Hi All
Can any of you recommend me a good place online to look at bass guitars?
Im planning on getting a friends band back together by being the new bassist and so Im looking to pay upto/around £200.
Cheers
P.S. Any recommendations welcome, generally looking for a modern looking small bodied 4 or 5 string.
Do you get Dean basses over there? Theyre quite popular, well reviewed and affordable basses, running $199 (http://www.amazon.com/Dean-Edge-String-Classic-Black/dp/B0002EK4P0/ref=sr_1_1/104-9943699-5397502?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1176581353&sr=1-1) for a basic four string model.
Danelectros are another fun budget bass brand which can be had for your budget, but are still popular with gigging musicians. Fun futuristic styling if thats your bag.
If you have the UK equivalent of Guitar Center, go and faff around a bit. You should be able to find something decent and Asian made for your budget easily.
Dont buy online for that price, build quality varies so much its worth foing to a rl shop imo
Quote from: sdpDont buy online for that price, build quality varies so much its worth foing to a rl shop imo
Thats why you ask to play as many copies of the cheapies as possible. Youll often find one thats much better sounding than the rest, even though they appear to be identical. Its much more true for cheaper acoustic guitars.
Ill only buy online if I find a bass I like in a shop and see it considerably cheaper online.
Dont, it might be the same model but it could easily play totally differently. When I bought my last instrument, I sat in the shop for an entire afternoon playing 5 supposedly identical models, all of which were completely different.
Look at yamahas, my first bass was a BBN4 with humbuckers, great tone range and afaik in your price range.
With something like this, there is really no other way than to go to the largest stockist near you and play as many as possible. On paper most of them are the same, but youll find some basses are real dogs to play.
Quote from: maximusotterQuote from: sdpDont buy online for that price, build quality varies so much its worth foing to a rl shop imo
Thats why you ask to play as many copies of the cheapies as possible. Youll often find one thats much better sounding than the rest, even though they appear to be identical. Its much more true for cheaper acoustic guitars.
So damn true that.
Remember buying my first classical guitar (nylon strung acoustic :)) way way back now but yeah I saved up £150 for a fairly alright one (yes I know its still cheap, but this was ages ago, and it would be better than the steel strung one I was playing on that used to be my mums), remember playing 2 in particular... 1 at 150.. 1 at 120 something...
I walked away with the 1 at 120 something, much much nicer tone, cheaper... so also bought a music stand too! :D and guitar tuner :D lol as pitch pipes so did not cut it. :D lol.
Guitar teacher praised me for my choice. Really nice sounding budget guitar :) Gotta play your instrument before you buy it man... did with my upright piano, did with the tuba and euph I played in school (hire instrument), and did with my guitar. You cant just order online and expect that money at that price point to mean diddly. :)
www.guitars.co.uk
Regent Guitars in Leamington Spa
Have a look over at http://www.bassworld.co.uk
Great site and theres always nice cheap basses going in the For Sale forum.
Id personally say go second hand. If youre new to bass, going into a guitar shop and trying loads of different basses may not be much use as you wont know what youre looking for or dont know the signs of a good solid bass, etc.
If you do go bass shopping, take an experienced bassist with you. :)
Some basses to keep in mind:
The new squiers are fantastic instruments! The build quality in the last year and a half has shot up. If youre going squier, either go brand new or one from the 80s (when they used to be made in Japan - They were better than alot of Fenders then)
Corts are nice basses. Really small bodies and nice and light weight.
If you can find one, a second hand mexican Fender jazz bass (standard) would be perfect.
Schecter - May be a bit out of your price range unless you can find a second hand one.
Do you have an amp?
i would reccomend squire (i cant believe im doing this) and yamaha. i would also reccomend a laney bass amp, as its a great start.
dont expect a lot for 200 quid tho.
Not necessarily true, if you shop around. My yammy was reduced from £299 to £199 because it had been around a while and its great to play. Mates have £1k+ music mans etc, Im still not massively tempted to upgrade. You can get something decent enough for £200ish if you look hard enough.
http://nashville.craigslist.org/msg/311815148.html
http://nashville.craigslist.org/msg/311669426.html
Too bad youre not in the Holler. :D
Quote from: jamieLHave a look over at http://www.bassworld.co.uk
Great site and theres always nice cheap basses going in the For Sale forum.
Id personally say go second hand. If youre new to bass, going into a guitar shop and trying loads of different basses may not be much use as you wont know what youre looking for or dont know the signs of a good solid bass, etc.
If you do go bass shopping, take an experienced bassist with you. :)
Some basses to keep in mind:
The new squiers are fantastic instruments! The build quality in the last year and a half has shot up. If youre going squier, either go brand new or one from the 80s (when they used to be made in Japan - They were better than alot of Fenders then)
Corts are nice basses. Really small bodies and nice and light weight.
If you can find one, a second hand mexican Fender jazz bass (standard) would be perfect.
Schecter - May be a bit out of your price range unless you can find a second hand one.
Do you have an amp?
Cheers... Amp yes, 15watt Marshall practice amp :whoops:
Quote from: redi would reccomend squire (i cant believe im doing this) and yamaha. i would also reccomend a laney bass amp, as its a great start.
dont expect a lot for 200 quid tho.
take 10,000 lashes for bringing yourself to do it..... :D
I would recommend Basss Burton and getting smashed :D 8)
Quote from: funkychicken9000Not necessarily true, if you shop around. My yammy was reduced from £299 to £199 because it had been around a while and its great to play. Mates have £1k+ music mans etc, Im still not massively tempted to upgrade. You can get something decent enough for £200ish if you look hard enough.
i mean dont expect to get pedulla or wal tone or feel out of the box.
Quote from: RivkidQuote from: redi would reccomend squire (i cant believe im doing this) and yamaha. i would also reccomend a laney bass amp, as its a great start.
dont expect a lot for 200 quid tho.
take 10,000 lashes for bringing yourself to do it..... :D
And you should take 10,000 lashes for being so close minded! You brand whore :D
Theres some extremely good squiers out there. Ive played some that are nicer than standard mexican Fenders over the years.