bass on a budget

[dudabrad]

I'm thinking of getting a bass. I play guitar, and have played some bass (my brother is primarily a bass player - has his own tuning style and everything:clap:). It seems like there are a lot more guitar players around than bass players, so we're often lacking a bass player ( so I'm thinking I should keep up my skills)

Anyways, I'm looking for "bass on a budget" - a good budget bass and smaller combo amp - nothing fancy, but it has to get the job done. I've been told Squire (P-bass?) and Ibanez (SR series) are good cheap basses. Any opinions on those or others?

I'm thinking 4-string ... probably :dunno: I've played a friends' five string, but I find some of the stretches a little much (I have small hands). But I'm trying to figure that out too (5 vs 4 stringer).

Any advice?

[scooteraz]

Warwick streamer or streamer LX, used. ~$350 and up. 4 string to start. I got a 5 string to start (price was right) and it took forever to get used to it (for me). Now I love it, but for a while I was borrowing my son's Streamer 4...

good cheap amp is a little harder. If you can find an old working man from SWR, that is a solid purchase.

[dudabrad]

What about short-scale basses?

[scooteraz]

I personally never liked them. Got one for my son when he was in jr high, and really small for his age. He turned around a couple of years later and got a full size, even though he was still small, and liked it a lot better.

So, I have no recommendations in that area.

[Barry]

Short scale are fine. I have a Hofner (the kind McCartney uses) in the $700 range. There are a few different very inexpensive Beatle Bass knock-offs out there that aren't all that bad. Bucky's wife has one. I played it at our BBQ/Jam in 2008. I'd not played in a while, but it spurred me to finally get a Hofner. Normally I go for something like Fender J (preferably American made). Or a Lakland. I had one of their 5-strings but sold it because it was too heavy for me.

I had a cheap Yamaha a while back. It was short-scale as well. Very smooth-playing bass, but cheap pups. I put a set of EMGs in it and used it almost daily to practice for several years.

I'd agree with scooteraz on the amp. SWR is good. I like Ampeg myself, but last time I shopped around for one, they tended to be a bit on the pricey side.

I suggest trying a few different amps at a music store if you can. Sometimes these things can be a matter of taste. Then check eBay or something once you're ready to buy, unless the deal you get at the store is fair (or if you're like me and want it NOW!).

[refin]

The bottom feeder good bass is a Squier P-Bass.You have to have a feel for bass,but these deliver.There have been a few different versions of these--the Affinity models are the ones that come in a Pak.......the Standards are a little better.
For basses,I love the cheaper stuff...........it keeps me connected to the groove and feel,and not getting Pastorius-itus or solo crazy.

[Brad]

Some good recommendations. The Squier stuff can be darn nice for the money. Also, check out rondo music. The SX and Douglas line are pretty decent for low cost imports.
http://www.rondomusic.com/bassguitars4.html

As always, let craigslist be your friend. I've come across some nice stuff stoopid cheep latley. You can usually find several solid Peavey bass amps at giveaway prices.

[refin]

Some good recommendations. The Squier stuff can be darn nice for the money. Also, check out rondo music. The SX and Douglas line are pretty decent for low cost imports.
http://www.rondomusic.com/bassguitars4.html

As always, let craigslist be your friend. I've come across some nice stuff stoopid cheep latley. You can usually find several solid Peavey bass amps at giveaway prices.

Good recommendations there-----Rondo stuff is solid,and so are the Peaveys.

[MadHatter]

I have an ibanez sr series... it's way better than any squire bass I've ever played...
it does the job... sounds decent and plays well... active pickups

I have a fender bassman 400 combo 210 that I picked up last year... a few years old... but barely used... and it works very well... and way cheaper than any swr or ampeg rig... this is supposed to be an affordable set up right???
lol

[scooteraz]

Hmmmm,
Bassman 400 combo used $750 with Korg tuner
SWR Workingman's 15 combo (http://www.activemusician.com/store/product.asp?sku=EM.800027) new for $350. I see your point.

OK, that wasn't fair...workingman's product line is discontinued, and replaced with the WorkingPro line. Let's look new...
WorkingPro 15 combo (http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/SWR-WorkingPro-15-200-Watt-1x15-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=481994&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26040083) $700
Fender Bassman 250 with 1x15 speaker (https://www.kennellykeysmusic.com/fender-bassman-250-115-combo-amplifier.html), $650. Pretty much apples to apples, and yep, another huge difference.

Just saying that Fender is not usually that much cheaper than a comparable SWR or Ampeg rig. The high end is different, but both SWR and Ampeg have more affordable gear, particularly when you find it used. Probably, bang for the buck, a Peavey would pretty much usually come out on top.

[Brad]

Just a quick peruse of the local craigslist shows a Hamer Slammer P-Bass & Marshall bass amp for $175, a fixer up bass for $30, a Squier P-Bass for $110, Jackson J-Bass style for $140, Behringer BX300, $75, the list goes on!

[MadHatter]

I looked on craigslist and ebay for a long time trying find a good deal on a decent bass amp... I had looked at a lot of older swr and gk heads... Now this is in canada mind you... But to get something decent like a swr working man pro 300 head, I was gonna have to spend 300ish dollars... Then I'd still need a cab... Same with the gk heads.... I needed around 300 to 400 watts... In the end I had it narrowed down to a yorkville 400 115, or the bassman 400 210, both were in the 450 dollar range, the bassman head alone sells for just under 1000 here... So I got a really good deal considering...

You listed a whole bunch of US prices... But dudabrad lives in canada as well... So that's not really comparing apples to apples.... Yeah ebay is great and I've gotten a lot of really great deals... But on a bass amp, heavy shipping, plus the taxes and import duties, kinda make it hard to still get a deal...

Unless you happen to be going into the states for a weekend and can arrange to bring it back duty and tax free... Like I did last weekend with a big powered mackie sub...

Bottom line.... There is tons of basses and amps out there... Find something that your wallet and and brain both agree on... Lol

And maybe you should consult your cfo (wife) as well........ Lol

[scooteraz]

Well, and affordable means different things to different people...

I really have no idea what dudabrad's "budget" is...:wasntme:

If his CFO is like mine, $50 is too much....I may have blown that budget once or twice:embarassed:

[MadHatter]

Lol. Yeah... I have a part time job teaching guitar just so I can buy music gear every year with out having to go through my cfo... Lol

[dudabrad]

I really have no idea what dudabrad's "budget" is...

Realistically, it would be nice if I could stay around $500 total. Bass will always be my 2nd instrument.

In our local store's chain (Long & McQuade), Squire Affinity and Ibanez GSR100 both start at around $200-$250 (and up). I don't see any Rondos locally.

Local Amps:
- Fender Rumble 75W = $275
- Traynor 50W Bass Combo = $370
- SWR Working Pro 1x15 (200W) = $430
- SWR Working Pro 10 Combo (100W) = $490

There might be some used stuff around, but there's not a lot. And I'm about 10hrs from the US border (Montana - so add another 10 to get to civilization .. LOL), so a US trip is probably out.

If I'm going to buy an amp, I figure I want to go at least 75-100W. I already have an old Traynor Bloc40B, and little bass amp that my wife actually purchased as a keyboard amp years ago. I run my GT-10 through it. As a low volume bass practice amp, I'm sure it would work fine.

Ideally, I'd like to get a single amp that can handle both my bass and my guitar/modeller. I've considered keyboard amps, powered PA speakers, or a bass amp (which I hear is near full range anyways). "one amp to rule them all" would be ideal, if I could only find The One.

At this point, this is just a dream. I might be getting a little extra $$ this fall (so maybe Christmas??), but nothing's for sure. I'm just window shopping (and GASing)

[scooteraz]

Well, realistically your budget is $500, you are left with the Fender Rumble 75W. If you could spare the extra $150, the Working Pro 1x15 is a really great little combo. But if you can't, the Rumble will do you (at least for a while). But even looking at that, you will probably be about $530 in, plus you will probably want to take your bass in to get it set up pretty soon after purchase (unless a setup is part of purchase price with Long and McQuade).

I wish you good luck in this, you have to be pretty savvy to get in under the $500 mark for bass and amp together and still have a truly usable rig. It can be done, but it is a bit tougher.

[Archaic]

Out of curiosity, what part of Alberta are you in? I've got a mid 90s american made Peavey Fury 4 string (basically a copy of a Precision) laying around the house I'm not using and looking to get rid of cheap.

[dudabrad]

Out of curiosity, what part of Alberta are you in? I've got a mid 90s american made Peavey Fury 4 string (basically a copy of a Precision) laying around the house I'm not using and looking to get rid of cheap.

I'm near Grande Prairie, but I have a brother in Calgary.
What kind price we talking about?

[Archaic]

PM'd you. No point hijacking this any further than I have already.