don't laugh

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dtb

dtb

Well-known member
ok, you can laugh. Best entry level bass guitar. Looking to pick up one for less than 200.00. Mostly for DI recording, learning some chops, and to have one available for friends. You know me. Just a hobbist. I'm looking at, Squire, Drive, or something in this range. Already have an amp for "live" recording. Will check out used stuff too. But mostly would like to know about entry level specs like how the action is on these type basses.

thanks,

dtb
 
well, I'm going to give a boring standard reply, but just go to the shop and try several. Today, there is a great choice of entry level material and they all are resonable. I don't think there is one great winner among them. The Squiers have a good reputation though.
 
So many people seem to think that X instrument will be a good buy or Y will not be. The ONLY way to choose an instrument is to play it. I play a P Bass and yet I have played USA made Fender basses that didn't feel right at all.

I know i'm repeating Bretts good advice but I have seen so many people make the mistake. NEVER buy an instrument on the net or by mail order...even if you have to pay a bit more you should go and try it before you buy. You may get lucky and love the instrument but there is an equal chance that you will hate it and regret it till the day you sell it at a fifth of the price you paid!
 
I've got a Peavey "Milestone III"
Cost me $189.00 w/bag.
It has 2 pickups, and can give a variety of tones.
Is it a P Bass? No......
But the Squire P Basses are around $275.00 (and worth it)

There are quite a few choices in your range.
I looked for something to give me the most in terms of different sounds.

Good luck

Joel
 
BrettB said:
I don't think there is one great winner among them. The Squiers have a good reputation though.
Click to expand...

My young brother-in-law is on his 3rd Squire bass in less than a year because of the same problem... the pots on the volume and tone controls are pure crap. His volume dial puked out on two consecutive basses, and this is a kid who only sits and plays with his school Jazz-band, not some wailing, high-energy Rock band. Fortunately he got replacement basses because of the one-year warranty, but based on two bad ones in a row, I'd have to suggest steering clear of the Squire basses.

I think Yamaha makes some of the better entry-level basses for the money. Ibanez makes some decent ones too. Of course, all the entry-level basses mentioned here are manufactured by Samick of Korea. But the suppliers for the electronic components are chosen by the company whose name appears on the headstock. So the Squires probably are getting cheaper electronics than the Yamaha, Ibanez, and Samick basses. Either that or the point of final inspection is lacking for the Fender products.

Some Asian-made guitars and basses have excellent final inspections and set-ups done on them.
For example, Cort guitars and basses are manufactured in multiple locations in Asia (Korea and Indonesia) but the final assembly, set-up, and inspections are done here in the U.S. at Cort's Northbrook, Illinois headquarters. Cort has excellent quality control due to this process, but they cost a bit more than the other Asian-made basses because of it.

You get what you pay for, eh? ;)

I'd have to say that the best bang-for-your-buck basses right now are the one's with the Samick name on the headstock, more specifically, the Greg Bennett line. Samick is out to prove that good looks, great tone and high-quality can be achieved at an affordable price. They put a BIG emphasis on quality-control on the products with their name on it.

So far, they've proven their point.
 
Don't forget to frequent the pawn shops. I got a Peavy Foundation and a TKO 80 bass amp for $150 about ten years ago.. I don't use the amp anymore (except as furniture or to prop up my guitar amp for recording).. But the bass is pretty decent. The downside though is at pawnshops most of the guitars will not have new strings, but you can still check it for action and noise.

Cy
 
I bought a Yamaha at Guitar Center on sale for $169.00
Damn nice bass with good tone.
 
I would take a serious look at Korean-made axes -- Samick, Cort, Epiphone. They have a superb price/performance ratio.
 
I also have a nice Yamaha I bought on closeout from GC a while back - it was around $270, and it wasn't their bottom end (pun intended) model, but is a great bass for the price.
 
Try to find a bass with active pickups for that price range, it will really come in handy when recording.



clif
 
Yes, when buying a cheap bass you are more likely to get a duffer. However, you can pay £1000+ for an instrument and still have pieces fall off it...and I should know.

Despite what Buck62 said I would still say that a squier is still a good bet. I have taught a lot of people with squire basses and have had no trouble from them and more importantly have heard good sounds out of them. Yes the quality is not the same as a us fender or a rickenbacker but it's probably better on average than any other cheap manufacturer. And a thumbs up to the Yamaha camp too....there stuff never fails to amaze me.

And you can always upgade the pickups if you get tired off the tone.
 
So far, we ALL agree on Yamaha.

That should say something! :)
 
dtb,
Are you anywhere close to Manassas? Dixie Pawn has a Jazz Bass that I know you could pick up for that $200. When I looked at it, I asked the guy if he would throw in a dozen arrows for that price. But I think a skilled neck man could straighten it out. If not, you could always go huntin with it!


bd
 
Disco_Dave is my new hero.

finally someone feels the same way i do about p-basses lol. i agree 100% with the fender usa basses feeling like poo. the only bass ive found that i like almost as much as my p-bass is a music man stingray...which is like sooo out of my price range...i dont even have a price range lol.

but no one on here can stress this enough...buy what you think feels good and feels right. i hate warwicks, but they might be your favorite bass, who knows. just play alot and check around for prices.

freak
 
Bass Freak said:

.....100% with the fender usa basses feeling like poo. .....


freak
Click to expand...

I feel that MOST Basses in any store are not set up correctly. If they were set up correctly, they would play a lot better. Don't let a bad experience with the nicer stuff fool you.


clif
 
Yo Dan... That white bass I had at the JamFest (the one everyone ended up playing cause Q was too lazy <or messed up> to change the string he popped) is a Peavey Fury. Got it at a local store for ~$175.00 on the way to a gig that I was supposed to play bass at (hence, I needed a bass:p ). For what it is, it ain't bad... ...again, it's no MusicMan with Bartolini's, but...
 
clifchamb said:
I feel that MOST Basses in any store are not set up correctly. If they were set up correctly, they would play a lot better. Don't let a bad experience with the nicer stuff fool you.


clif
Click to expand...


No doubt!

Many guitars at shops are not set up properly. I've bought quite a few that required additional tweaking despite being set up by a store's tech. Not to knock the store techs because often the guitars are not even set up. Usually a store will give you a limited time or at least one free set up after a purchase. This can make a huge difference in playability of an instrument.

Hell, a big local shop here never changes the strings on their displayed instruments. Even the $3000 and up Les Pauls. This makes it very hard to decide to buy one based on playing it. :rolleyes:



Also, I have to agree with Buck regarding Ibanez basses. I've had a cheap one for years and it plays great.
 
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