Which budget bass guitar?

register · Post by **register** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:09 pm

hey everyone,
just wondering if I could please get some opinions?
For a while I've wanted to get a bass guitar. I play guitar already, but I want a bass to allow me to be able to produce an entire band setup- recording is the priority. I don't have a huge budget. We're talking in the £200 ballpark. There's a small chance it might one day go on stage (I'd rather be playing guitar)
I had a go on some today in a few shops, it's come down to two that I've seen: Peavey Millenium and Epiphone Thunderbird.

Peavey - has active pickups (I'm guessing this may well be good for recording), 3 band EQ built in, cheaper, rubbish strings on it, looks horrendous.

Epiphone - Great deep sound (I want a lot of low end), looks gorgeous, a little more expensive, passive pickups.

What do u all reckon?
I'd appreciate any advice.

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:18 pm

http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_eur ... index.html

http://www.imuso.co.uk/directory/yamaha ... uitars.htm

Some great budget all-rounders. Really well made and easy to play. I've had a couple of the budget passives (5-string & fretless).

darkcatt · Post by **darkcatt** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:22 pm

GO used, and go get an old 1990's ibanez sound gear.

When you get a new guitar you want to cry every time you bump it up against something.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:28 pm

Those are manufacturers, we can't tell what you're talking about.

Cheap guitars vary, play a bunch, learn why you like one over another and go from there. Used is a good way to go. Also, keep an eye out here:
www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid for deals, I scored a pretty good Washburn bass for $300 ($900 list). Active pickups are common on bass guitars, I forget why.

TheAnimal · Post by **TheAnimal** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:32 pm

I got a Yamaha BB414 and like it a lot. (Follow Hambone's link.)

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:39 pm

Tone Deft wrote:Also, keep an eye out here:
www.musiciansfriend.com/stupid for deals, I scored a pretty good Washburn bass for $300 ($900 list).

He's most likely in the UK (clue is the £200 budget...)

register · Post by **register** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:48 pm

Thanks for all your opinions,
yeah, I've heard yamaha are good for the money, though the one I played earlier today sounded pretty weak next to the epiphone thunderbird.
Active pickups makes good sense, and the peavey bass is cheap for something with active pickups in it, though I guess it brings up the question: at this price range, is active intrinsically superior?
Although the thunderbird is passive, it has a gorgeous sound, though i'm thinking the active pickups and EQ on the peavey might might it more versatile for recording (despite looking like satan's vomit)

hacktheplanet · Post by **hacktheplanet** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:47 pm

Why not a tried-and-true Fender P Bass?
You can get a mexi-precision for pretty cheap. Definitely get active pickups.

However, if you're looking for a good bass for recording, you'll want to spend some money. If you spend more money, you can get neck-through construction, better wood and finishing, better electronics, and a generally more solid feeling instrument.

I started playing on some shitty $300 bass with passive pickups. A few years ago I upgraded to a higher-end Schecter with active pickups and neckthrough construction, and the difference was like night and day. My current bass sounds richer and punchier. The old bass always sounded flabby and kind of dull.

But yeah, also make sure to try out a lot of basses at various stores. Ordering online is good only if you have played the instrument before... But you probably already know this since you play guitar.

Sartori · Post by **Sartori** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:43 am

Get an active bass, whatever you do. Active electronics cover a multitude of sins, it's quite easy to get a good recorded sound out of an active bass in my experience. I'm currently playing either a Shine or a Rockbass (the cheap Warwick range) depending on how many strings I need, I've also used both Yamaha and Encore basses previously. Of those, only the Rockbass is a passive one.

Almost any good-name make will sell an acceptable bass for 200 quid, the real determining factors are the sound and your playing comfort. Unlike the_planet I'd advise against a P-bass, mainly because the neck is pretty chunky for a guitarist getting started. Most of the others I listed above will have thinner profile necks which will be closer to what you're used to... For reference, my Rockbass has the smallest frets and is easiest to play, my Shine has huge frets and is a bastard!

Of the two you listed, I'd probably pick the Peavey, but that's mostly a gigging issue (t-birds weigh too much for my liking) for me. Don't worry, we'll convert you to being a bassist soon enough once you get one...

4am · Post by **4am** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:46 am

TheAnimal wrote:I got a Yamaha BB414 and like it a lot. (Follow Hambone's link.)

+1 vote for yamaha
(in the budget range)

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:21 am

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/s ... 0326702521

I have one of these.......been playing bass for mega years.......bought it because It's sooooo playable and has a very "jazz/fender" earthy tone.....

philipc · Post by **philipc** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:44 am

eyeknow wrote:http://www.squierguitars.com/products/s ... 0326702521

I have one of these.......been playing bass for mega years.......bought it because It's sooooo playable and has a very "jazz/fender" earthy tone.....

you beat me to it! i was going to suggest exactly this. easily the best bass for the price in my opinion. get a decent set up done on it and itll play like a bass worth twice the price.

eyeknow · Post by **eyeknow** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:49 am

philipc wrote:
eyeknow wrote:http://www.squierguitars.com/products/s ... 0326702521

I have one of these.......been playing bass for mega years.......bought it because It's sooooo playable and has a very "jazz/fender" earthy tone.....
you beat me to it! i was going to suggest exactly this. easily the best bass for the price in my opinion. get a decent set up done on it and itll play like a bass worth twice the price.

for real, the one thing I did was cash-out 37 bucks for a "esp" bridge.......not that you can't use the one that came with it......but the esp is a bit heavier..........and I actually go "expensive" with the strings and do "low rider" DR's..........

at any rate.....it's a SICK bass......btw.......well sheilded.......that doesn't even happen on all high-end basses (ask me about zon

)

OvertoneZero · Post by **OvertoneZero** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 2:27 pm

It's a bit over your price target, but the Line 6 Variax 700 is now on blowout pricing almost everywhere. Seems like that would be a very fun bass to have for recording.