Best bass under £200 (new or 2nd hand)

[1970]

On a mission for a friend, trying to find something on the cheap. And turns out I'm quiet picky.

Here's my shortlist

Korean Squier
Westone Thunder

what to add?

Trying to think, if I actually was to actually play something under £200, what would it be. I like classic shapes.

[bagsieblue]

My recommendation would be a Farida - new or used.

They do a couple of P bass copies and a couple of J copies.
The whole range is great value for money.

[Conan]

Squier CV 60s P.I tried one and it was brilliant - not just for the price, but an amazing neck at any price! Second hand though as they are over £300 new...

[1970]

Yeah I've heard amazing things about the CV series, but they are beyond the small budget I'm working with.

[Paul S]

You might be lucky and pick up a secondhand 80s or 90s MIJ Squier for £200. In fact I might be persuaded to part with a Silver Series Precision for £200 as it doesn't do anything that my main precision does already.

SGC Nanyo Bass Collection usually go for less than £200, which is a crime.

If you can find one Peavey Fury basses sell for next to nothing - I bought one from Flat Eric for £165!! - they are great, USA built and classic P bass shape/sound but with skinny Jazz neck. Skinnier, actually.

OLP MM copies sell for not much and are reckoned to be pretty good, although I have never actually even picked one up.

But a decent Westone Thunder is hard to beat.

Edit - I often play and gig with basses that cost under £200. No-one notices or cares.

Edited September 22, 2013 by Paul S

[jezzaboy]

For £200 you should be able to pick up a s/h CV.

[Geek99]

Squier VM precision and still have change left over?

[discreet]

These are excellent basses, and this one's a steal:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/217692-vintage-tony-butler-v4-precision-bass/"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/217692-vintage-tony-butler-v4-precision-bass/[/url]

[Dandelion]

ibanez blazer

[Dave_the_bass]

Yamaha RBX270J - stunning bass and GAK are selling them at £199 brand new.

For the money (IMO) it's unbeatable.

[ead]

Just picked up a Peavey C4 Zephyr for JUST over £100. Rather good value for a nicely made NT bass.

[Happy Jack]

+1 for the SGC Nanyo Bass Collection.

You'll struggle to find an SB310 or (even better) an SB320 for less than £200 these days but you'll be blown away by the quality and playability.

[Lozz196]

Squier CV would get my vote (Precision, natch).

[TheButler]

[quote name='Dave_the_bass' timestamp='1379882861' post='2217872']
Yamaha RBX270J - stunning bass and GAK are selling them at £199 brand new.

For the money (IMO) it's unbeatable.
[/quote]

Had one of these as my first ever bass about 11 years ago now! It was amazing. Much missed indeed. I never appreciated if it was any good. I automatically thought it was crap owing to the fact it was bought through the school.

[alyctes]

SGC Nanyo Bass Collection, definitely.
Peavey Fury 2, a [u]ridiculously[/u] skinny neck.
OLP MM2, neck is too bulky for my taste but they play well and sound nice.
I gave a Vintage MM clone (secondhand, £80) to our ex-drummer for his 18th. Looks good, plays well, sounds butch

[neepheid]

Yamaha BB414

[uncle psychosis]

Yamaha BB414 or BB415

[Conan]

[quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1379879929' post='2217789']
For £200 you should be able to pick up a s/h CV.
[/quote]

Certainly should! It's a buyer's market and cash is king!

[skej21]

If it pops up second hand, an Epiphone Custom Shop Allen Woody Rumblekat. Stunning bass!

[muttley]

Ibanez SR series (eg Korean-made models with P/J pickups).
Aria ProII (Japanese Matsumoko instruments - same factory as Westone Thunder).

I wouldn't buy new at that price. A used instrument can usually be sold for what you paid if you change your mind.

[marcus bell]

Squier classic vibe jazz or p
Musicman sub sterling

[ras52]

Another vote for s/h Squier CV - and Yamaha BB3xx/BB4xx

[Bigwan]

+1 on the Squire CV series.

Personally my best sub £200 buys have been an SQ series Squire for a ton, which I stupidly sold, and an Ibanez ATK700 (£130 I think), which I sold to a work colleague who wanted to learn to play. Although they were both a little knocked about (well worn in the Squier's case and just downright abused in the Ibanez's) they were perfectly serviceable instruments, either of which could have been my main bass with a little tlc.

Edited September 25, 2013 by Bigwan

[Paul S]

Shameless plug, my Silver Series Precision is now for sale at £200

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/217932-silver-series-squier-precision-black-l200/

[razze06]

Westone thunder, and several other japanese basses of the era

Peavey Fury, milestone, and Patriot, if you can find one