OutToPlayJazz Posted October 11, 2009 Share Posted October 11, 2009 It's been said before on this thread & I'll say it again. Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Nuff said! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted October 12, 2009 Share Posted October 12, 2009 [quote]It's been said before on this thread & I'll say it again. Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Nuff said![/quote] +1!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soppybp Posted October 14, 2009 Share Posted October 14, 2009 If you're prepared to go for something older, how about a Westone Thunder 1 or 1A? You can still get them for less than £200 but prices are rising all the time. I bought a 1A two years ago for £110. It's solid, reliable, lovely neck and has plently of grunt. It's not light but it's nowhere near as heavy as my '74 Telecaster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metal-Mariachi Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Here in the US we don’t get many of the imports you get in the UK. I’ve tried out the Squire Vintage Vibe basses and have to say they are very nicely made. Much better quality than any of the ‘70s 3 bolt Fenders. The necks have a nice feel and they don’t sound bad as they are. With a good set of strings I’d say a Squire is gigable as it is. A little pickup swapping and hardware upgrade and you have an even better bass. They did get carried away with the Urethane though. That just means you have an excuse to refinish to that metallic copper, metal flake emerald or glitter pink bass you always wanted. MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 [quote name='benwhiteuk' post='391550' date='Jan 26 2009, 12:29 PM']I’d still tout the discontinued Warwick Std range as the best budget basses out there, and at around £200 for a used 4 string Streamer Std, they’re amazing value IMO. A German built Warwick with the ovangkol neck that gets used on the high end bolt-on Warwicks for £200 – how can you possibly go wrong with that? Mine feels better than a few Thumb BOs I’ve tried, and also better than some FNA Streamers I’ve played as well. Quite weighty though… I’ve also played a few MIM Jazz basses that I thought were fantastic. It’s hit and miss with anything mass produced though, and I think it’s more likely to be ‘miss’ more often than ‘hit’ with cheaply mass produced instruments, but there are gems out there.[/quote] +1 on the old german Streamer std, 1 pup, 1 vol (coil tap), 1 tone pot. I gig this baby over my active corvette at 4 times the price paid (and never needed a back up). Yes I get GAS and drool over gear porn, but I still come back to the simplicity of this guitar. I'm not an expert, but IMHO I believe in getting tone from fingers as much as my knobs (ooh err missus). If you find a bass you love love the bass you're ith, no matter the name on the headstock? Yamaha do great basses for the money. I used a BB614 regularly in one band and that is an amazing guitar, 2nd hand fleabay £150 tops? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bh2 Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 My next bass will prob be a passive fretless so I reckon it'll be either a CV Jazz or CV 60's P both of which will make great project basses IMO.... my spond situation is pretty dire at the mo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jobiebass Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 Ive not played a crapish bass in a long while. but I picked up a squire P today to take on holiday with me. got it from basschatter 2x12 (sound bloke) and played it thru my rig. its really nice. ok... nowhere near my Shuker but my god it sounds well for something I paid very little for. This is the first time ive really realised that the amp means a lot more then the bass for tone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [u]Biggest surprise on a budget bass!!!!!!!!![/u] I have all sorts of things to play around with and every now and then, take three or four different basses to match one against the other, through the same lead/amp/speaker combination. The prize for my biggest surprise for a long time, goes to . . . . . . . . . This!! [attachment=34551:Cruiser.jpg] Pic lifted from the net - mine is at a friends. I bought this, quite literally, for the case it came in, so I guess it cost me about £35.00! Anybody else got one? A real eye opener. Whisper quiet responsive active electrics, light, great neck, very easy to play. I realise most will consider these to be a leaners tool/toy/un-cool/Far East fodder but matched against things the were up to 25 times more expensive, I was VERY shocked! Have a laugh, get your hands on one for pennies! Cheers. Flat Eric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 [quote name='FlatEric' post='628057' date='Oct 16 2009, 04:25 PM'][u]Biggest surprise on a budget bass!!!!!!!!![/u] I have all sorts of things to play around with and every now and then, take three or four different basses to match one against the other, through the same lead/amp/speaker combination. The prize for my biggest surprise for a long time, goes to . . . . . . . . . This!! [attachment=34551:Cruiser.jpg] Pic lifted from the net - mine is at a friends. I bought this, quite literally, for the case it came in, so I guess it cost me about £35.00! Anybody else got one? A real eye opener. Whisper quiet responsive active electrics, light, great neck, very easy to play. I realise most will consider these to be a leaners tool/toy/un-cool/Far East fodder but matched against things the were up to 25 times more expensive, I was VERY shocked! Have a laugh, get your hands on one for pennies! Cheers. Flat Eric. [/quote] Errr some of us have very old eyes nd can't read tiny headstock lables on small pictures so ... Is it a Magimix? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talon Posted October 16, 2009 Share Posted October 16, 2009 I bought this off the 'Bay' with the intention of doing it up...replacement Machine heads are terrible...no knobs on it...its been really abused [attachment=34561:Yamaha_B...1009_004.JPG] [attachment=34562:Yamaha_B...1009_009.JPG] Best £100 I've ever spent...the thing is a Tone Monster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 [quote name='OldGit' post='628089' date='Oct 16 2009, 04:48 PM']Errr some of us have very old eyes nd can't read tiny headstock lables on small pictures so ... Is it a Magimix?[/quote] Sorry. It's a Cruiser Crafter. I have also read in previous pages about a love for Ibanez Blazer basses. I have two of these, with the old type straight pick-up. These are very good. Lot's of power, equal punch from all strings, light, easy to play. A budget bass I have gigged with. Love 'em. Cheers. Flat Eric. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkle Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 I'll say it too. The Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Flat out stunning for the money. £250 is what I paid. Great build, fretwork, strings, and tone. Shielded too. Pickups seem absolutely great to me, others have installed replacements. They sound like single coils, what more do you want? Bit of set-up when you buy it and you're done. Ready to gig! It's not as ergonomically pleasing as my Lakland DJ4 (has better upper fret access), and the DJ4 has 21 frets, which is what I'm used to. But still, for the cash, you're hitting pro sound easily. I'll whisper it quietly - the Squier sounds better than my DJ4 to me. The DJ4 sounds a bit too 'bright' for me at the moment, not enough in the way of the mids I like. Perfect for Marcus Miller lovers though, I think. But of late my 'tone centre' has drifted to loving 60's alder/rosewood Jazzes, so not surprising, really. Maybe my ears are changing as time goes on... Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OutToPlayJazz Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 [quote]I'll say it too. The Squier Classic Vibe Jazz. Flat out stunning for the money. £250 is what I paid. Great build, fretwork, strings, and tone. Shielded too. Pickups seem absolutely great to me, others have installed replacements. They sound like single coils, what more do you want? Bit of set-up when you buy it and you're done. Ready to gig! It's not as ergonomically pleasing as my Lakland DJ4 (has better upper fret access), and the DJ4 has 21 frets, which is what I'm used to. But still, for the cash, you're hitting pro sound easily. I'll whisper it quietly - the Squier sounds better than my DJ4 to me. The DJ4 sounds a bit too 'bright' for me at the moment, not enough in the way of the mids I like. Perfect for Marcus Miller lovers though, I think. But of late my 'tone centre' has drifted to loving 60's alder/rosewood Jazzes, so not surprising, really. Maybe my ears are changing as time goes on... Pete[/quote] + infinity. Have a look at my review of the CV Jazz, comparing it to my 09 American Standard. There just isn't an £800 difference in quality! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hookys6stringbass Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 You know what, i'm worried my hearing is going! I picked up an Alba p bass recently for nowt as the neck was fecked and replaced the neck with a 21 fret Dr parts Maple neck. What I didn't realise is the fella that had it before me had messed about with the neck pocket so the new neck was a bit out- i've added shims and now the neck seems to be settling in now, i.e. not going out of tune as much. The bass sounds really nice I can't quite believe it..... Anyway I'm rambling a bit.... what i'd meant to say was has anyone tried out the Westfield p bass??? No? Well I have and again been blown away with quality of sound of this bass. I've seen them on the bay for £80 ish and they are well worth the money- just drop in some 1/4 pounders and your off....... Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I took my Jim Deacon MM to a festival on Sunday and used that in the first set,it cost me £80 i think.In the second set i used a Crafter Jazz that a friend of mine from another band had with him,i think that one costs about £130,both very capable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamesemt Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 [quote name='crez5150' post='391412' date='Jan 26 2009, 07:53 AM']SX compare favorably to any Fender I've played.[/quote] Mmm I used to think the same - I have four SXs in various states of upgrade (including a Jazz with Audere, Gotoh bridge and Hipshots). I thought they sounded pretty good until I got my (Fullerton) Fender Precision Special - it majorly blows everything else away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stresszilla Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I believe I have a Peavey Grindbass (not sure it looks like one but its red) It plays absolutely fantastically and sounds really good and cost £150 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 16, 2009 Author Share Posted November 16, 2009 [quote name='MacDaddy' post='391390' date='Jan 26 2009, 02:22 AM']My last few basses have all been quality mid range USA made (Carvin, Fender J, Musicman Sub, Guild B-301) but for my last gig I used a cheap Asian Mustang bass - not to be confused with the Fender Mustang. Anyway no-one commented on the change of sound, loss of tone, etc or even noticed there was a cheaper bass. There's no doubt the quality of budget basses has increased severely since I were a lad (to be said in wistful Yorkshire accent) and the budget bass feature in BGM got me thinking,[b] are there any budget basses (for the sake of argument no more than £200.00 as per the BGM piece) that can do a pro job? By pro job I mean sounds good enough to do a decent job at a gig for the player, with sufficient build quality to negate any interference issues, plays well with a decent set up, and to an average member of the audience would be no different sound wise to a bass 2 or 3 times it's value. [/b] I realise this may be entirely subjective, but we may find some common ground? Waddaya reckon?[/quote] so we're seeing a lot of basses that are great value and good for the money, but I want to return to the OP and in particular the bit in bold. Great for the money is one thing but do you thing they can do a pro job as defined above? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Tub Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I'd like to nominate the Vintage V940B. Absolutely thunderous bottom end, awesome midrange growl, clear and tight top end. Lots of scope with the on-board controls. Very versatile and I reckon in a blind comparison it'd be right up there. Highly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrenleepoole Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 [quote name='MacDaddy' post='656452' date='Nov 16 2009, 09:38 PM']Great for the money is one thing but do you thing they can do a pro job as defined above?[/quote] A pro camera won't make you a pro photographer if you can't use it, right? The same could be said of using a 'pro' instrument. A bass, regardless of cost will or should sound good in the right hands. It should never be the instrument, but the player that is the pro. Having a pro instrument simply helps more... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I could also nominate this.I think it cost me £125.I have had a LOT of basses,including 60's & 70's Fenders,Gibsons,but at the moment,while my 5 string Jazz,(the bass doc) is my weapon of choice,i will use cheap basses,there are some absolute bargains to be had.That can also be said of bass amplification,especially if bought used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Does one of my Spectors count at US$600? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacDaddy Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 (edited) [quote name='derrenleepoole' post='656507' date='Nov 16 2009, 10:33 PM']A pro camera won't make you a pro photographer if you can't use it, right? The same could be said of using a 'pro' instrument. A bass, regardless of cost will or should sound good in the right hands. It should never be the instrument, but the player that is the pro. Having a pro instrument simply helps more...[/quote] maybe true, but a pro photographer with a crap camera that overexposes or can't focus isn't gonna take too many great snaps. Likewise a great bassist with a crap cheap bass will still be prone to interference issues and issues of playability and tone. This thread is about the bass not the player which is why I said: [i]By pro job I mean sounds good enough to do a decent job at a gig for the player, with sufficient build quality to negate any interference issues, plays well with a decent set up, and to an average member of the audience would be no different sound wise to a bass 2 or 3 times it's value. [/i] Edited November 17, 2009 by MacDaddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrenochrome Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 [quote name='MacDaddy' post='656731' date='Nov 17 2009, 10:06 AM']maybe true, but a pro photographer with a crap camera that overexposes or can't focus isn't gonna take too many great snaps. Likewise a great bassist with a crap cheap bass will still be prone to interference issues and issues of playability and tone. This thread is about the bass not the player which is why I said: [i]By pro job I mean sounds good enough to do a decent job at a gig for the player, with sufficient build quality to negate any interference issues, plays well with a decent set up, and to an average member of the audience would be no different sound wise to a bass 2 or 3 times it's value. [/i][/quote] I'd definitely suggest that my Peavey fits these criteria. It was £200 about 3 years ago, I think they're a bit more now. I also know that there are full time pros using Squier and Vintage basses, which probably cost soemthing near that amount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillbilly deluxe Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 John McCoy ,ex Gillan bassist plays a Vintage P-type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.