Decent at a good price?

symbolofmylife

Hey guys,

So, I'm no bass player....but I am looking to buy one for my current recording project.

Well, that may be a bit of an overstatement.

I own decent guitars that I use often so the bass will be more of "something I will use on occasion", so it more like I am looking to buy a cheappie/secondhand for my recording project. Just something that will get the job done, basically.

My budget on this is as cheap as possible, but around R1500 max. I really cannot justify buying something more expensive for the purposes I need it for. So on that my best bet is finding something secondhand, right.

I've heard LTD's cheappies are fairly decent. A guitarist buddy of mine working on a similar project recently picked up a LTD-B10 for around R1700 (NEW!!!!) and cannot stop raving about the thing.

Any advise? (Or someone wanting to sell?)

vic

The problem with a "cheapie" bass in my experience is that at one time or another the neck is gonna pull on you and then you'll be stuck with it.... and your money will be down the drain. There are nice less-expensive Mex Fender basses currently in the market (gumtree, etc)......rather consider one of those.

Alex-B-Broadway

Look into Cort bass guitars - they have lower end and higher end models. Keep an eye on Gumtree and Junkmail. You should find a good deal on there every once in a while.

V8

I'm partial to the (dare I say it) Ibanez's at the lower end of the bass market... Although I'm far from a bass expert :?

I had something similar to this : http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-gsr200-4-string-bass/519524000085000 and I actually regret selling it on. Easy to use, slim neck (for a bass) and it lasted just fine for the two years I had it (It got gigged, but not abused).

The corts are also real good value for money, but I just prefered the slimmer neck of the Ibanez.

AlanRatcliffe

I'd also look at the Corts - generally good instruments and they tend to show up at very good prices secondhand. I saw a very basic ( :-[)one on Gumtree CT yesterday for about R1.5K.

The Ibbys are also well made, but the necks are way to skinny for me - and tone lives in the neck, IMO.

symbolofmylife

V8 wrote:
The corts are also real good value for money, but I just prefered the slimmer neck of the Ibanez.

A slim neck is definitely on my spec list, cos of being used to guitars.

DaFiz

symbolofmylife wrote:
more like I am looking to buy a cheappie/secondhand for my recording project.

Sounds like an oximoron. A cheapie will not be adequate for a recording project.
Mine is one of the Mex Fenders on gumtree.
Built south of the border (2005) by real Mexicans, as opposed to north of the border by illegal aliens,
it's a 2005 Fender Precision 60th anniversary edition. I piece that stays perfectly in tune all night long and is still in tune when you take it out of it's case a week later.
Precision tuning and intonation. Excellent pick-ups and audio response.
A HUGE step up from the Ibanez Gio that I had previously.
Selling new for R12k at the local music centre, my price has dropped from R8k to R7k to 6k to 5k and still no takers.
Perhaps I might sell it for R4K I dunno, but if you have a Tele to swop it's yours ?

V8

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: The Ibbys are also well made, but the necks are way to skinny for me - and tone lives in the neck, IMO.

This thread inspired me to dust off the ol' bass weapon (hohner jack) for the last hour. This is what I swopped the Ibanez for, I know Alan and I are fans, but it's definitely an acquired taste. Still have to get the pickups rewired ala Alan, and pop a string adapter on it - otherwise this thing thunders.

DaFiz wrote: ...A cheapie will not be adequate for a recording project

Can't say I agree that a good cheapie wouldn't get the job done, it depends on symbol's requirements? I hadn't played much bass before the Ibanez and the slimmer neck helped me immensely, but bass players told me I sounded like a guitar player trying to play bass ?. I did some listenable, home studio stuff on the Ibanez and it was ok, although I did get some work done on it (nut, strings, action).

Agreed, a pro/quality studio is another story :-[ And the Fender of yours is ideal & a absolute steal!

vic

DaFiz wrote:
symbolofmylife wrote:
more like I am looking to buy a cheappie/secondhand for my recording project.
Sounds like an oximoron. A cheapie will not be adequate for a recording project.
Mine is one of the Mex Fenders on gumtree.
Built south of the border (2005) by real Mexicans, as opposed to north of the border by illegal aliens,
it's a 2005 Fender Precision 60th anniversary edition. I piece that stays perfectly in tune all night long and is still in tune when you take it out of it's case a week later.
Precision tuning and intonation. Excellent pick-ups and audio response.
A HUGE step up from the Ibanez Gio that I had previously.
Selling new for R12k at the local music centre, my price has dropped from R8k to R7k to 6k to 5k and still no takers.
Perhaps I might sell it for R4K I dunno, but if you have a Tele to swop it's yours ?

South vs North....love the comparison.......now that's good sales talk I tell you.... ?

symbolofmylife

DaFiz wrote: ...A cheapie will not be adequate for a recording project

Can't say I agree that a good cheapie wouldn't get the job done

[/quote]

I have to agree here.

Freddy-Bl00D

Im not too crazy of the cheap ibanez basses, the gio's feel little plastic and they get problems fast.. I study at copa and theres alot of people with gios whom have to replace nuts, pots and jacks every now and then.. Squire has a bunch of kickass basses, SX is also real cheap and i've heard a SX P-bass with killer tone!! I owned a ltd that i sold for R800 last year (cosmeticly it was a wreck) and that bass was killer so there is good second hand deals out there..
The thing with cheapies is you have to go play alot of them.. Go play a proper 'mid class' bass which you like, then you go play al the cheapies and see which ones tone/feel comes closest to what you desire

Delta-Male

Best Bass Guitar I've ever seen at it's price is my gf's Aria STB Bass.

I bought it for her for R700.00 from Cash Converters..
On gumtree you can pick them up for +-R1300.00

This is what I use for my recording projects, and it works GREAT!

Psean

symbolofmylife wrote:
V8 wrote:
The corts are also real good value for money, but I just prefered the slimmer neck of the Ibanez.
A slim neck is definitely on my spec list, cos of being used to guitars.

The Corts have been mentioned already - the Action series are small and light and the necks feel good if you're used to guitar. They're around R200 new. The older ones seem to be made of a heavier wood but are pretty much the same size. I've seen quite a few on Gumtree.

symbolofmylife

Psean wrote:
symbolofmylife wrote:
V8 wrote:
The corts are also real good value for money, but I just prefered the slimmer neck of the Ibanez.
A slim neck is definitely on my spec list, cos of being used to guitars.
The Corts have been mentioned already - the Action series are small and light and the necks feel good if you're used to guitar.

Cool. I was wondering about them. Will have a look.

Alex-B-Broadway

Here you go:

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Sports-Leisure-musical-instruments-Cort-Bass-Guitar-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ404494758

symbolofmylife

Alex B Broadway wrote: Here you go:

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Sports-Leisure-musical-instruments-Cort-Bass-Guitar-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ404494758

Thanks! Will make contact.

Alex-B-Broadway

symbolofmylife wrote:
Alex B Broadway wrote: Here you go:

http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Sports-Leisure-musical-instruments-Cort-Bass-Guitar-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ404494758
Thanks! Will make contact.

Saw it and thought someone might find it useful. I should really stop browsing classifieds. ???