Sleeper/ Unheralded basses in the $500 range?

[franchelB]

Originally Posted by quackerz

Peavey's from the 80's. Patriot, Fury, Foundation...

Oh, FWIW, many bassists I've met have mixed feelings about my Peavey T20. Some complain about the heavy weight ("boat anchor"), but some LOVE the tone!

[quackerz]

Originally Posted by franchelB

Oh, FWIW, many bassists I've met have mixed feelings about my Peavey T20. Some complain about the heavy weight ("boat anchor"), but some LOVE the tone!

Never played a T20, but I have never had a weight issue with the later models I listed. My Patriot was a featherweight, and I sold my Fury 'S' because the body was TOO light making it annoyingly neck-heavy. I put EMG's in that one, and I'm almost embarrassed to say that it was far and away the best sounding 4-string bass of the several dozen I've owned over the years. I worked for a Peavey dealer in the 80's and none of the basses I played were anywhere near the boat anchor tonnage of my CBS era Precisions. Those were just stupid-heavy.

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

Here's an old Ibanez Roadstar Bass on eBay (insert standard disclaimer) that looks quite interesting to me!

With four hours left on the auction, it hasn't gotten up to $120 yet. I don't need another bass, but I might just bid on this one myself!

Cheers, Tim

[Maggot]

If ugly, but cheap and great sounding, is what you want, the previously mentioned Guild Pilot, and the various 80s Yamahas are what you want.

I read that Prince plays most of his bass parts on a Pilot. They have EMG pickups, if you're into that kind of thing, are made in the USA and play great.

Yamaha basses rule, even the really cheap ones.

Also look into Squiers and other Fender copies as well as Peavey.

[quackerz]

Originally Posted by Tim Armstrong

With four hours left on the auction, it hasn't gotten up to $120 yet. I don't need another bass, but I might just bid on this one myself!

Cheers, Tim

I think you should. Worst case is you end up with a cheap and interesting backup bass that'll get you nice scooped-mid PJ tones for when your single pickup P clones won't do. Good luck!

[pamlicojack]

My first bass was a Tokai Precision. VERY nice bass and very underrated. I think I got it for less than $100. I see them occasionally on the 'Bay for pretty cheap.


Here's one similar to mine...

[Tim Armstrong]

Originally Posted by pamlicojack

My first bass was a Tokai Precision. VERY nice bass and very underrated. I think I got it for less than $100. I see them occasionally on the 'Bay for pretty cheap.


Here's one similar to mine...

The "Sharon Erniecaster" bass (named after my folks) that Paul Honeycutt is currently storing for me started out as a Tokai '57 P-Bass copy, and it was a fine instrument right from the factory. I put a Warmoth Tele Bass neck on it and a Voodoo pickup, but only because I can't leave well enough alone!

As I recall, I bought it from fellow TDPRIer Tom Grossheider for $250.

Fernandez copies are pretty sweet, too...

Cheers, Tim

[Vince a]

I recently picked up a brand new Fender Deluxe P Bass Special (P bass with active P/J pickups and a Jazz neck) . . . I have the black with maple fretboard, and I changed out the pickguard to a black/white/black . . . for $485 out-the-door! Never be reluctant to make offers!

At times, I swear it feels better in my hands than my Fender Am/Se Jazz bass!

[JohnSS]

+1 on the Peaveys & MIM Fenders

I think the Epiphone Thunderbird and Les Paul Special Basses are great bang for the buck at $299 and $249 street price, respectively.

Hamer Basses (Jazz bass copy) are also underrated.

[Geoff738]

Any thoughts on the Ibanez Artcore? There's a used one for under $300. Looks brand new.

Somebody mentioned Artcores in a thread somewhere else on this sight as a good value, but I think he was referring to the guitars.

thanks,
Geoff

[4mal]

I would stick with the Fender and Fender derivative camps. A big hollowbodied Artcore isn't going to be flexible enough for a first instrument I think. It's the sort of bass you add in later to get a little variety...

I'm really high on the G&L Tribute series. The more I work on and play mine the more impressed I get. It's not like it needed work when I got it. I got it to mod. So instead of B through G, mine is strung E through C which meant a new nut and truss tweak and intonation work. I also replaced the on board controls with a high end 3 band active pre. Not necessary, but something I wanted to do on this one.

These basses are way cool right out of the box.

[broadcaster]

The Fender Classic Series 60's Jazz bass (used) would be my recommendation in that price range.

[Martinp]

the Warwick Rock Bass is cool, good build quality, very nice active EQ, You can get 'em new for around $550.

[aunchaki]

As many here have suggested, it's hard to go wrong with a new or used Fender Precision or Jazz Bass. I've seen them used in the $300-$400 price range. The ones I've played felt good as-is, but they're also ripe for modification!

I like the Squier stuff I've played. If resale value is important, go Fender. If a fun, knockabout player's bass is what you desire, check out some Squiers. You can save tons of money and still have a decent instrument (YMMV).

A few years ago, when I was just starting to take over bass duties in my band, I got a bunch of Guitar Center gift cards for my birthday. I went to buy a Squier '51 or a Squier Tele Custom. I found a decent MIM Jazz Bass I almost bought. What I walked out with surprised even me: a Squier MB-5 five-string bass.



I'd never seen the MB body style before. It's smaller and lighter than the P or J bodies. Squier makes 4 and 5-string versions. Mine is Black Cherry Burst, a fabulous dark red color that I cannot find in any picture on the web. I'll need to set up my digital camera and take some shots of mine, the color's great. For $230, I've been VERY happy. I'd buy this bass again in a heartbeat.

It's got one volume, one tone and a blender pot. I like that configuration. The 5-string has two J-style pickups, the 4-string is a PJ (also quite nice). The stock pickups are just fine; in fact, this is my only instrument that I've kept 100% stock. I bought it because it really felt "right" when I played it in the store. I wasn't looking for a bass, and even if I was, I passed on a used Fender Jazz Bass that was just a little more expensive. This one was The One.

Good luck, there are TONS of great basses under $500! The world is your oyster! Let us know what you get.

[Al Nico]

Originally Posted by quackerz

Peavey's from the 80's. Patriot, Fury, Foundation.

+1

I 've got a natural swamp ash 1984 Peavey Foundation, it's like a supercharged Jazz bass. Also, you get USA-made quality, G&L-style bi-laminate maple neck for stability, American hardwood bodies, super comfy Jazz neck that beats all the Squiers and MIM Fenders I've tried, and those hot super ferrite pickups.

Make sure you look for an 80s model, I think QC went down when they were re-introduced in the 90s.

This one is not a boat anchor, and is perfectly balanced.

[Tony474]

I have an Ibanez Blazer bass - I think the Blazer series were the precursors of the Roadstars - and it is absolutely su-bloody-perb. Kind of a Precision clone but with a solid ash slab body, nice brass hardware and a neck that suits me very well. Good, substantial feel to it and an excellent sound. Opinions expressed on Harmony Central are generally very complimentary and best of all they can reputedly be found for not much money. Worth seeking out, perhaps?

[Geoff738]

Originally Posted by aunchaki

As many here have suggested, it's hard to go wrong with a new or used Fender Precision or Jazz Bass. [...]
Good luck, there are TONS of great basses under $500! The world is your oyster! Let us know what you get.

I'm kinda leaning towards the G&L that a few have recommended here. It looks REALLY versatile - active or passive (I'm not a huge fan of active circuits on guitars - maybe I'll like 'em more on bass?) and some more stuff I forget but looked good when I had a look at the features on their website. Hopefully one will pop up used in town in the near future - but I don't recall seeing one in the last year or two. The shop in town that sells them new is waaaaay pricier than the stuff from MF etc in the US. (I'm in toronto). Maybe I can talk them down, I dunno. But, it'll give me a chance to play one in person if I decide to order off the web.

the Guild Pilots also appear once in a while. If one comes up again soon, I'll definitely have a look.

I also remember Carol Kaye talking up a Yamaha with alnico pickups not that long ago. Three years. Five? Can't remember the model number, but I'm pretty sure it didn't last long in the Yamaha lineup. I'm pretty sure I did try one out though at a store in town and thought it was nice - just didn't want to spend the $$$ at the time. But that was when our dollar was in the dumps.

anybody know (or can give an educated guess) what model I might be sorta- kinda remembering?

Thanks again to all who've weighed in here. i agree, loads of decent to really good basses in the $500 range. I just need to play a bunch more of them and buy one of the suckers!

Cheers,
Geoff

[GoldieLocks]

I'm still totally happy with my $400 Epiphone Les Paul bass. Doesn't sound like any other bass I've ever heard...Huge old-school lowend.

[Tony474]

Originally Posted by Geoff738

I also remember Carol Kaye talking up a Yamaha with alnico pickups not that long ago. Three years. Five? Can't remember the model number, but I'm pretty sure it didn't last long in the Yamaha lineup. I'm pretty sure I did try one out though at a store in town and thought it was nice - just didn't want to spend the $$$ at the time. But that was when our dollar was in the dumps.

I don't reckon you can go wrong with any Yamaha instrument - provided you like the way it plays and sounds, the build quality of even their entry-level stuff is beyond reproach.

[Geoff738]

Alright folks, I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on a bass.

A place in town has what it is calling a 50's P bass (new) on for $475 (regularly $675). I think this has to be the Classic 50s model, MIM. Sale is on this coming weekend, so I'll try and confirm before then. I was leaning towards the G&L Tribute - looks really versatile, tried one and liked it, but they're $750 in the one place in town that I know of that sells them.

If anybody has a reason why I should not buy this bass, please speak up!

Thanks for all your input so far!

Cheers,
Geoff