Shopping For A Bass

[BuddyLee]

I am in the market for a Bass for under $500. Preferably American. I noticed Highway 1 Basses are made in USA and have some cool features, especially the Jazz Bass model. They show up on craigslist from time to time for around $400.

I also have noticed some of the Vintage lower-end Basses can be had in this same price range, like The Bullet and P Bass. And the Mexican models are even cheaper.

Online the Japanese Jaguar Bass can be had for $600.

So my question is what would be a good quality entry level bass in this price range?

I found this Bullet on ebay and it seems like a decent price but the original pups have been replaced DIY style. I love the maple fretboard and blond finish though, it would match my Tele.

http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-USA-FEND...%3D2%26ps%3D63

Thanks, Devo

[Lerb21]

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

So my question is what would be a good quality entry level bass in this price range?

If you would like my opinion, I'd just get a Rondo.

They're cheap, they're good, they're easy to mod. You can get a pretty sweet bass if swap out the pup and electronics on these things and give em' a good setup.

Heck I don't even swap out anything! Mine are fine I just set em' up good.

If you're just starting the bass, I'd spend the rest on getting a bass amp.

my $0.10

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by Lerb21

If you would like my opinion, I'd just get a Rondo.

They're cheap, they're good, they're easy to mod. You can get a pretty sweet bass if swap out the pup and electronics on these things and give em' a good setup.

Heck I don't even swap out anything! Mine are fine I just set em' up good.

If you're just starting the bass, I'd spend the rest on getting a bass amp.

my $0.10

Right on, I'll check them out. My plan was to get a nice bass and amp for under $1k.

I like to buy quality stuff though, ever since I bought my first guitar, a Squire Strat I have sworn to never again buy something made so shoddy.

It was one of the really bad Squires, not one of the nice ones. When I finally got a real guitar I was floored by the difference in playability and tone, and I had upgraded the pups in the Squire too.

Holding some resale value is something I am looking for in a bass too.

[telepicker52]

Check out Westone Thunder basses from early '80s, they go for about $200 and are very nice & don't need mods.

[ThaLowEndTheory]

With the budget you want to spend, i'd go with the hwy 1. Though I believe you can get a bass just as good for less. It's probably going to carry the best resale from you list. The sx is a good option on a budget. The squier vintage mods and classic vibes are excellent basses for less. That leaves plenty of money for upgrades and an amp. At the same time, with the economy as it is, people are giving stuff away on craigslist and ebay. If resale is important to you, Fender is probably the way to go. $400 is a good price for the hwy 1 IMHO. It's a good solid bass.

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by telepicker52

Check out Westone Thunder basses from early '80s, they go for about $200 and are very nice & don't need mods.

Those are proving harder to find in the US unless my google skills are really bad. It looks like there are a lot of them in British hands all across the globe though.

Originally Posted by ThaLowEndTheory

With the budget you want to spend, i'd go with the hwy 1. Though I believe you can get a bass just as good for less. It's probably going to carry the best resale from you list. The sx is a good option on a budget. The squier vintage mods and classic vibes are excellent basses for less. That leaves plenty of money for upgrades and an amp. At the same time, with the economy as it is, people are giving stuff away on craigslist and ebay. If resale is important to you, Fender is probably the way to go. $400 is a good price for the hwy 1 IMHO. It's a good solid bass.

The thing I found out about the Highway 1 line was in 2007 they switched to a Badass II Bridge, and I am not sure if the older models had the graphite reinforced necks.

I have heard some people like the model before the update because it is more '60s in style, some people like the updated version.

Do they have the same pickups or where those upgraded as well?

I was hoping the Highway 1 Bass would show up on MF's Fender Friday. Blond or Midnight Wine would be sweet. But the old models you can get in Daphne Blue.

[ThaLowEndTheory]

If I had my choice, I'd go with the new one, and sell the badass bridge. They are getting bid up between $150 and $200 for the ones with pre grooved saddles. Then I'd switch out the grease bucket circuit for standard wiring. I believe the pickups are the same. The grease bucket circuit is what accounts for the main tonal differences. I'm not sure about the necks either. Either one would be a win.

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by ThaLowEndTheory

If I had my choice, I'd go with the new one, and sell the badass bridge. They are getting bid up between $150 and $200 for the ones with pre grooved saddles. Then I'd switch out the grease bucket circuit for standard wiring. I believe the pickups are the same. The grease bucket circuit is what accounts for the main tonal differences. I'm not sure about the necks either. Either one would be a win.

Thanks ThaLowEndTheory, you have been a big help.

[jwsamuel]

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

Online the Japanese Jaguar Bass can be had for $600.

I just ordered a Jaguar last night.

If you call Musicians friend and tell them you have discount code OCT20%, you get another 20 percent off the price of $599.99. I got my Jaguar for $479. The code is supposed to be good all month on anything.

Jim

[Frankjohnson]

Nice - very nice.

I LOVE the neck on mine. I only had a small problem with ground buzz when using Nylon wrapped strings. With steel - no issues.

It is one of my favorite basses!

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by jwsamuel

I just ordered a Jaguar last night.

If you call Musicians friend and tell them you have discount code OCT20%, you get another 20 percent off the price of $599.99. I got my Jaguar for $479. The code is supposed to be good all month on anything.

Jim

AWESOME!!

I wonder if that will work on Fender Friday?

Last week thay had the SRV Strat for $999.... would that have made it an even $800?

[ricplayer]

Nothing beats trying out a bass, I have a few in my collection, and the playability isn't necessarily related to price. I have a Rickenbacker 4003 that cost me £1000 and sits under my bed and my Number 1 bass is a jazz bass that cost me about £300 to build. Prior to building my Jazz my Yamaha BB404 at £250 was my main bass over the Ric for both playability and sound.

[BuddyLee]

Originally Posted by ricplayer

Nothing beats trying out a bass, I have a few in my collection, and the playability isn't necessarily related to price. I have a Rickenbacker 4003 that cost me £1000 and sits under my bed and my Number 1 bass is a jazz bass that cost me about £300 to build. Prior to building my Jazz my Yamaha BB404 at £250 was my main bass over the Ric for both playability and sound.

I like the feel of those Jazz Basses.

There is a girl here selling either a candy cola or midnight wine(can't tell from pic) MiM Jazz Bass for $200. A Guy selling a Daphne Blue HW1 J Bass for just under $400. And MF is selling that *** Jag Bass for $599. plus 20% off that = $480. The Jag seems pretty cool with all the switching and tone options, but I am not sure on the quality of the necks or pickups on *** Basses.

In like 20 minutes I am calling MF to see what they have for Fender Friday and hoping the 20% off code works on top of the FF discounts.

[ricplayer]

I know that at one point the Japanese built guitars/basses were better than the US built, don't know if this is still the case though. I like the necks on a Jazz bass with the 38mm width at the nut, the extra 4mm on the P bass just isn't as comfortable. The Jag has a 38mm nut so should feel similar to the Jazz.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[marshman]

I didn't play it long, but I picked up a new Jag at my local last week and that thing weighed A TON.

Jus' sayin.

[4mal]

Originally Posted by BuddyLee

I like the feel of those Jazz Basses.

There is a girl here selling either a candy cola or midnight wine(can't tell from pic) MiM Jazz Bass for $200. A Guy selling a Daphne Blue HW1 J Bass for just under $400. And MF is selling that *** Jag Bass for $599. plus 20% off that = $480. The Jag seems pretty cool with all the switching and tone options, but I am not sure on the quality of the necks or pickups on *** Basses.

In like 20 minutes I am calling MF to see what they have for Fender Friday and hoping the 20% off code works on top of the FF discounts.

The MIM J is a good deal if not thrashed.
The H1 is a good deal on a much nicer bass!

The Jag is not a good deal at any price ... too noisy - the electronics & shielding are known issues with those basses...

if the h1 is in decent shape - I'd do that no question. By way of reference loaded H1 'bodies' - just the body sell for about $300 used ...

[Maggot]

I just got a Squier Affinity P-Bass for $80. It is playable and cool. That leaves $920 for upgrades and amp. And you'll need a big chunk for a decent amp.

[franchelB]

Maybe it's been luck. I've played a friend's Mexican Jazz and I'll be darned if it didn't sound great. All stock, and for $300, it's pretty hard to beat!
I've also played a Squier "Jaco", and I was wanting one soo baaadddd.