JoeEvans Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Any thoughts on the best bass to buy, new or secondhand, for a very low price? My daughter wants to start playing bass, which of course I strongly approve of and want to encourage, so I want to pick up something cheap and cheerful right now to get her going. I'm thinking £100 ish for secondhand, correspondingly more for new if I become convinced that it's worth going that way. Obviously if you have one to sell, feel free to pitch it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happypants Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Something Harley Benton from Thomann if you want new. Or for £259 one of these (appreciate out of intended budget): 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Will it need to be short scale? Or is she big/tall enough to manage a long scale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itu Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 The best is the one that has gone through a professional setup according to your preference. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) This. You'll have to message the guy fast. Its lightweight, PJ pickups so good variety in tones available, and cheap... only it is active, so will need a battery added to play amplified, but perfect to begin or learn on accoustically. Edited September 17, 2023 by hooky_lowdown 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pirellithecat Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Biased I know, but if you can find a Squire p bass Standard you'll have a great bass with potential to improve it as necessary. Fantastically playable skinny jazz neck Ideal for smaller hands. Dead easy to set up and to get a nice action. If you can find a "Special" then even nicer. Mine shares duties with a much more expensive bass and in terms of playability it's right up there. I reckon you'd get a nice one for £150or less 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) I'd start with a quick look on Gumtree and Faceache... see whats local. I loves it... Ibby GSR200 £60ish... Squier P £80ish... quick haggle 'n £50 and £60... See whats out there and report back with a short list. What sort of music or look do they like... a bass that they want to pick up is better than one they don't That Maison screams Cort/Ibanez to me... PJ, Active Tones, a more compact body than a Squier P and 'prolly a sleeker neck... I'd give that a Serious Consideration... Edited September 17, 2023 by PaulThePlug 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 If your daughter is young and smallish, I would recommend a short scale Harley Benton P bass. Had one a while back and after a set up was a damm fine bass, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeEvans Posted September 17, 2023 Author Share Posted September 17, 2023 She's 16 and fairly tall so no need for short scale. Some good suggestions there, thanks! Interesting to see the universal love for Harley Benton. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jd56hawk Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Sure, Harley Benton, but one of the special HBs. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thump Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 +1 for Harley Benton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Harley Benton get a good write up, I’d also put forward Squier Affinity, once set up properly they play very nicely. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 Ibanez are very hard to beat for quality instruments at bargain prices. Even better used. Frank. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Dragon Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 I paid 60 quid for a Peavey International Series a few years ago and I'm still surprised by how good it is. Looks good too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecowboy Posted September 17, 2023 Share Posted September 17, 2023 29 minutes ago, Little Dragon said: I paid 60 quid for a Peavey International Series a few years ago and I'm still surprised by how good it is. Looks good too. My first bass! Bought it 22 years ago!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 Any second hand Yamaha or Cort. If you want to go new: Harley Benton indeed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paolo85 Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 19 hours ago, JoeEvans said: She's 16 and fairly tall so no need for short scale. Some good suggestions there, thanks! Interesting to see the universal love for Harley Benton. Well, it is a miracle to make well built, good sounding basses for 100 pounds. But I am going to play my usual role of reminding that some have quirks (eg being stupidly heavy and/or bad balance). Over the past year I have read of plenty of people here that did buy one and then sold as they did not want to put up with it. For a beginner it could be a pity as it could discourage from playing altogether. I'll join the chorus of those saying that a good setup is key. Maybe more important than the bass. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redbandit599 Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 Maybe have a look for a used Sire of some sort , might push the budget a little higher (but resale will hold up better) - I just got a new P5 5 string, it's my first Sire and the neck with the rounded edges is really lovely. I think they all have this feature and it makes a tangible and tactile difference to the 'comfort' of the neck, so might be an especially good call when learning. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tobiewharton Posted September 18, 2023 Share Posted September 18, 2023 My votes would go to Yamaha, Cort and Ibanez for quality and consistency. S/H their more basic models will be not too far beyond budget. I've no personal experience of Hartley Benton instruments but notice that they often review well. Set-up and reasonable quality strings can elevate a cheaper bass enormously but, unless you do it yourself you'll be adding a significant bill to your budget (£50-£80 including strings). This is lost money. Therfore, imo you'd be better off getting a S/H instrument that doesn't necessarily need a set-up and strings and would retain the majority of its value (try first if at all possible); if I had to hedge my bets I'd go for Yamaha, having never owned or played a bad one. All the best to your daughter as she embarks on this exciting but dangerous quest! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted September 19, 2023 Share Posted September 19, 2023 These are great instruments and a steal at this price (If you live near London) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 Having just got one I'll have to say the Harley Benton mm4a at £169. Stunning for that price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 On 17/09/2023 at 12:38, Pirellithecat said: Biased I know, but if you can find a Squire p bass Standard you'll have a great bass with potential to improve it as necessary. Fantastically playable skinny jazz neck Ideal for smaller hands. Dead easy to set up and to get a nice action. If you can find a "Special" then even nicer. Mine shares duties with a much more expensive bass and in terms of playability it's right up there. I reckon you'd get a nice one for £150or less I had one and foolishly sold it. I'd be more than happy with one as my first bass. Don't forget it's a P/J so huge tonal range. If she has a bit more cash, Yamaha or G&L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 This appeared in the for sale section today, 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 On 17/09/2023 at 12:05, JoeEvans said: ny thoughts on the best bass to buy, new or secondhand, for a very low price? If you need playability and decent sound at the lowest price a Hardly-Bent-One is the only option. On 18/09/2023 at 09:37, Paolo85 said: Over the past year I have read of plenty of people here that did buy one and then sold as they did not want to put up with it. I have a bass that cost fifteen times as much as my HB five-string, and I gig them both. My brother has a 1962 SG Junior, and gigs it along with an HB that is worth about 1/50th as much. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted September 26, 2023 Share Posted September 26, 2023 HBs are very good for the price. Or for second-hand try a Peavey Milestone III. A decent one for £100 should be easy enough. Spoiler (Yes, I do have one I would like to get rid of. Why do you ask?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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