The Best Quality Budget Basses

Schnozz

What would be your recommendations sub £300??

I usually go Cort, but I've been out of the market for a while now.

Bridgehouse

Ibanez all the way. 


Or Yamaha

Schnozz

Bridgehouse said:

Ibanez all the way. 


Or Yamaha

Thank you - Which models do you like?

Bridgehouse

Schnozz said:

Bridgehouse said:

Ibanez all the way. 


Or Yamaha

Thank you - Which models do you like?

The Ibanez sr300 is extremely good for the money. If you plan on using it out the box as is then it’s superb for the price. 

If you plan on upgrading then it’s a different prospect and I’d probly go Squier Precision second hand and upgrade pickup and hardware to taste. 

The budget Yamaha’s are a mixed bag. You need to play them to see

MattBanshee

Ibanez good, Yamaha good, if you like Cort then get a second-hand Cort Curbow.

MattBanshee

Schnozz said:

Bridgehouse said:

Ibanez all the way. 


Or Yamaha

Thank you - Which models do you like?

Ibanez SR300 is a solid pick

pintspiller

Anything is better than what was around when I started!

Schnozz

pintspiller said:

Anything is better than what was around when I started!

I learnt on a Harmony Semi Acoustic - It was great! Then I bought a Cort A4, defretted it and played it to death.

Thank you for the recommendations guys

TimmyO

Used Squier Classic Vibe range 

antonyiv

Sire or G&L Tribute.

Freebird

I had the same idea about getting a cheap bass, but after extensive research I settled for a used US Standard Precision, and it didn't cost too much more in the grand scheme of things. Now I have a bass for life which I really, really like 

Schnozz

Freebird said:

I had the same idea about getting a cheap bass, but after extensive research I settled for a used US Standard Precision, and it didn't cost too much more in the grand scheme of things. Now I have a bass for life which I really, really like 

Yep - It's definitely a fine balance, as cheaper basses are usually harder to sell (if you need to). 

I've had an old G&L Tribute and it was probably just as good as a US - Cost me £350. That was the best value for money bass that I've had.

axisus

I bought a used Squier jazz bass for less than that and I think it's very good

MattBanshee

£110 and an excellent bass that will last forever.

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/173928703613

Kebabkid

Sire. The preamp is superb. 

Bagged a new V3 from Andertons for under £200 but if you can, go for the V7 (new, just  over your budget but used prices are within it)

Funkfingers

Bridgehouse said:

If you plan on upgrading, then it’s a different prospect and I’d probably go Squier Precision second hand and upgrade pickup and hardware to taste. 

Good call. Precision, Jazz, Stingray and soapbar bass pickups can seem tedious but you can be certain of finding exact retrofit aftermarket pickups and control electronics.

Some Cort, Yamaha and Ibanez instruments have unique in-house pickup designs of unusual dimensions. This makes them difficult or needlessly expensive to upgrade. e.g. Some Yamaha RBX bass humbuckers have long "wings" to accommodate the height adjustment screws. On a four string RBX, it would take an EMG-45 series pickup to fill the cavity.

Bridgehouse said:

The budget Yamaha’s are a mixed bag. You need to play them to see

My broken record suggestion always used to be the Yamaha Attitude Plus + Gotoh 201B bridge + American pickup, pots and jack socket. These are now difficult to find. I probably ought to stop hoarding them.

PaulWarning

I've got a Vintage V4 as back up for my MIA P, not much difference, I now use it for all my practising

Schnozz

PaulWarning said:

I've got a Vintage V4 as back up for my MIA P, not much difference, I now use it for all my practising

I tried one of those, but the neck felt huge - I wasn't too keen on the glossy vintage tinted maple, but I prefer rosewood

Schnozz

Thanks all - I've now bought a Tanglewood/Overwater Aspiration Standard in Indigo.

Here's hoping it's as nice as the one in this review...

https://www.guitarinteractivemagazine.com/issues/issue-12/reviews/overwater-by-tanglewood-standard-and-standard-plus-bass/

Funkfingers

Congratulations and damn! (I could have sold you my blue one.)

In answer to your question, yes, with a decent set up, your example will be as nice as the review examples.

One clue you can take from the review video is that the Aspiration Standard has potential for upgrading the pickups and control circuitry, should you wish. (At different times, I have tried EMG-JV and Duncan Basslines Lightnin’ Rods pickups in mine.)

Thank you for the review link. I had seen it before but had forgotten about the availability of John East active circuitry for Aspiration models. (Bridgehouse raves about their products.)

Money no object, I would try at least one of Oil City Pickups Overkill models.

Bridgehouse

I do indeed rave about the East stuff. Best preamps I’ve ever played