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Which low cost basses cut the mustard?

#42
i've seen a few people list these already, but i can second these suggestions

used mexican fender p or jazz
older used peaveys (USA made)
schecters can be decent

ernie ball musicman sub bass. i used to have one and i sold it on ebay for about $400. it was a pretty good bass, but it didn't give me the kind of tone i wanted.
 
#43
lousybassplayer said:
again, the mail order thing is my only beef with SX.
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It's true that buying mail order for something as personal as an instrument, whether a new SX or a used gem on Graigslist or ebay is a leap of faith. (Less so buying new from a reputable online dealer with a decent return policy). It's also contrary to the process many of us have gone through of cruising several local music stores and playing everything they have hanging on the walls trying to find 'the one'.
That said, I have been gigging solely with an SX for almost a year and the only thing I had to do with it when I got it was about 15 minutes of tweaking the intonation a little bit. Other than that all I've done is tune it. I haven't even changed the strings yet as they're just now getting good & funky. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another one.
 
#46
I have a Danelectro Dano 63' Longscale. I paid something like, 300$ a year or two ago, and theyre goign for 200 new now. This think is a steal for 200$. Get some new strings and a setup and you have a nasty bass for around 230.
 
#47
Probably goes without saying but I"ll say it anyway. A high end bass through a crappy amp is always going to sound crappy. Invest in a good quality amp and virtually anythihg you plug into it will sound decent. My pick for cheap but great goes to the Ibanez Roadstars. Built like a tank, great fit and finish and decent sound.
 
#50
Paul4703 said:
From reading the threads, there doesn't seem to be a consistent view that more money equals a better bass. In your opinion which of the low cost basses (say under $400) that are currently available punch over their price?
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One I am amazed with is the Jay Tursers. I bought a Turser Beatle bass about 4-5 years ago to basically hang on the wall and imitate my Hofner. I wanted to "garage" the Hofners since it is damn near 40 years old. The binding is pretty cheesy up close and it needed a setup of course, but a small adjustment of the bridge and it played fine! Other bassists are wowed when they hear it, of course I don't show off the "bad" parts. If you try and max the volume, it will feed back, but so will my Hofner and pretty much any other hollow body. The neck is beautiful, nice and straight, maybe a little too narrow but that is taste. Holds tune very well. The pots and other hardware are just fine, no problems 4-5 years later, build quality is nice, finish flawless. And all this for $249.00 From what I understand theie other models are about the same. Nicely put together for "cheap" basses.:bassist:
 
#54
Paul4703 said:
From reading the threads, there doesn't seem to be a consistent view that more money equals a better bass. In your opinion which of the low cost basses (say under $400) that are currently available punch over their price?
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I don't know why you are wanting to use a bass to hack away at mustard.....

However -

Dean makes some really nice basses. I played an Edge and a Zone and both blew me away sound wise. Construction was very good as well as fit and finnish. There were a few things that could have been better, but for a bass under 200? Who's complaining!

SX - search that one out (use "essex" when you do)

Squier Vintage Modified or Squier Classic Vibe - nuff said!

Peavey - especially the Milestone or Millenium lines. I have never been not impressed with a Peavey!

Ibanez soundgear, had one, loved one, sold one = I'm a dumb one...

And the list goes on....

It all depends on the sound you want and what feels good in your hands! Go to a Guitar Center, (or any some such large selection store) wade past all the guitard shredder wannabe's and wankers and play as many basses as you can, through the same amp...then figure out what ya want.
 
#56
$400 and under budget

Ones I own
1.) Dillion Thunderbird ...killer set neck Thunderbird made in Korea (paid $440 CAD new)
2.) Used Washburn AB-90 Hollowbody..killer fat tone..made in Korea..I've seen these used for under $400

Ones I've tried and I would buy
1.) Squier Vintage basses
2.) Yamaha BB414
3.) Ibanez Iceman..the passive one with gold hardware/mini humbuckers...had a big full sound and played great

Also if you look... just a little over your budget you can score a used MIJ Fender Geddy Lee Jazz...that would be my first choice. :smug:
 
#58
There are soooo many choices nowadays. Many entry level basses are quite well made & sound great. As mentioned the Squier basses are a great value. But let's not forget the cheaper Spector, Brubaker, Zon, Lakland, Tune, MIM Fenders, Epiphone, Hohner, & many others. Some of them may be more than $400, but not a lot more & soon they will show up used. When I started playing bass I had a Teisco P bass copy that was barely playable & really sounded bad. I played it to death anyway & then got a new Ric in 1969. Suddenly I could play a lot of stuff I couldn't begin to do on the Teisco. I would have killed to get my hands on what is available now for a relatively cheap price.
 

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