Your most and least expensive basses

[Yogi Bear]

Least expensive was a BB300 I purchased back when I started playing. I think I paid $150 for it at the time.

Most expensive is this Adamovic Saturn. Turned 50 this year, and well... it's price is far north of $150. The Markbass and Quilter are both gone.

 

[blowinblue]

M. M.

 

[bigjames]

Fun thread! Most expensive: Fbass AC6 in antique brownburst...

And a homemade Warmoth fretless 6 I built in around 1992... 5 string neck, so tight spacing. Custom bartolini pick ups and a bartolini active tone control circuit. I cannot recall exactly what I spent, but because I did all the work myself, it wasnt a huge $$ investment as far as I recall.

 

[logdrum]

I don't discriminate. I love a great feeling and sounding bass that's a little on the expensive side, but I also love finding a really good bass that's inexpensive. Had quite a few of both over the years, although I never spent truly huge money. The most I ever spent for a bass was $1500 new for this one on the right:

View attachment 4290627

These were made by the Guitar Factory in Orlando, and they had more deluxe versions of these basses but I went no frills and saved some money. Well, not really no-frills. They both have Kahler bridges and the 4 has a whammy bar and Sperzel locking tuners. Both have EMG active PJ's and I updated the pres with BQC's a few years ago.

The 4 was my main bass from 1997-2001, but as much as I tried to fight the passive Fender thing back then, I just couldn't beat it tonally so I went back to them. I kept it because there are certain cool things I like to do with the whammy bar on occasion and because it plays so beautifully. But it's rare I use it on a gig anymore.

I've bought cheaper basses than my current cheapest, but at $190, my 2009 Danelectro Longhorn has been a real keeper:

View attachment 4290639
Originally priced at $400, two of these basses sat in my local Sam Ash for a year. Played them every time I went there and this one was clearly my favorite of the two. One day they were marked down, and I bought it, and the repair guy there was nice enough to drill a hole in the horn for a Straplok, which remains the only mod I've done to it.

This version is known for being the cheapest built of the reissues, and I thought for sure I'd have to replace the saggy bridge and cheapest of the cheap Kluson knock-off guitar tuners. But it has very low action, stays in tune like a rock, the bridge still sags but it hasn't gotten any worse over the years, is much more versatile than you'd think, sounds amazing with both flats and rounds, and is super light. And it's mighty purdy in a bizarre way. I've done many plane trips with it as checked luggage in a padded gig bag and SKB Roto case, and it never let me down.

So let's just point out that I'm not fishing for financial information from you all, nor am I interested in starting a peepee sizing match. You don't have to disclose anything financial if you don't want. I just am interested if there's others like me who can see the beauty and usefulness in both cheap and not-as-cheap basses. Bonus points will be awarded, however, if you have a bass you paid over $10,000 for and one you paid less than $100

Great!. I love the aesthetics of the Danelectro Longhorn - I never paid over 1200 and that was the Stingray 5 that I do not have anymore. But my bass guitars - some can be sold for over 2K in the used market. I nver do buying and selling though.

 

[Mastermold]

I don't discriminate. I love a great feeling and sounding bass that's a little on the expensive side, but I also love finding a really good bass that's inexpensive. Had quite a few of both over the years, although I never spent truly huge money. The most I ever spent for a bass was $1500 new for this one on the right:

View attachment 4290627

These were made by the Guitar Factory in Orlando, and they had more deluxe versions of these basses but I went no frills and saved some money. Well, not really no-frills. They both have Kahler bridges and the 4 has a whammy bar and Sperzel locking tuners. Both have EMG active PJ's and I updated the pres with BQC's a few years ago.

The 4 was my main bass from 1997-2001, but as much as I tried to fight the passive Fender thing back then, I just couldn't beat it tonally so I went back to them. I kept it because there are certain cool things I like to do with the whammy bar on occasion and because it plays so beautifully. But it's rare I use it on a gig anymore.

I've bought cheaper basses than my current cheapest, but at $190, my 2009 Danelectro Longhorn has been a real keeper:

View attachment 4290639
Originally priced at $400, two of these basses sat in my local Sam Ash for a year. Played them every time I went there and this one was clearly my favorite of the two. One day they were marked down, and I bought it, and the repair guy there was nice enough to drill a hole in the horn for a Straplok, which remains the only mod I've done to it.

This version is known for being the cheapest built of the reissues, and I thought for sure I'd have to replace the saggy bridge and cheapest of the cheap Kluson knock-off guitar tuners. But it has very low action, stays in tune like a rock, the bridge still sags but it hasn't gotten any worse over the years, is much more versatile than you'd think, sounds amazing with both flats and rounds, and is super light. And it's mighty purdy in a bizarre way. I've done many plane trips with it as checked luggage in a padded gig bag and SKB Roto case, and it never let me down.

So let's just point out that I'm not fishing for financial information from you all, nor am I interested in starting a peepee sizing match. You don't have to disclose anything financial if you don't want. I just am interested if there's others like me who can see the beauty and usefulness in both cheap and not-as-cheap basses. Bonus points will be awarded, however, if you have a bass you paid over $10,000 for and one you paid less than $100

Most expensive bass I bought and love was my ‘64 Fender P-bass. Least expensive was my SX Andromeda Jazz bass. Got the SX on sale at Rondo for $179 and it needed nothing but new strings!

 

[aekisz]

What a lovely bunch of coffee tables here on the upper end!

 

[brianrost]

Cheapest and most expensive basses were both used. $65 for a Danelectro and $1700 for an NS Radius (currently $3400 new...above my pay grade).

 

[BluesWalker]

I don’t have pictures, but my cheapest bass cost $100: I bought in 1988 at a very small (one-room) record store in Sayre, PA, where I was living at the time. I hadn’t played for several years and decided to get back into it. It was the only store for miles around and it was either that bass or the more expensive model at $175. I don’t remember the brand but I will never forget the “Barney” purple color. It was a 4-string short scale bass with a PJ pickup setup; I think he had them to sell to the local kids whom he gave lessons to. I kept it about 5 years and then gave it away to my son’s piano teacher when I upgraded to a used ‘89 Fender P Bass.

The most expensive one was a $3600 Zon Vinny 6-string. I loved its sound and playability, but eventually sold it to a TBer in Hawaii due to its weight. They are surprisingly heavy for their size.

 

[Bringindafunk]

Most is a USA Lakland 44-14 that I paid $1500 used. It's an awesome bass with beautiful wood grains throughout.

Least expensive is an early 90's Heartfield that I bought used in 1994 for $350. It was my main player for a lot of years. I love this bass.

 

[EdwardofHuncote]

There are a few contrasts... here's one: Squier Precision (more like a 70's Telecaster)

And a Turner Model One.

They are both GREAT at what they do.

 

[Sam Dingle]

Most expensive is a 1910 juzek and least expensive was my new to me 2009 fender road worn P bass.

 

[1bassplayinfool]

65 p bass $300 in 68

Dingwall Lee Sklar sig used $3500

 

[kodiakblair]

Most expensive would be either the Vigier Passion or the Peavey B-Quad.

Least expensive was a brand new Harley Benton PB-50 costing £76.

The Harley Benton was an eye opener, rarely touched an active bass since buying it. Truth be told , for the first 6 years of owning the Harley Benton I rarely played anything else. Occasionally I'll lift the Fenders but the £76 PB-50 is always close to hand.

PS. Apart from changing strings to TI jazz flats, it's still 100% stock.

 

[HeavyJazz]

It would have to be my recently flipped covid Jazz (2018 Fender American Original 60s) upgraded with SD Antiquity IIs versus the epic 2016 Sadowsky NYC 4-21.

 

[Hundred proof]

Most expensive is a LeCompte that is ... unobtainium as far as construction with a price to match. Least expensive is a Squier P bass that I traded for and like just fine as is.

 

[tgriley62]

My most expensive is the Foundation $150 & Least is the Fury $75

 

[Blues Bass 2]

Least expensive is my Squier Contemporary Jazz HH V. Most expensive is my Talman TMB605 .

The most I've paid for a bass would be $1300 for a Skyline JO 5 with Fralins and a John East pre in 1999 . The least was the $75 I bought my first bass for , a Conrad beatle bass in 1968 .

 

[bluesblaster]

1968 Ampeg AMB-1 dont know its current value, maybe 5K there abouts. 69' P bass refin, again not sure what its current value is. On the cheap side I had a Yamaha 170 that was a nice little bass, should have kept it and put a better PU in it, played very well.

 

[Rev12_11]

Least expensive is a Dean juggernaut and the most expensive is a Yamaha BB 434.

 

[2cooltoolz]

Why? Back surgery. 3 month anticipated recovery.