Budget basses that do a pro job?

[BarnacleBob]

I would vote for ibanez BTB400 - I got one for £150 from ebay and I was amazed at how good it was - the Eq on it was
Shot- hit! Only got rid of it cos the wife said a dozen basses was OTT and something had to go.
Also check this currently on eBay - 200 bucks for all that! Pick up only so cant be a rip!


[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ibanez-BTB-bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ220404964706QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item220404964706&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A4%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A200"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ibanez-BTB-bass-Guit...3A1%7C294%3A200[/url]


BB

[mikhay77]

[quote name='Delberthot' post='393344' date='Jan 28 2009, 02:17 AM']I could quite happily take the Pepsi challenge and make any bass playable.

In fact, how about a challenge for one of the bass bashes?


Bring a bass in any condition, as long as the electronics work, If I have a supply of cheap strings and tools I will make any bass play brilliantly.


I'm not an expert, I just have a lot of experience of playing cheap basses and making them gigworthy.[/quote]
I agree a set a of strings and a few tweaks and bobs your auntie as long as it hasnt got a banana neck I would do good suprising how many players have got a great bass that just needs setting up properly

[MacDaddy]

At the moment I have a Shuker on order (within the next 4 weeks hopefully!) and an Iceni Zoot. These are high end custom basses, but I find myself gassing for a Dean Zone bass (pink), Dean Metalman Z, and Squire Classic vibe P - basses below and above the £200 mark.

Maybe it's a case of, if you have steak at home everyday sooner or later you're gonna want a big greasy burger?

Edited May 10, 2009 by MacDaddy

[dannybuoy]

Gimme one of these beauties:



Jim Deacon / SX FPB62 in vintage white... available for [url="http://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/products.asp?id=4714"]£109 delivered[/url] including strap/lead/bag etc, and comparable to genuine Fenders according to Talkbass hype. I want to get one and put flats on it so I can keep my grindy SS rounds on my main P!

Edited May 10, 2009 by dannybuoy

[Soloshchenko]

Only bass I have ever owned is a Mexican Jazz with a Gotoh 201. Cost £320. It has got me through a load of gigs and rehearsals and always sounded superb to my ears.

Also, when I replaced another bass player in a band recently the rest of them remarked on how much more improved the bass sound was. I love this bass and apart from the day when I can afford a Wal, I don't think I'll need to buy another. I have always thought A LOT of sounding good is in your hands rather than your equipment.

[Soloshchenko]

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='484698' date='May 10 2009, 11:27 PM']Gimme one of these beauties:



Jim Deacon / SX FPB62 in vintage white... available for [url="http://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/products.asp?id=4714"]£109 delivered[/url] including strap/lead/bag etc, and comparable to genuine Fenders according to Talkbass hype. I want to get one and put flats on it so I can keep my grindy SS rounds on my main P![/quote]


[url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=543329"]http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=543329[/url]

A lot of discussion on here about it. Seems the general consensus from those who use em are that they are at worst very good value and at best better than Fender models. I really like the look of that particular one.

[stingrayfan]

+1 for new Yamaha BBs

Edited May 11, 2009 by stingrayfan

[OldGit]

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='484698' date='May 10 2009, 11:27 PM']Gimme one of these beauties:



Jim Deacon / SX FPB62 in vintage white... available for [url="http://www.hartnollguitars.co.uk/products.asp?id=4714"]£109 delivered[/url] including strap/lead/bag etc, and comparable to genuine Fenders according to Talkbass hype. I want to get one and put flats on it so I can keep my grindy SS rounds on my main P![/quote]

Interesting to see that they have "SX" in teh title

Been raving about these for years . The Jim Deacon badged ones have Fender shaped headstock like this one whereas teh SX ones need modifying, er I mean have a slightly different headstock shape ...

Add a Gotoh 203 bridge and you have a fine instrument for the dosh.

[stingrayfan]

Just bought dave.c's Aria GT4. For a bass that only costs around £200 new, it's amazing. Lovely glossy, grainy wood and binding. Lovely to play. Haven't used it in anger yet but at low volume at home it sounds like a beast. Really hot active sound. Stock pic below doesn't do them justice. Might take some porn shots with an SLR, if anyone's interested.

Edited May 12, 2009 by stingrayfan

[Adrenochrome]

[quote name='maxrossell' post='474393' date='Apr 28 2009, 05:26 PM']...who gives a crap what it says on the headstock.[/quote]

other bass players!

[bumfrog]

[quote name='Adrenochrome' post='485896' date='May 12 2009, 01:29 PM']other bass players![/quote]

should read.... other bass players who judge superficially by what it says on the headstock....

[OldGit]

[quote name='bumfrog' post='485906' date='May 12 2009, 01:39 PM']should read.... other bass players who judge superficially by what it says on the headstock.... [/quote]


Yup That's me

[M4L666]

[quote name='Buzz' post='391878' date='Jan 26 2009, 05:28 PM']Take the same analogy and apply it to cars.

As long as a certain level of quality is met (ergo, meaning it'll be reliable), whether it's got a 15 billion litre quadruple turbo engine or is a 1.4 with carbs, it gets you to A -> B.
And in the eyes of everyone else, as long as you're getting to work in the morning/getting to appointments/doing stuff, it doesn't matter if you drive a Veyron or a Corsa.

However, you do need a comfortable ride and one that suits you.[/quote]
Good analogy, and one that applies very well. Also, a better driver can get you from A>B more smoothly etc

[warwickhunt]

I haven't read the other 114 posts but I've no doubt someone has said the Squier 'Classic Vibe' Jazz but I'll add my praise to that, especially the neck.

[OldGit]

[quote name='M4L666' post='486070' date='May 12 2009, 04:16 PM']Good analogy, and one that applies very well. Also, a better driver can get you from A>B more smoothly etc[/quote]

Nah That's a pants analogy.

A car is so much more than a way of getting one person from A to B and a bass is so much more than making a bass noise.

[bumfrog]

[quote name='OldGit' post='486120' date='May 12 2009, 05:00 PM']Nah That's a pants analogy.

A car is so much more than a way of getting one person from A to B and a bass is so much more than making a bass noise.[/quote]

in your opinion....

for some people a car is exactly that - for getting from a to b, for others it's a willy waving exercise, and for some it's an expression of freedom.

[MacDaddy]

[quote name='bumfrog' post='486125' date='May 12 2009, 05:04 PM']in your opinion....

for some people a car is exactly that - for getting from a to b, for others it's a willy waving exercise,[/quote]

So is the type of garage a woman has, some kind of vajajay waving exercise?

[OldGit]

[quote name='bumfrog' post='486125' date='May 12 2009, 05:04 PM']in your opinion....

for some people a car is exactly that - for getting from a to b, for others it's a willy waving exercise, and for some it's an expression of freedom.[/quote]


Sure same with some basses

[OutToPlayJazz]

I really liked the £250 Ibanez JetKing I played the other week. Huge sounding bass and really good to play as well.

[bumfrog]

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='486131' date='May 12 2009, 05:07 PM']So is the type of garage a woman has, some kind of vajajay waving exercise?[/quote]



got me that one. Tea spat all over my desk now

[warwickhunt]

[quote name='MacDaddy' post='486131' date='May 12 2009, 05:07 PM']So is the type of garage a woman has, some kind of vajajay waving exercise?[/quote]

Been so long that I reckon that Mrs WH may well have bricked her garage door up!

[MacDaddy]

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='486246' date='May 12 2009, 06:54 PM'] Been so long that I reckon that Mrs WH may well have bricked her garage door up! [/quote]


tea ---> screen!

[Soloshchenko]

Tried a Jim Deacon SX today. Verdict is yes it's a lovely bass for the cash, yes I would feel comfortable using it in gigs yes I would recommend them to new players but I must say, it just isn't a patch on my MIM Fender Jazz.

[EddHytheTown]

[quote name='maxrossell' post='474393' date='Apr 28 2009, 05:26 PM']It's simple, cheaply-made in the far East and no-one will ever be impressed that I have it, but I could say the same about my alarm clock and yet I trust it to get me up every morning.[/quote]
Haha that's brilliant!

I add my support fro the Yamaha BB414, I don't own one but i played one in a shop and it felt and sounded great.
Great colour too, Metallic Orange!

[hookys6stringbass]

I love this thread!!! There are some fatastic budget basses out there. My first decent bass was a Yamaha BB 300, really well built althought pups were a little weak. So I put the active circuitry and pups used on the BB 1200s and a Bartolini j pup, and changed the bridge to a Badass .... what a difference!!! I used that bass for years and recorded with it. I think it sounded much better the BB 614 I had- but the BB 614 is a great bass for the money. I've had a go on the Squier p basses and was really shocked at how good they sounded and i'm not a big Fender fan to be honest, but for £200 wow!!! My guitarist got a Squier strat and it sounds fantastic.

I think if the build quality is good that's it for me i'll sort the electrics In time. I've had basses that all I needed to do was to change the pots to decent ones and some that i've had to change pots ,pick ups and maybe the bridge and that has made the world of difference.... The most i've spent on a bass was £550 each for my Shergold 6 string Marathons..

Edited October 11, 2009 by hookys6stringbass