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Which low cost basses cut the mustard?
- Thread starter Paul4703
- Start date
IME Dean Edges are worth more than the sub-$400 they command. I also like the cort Curbows. Many *lawsuit* Fender clones are nice but some are crepe, and pricing can be all over the map- depending on whether the seller knows what he has or thinks he does.
I have a '73 Ric 4001, a Patrick Eggle Milan five string Fretless and a Palm Bay 4 string that are all middle range basses (I guess ranging between $1500-2000).
I also have a Squier Precision V which I bought on impulse as a backup 5 string, because for £125 ($200-ish), it sounds better than in has any right to. It's a bugger to play because the neck is like the aircraft carrier, but that's good because I use it to practise and it makes me work hard. When I switch to my other basses they feel really slick and easy.
I have gigged the Squier and would do so again without hesitation
I also have a Squier Precision V which I bought on impulse as a backup 5 string, because for £125 ($200-ish), it sounds better than in has any right to. It's a bugger to play because the neck is like the aircraft carrier, but that's good because I use it to practise and it makes me work hard. When I switch to my other basses they feel really slick and easy.
I have gigged the Squier and would do so again without hesitation
I have a '73 Ric 4001, a Patrick Eggle Milan five string Fretless and a Palm Bay 4 string that are all middle range basses (I guess ranging between $1500-2000).
I also have a Squier Precision V which I bought on impulse as a backup 5 string, because for £125 ($200-ish), it sounds better than it has any right to. It's a bugger to play because the neck is like the aircraft carrier, but that's good because I use it to practise and it makes me work hard. When I switch to my other basses they feel really slick and easy.
I have gigged the Squier and would do so again without hesitation
I also have a Squier Precision V which I bought on impulse as a backup 5 string, because for £125 ($200-ish), it sounds better than it has any right to. It's a bugger to play because the neck is like the aircraft carrier, but that's good because I use it to practise and it makes me work hard. When I switch to my other basses they feel really slick and easy.
I have gigged the Squier and would do so again without hesitation
Squier Vintage Modified P Bass! (Vintage Modified line or Classic Vibe line are my recommendations only!)
Incredible value for such a low price.
Gigged with quite a few times and would not hesitate to do it again.
Incredible value for such a low price.
Gigged with quite a few times and would not hesitate to do it again.
+1. I forgot about my Ibby's from way back when. They make quality for the price instruments.
One of my fav basses was a Rogue LX-406. Don't laugh, it had guts. The pickups were hot and growled. Had a switch for active boost. The brass bridge was great too. I think they can be had under 250.
another vote for squier. Under 400 included pretty much everything they offer that I have come across, and even though there are lemons, there are some darn good ones out there too. If you find any inexpensive bass model that has all the features you want and are happy with the price, but it seems kind of crappy, before you give up on it play another exactly like it and you might be surprised. This pretty much applies to any mass produced instrument, but the inexpensive ones I have found tend to vary the most. I had a squier jazz I got for 120 bucks with a gig bag, strap, and some other crap at a pawn shop that was amazing, found the exact same model in a store when they were new and it played like junk. Wasn't setup, it was just sloppy QC. I would say that 400 bucks can get you into a number of quality basses, espescially used, but I lean to Squiers in that price range jsut because I am a FOF (friend of Fender)
Yamaha RBX4 A2, Nice, Light, You can find them online for around $300. Great review by the Bass Whisperer on You Tube.
Squier classic vibes would be my choice
then later when you get more money...fix em up...squiers are like chevy's!
then later when you get more money...fix em up...squiers are like chevy's!
scottbass
Bass lines like a big, funky giant
There are very many decent-playing, decent-looking AND decent-sounding basses under $400. A dozen or more alone are made by Ibanez.
A quick scan of Musicians Friend shows 115 4-string basses for $400 or less (26 of them for $200 or less) and 27 5-string basses for $400 or less (4 of them for $200 or less).
One of my favorite sub-$400 basses is the Peavey Grind bass. Both the 4-string and 5-string versions sell for $400 or less.
A quick scan of Musicians Friend shows 115 4-string basses for $400 or less (26 of them for $200 or less) and 27 5-string basses for $400 or less (4 of them for $200 or less).
One of my favorite sub-$400 basses is the Peavey Grind bass. Both the 4-string and 5-string versions sell for $400 or less.
I wouldn't buy a cheap bass over the mail though, for the reasons I listed in my last post. I wanna know I got a good one before I plunk down the cash. Lets face it, if all you can afford is 400 bucks (and we have all been there), that 400 bucks is pretty precious.
+1 to this. They were originally priced at 800 dollars but I guess no one is biting so they had to drastically drop the price. Every review I read on the thing were excellent.I've been thinkin about purchasing one myself.
If the original price is faithful to its quality, then this one is def a steal at $300.
