Which cheap-ass bass should I get?

[inevitableguy]

I picked up a Squier P-Bass brand new for $200 at American Music a year or 2 ago and I love it. It was made in China, so it probably had lead in the paint, but whatever.

[nyjm]

Mine has been first rate (got it for $130 used 2 weeks ago). It might be a little quiet, but I think that's more the amp (synthesized, admittedly) that I'm using more than the instrument.

[ken]

No, it's probably the pick ups.

[JonPorobil]

Mine has be first rate. (got is for $130 used 2 weeks ago). It might be a little quiet, but I think that's more the amp (synthesized, admittedly) that I'm using more than the instrument.

Still getting used to the new iPad, huh?

[nyjm]

Oi. 1) fixed, 2) not the iPad, just me being sleepy and inattentive.

[fluffy]

Ended up canceling the U-Bass order because it was backordered and the shipping address I had for it isn't somewhere I'm going to be when it finally ships. At least Musician's Friend FINALLY lets you cancel orders online instead of having to call their annoying CSRs. Nice to see that they finally realize that they can sell things on the Internet.

I still like the U-Bass, though, so I'll probably reorder it when my shipping situation is sorted out.

[JonPorobil]

Ended up canceling the U-Bass order because it was backordered and the shipping address I had for it isn't somewhere I'm going to be when it finally ships. At least Musician's Friend FINALLY lets you cancel orders online instead of having to call their annoying CSRs. Nice to see that they finally realize that they can sell things on the Internet.

Man, I had some CSR nightmares with musiciansfriend when I was in college.

One time I ordered a guitar from them and wound up waiting over four months for a six-to-eight-week delivery time. The wait was so long that I had to call them to change the delivery address. They didn't understand why this was necessary, and I had to yell at a manager to make him understand that they had taken so freaking long with my order that I had moved.

One time I ordered a couple of harmonicas for my then-fiancée, but those also took an inordinately long time. I eventually called to cancel that order, because heck, I can drive down to the nearest music store and get them with no wait for a couple of dollars more. It was just two Hohner harmonicas, one in C, one in E. The agent on the line said they were out, and didn't know when they were expeted to have more. And then had the nerve to tryto convince me not to cancel the order.

Sorry, didn't mean to derail the thread. Enjoy the bass when it finally does get there, fluf.

[fluffy]

Actually, now that I'm going to be working near one of San Francisco's authorized resellers again, maybe I'll just special order it through there.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Because you aren't hurting for money, get a bass from your local bass/guitar shop. One that is old and known for their quality. NOT online. Go play it. I know you are trying to prove the interwebz are/is the only way. But some things have to be done the old way. Guitars need to be picked old school. Otherwise you just convince yourself your new guitar doesn't suck.

I've played 98% more crap guitars than good guitars.


edit....you hearz me!?

[fluffy]

So the answer to "which cheap-ass bass should I get because I just want something to dink around on and record with" is "spend a lot of money for something amazing."

[Milo]

I usually keep my nose out of things like this but I've never ever bought a cheap instrument online that exceeded my expectations. And they can be crap in so many ways that you'd never think of.

If you don't feel like you have the knowledge or experience to make a good decision in a guitar shop or you just don't like dealing with salespeople, I get that. But otherwise, I'm with BLT. Guitar shops take trades and that used inventory is where you get a halfway-decent guitar for cheap. The only bass I owned for years was a Peavey that I bought for $150 from one of those big-box places.

Milo's Guide to Buying a Used Bass for People Who Don't Feel They Have the Knowledge or Experience

Take a tuner with you. Use a practice room. Do three things: (1) Look at the neck from different angles and make sure it's straight. (2) Play - something simple and repetitive - and think about the height of the strings and the thickness of the neck and whether those things are comfortable to you. (3) Tune the open strings and then see if the strings are also in tune at, say, the 7th and 12th frets.

Ferreting out obvious defects - buzzy electronics or god-awful-ugliness - is up to you.

[ken]

Those are good tips for buying any guitar or bass. I would just add that string height can be adjusted fairly easily, and even a nice instrument might need a set up to be at peak performance.

[Billy's Little Trip]

So the answer to "which cheap-ass bass should I get because I just want something to dink around on and record with" is "spend a lot of money for something amazing."

Bingo!


...actually, I forgot about your title goal of being a cheapskate.

.....not to be confused with skates that have wobbly wheels.

[AJOwens]

I'll add a couple of things to Milo's post:

Play each string at every fret, listening for buzzes -- even if the neck looks straight.
Examine the bridge to make sure none of the adjustments are already at an extreme position.

[Manhattan Glutton]

Screw all this "be careful" advice! I played one note and I was in love with my baby.

[hillbilly]

hey man found you a killer bass $65 its in my aera, craigs list, if you want let me know. harmony, 2 humbuckers,, 65$ hickory /lenior. all you need

[fluffy]

I ended up going Rogue.

It arrived today, and feels and sounds pretty good. Also it was on sale for $187. Now I can finally stop pitch-bending my acoustic guitar down an octave.

[Billy's Little Trip]

It sure looks pretty cool. Like something Paul McCartney would play. *pun*

[mo]

Oh man, it's too bad I didn't see this whole thread or come back to SongFight forums until just recently. I actually left a Peavey Fury (P-bass clone) in San Francisco in a friend's closet, and it's just been sitting there for the last 8 years or so. It's the bass that all the DT stuff was recorded with and it needs a little repair but actually was pretty decent for its inexpensiveness. Very good player, nice round warm sound. I might have to bring that back to China with me when I finally go back to SF this fall.

[ken]

Or at least get it out of the closet and leave it in the hands of some people nearby who would use it.

[mo]

Are you volunteering? I might give it to Yook if he'll take it, because I happen to know he's instrument-less at the moment. But if he doesn't want it, whoever calls it will get it.

[ken]

Yeah, we've got a space now that can hold a few extra instruments. Please get a bass back in Yook's hands though. I miss MISS.