Bridgehouse

Nope. Don’t think I’m missing out on anything. The two main basses I’ve got are absolute keepers and the partscasters are going nowhere either. In fact, it’s probably the first time I’ve had a crop that I’m not thinking of moving on at all. This was more of a realisation that I’ve not had a cheaper bass before - and I’ve got the usual curiosity gas that one gets from time to time, and I’m wondering if I should satisfy that with some more bargain oriented goodness.

I've had a USA Stingray - liked it a lot but it wasn't getting played enough to justify hanging on to it. I'm hoping if I got a few cheaper basses I wouldn't feel I needed to get rid of them so quick if they weren't getting used as much. I don't use my partscasters as much as I could, but there's no way they are going!

There's some great shouts there for further investigation! The MTD sounds interesting, but I doubt I'd find a B30 for under £500 these days.. shame as I really do like the look of them, but I'm determined to try some cheaper end instruments rather than falling into the trap of just going up a bit more in price. Never tried a Sire. I really ought to as well.

I'm getting the impression that Yamaha's are high on the sub-£500 list regardless... Are any of them fretless, or are they a lot rarer? I'm gonna have to read that BB-mega thread...

Course, non-Yamaha answers also encouraged!

Now that's exactly the sort of bargain I'm talking about!!

So best bang for buck cheapie Yamaha either new or used?

Yes, also never owned a Yamaha bass. Shocking, I know. I've had some cracking Yamaha acoustics, and I've got a Yamaha Montage 6 synth which is bloody excellent so I have no idea why I've never looked hard at them.. I don't know my way around their models or numbers tho...

Quick recap on my current basses: - Shuker Uberhorn Fretless 4 - Fender Custom Shop 62 Jazz Charcoal Frost - Partscaster Semi-hollow 51 Precision Natural - Partscaster 51 Precision with a custom wound Ric-style pickup in Surf Green

After an earlier exchange with @AndyTravis and a conversation in the Den of Iniquity, it's occurred to me that I've only ever really had either expensive basses (more than £500) or Partscasters (made up from parts, self build, or self assemble/finish etc.) So, I'm clearly missing out on a huge chunk of basses here.. tell me, fine denizens of Basschat, what would you recommend that meets the following criteria: - 4 string - Fretted or fretless - Less than £500 either new or used - Active or Passive - Any manufacturer (the less common the better!) - You've owned it and really liked it, or thought it to be a great bass for the money

Mate, I know - and I love your philosophy on it as well. My problem is I just don't have the time to do the buying and selling - otherwise I'd be with you. Specially on the cheaper end stuff. I was musing earlier that I've only ever had expensive basses or partscasters.. I've got 2 expensives and 2 partscasters at the moment (and one more in build) - I've never bought a bass that's cost under £500... and I really need to do something about that!!!

Ahh, you mean you shift your stock quicker than they do?

I always thought you had more stock than Bass Direct Andy….

Lindy Fralin Split Jazz. Silent. Fabulous musical rich sound. Expensive, but worth every penny

I’m waiting on my finishing oil at the moment - have both the Crimson penetrating and high build oil on order. I’ve sanded back quite a bit on the medium scale body, and it’s really very light now - even tempted to get the wire wool on it and give it a final going over. I’ve noticed when wet it’s a lot darker. I wonder if the slight tint to tung oil has darkened yours more..

Yes. This is very true. I've got a Bad Monkey and it can, from time to time, do some phenomenal things with bass - particularly when combined with a clean mix as well

I'm not sure I can take any more of this punishment.

Yeah, they are even paying for him to go on a HTML 3.0 course

Are they popular now then?

Cor. You’s posh you is

There is something satisfyingly superb about everything to do with that bass.

Not me guv'nor. I'm waiting for something quality to come up. Maybe this?

We're not in the Bad Jokes thread now, Toto...

Really? I'd actually quite like a Roadster fretless. Then again, First Law of Bass Acquisition states: "You will never want a bass when it's available, but you'll only want it when it's not"

Ah, in which case I might bid on it anyway, even tho it isn't fretless