Best Budget Bass

[superblonde.org]

Originally Posted by BobbyS

Got this one last Friday. Haven't had a chance to fire it up, but tomorrow I will. I hope!

SR400EQM

keep the decals on, they contribute to the tone.

lol

[zeekat]

Originally Posted by Jeffsounds

I have an SR-305DR that is junk. I've never been able to make it sound good. Not even with someone else playing it.

I have a stock SR305 too, it's great. Amongst a few comments I have on soundcloud there's a couple about how cool it sounds, heh.

[Magicbuss]

Squier Vintage Modified PJ Bass.

They dont make them anymore but you should be able to find one used for under $300

Having both P bass and Jazz bass pickups makes it incredibly versatile for recording as pretty much all my favorite tones come from those pickups.

[Jeffsounds]

Originally Posted by zeekat

I have a stock SR305 too, it's great. Amongst a few comments I have on soundcloud there's a couple about how cool it sounds, heh.

I guess it's a matter of "to each his own." I still keep it around but I bought a P-Bass. Maybe I'll give it to my son. Or my grandson...

[zeekat]

Yeah, to be honest I'd probably enjoy any guitar that's not broken. They all sound cool to me. My take is always "buy a working one in a pleasant colour".

[themixtape]

www.rondomusic.com - no basses are better for the money. I've owner several. Get em properly set up by a good guitar/bass tech, and enjoy. Lots of options for lefties too (like me)

[superblonde.org]

I would have guessed that "best budget bass" might also mean "I can only afford ONE bass instrument so which one covers as many bassist roles as possible"

which would mean talking about scale length and number of strings, would it not?
(and pickups for wide tone variety, but there's been some mention of that already)


Overall I might have done better with the 5-string version of my bass but still not sure. Ive asked many bassists and they typically say "nah 4 string is fine if you have it, no need for 5" yet, there is literally no way to get the low notes without that 5th string (assuming typical tunings) and no way to get the very large improved range for melodic solos without either 6 strings or perhaps long scale length (24+ frets).

[yep]

Originally Posted by Jeffsounds

I have an SR-305DR that is junk. I've never been able to make it sound good. Not even with someone else playing it.

Huh. Maybe I am confusing with a different Ibanez range...?

I do not actually own an Ibanez SR bass, but it looks like a few that have come though my studio that I thought reminded me of a budget stingray.

[grinder]

Have you thought of making one up with parts?
I would go for a P Bass I have an Ibanez (upper model)
a Fender Jazz Bass and a Fender Precision this of late.
I reckon building from parts will be cheaper and you will have a great bass.
I put together a tele from parts and really got a top of the line sound
and playability. (I have made guitars from scratch.
Worth thinking about.

Grinder

[pipelineaudio]

The SGR 4 string is pretty much unreal for a bolt on

[Twangothan]

I have a Squier P Special which is brilliant, gives you Precision and Jazz sounds, not expensive. Build quality is great but I upgraded my pickups to Toneboosters and I have no need to ever change it.

[chip mcdonald]

Low end Ibanezes have always been decent, albeit favoring the brighter Flea-like sounds.

Played a new Squier Jazz recently that was impressive, but the problem there is that Fender qc is all over the place so caveat emptor.

[Jeffsounds]

Originally Posted by yep

Huh. Maybe I am confusing with a different Ibanez range...?

I do not actually own an Ibanez SR bass, but it looks like a few that have come though my studio that I thought reminded me of a budget stingray.

Well, I can't speak for the entire range. But the one I have sucks. I'd sell it but everybody else seems to know it sucks, too.