Good Bass For Under £150?

[littlebraith]

Looking to find a replacement bass as I'm having to return the Fender Squire I've been borrowing for around a year.

I've looked all over eBay for deals on a decent bass but with no joy. Anyone know any good decent basses for a budget price? Used or New.

Anyone able to help me?

[Jerry_B]

You can get a Squier Affinity series bass for under £150 new.

[icastle]

[quote name='littlebraith' post='1024040' date='Nov 14 2010, 09:43 PM']Looking to find a replacement bass as I'm having to return the Fender Squire I've been borrowing for around a year.

I've looked all over eBay for deals on a decent bass but with no joy. Anyone know any good decent basses for a budget price? Used or New.

Anyone able to help me? [/quote]

I've seen Squire basses go for around the £100 mark on here (in the MarketPlace forum) and £150 will buy you a brand new one if you shop around.
You'll (nearly) always get more bass for your money if you buy S/H though - so keep your eyes open.
Folks round here will always give you an honest opinion on anything bass related and an idea of whether an item is a good price or not.

[Paul S]

My usual stuck record - you cannot go wrong with a second hand Westone Thunder 1A. 80s jap basses that are incredibly good value for money - great build quality and playability - the 1A active sound is immense. Heavy, though. They are always cropping up on eBay - there is an over-priced one currently but you'll often get them under £150. Or Gumtree. I paid £110 for one in great nick about a year ago.

[geoffbyrne]

[quote name='Paul S' post='1024405' date='Nov 15 2010, 11:05 AM']My usual stuck record - you cannot go wrong with a second hand Westone Thunder 1A. 80s jap basses that are incredibly good value for money - great build quality and playability - the 1A active sound is immense. Heavy, though. They are always cropping up on eBay - there is an over-priced one currently but you'll often get them under £150. Or Gumtree. I paid £110 for one in great nick about a year ago.[/quote]

This ^.


Plus, if you're handy with the soldering iron, this is well worth looking at (might go for it myself):

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peavey-Milestone-III-3-4-String-Bass-Guitar-Deep-Blue-/220695578647?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item33627b4817"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peavey-Milestone-III...=item33627b4817[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Squier-Precision-Bass-Guitar-/140477627968?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20b51e7e40"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Squier-Precis...=item20b51e7e40[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guiter-/120643503813?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c16e9c6c5"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guiter-/1206435...=item1c16e9c6c5[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peavey-Milestone-III-3-bass-guitar-4-string-/320615391002?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4aa62a9f1a"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Peavey-Milestone-III...=item4aa62a9f1a[/url]

and so on....

G.

[krth1985]

Second hand guitar shop in Leeds (if thats near you) - cant remember the name, near the Con Exchange - says he gets a few of the Squier VMJ's in often. He says they usually go for around £170 - worth every penny if you can stump up a little more cash

[Mog]

For £150 you should be able to pick up a secondhand OLP or Squire VMJ. Its coming up to christmas so expect lots of bargins to start popping up.

[xilddx]

[quote name='Paul S' post='1024405' date='Nov 15 2010, 11:05 AM']My usual stuck record - you cannot go wrong with a second hand Westone Thunder 1A. 80s jap basses that are incredibly good value for money - great build quality and playability - the 1A active sound is immense. Heavy, though. They are always cropping up on eBay - there is an over-priced one currently but you'll often get them under £150. Or Gumtree. I paid £110 for one in great nick about a year ago.[/quote]
Totally +1 on this.

[razze06]

One more for the westones! Hard to get a better bass for the money, even though modern squiers are close!

Also, don't be afraid to pick up something a little unusual. Familiar designs and makes tend to command higher prices, in general.

[Earbrass]

I'll add another vote for the Peavey Milestone III. You can pick these up on ebay for about £50, and they are fab, lightweight, well-balanced jazz-alike (ie similar neck, pickups and controls) basses.

[xilddx]

Here's a good thread for the OP [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=100547"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=100547[/url] Westfield.

[Skezza]

Ill sell you an active bass collection original 90s mint sgc nanyo for £180 collected absolutely mint 4 string I have 5 of them gig them every week dont use this one cus its mint I use my batterd ones

skez

[Skezza]

PS just like the one in my avatar but thats my favourite its passive and actually was the cheapest when it was new

skez

[Spoombung]

Peavey Millennium BXP - sensational bass for the money. £100 -120 secondhand. £150 - £170 new

[xilddx]

[quote name='Skezza' post='1024915' date='Nov 15 2010, 05:42 PM']Ill sell you an active bass collection original 90s mint sgc nanyo for £180 collected absolutely mint 4 string I have 5 of them gig them every week dont use this one cus its mint I use my batterd ones

skez[/quote]
OP, you should seriously go for this, a friend of mine still has hers, bought new in the '90s, and she still plays it live with Transglobal Underground. Cracking bass! Amazing for £180!

[LawrenceH]

I'm sure these are all good suggestions. Add secondhand Yamahas to the list. Especially the BB series, or RBX374s - they go for under £150 and are great basses for the cash.

[bassmachine2112]

here,s one for you-vintage,they make a decent bass and go for a decent price s/h,
handy if you want to mod one.

[Skezza]

THe bass collection is still available over £600 when new its in mint as new condition.

where abouts in the uk are you


skez

[bassatnight]

Squire every time for me, I picked up a 'mint' VM one for £155 stuck on a Gotoh Bridge a Pup cover and new Fender knobs for less than £50 and it sounds and looks as good as most basses three times its price.

[xilddx]

[quote name='Skezza' post='1026592' date='Nov 17 2010, 07:06 AM']THe bass collection is still available over £600 when new its in mint as new condition.

where abouts in the uk are you


skez[/quote]
Christ! Where did you buy it from mate?

[BluRay]

Another vote for Westone Thunder 1A, if you can find one in good nick.

[charic]

[quote name='Spoombung' post='1025215' date='Nov 15 2010, 09:15 PM']

Peavey Millennium BXP - sensational bass for the money. £100 -120 secondhand. £150 - £170 new[/quote]

My first ever bass only sold it because the skinny neck ended up giving me cramp

I would keep an eye on here and go 2nd hand. If you bump your budget to 150-200 you'll get a bass that'll last you years IMHO

[mcnach]

[quote name='silddx' post='1024768' date='Nov 15 2010, 03:54 PM']Here's a good thread for the OP [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=100547"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=100547[/url] Westfield.[/quote]

I can't recommend it highly enough. I'm not sure if I got the "1 in a milion" individual bass or what, but it truly is remarkable stock, and punchingb well above its price level withe the adition of the J-retro preamp. The other Westfield bass I tried was very nice too and I bought it as well, although that one needs new pickups/electronics (a VS4A, "Thumb" type of copy)... but the Jazz was good stock.

[TheFear]

[quote name='LawrenceH' post='1025370' date='Nov 16 2010, 12:04 AM']I'm sure these are all good suggestions. Add secondhand Yamahas to the list. Especially the BB series, or RBX374s - they go for under £150 and are great basses for the cash.[/quote]
second that, cracking basses, ive had a few yamaha and would go out tomorrow and buy another if i had some spare dosh, bb414 can be bought S/H for that price