looking for a Fender or Music man. Could you be more specific on why you had in mind?

 

[mellowgerman]

I would recommend looking at vintage Guilds. The Starfires and M85's almost always go for more than 1k these days, but most of their other models can be had between $500-1000 and there are some super unique and fantastic American made basses among them, both short scale and long scale. Check out their JS, B, and SB series.

 

[TJH3113]

Peavey T-40 or Guild B301/302/201/202.

 

[Charley Umbria]

Yup, USA Peavey or G&L.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Ibanez
Vantage
Aria
Westone
Ovation
Danelectro
Electra
Daion
Conrad
Westbury
Gibson

I am sure I can think of more. And if you extend you definition of vintage to 20 years or older there are tons.

 

[Jughead6]

Depends on your definition of "vintage", but I would recommend a used 80's Japanese Fender.

My '89 P Lyte is amazing quality, IMO better than MIA. Overall it's cost me about US$1200, but that includes new pickups, professional refinish and the (defretted) fretboard epoxy coated. But most of that work was optional.

 

[sikamikanico]

I like old Japanese stuff for good quality, some weirdness, and at a good price... Some good ideas already got recommended here, I might add Yamaha (though quite conventional), or maybe BC Rich...

 

[JKB1957]

If you want the look of a vintage bass, but don't want to break the bank to pick one up maybe the Fender AVRI series, as well as the Crafted/Made in Japan Fender 1951 reissues. Also Hofner still makes a "Beatle" bass. Typically you can find most of these for under $1K, although the AVRI's may be right at that level. I have a 51 and 57 reissue. They are well made, and each has a different feel and sound. Just some ideas. Happy hunting. Keep the groove.

 

[snarebear]

Late 70 s early 80 s Fernandes basses are well built, in japan, and are reasonably priced. Most every one I ve owned or played have been killer.

 

[OldPlucker]

I saw this 1981 Gibson relic in person at the GC in Towson, MD. Definitely a vintage collectable significantly under a grand. It looks like it could stand a little cleaning and TLC.
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