best bass for around $500

  • Thread starter Thread starter LI_Slim
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LI_Slim

LI_Slim

voice in the wilderness
This is for my college-age daughter. She's a good bass player and wants to step up from the Squier I originally got her. She's only 5' 2" so not too huge or heavy please. For rock and the like.

What do you suggest?
 
THIS Would be my vote if she likes a 5 string (since she plays rock or else get the same in a 4 string). Sounds and plays great, and not very heavy for a bass.

Another way to go could be the Warwick pro bass line as they are around that price range. They are light and sound pretty good.
 
Ibanez has the SX series of basses that are very good for the money. I have an SX-300 that (if I recall) I paid around $350 for. Dual pickup, active electronics with volume, pickup fade, treble boost/cut, and bass boost/cut controls.
 
I know this is not a 500 dollar bass.. but if you can get your hands on a modded OLP bass they sound fantastic and dont weigh a ton or have a huge scale.
 
Thanks guys. Ibanez seems to be doing a good job in that range...
 
I own and do reccomend an Elrick manufactured by Cort. I have known Rob for 20 years and he designs ( in this case manufactured by Cort) graceful instruments. Check out the website. Sorry for the plug, but it is a great bass in that price range. His customs are Very expensive.
 
i also had and liked the sx300, but it's a bit heavier than their the models in their sr range. the sr300 (and other models in that line) is a nice, light bass as well with a good sound. i think ibanez has changed that line a lot as there seem to be so many models in that line-- many of which can be had used at a fraction (albeit a bigger fraction like 1/2 or 2/3) of their original price and under $500.
i currently have a mtd kingston 4 bass which i love. iirc mtd is mark tobias design's korean line. it's considerably ligher than the sx300 i had, has one humbucker "music man" style pickup though it has passive electronics. the neck is wider than the sx300, but i find it plays kind of faster and i have relatively small hands. some of the models sell new for <$500 and i got mine in excellent shape off ebay for less than $300 shipped.
another option on the cheap is those agile and sx basses from rondomusic dot com. i have a couple of friends around here who picked up sx basses as backups and they love them for the $. i have a buddy who's primarily a guitar player who got one of the short scale basses for a hair over $100 and he loves it.
 
I agree with Koj as per the info about SX basses...I have their upgraded short-scale (Fender "J" style) bass with beautiful natural ash body and maple neck/fretboard with pearloid block inlays and fully bound neck...it has upgraded pickups, very smooth and accurate tuners and a very high quality bridge...really terrific bass (short-scale makes it very light and comfortable, very much like a strat in size & weight)...went for $169 and easily compares with Fender basses more in the $500-600 price range...go to Rondo.com...if it's out of stock, send an email to Kurt and ask when the deluxe short-scale bass ($169) will be back in stock...
 
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Larry- Find her a Musicman SUB bass. You can get them used for quite below that and they'll blow anything else out of the water for twice the price. I had one I got rid of when I bought my high $$ Tobias, but wish I still had the SUB alot of times. Its a step up from even US Fenders for sure.
 
Sounds like there are lots of good choices out there.

Happy hunting, LI Slim. :)
 
Another "vote" for the quality of Ibanez basses in this price range. They tend to be light, solid, and these days have decent active electronics. I've had 2 and I liked them both. Apologies, but I can't recall any model numbers.

You might check in the reviews at harmony central.

-C
 
Zaphod B said:
Sounds like there are lots of good choices out there.

Happy hunting, LI Slim. :)
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Thanks buddy. I just exchanged e-mails with my daughter about this and she suggested we go bass shopping together while she is in New York for her holiday break. That's a pretty nice father-daughter activity!!! :)
 
LI_Slim said:
Thanks buddy. I just exchanged e-mails with my daughter about this and she suggested we go bass shopping together while she is in New York for her holiday break. That's a pretty nice father-daughter activity!!! :)
Click to expand...

That sounds like fun! :)
 
I'd suggest the shopping trip to narrow it down. With her size and possibly smaller fingers only playing the bass will help you out.

Do a quick search on manufactures nut sizes and string lengths to brush up on what should fit into the smaller fingers categories. This will narrow the search even more. ;)
 
LI_Slim said:
Thanks guys. Ibanez seems to be doing a good job in that range...
Click to expand...

I have an Ibanez Jazz Bass copy that was from back in their lawsuit days-I think I bought it new in 75'. 30 plus years and it still hasn't had one single problem-although it does weigh a ton!
 
So after hanging out at Sam Ash and trying several Ibanez and (Mexican) Fenders in the $500 range, we ended up pushing up the limit a couple hundred and she got a Hofner. http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--HOFHCT5001

You know, the McCartney "vioin" bass. Not the authentic German made of course but much higher quality than the original knock-off. It's great for a fairly petite woman like my daughter. I'm a guitar player not a bass player but I thought it played great and it did not seem limited unless you need it for heavy heavy shit.
 
One of the Absolute best sounding Bass Guitars i have ever owned is the Rigue LX 400 Pro. it is a 24 fret neck, can be played either active or passive. I have the 4,5 and 6 string LX Pro models and am very happy with all 3 this is the Bass guitars I play most and gig with.

 
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