You have £300 and you HAVE to buy a new bass today…..

[Marvin]

If the gig is 'tonight' it'd have to be from the nearest store. So I'd probably go for the Ibanez GSRM20 Mikro in sunburst they've got for £220. Or the Ibannez SRMD200D Mezzo in Pearl White for £300. They've got a couple of Squier Jaguar with single hambuckers but I don't really like them, so it's Ibanez for me

[stewblack]

  On 05/05/2023 at 09:00, Rayman said:

…… there’s a gig tonight, and you can’t access your gear. There’s an amp at the venue, but you need a bass.

 

It has to be new, from a store, today and there’s no time to modify it.

 

What are you going to buy?

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Harley Benton. Doesn't matter which one they all come out of the box in tune and set up.

[ezbass]

  On 07/05/2023 at 12:25, stewblack said:

Harley Benton. Doesn't matter which one they all come out of the box in tune and set up.

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A solid choice, but doesn't fit the brief due to the time scale...

 

  On 05/05/2023 at 09:00, Rayman said:

…… there’s a gig tonight, and you can’t access your gear. There’s an amp at the venue, but you need a bass.

 

It has to be new, from a store, today and there’s no time to modify it.

 

What are you going to buy?

Expand  

 

[SamIAm]

Being a short scale fiver player ... I'd pop round to GAK (20 minutes on the bus) and grab one of their in stock Ibanez TMB-35s and a £30 strap. (I'm assuming the venue will provide a cable!)

S'manth x

Edited May 7, 2023 by Smanth

[tegs07]

  On 05/05/2023 at 10:08, neepheid said:

G&L Tribute LB-100

G&L Tribute JB-2

G&L Tribute Kiloton (B-stock)

 

All £299 at Andertons right now.  The LB-100 does P, the JB-2 does J, the Kiloton (sorta) does passive SR.  All done with aplomb.  Very happy with my Tribute LB-100.

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Don’t think I can top this for value. In fact whose silly idea of a thread was this? I’m now really tempted by the JB2. Never got on with a jazz body shape … mmmm

[Jonesy]

  On 07/05/2023 at 12:25, stewblack said:

Harley Benton. Doesn't matter which one they all come out of the box in tune and set up.

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  On 07/05/2023 at 12:31, ezbass said:

A solid choice, but doesn't fit the brief due to the time scale...

 

 

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What if the imaginary gig just happened to be part of Stew's European tour in Burgebrach and, because Stew is a loyal customer, they let him pick one up?

[stewblack]

  On 07/05/2023 at 13:04, Jonesy said:

 

 

 

What if the imaginary gig just happened to be part of Stew's European tour in Burgebrach and, because Stew is a loyal customer, they let him pick one up?

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Exactly. It's all fantasy and my fantasy gig is in Deutschland.

[Rayman]

Munich beer festival?

Edited May 7, 2023 by Rayman

[Rayman]

I actually typed bear festival above…. that would be even better 

[Waddo Soqable]

  On 07/05/2023 at 14:29, Rayman said:

I actually typed bear festival above…. that would be even better 

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They do in fact have a bear festival in Kensington, posh expensive teddy bears that is 😁

[Waddo Soqable]

  On 07/05/2023 at 15:44, Waddo Soqable said:

They do in fact have a bear festival in Kensington, posh expensive teddy bears that is 😁

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For full disclosure I did a actually go once, with a friend who's into that kind of thing, bloody dear tho some of the "antique" teddies, I was, as reward for my escort duty, presented with a very tatty small stuffed cat thing from the bargain box.. 

[LowB_FTW]

  On 05/05/2023 at 10:15, neepheid said:

If we're talking local availability, I'd rather cancel the gig

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+1

Or borrow from a friend.

After searching my local places websites using the criteria of this challenge, I'm let down.

If I could go further afield ... This Alvarez Villain, from The Bass Gallery - 24 frets, 35" scale and 5-strings, all for £280.

 

Mark

[nilorius]

Anything could be possible, but the easiest way to find fast your nearest shops who do out music instrument renting, that would would be the best and cheapest solution. Chech the brands and models available, think of the days and do it, used or new you would find a good choice for the money you have.

[Waddo Soqable]

Nah.. I don't think borrowing or renting is part of the parameters 

( ok I know I suggested nicking one, only kidding officer👮‍♂️..) 

You've got to buy a new bass...

[Twincam]

If its local only. And today. And has to be new. 

Means I have limited local stores, 1 in 8 miles and another 4 in approx 33 to 40 miles. 

 

Need a slim neck.

So likely will have to be a squier jazz bass. 

Or an ibanez sr300.

 

If rules are slightly relaxed to a used bass. But local and can get it today. 

That opens more options. 

 

 

[Rayman]

Brand new basses only, you can’t borrow or buy second hand, and it has to be in stock, somewhere you can pick it up, today.

[LowB_FTW]

  On 09/05/2023 at 02:12, Rayman said:

Brand new basses only, you can’t borrow or buy second hand, and it has to be in stock, somewhere you can pick it up, today.

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Da fuq am I gonna get a 5-string bass, brand new for under £300 that doesn't have them rubbish clover leaf tuners (because they are a deal-breaker)?!?

 

Gig, cancelled.

Hahaha

 

Mark

[KingBollock]

If sticking to the rules, I have two options:

 

Cort Action for £189:

 

https://www.james-music.co.uk/products/cort-action-pj-bass-in-open-pore-walnut

 

Or a Squier Affinity for £239:

 

https://www.james-music.co.uk/products/affinity-series-precision-bass-pj

 

As much as I like my Corts, I think the PJ Squier versatility trumps the, rather boring looking Cort, on this occasion.

 

I might, in the future, even end up changing the neck to one with a maple fretboard, and try to make it look(ish) like Steve Harris’ 80s blue Precision.

[stewblack]

Ok so we're being finicky. There are no music shops where I live so it's a trip to somewhere and Thomann being out of bounds I guess it's Bath. There is a musical instrument shop in Cheap Street. It has four basses in stock. Three under the price limit all Squires. 

So I guess I end up playing one of those.

[tauzero]

  On 09/05/2023 at 02:12, Rayman said:

Brand new basses only, you can’t borrow or buy second hand, and it has to be in stock, somewhere you can pick it up, today.

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Too late now, the gig was on Friday.

[BigRedX]

  On 05/05/2023 at 14:29, BigRedX said:

A synth.

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Or a guitar and an octave pedal.

[neepheid]

Right, if I'm being super strict (must be able to walk into a shop, today and buy) it's slim pickings up here but I'd go to Kenny's Music in Aberdeen and buy this for £250:

 

https://www.kennysmusic.co.uk/yamaha-trbx174ew-4-string-bass-exotic-wood-tobacco-brown-sunburst-p148

 

I would have a poke about in RamJam (2nd hand guitar shop) to see what they had first.

[diskwave]

Easy. Anything P bass shaped with four strings.

Was in the same position once re cabs. Got a call for a nice paying dep with 24 hrs to go but for some reason didn't have a cab...Drove to nearest store on route, found a well used Ashdown cab I think and arrived at venue with crowds settling on seats as I walk in the back door carrying this bloomin cab in its box which I sold a few weeks later.....What a faff.

Edited May 9, 2023 by greavesbass

[How1]

Probably a Squier precision and upgrade at leisure. Or one of these - Yamaha TRB174:

 

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/13100717285058--yamaha-trbx174-old-violin-sunburst

[SteveXFR]

£300 to the local gangsters for a shooter and balaclava then something like a Dingwall NG3.