I got a cheap bass!

  • Thread starter Thread starter getuhgrip
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getuhgrip

getuhgrip

Bring Back Transfat!
Another budget buy bites me back! I haven't really played much bass, but in trying to do my own recordings, I bought a cheapo figuring....a bass is a bass! Anyway, this thing had a buzz in the bridge that wouldn't quit! So I exchanged it for a Washburn that sounded "serviceable" in the store.
After several hours of play this thing sounds like there's a hornet's nest in the bridge!:D
I don't want to become a bass engineer, but what is a decent bottom-feeder bass for $300 or less?
 
The Fender Jazz and P-Basses(made in Mexico) seem to have good intonation and are a good value. They sell for around $300.

I bought a sunburst Jazz and the finish is beautiful, and it records well.

I think some of the Yamaha basses are well made too. Sometimes it's good to have an experienced bass player go along with you and check out the basses, because they can tell you if something doesn't seem right. The only problem is, they tend to like the REALLY expensive stuff and might try to talk you out of buying a good cheap bass.
 
I asked a rockabilly cousin of mine for some help, and all I heard was Conkin(?) and Tobias. Cool.....how much do they cost? Click...."if you'ld like to make a call pl.."

This isn't a good reason not to buy a Fender, but I've got two strats, and didn't want a bass that looked like one!
But I'll give them another look.
Thanks, Rick
 
Gethugrip,

Bass is my primary instrument and I have read alot lot of good reviews on both the Tobias and Conklin Basses. Both of these brands were previously small shop handbuilts that retailed close to $1000+ but they have been bought out and labor outsourced to Korean etc manufacturing. While the attention to detail may be less; the reviews in Bass player in bang for the buck and good sound have been impressive and the prices have dropped closer to $600 for your basic four strings.

If you want to stay closer to the $300-400 range I also would recomend the mexican Fender's (Squires) P and J basses.

You will have to decide if the extra $ is worth getting something different from your Fender guitars. I would not recomend Carvin's from my experience they look and play nice but their pickups are flat and lifeless.

Hope this helps feel free to ask about any others your have heard of.

Scooter










:)
 
Funny you should mention the Carvin as I was just salivating over this picture of a two-tone beauty! I was just getting ready to see how out of my range it is.
I've got no problem with demo'ing the Fender, I just thought it was kind of blah looking. But then, nobody ever bought a Kirby because it looked good! :D
 
I went into my local music store with the intention of buying a bass for recording, and I said "take me to your cheapest." It was a Yamaha, it kind of looks like a P, I actually spent an extra 35$ to get one with humbuckers instead of the (Jazz model) with single coils. It was around 250$ total. I would say the quality is really about the same as a Mexi Fender... The only mod I had to do was: I bought some heavy strings for it. The light ones that were on there sounded weak. With the heavy ones, it hurts like a bitch to play for an hour, but the tone is really good, about as good as I'll ever need.
 
Gethugrip,

I actually custom ordered a Carvin around '96 and it was beatifull, oil finish on Koa wood 24 fret ebony with black hardware. It played nice with a very smooth comfortable neck but I was so bummed because the sound was so flat, timid and lifeless. I actually debated upgrading the pickups myself but why spend $700 or so on a brand new bass and turn around and shell out another $200 on pickups. Een then you still might not be happy with the sound. So I returned it and had a local luthiere build a similar one out of Koa with EMG P-J's and I have been most happy with it. :)

If you see a really hot deal on a used Carvin that you would have money left over for better pickups it might be worth a shot.
 
Yamaha and Ibanez make some really nice basses that are in the $300 price range..... great tone and playability for the money.
 
I appreciate all the email offers I've gotten the past few days! I looked hard at every one, but found an Ibeanez EDB600 at a pawnshop saturday.
Now, who wants to buy a new sunburst Washburn for a spare or for their kid for Christmas? $150?

Thanks again
Rick
 
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