Best cheap bass?

[Pbassred]

Not that I'm against mid range or expensive instruments (a pair of Yamaha TRBs and a 78 Precision), But also
I'm a believer that's is HOW you play rather than what you play ON. So,,,,,,,,,,

What is the best bass you know under £120 ($240). I suppose we should include 2nd hand here, since the scuffs don't always matter. Excluded are the one offs like: precision in a skip (it does
happen).

[Mr. Foxen]

Peaveys seem to go for no money and are good bits of kit. I bought a new Johnson on ebay, asked the guy to put his ear against them and send me the one that sounded loudest. It had poo hardware, but a good enough chunk of wood and a thick neck I liked. Westone Tunders are a classic, saw one go for £38, but most go for more.

[john_the_bass]

westone thunder 1 (and 1a) seem to be had occassionally sub £100 and are nice to play, there are some good (old ish) squiers out there sub 100 quid.

[johnm]

left handed Aria legend 'jazz' for sale £80 if anyone's interested

[metalmaniac]

Encore P-Bass

Excelletn Value

[theosd]

Ignore all of the above and go look at Thomann. Their own brand 'Harley Benton' basses are extraordinarily good value. I've gigged mine solidly for 3 years with no hassle and just a dodgy pot to show for it! And by solidly, i Mean on average twice a week, not including practices and rehearsals. Trust me on this.

To hear examples of it in action, [url="http://www.myspace.com/gummybabies"]clicky one[/url] and [url="http://www.myspace.com/ukunderthethumb"]clicky two[/url]. Both are old bands of mine which I used my harley 5er for! Check out the crunch on Gummy Babies track 'Stepping Stone'. Who needs a warwick!?

Edited September 17, 2007 by theosd

[low note lee]

my squier jazz bass is great. I'm really impressed with the sound of it considering it cost me about $250 AUD (about 104 pounds). Even though i have my gorgeous Fender Highway1 Jazz Bass, i still use the Squier on occasions.

[wotnwhy]

the harley bentons are great, awsomely powerful pickups!

if we include 2nd hand, the OLP would be tops for me. when i had mine i would regularly gig it instead of the Shuker for a bit of a change, not quite on the same level (!) but more than good enough to gig with, great in fact!

[paul, the]

Toby Pros

Aria Pros.

[bassbloke]

late 80s/early90s 2nd bass collections - the properSGC Nanyo. Absolutely no resale value for some reason, but these were quality basses at the time. The 5s have an amazing flat neck profileand are unbelieveably light.

I mean look at these. OK, it's £200, but it's five string and one of the higher spec models with translucent finish

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Collections-SGC-Nanyo-SB325-Active-5-String-Bass_W0QQitemZ250165500444QQihZ015QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Bass Collection 5[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Collection-SGC-Nanyo-SB325-Active-5-String-Bass_W0QQitemZ150162224726QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Example 2[/url]

[OutToPlayJazz]

If it's new, shop around for the natural maple Squier Vintage Modified Jazz... But otherwise, anything used that fits Look for a Hohner Jack Custom with the active circuit for one suggestion, or the B2A stick bass.

[Veils]

Harley Benton

[7string]

I picked up a clear plexiglass Wesley 5 string on eBay for £55.

It looked really cool and for the price it was fantastic. Since then I gave it a decent set of strings, shimmed the bolt-on neck, given the frets a once over, made a new nut and I've just finished shielding all the electronics. The fingerboard took about 2 hours to clean it was so bad !!

Looks great and sounds pretty good too !!

[Tait]

[quote name='theosd' post='61688' date='Sep 17 2007, 02:07 PM']Ignore all of the above and go look at Thomann. Their own brand 'Harley Benton' basses are extraordinarily good value. I've gigged mine solidly for 3 years with no hassle and just a dodgy pot to show for it! And by solidly, i Mean on average twice a week, not including practices and rehearsals. Trust me on this.

To hear examples of it in action, [url="http://www.myspace.com/gummybabies"]clicky one[/url] and [url="http://www.myspace.com/ukunderthethumb"]clicky two[/url]. Both are old bands of mine which I used my harley 5er for! Check out the crunch on Gummy Babies track 'Stepping Stone'. Who needs a warwick!?[/quote]

wow! what a sound on stepping stone! which harley benton are you playing?

[paul, the]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mania-VTB-4BS-thru-neck-active-Bass-guitar-TKL-case_W0QQitemZ230172707130"]This[/url] will be a good buy.

[bass_in_ya_face]

I love my Yamaha rbx170 & the Vintage est96 is very well made and a stingray copy. Also I had a Ibanez GSR200 which was very good.

[bass_in_ya_face]

[quote name='paul, the' post='63852' date='Sep 21 2007, 10:35 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mania-VTB-4BS-thru-neck-active-Bass-guitar-TKL-case_W0QQitemZ230172707130"]This[/url] will be a good buy.[/quote]


that's a pretty bass!

[Oxblood]

[quote name='paul, the' post='63852' date='Sep 21 2007, 10:35 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mania-VTB-4BS-thru-neck-active-Bass-guitar-TKL-case_W0QQitemZ230172707130"]This[/url] will be a good buy.[/quote]
I know - I JUST BOUGHT IT !

Gotta wait 'till the cheque clears before I can get me hands on it, though.

Edited September 22, 2007 by Oxblood

[paul, the]

[quote name='bass_in_ya_face' post='64071' date='Sep 22 2007, 04:12 PM']that's a pretty bass![/quote]

It won the award in Guitar Magazine 2005 for best bass under £500. It's a guitar mag', but there must be some merit there.

[OutToPlayJazz]

Hmmm... Just saw that the price was originally set at £120, so I have to vote for the Boston P-basses I've just bought as rentals. Quality is way in front of a Squier Affinity & they sound lovely, especially as I paid only £80 for each package (including 15w amp, case, lead & strap!)

[paul, the]

[quote name='Oxblood' post='64086' date='Sep 22 2007, 05:19 PM']I know - I JUST BOUGHT IT !

Gotta wait 'till the cheque clears before I can get me hands on it, though.[/quote]

Nice one Ken! Sorry if I brought unwanted attention.

Let us know how she goes.


Oh BTW, what does it mean when the 'Bias' in a valve amp is a class A or B...?

Edited September 22, 2007 by paul, the

[Lfalex v1.1]

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='61928' date='Sep 17 2007, 09:51 PM']If it's new, shop around for the natural maple Squier Vintage Modified Jazz... But otherwise, anything used that fits Look for a Hohner Jack Custom with the active circuit for one suggestion, or the B2A stick bass.[/quote]

Strangely, I own both a B2A (V) and a Squier 70's VMJ. Both are very good instruments for the money. Neither was over £250.
My vote goes for second hand.
I bought an Ibanez EDB600 for £80 just recently. I still haven't put it down! Excellent for £80. A few dings, but it's really tough and feels very solid.

[Bassmonster]

my vote goes with the ibanez GSR200, played my one yesterday for the first time in ages, pretty damn good considering the company it keeps, even new these things can be picked up for around £150

Edited September 22, 2007 by Bassmonster

[King Tut]

Lucky old me picked up a yamaha rbx 270 for £25 in Cash Converters last week. Body was badly scratched - but otherwise fine, so I've rubbed it down and waxed it, shileded the cavity, put on new strings and set it up - it's pretty darn good - even paying full price. It's selling to a mates daughter next week - another one rescuede from the trash!!

[Bassmonster]

[quote name='King Tut' post='64543' date='Sep 23 2007, 11:00 PM']Lucky old me picked up a yamaha rbx 270 for £25 in Cash Converters last week. Body was badly scratched - but otherwise fine, so I've rubbed it down and waxed it, shileded the cavity, put on new strings and set it up - it's pretty darn good - even paying full price. It's selling to a mates daughter next week - another one rescuede from the trash!![/quote]


nice one