chris_b Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 All the really low priced basses I try are way too heavy and because I'm only looking at 5 string basses I also find a lot of not-so-good B strings. I recently tried a couple of Sire V7 5ers. I thought they sounded good and were very easy to play but sadly their weight makes them a non starter for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Not sure if they`re a bit overpriced for this thread, but I`ve found the post 2012 Mexican Fenders to be very good basses, and used you can get them £350 - £450ish. Ok not mega low priced, but really good instruments imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steantval Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 (edited) Many years ago when I was a six string guitarist before moving over to bass, I did own a couple of Tokai guitars, Les Paul and Strat copies, really great instruments at a good price compared to the Gibson and Fender prices. I know they produced some of the classic bass copies and I would assume these were priced quite low, not sure how much they now command on the secondhand market. Anyone had experience of the Tokai basses ? Edited February 3, 2018 by steantval Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norm Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Squier VM Precision & Jazz 5 str's. Bought both s/h for under £200 in virtually unplayed condition. They are my go to gig anywhere workhorses. Great basses for the money. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandomBass Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I'd suggest the Vintage V4. I've owned a couple and both were solid, reliable great sounding instruments. My Tony Butler version looked particularly lovely in gloss black and maple board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 10 hours ago, steantval said: Many years ago when I was a six string guitarist before moving over to bass, I did own a couple of Tokai guitars, Les Paul and Strat copies, really great instruments at a good price compared to the Gibson and Fender prices. I know they produced some of the classic bass copies and I would assume these were priced quite low, not sure how much they now command on the secondhand market. Anyone had experience of the Tokai basses ? As with the guitars, some of the early Tokai basses were particularly good. The P-bass (Hard Puncher) I had was a cracker, as good if not better than the USA Fenders at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 2 minutes ago, RandomBass said: I'd suggest the Vintage V4. I've owned a couple and both were solid, reliable great sounding instruments. My Tony Butler version looked particularly lovely in gloss black and maple board. Agreed. Only reason I sold mine was it's weight, bit on the chunky side for me. Great for the money though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 23 hours ago, casapete said: Think I'm probably not the only one on here who has had to sell a great instrument when finances dictate it? Of course, but that is not an everyday occurrence. My point was that a lot of it is really blatant/transparent. There are many on here (no names, no pack-drill) who are dealers and it gets a bit tiresome reading how everything they are selling is the greatest bass ever, they're only selling it to "thin the herd", GAS has got the better of them, etc, etc. Cut the b/s, folks. We're onto it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Used Yamaha basses can be had for peanuts, and to my mind represent almost unbeatable VFM. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 2 hours ago, Rich said: Used Yamaha basses can be had for peanuts, and to my mind represent almost unbeatable VFM. Agreed - in fact, have Yamaha ever made anything crap? Years ago had a BB300 that was bottom of the range and fantastic, especially for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 The Vintage basses was partly why I started this thread. I see loads on eBay for ridiculous low prices but they look really good and I hadn't heard any negative remarks about them. The VM Squiers are another bass you see on eBay for sub £200 - I was under the impression that the later ones weren't as good as their predecessors. There seems to be lots of love for the Tokai Hard Punchers as you rarely see these for less than £700 nowadays - how good are the less well known models? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 4, 2018 Author Share Posted February 4, 2018 Forgot to say that even the entry model Spectors are very playable. Don't be put off by the single pick up models, especially when you see them for less than £200. There's one here for £100 which is a steal for somebody. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I can offer up the OLP basses, especially the Tony Levin model, stupidly good bass to a few hundred pounds! I also think the Fender Precision Lyte is a hugely undervalued bass although asking prices for good examples are now starting to look a bit optimistic at times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Had an SX Jazz years ago that was brilliant. Squier VM are worth scoping out too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 I've heard the Harley Benton knock offs are great. $149.00 Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casapete Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 57 minutes ago, Roger2611 said: I also think the Fender Precision Lyte is a hugely undervalued bass although asking prices for good examples are now starting to look a bit optimistic at times! Totally agree - great MIJ Fenders that you can still pick up s/h for around the £300 mark, and worth every penny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 16 hours ago, chris_b said: All the really low priced basses I try are way too heavy and because I'm only looking at 5 string basses I also find a lot of not-so-good B strings. I recently tried a couple of Sire V7 5ers. I thought they sounded good and were very easy to play but sadly their weight makes them a non starter for me. have you tried an old Korean made Cort A/B/C series? Lightweight with a decent B string, I got my C5 for £90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Earbrass Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Peavey Milestone. Light weight, well balanced, slender neck, sounds great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LITTLEWING Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 Gigging with a preloved Squier PJ Standard with Wilkinson pups and a preloved OLP again with a Wilkinson pup. Total around £250. Sound incredible thru front of house. Bought a brand new Squier VM 5 string for more than that once. Complete bucket of dog p*ss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 (edited) Changed my mind Edited February 4, 2018 by Grangur 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted February 4, 2018 Share Posted February 4, 2018 5 hours ago, casapete said: Agreed - in fact, have Yamaha ever made anything crap? I had a friend who had an XS250 bike in the 80s. So I guess then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 On 2/3/2018 at 17:29, steantval said: Many years ago when I was a six string guitarist before moving over to bass, I did own a couple of Tokai guitars, Les Paul and Strat copies, really great instruments at a good price compared to the Gibson and Fender prices. I know they produced some of the classic bass copies and I would assume these were priced quite low, not sure how much they now command on the secondhand market. Anyone had experience of the Tokai basses ? Didn't Fender buy Tokai and it evolved into the Squire brand? Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzbass Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 SX Standard Jazz bass $299 AU about 150 pounds a slimmer neck than any of my Fenders, both Am Stnd and Mex Tuners hold well enough. Pickups are serviceable, even the original strings are still on it:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 8 minutes ago, Bluewine said: Didn't Fender buy Tokai and it evolved into the Squire brand? Blue Don't think so - first squiers were made by the company behind Greco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluewine Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 18 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: Don't think so - first squiers were made by the company behind Greco I'll do a little digging. I'm almost certain Fender bought Tokal. Blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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