Jamesemt Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 Firstly, hi. I've been lurking for a while, but only just got around to registering. Anyways, I'm looking for a really cheap bass for work (a beater that I can play on my dinner break) - what should I look out for? There are a fair few Westfields, Alba (??), No names etc on ebay. Would I be best off with an Encore? (Did my first ever gig many years ago with one of these ). Is a Squire going to be a huge step up quality wise? Any advice would be greatfully appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 If its an old knacker for work, then as long as its got an aceptable action, and a neck profile that you're used to then does it matter what it is? If you start going down the 'is an Encore better than a Squier' comparison route..... before long you'l be hankerin' after a '54 P bass.... When you're buying real bottom end basses, any make or model could be an absolute keeper or a bag 'o 54ite..... (bit like buying a £200 car for a year, dont be fussy but just make sure it does what it should!) That'd be my advice...... Oh and welcome.......! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesemt Posted August 2, 2007 Author Share Posted August 2, 2007 Cheers for that - there's an Encore on ebay without any bids...wonder if I could get that for £15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I have pupils with lots of P-bass copies... The nicest ones are the Squire Affinity (quality can vary on these hugely), the Boston bass package at under £100 is a great bass. Lovely neck. But the one I'm going to go with is the Crafter Cruiser. We just bought one the other week for our retiring head of the Music Dept., and it was lovely. I think I got the bass for £90 but what an instrument! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alpha-Dave Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I bought a Lindo guitar and bass for a uni project from ebay, the guitar tuners snapped in a week as did the bass's truss rod. I'd strongly advise to go for named brand/2nd hand these 'only exist for a couple of years' companies really aren't worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayfan Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I use an old Westone Thunder 1A to practice on. It's great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I got a 3/4 sized Westfield P bass that I could keep next to the bed at home. I think I could probably fit it in my desk drawer at work. Cost me about £60. There's a cool throw-around guitar from a company called Wesley Guitars for the same price that I know I could fit in my desk drawer (unfortunately, it's a guitar - but there are times when they have their uses). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
setekh Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 you can always get a Harley Benton or a SX...very cheap (the HB on the £6X mark, and the SX for about £80) and are great instruments for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I was going to say Harley Benton, apparently they're good basses and they cost next to nothing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 How about a Wesley acoustic? They feel nice (not too big), sound OK and ought to be cheap. They're not loud but you should be able to hear yourself without bothering anyone. Sorry if you had an amp arrangement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
velvetkevorkian Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 I'm a big fan of budget Peaveys- I've had one as my only bass for about 6 and a half years now and its served me well despite being abused in numerous unpleasant venues. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d-basser Posted August 2, 2007 Share Posted August 2, 2007 PEAVEY, the milestones are worth the money and a bit more. If you are wanting even cheaper Albas seem ok, my dad has one of the dirt cheap tele guitars and it is atleast as good as a low end squier and better than stagg or similar imo. Well worth £50ish Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesemt Posted August 2, 2007 Author Share Posted August 2, 2007 Thanks for all the advice - might give the Harley Bentons a look... Size isn't an issue - I'm in the ambulance service and can leave the bass in a spare room (which I'll probably practice in). The SX bases are branded Jim Deacon in this country - the cheapest I can find those is £85, which is still a bit more than I want to pay... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 The Johnson basses, the P and J copies at lest, are pretty reasonable, solid wood bodies too, I got one to use as a base for various mods, it was ok to start with, became pretty good with all hardware replaced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted August 5, 2007 Share Posted August 5, 2007 I've just bought a second hand wesley see through blue 5 string on fleabay for £35 for using in the house Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJPofStHelens Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 [quote name='lwtait' post='40490' date='Aug 2 2007, 02:45 PM']I was going to say Harley Benton, apparently they're good basses and they cost next to nothing[/quote] I've noticed you've got an Ibanez SoundGear...Which one have you got? I've got the SRX 400... What do you think of them? I love mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 if you're in london i've got a 'santa ana' (i.e. no-brand) acoustic bass that i'm looking to get rid of. not a bad player and you won't need an amp of course !!! something like £50 ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 I've got a brand new sunburst Boston P-bass left over from a package which you can have with either a new gig bag or an old flight case for £60 if you're interested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzz Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Woah. Thread revive by 5 months. What did you go for in the end OP? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tait Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 [quote name='PJPofStHelens' post='114859' date='Jan 6 2008, 06:40 PM']I've noticed you've got an Ibanez SoundGear...Which one have you got? I've got the SRX 400... What do you think of them? I love mine![/quote] I got the SR500. I love mine, too. It is so good! I'd definatly reccomend it to anyone looking for... well anything! So versatile and always sounding good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesemt Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 [quote name='Buzz' post='115030' date='Jan 6 2008, 09:57 PM']Woah. Thread revive by 5 months. What did you go for in the end OP?[/quote] Was planning on using my new SX Jazz as an everyday bass, but slipped with the screwdriver when changing the scratchplate...so my work beater bass is an SX Jazz with tortoiseshell scratchplate, gotoh bridge, hipshot ultralites and upgraded pickups...must learn not to go near a bass with a screwdriver...(did a similar thing with a strat last year ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 [quote name='Jamesemt' post='117930' date='Jan 10 2008, 04:01 PM']Was planning on using my new SX Jazz as an everyday bass, but slipped with the screwdriver when changing the scratchplate...so my work beater bass is an SX Jazz with tortoiseshell scratchplate, gotoh bridge, hipshot ultralites and upgraded pickups...must learn not to go near a bass with a screwdriver...(did a similar thing with a strat last year )[/quote] Which SX Jazz do you have or what was it when you started, I mean. We should start a sub plot for SX maniacs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesemt Posted January 10, 2008 Author Share Posted January 10, 2008 I've got a 62 Jazz in Vintage White (think margarine, under false light it looks bright yellow...). TBH when I first got it I thought it was awful, but the more I play it, the greater respect it seems to get!! I've replaced the bridge pickup, but the neck pickup is really high output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Jamesemt' post='118098' date='Jan 10 2008, 07:41 PM']I've got a 62 Jazz in Vintage White (think margarine, under false light it looks bright yellow...). TBH when I first got it I thought it was awful, but the more I play it, the greater respect it seems to get!! I've replaced the bridge pickup, but the neck pickup is really high output.[/quote] Ah yes I think that was the colour of NeilB's SX Jazz that passed through my hands last night en route to my mate Ash who's just bought it. It's more yellow than my "vintage white" Fender used to be - and we called that "The Custard P" - the SX has a touch of green, oddly ... I'm still waiting for my used SX P from a bloke in Colorado .. I think the US or UK postal service has eaten it ... I've been playing the unmodified SX Jazz I used to have at the jam session I go to where my tutor (who now has it) is the house bass player. There's 4 or 5 good bass players who regularly attend and they are all well impressed with it. I think a few more orders will be popping up from around here... Edited January 10, 2008 by OldGit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilb Posted January 10, 2008 Share Posted January 10, 2008 [quote name='OldGit' post='118158' date='Jan 10 2008, 08:54 PM']Ah yes I think that was the colour of NeilB's SX Jazz that passed through my hands last night en route to my mate Ash who's just bought it. It's more yellow than my "vintage white" Fender used to be - and we called that "The Custard P" - the SX has a touch of green, oddly ... I'm still waiting for my used SX P from a bloke in Colorado .. I think the US or UK postal service has eaten it ... I've been playing the unmodified SX Jazz I used to have at the jam session I go to where my tutor (who now has it) is the house bass player. There's 4 or 5 good bass players who regularly attend and they are all well impressed with it. I think a few more orders will be popping up from around here...[/quote] Si, you seen my new SX P?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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