What's your low cost GAS?

[Big Hoss]

Just curious what low cost basses folks are GASing for here on Talkbass.

If you want to come and argue the superiority of high dollar instruments, please take that to a different thread. I really want to keep this on topic and moving in a positive direction...

So either because finances force you to chose low cost instruments, or you just like the low cost models better, what are you GASing for?

For the fun of it, let's slap a HARD limit of $400.00 U.S.D. on this...

Can be new, used, bought wreck to fix up, DIY build, whatever... Just want to get the feel of what folks like in low dollar instruments. Please keep the responses to instruments only if you can. The other stuff is great, but not the info I am trying to feel out here.

For me, right now, I have 2 that are giving me serious GAS pains they are...

SX Ursa 1 P bass copy in burst ($109.99) with the bridge and pickup covers ($15.99). Would be willing to pay the extra $50.00 to get the blocked maple fingerboard model if they offer it again...

After seeing / hearing a few Youtube videos of this instrument being played, and playing a coworkers seriously trashed SX P bass copy, well caling it a P bass is a bit weird because it has a sound / tone all its own that is REALLY compelling to play. It just tickles my ear right.

Squier Vintage Modified Jaguar Bass V Special in Transparent Crimson Red... ($249.99) I haven't played too many fivers where the neck feels good to me, this one does. I mean REAL good. This one is on my short list, so bad I made my wife hide my musiciansfriend card...

 

[gjohnson441496]

This. Seen them for between $250 - $500 in guitar center. Just can't justify having another bass!
Ibanez ATK200 Electric Bass Guitar | Musician's Friend

 

[Big Hoss]

Love those Ibanezes, never played an ATK series though, just Soundgear (SR) and BTB series, both of which are a thrill to play.

 

[Bob_Ross]

The only thing bass-related I've been GASsing for that sells for <$400 is an HG Thor fingerboard treatment for my Warmoth fretless, or an Electro-Harmonix POG2.

But a complete instrument for <$400? If I found one that was good enough to lust after, I wouldn't get GAS, I'd just buy it right then and there!

 

[Marial]

$400? Hmmmm.... A set of studio monitors and a new set of headphones.

 

[Big Hoss]

The only thing bass-related I've been GASsing for that sells for <$400 is an HG Thor fingerboard treatment for my Warmoth fretless, or an Electro-Harmonix POG2.

But a complete instrument for <$400? If I found one that was good enough to lust after, I wouldn't get GAS, I'd just buy it right then and there!

Yep, complete instruments. Mind you, I have a good job, a very understanding wife, and no kids to pour cash into, I could easily drop the $$ into whatever low cost instrument I wanted. I also have a mortgage, credit card debt, and a truck that needs to be fixed. GAS, even for lower dollar items, is a matter of setting priorities as well.

 

[Big Hoss]

$400? Hmmmm.... A set of studio monitors and a new set of headphones.

Both good ideas, really good ideas, but not an instrument. Guessing I wasn't clear enough about intent in the first post..

 

[Immigrant]

DBZ Imperial 5. In black, please.

They started at over $800 and I've seen them pop up on evilBay for less than $300. They are soooo sexy. I love nearly everything about them. The headstock, I can live with.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Well, in 1968 a Vox V271 Apollo IV sold for $295, and I've been GASsing for one of those for decades...but I doubt I can find one in 2015 selling for 2 or even 3X that price, so it's still higher than OP's dollar threshold!

 

[Marial]

Both good ideas, really good ideas, but not an instrument. Guessing I wasn't clear enough about intent in the first post..

Woops, my bad. Well, if it has to be an instrument... probably some kind of percussion toy, something from Hapi.

 

[Wallace320]

The only thing bass-related I've been GASsing for that sells for <$400 is an HG Thor fingerboard treatment for my Warmoth fretless, or an Electro-Harmonix POG2.

But a complete instrument for <$400? If I found one that was good enough to lust after, I wouldn't get GAS, I'd just buy it right then and there!

you landlord!

really nice thread btw, and competin' to become the funniest in three years of talkbass for me

Anyway, to tribute my pov
I agree with crimson red Squier Jaguar 5 and, in general, all Squier 5ers - lettin' affinity inline headstock look alone - are literally bang for our bucks! Ibanez atk are great and sound really louder than in the past, because now the pickup is a double bucker so it roars thru front/both/rear humbucker. Unfortunately, it's heavy as heck (around 12lbs) for it's in regular ash, and not light ash like Premium and Prestige lines, and way less versatile than before. Remember former triple coil worked much like musicman humbuckers switchin' between front-center coils with highcut filter; front-center coil with open tone; front-rear coil in parallel.

As I come from buyin' brand new Fender Steve Harris WestHam Precision, which is a maple body, again heavy as... don't-make-me-curse-out-loud, and I feel a lil' bit masochistic these days I really think I'd give an amber Squier VM Precision (maple body) a try if havin' some spare $. 400.00!

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Ken J]

70s Japanese basses
Have not found time to start collecting them and rooting them out to come up with a couple of keepers.

 

[Big Hoss]

70s Japanese basses
Have not found time to start collecting them and rooting them out to come up with a couple of keepers.

Any particular favorites?

I remember years ago, seeing OLP basses, basically low end licensed copies of MusicMan instruments. I am a bit suprised nobody has chimed in with say an OLP Stingray etc...

 

[The Chuck]

This- USED

 

[Wallace320]

I see

But man, maybe just myself, right?
Those basses really looked on par with musicman (or nowadays "midfield" Sterlings) but did they really played?

I mean: I found a signature Tony Levin OLP, and the price was absolutely right if you can remember... then I turned the amp on... meeeeh
No: I'm serious, the only other nearly... "aphasic" stingray wannabe I ever experienced was, and still is, italian designed (MIC) Eko MM copy

And I'm no MM fan. Still they are loud and characteristic (just like Subs aren't, for instance...) OLP were IMHO unconceivable, streeprice apart

Cheers,
Wallace

 

[Big Hoss]

I see

But man, maybe just myself, right?
Those basses really looked on par with musicman (or nowadays "midfield" Sterlings) but did they really played?

I mean: I found a signature Tony Levin OLP, and the price was absolutely right if you can remember... then I turned the amp on... meeeeh
No: I'm serious, the only other nearly... "aphasic" stingray wannabe I ever experienced was, and still is, italian designed (MIC) Eko MM copy

And I'm no MM fan. Still they are loud and characteristic (just like Subs aren't, for instance...) OLP were IMHO unconceivable, streeprice apart

Cheers,
Wallace

That explains why nobody seems to mention them these days... I never knew what happened with them...

This-

View attachment 653645

That's a nice one, curious how likely you would be to find one like that in like new condition on the used market under the cap price...

 

[The Chuck]

That explains why nobody seems to mention them these days... I never knew what happened with them...



That's a nice one, curious how likely you would be to find one like that in like new condition on the used market under the cap price...

I hope I'd be very likely!

I look every day-

 

[dalkowski]

Squier Vista Series Musicmaster, any color but black, sold by a naive seller who doesn't know they're starting to fetch >$400.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Peavey G-Bass. Usually "around" $400 used.

 

[ofajen]

SX Ursa 1 P bass copy in burst ($109.99) with the bridge and pickup covers ($15.99). Would be willing to pay the extra $50.00 to get the blocked maple fingerboard model if they offer it again...

After seeing / hearing a few Youtube videos of this instrument being played, and playing a coworkers seriously trashed SX P bass copy, well caling it a P bass is a bit weird because it has a sound / tone all its own that is REALLY compelling to play. It just tickles my ear right.

I'm low on GAS at the moment, but I did buy an SX P (Ursa 1) a year ago and it's pretty much my main player at the moment. Mine is vintage white (light yellow) with white PG and maple fretboard. NBD - vintage white SX P-bass | TalkBass.com

I put on some Fender flats and a three-string tree and recently added a Q-filter passive mid-range cut while also keeping the standard tone control (see my "If P, then Q!" thread in Pickups and Electronics for more info: If P, then Q! | TalkBass.com.) Having both treble and midrange controls really opens up a lot more control over the tone and gives me more sounds that I like.

One of the things I love about playing an $80 B-stock instrument is the freedom to tweak and experiment on the bass without worrying about the impact on its value. That and not worrying about nicks and scratches so much either.

Otto