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Ode to Cheap Guitars
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 7:05am
Did you ever walk into a music shop and see somethin from the corner of your eye that made your heart stop? You turn slowly and approach this masterpiece and just as you reach to take it off the wall you notice.....Its not a (insert name brand here) at all! I have played tons and tons of basses over the years and used to be (read still am) a gearhead but as time and hopefully ability accumulate i have found several low dollar instruments that perform on a sufficient level to warrant a second look. Now all you purists that are about to take insult ....dont. I have owned and played many good ole Mercan made boomstix that came with both respect and a high price but my point is that once i got over my Fender/Gibson/Toby phobia I found a wealth of capable basses id like to share.
1. Peavey Millenium 5 AC made in Indonesia 369usd new at MF this bass rates very close to my personal best bass of all time,
2. Dean Metalman 2A Z made in ...i dont really know 299usd at American Musical Supply. a little heavy, way loud but sounds exactly like it looks
3. 1998 Epiphone Explorer Bass made in Korea dont know how much this cost new, i traded a Cirrus BXP for it, Its not a Korina Bass but looks just like one except the color and sounds waaaaay better than the black Epi Ltd. Edition Korina Explorer Bass that i will speak no more of.
and twangstix
1. 2007 BC Rick Kerry King Signature KKV 469 new at MF. mid level Korea made version with stop tail brige. awesome looks sound and plaus like butter
2. 198somethin Ibanez DT 250 with a Jackson Japanese neck and Floyd trem. traded an amp for this one, best trade i ever made
just to be fair, I also own a Toby Pro 5, Pedulla Pentabuzz, And a 82 or so Gibson Explorer Bass and all those have their own particular designed by God features but after losing my 77 Fender Jazz to a house fire, and my bow down and worship John Entwistle Warwick Buzzard to a divorce attorney. Im just really happy to find axes to fit the job at a fraction of the cost. I guess it could be summed up like this....If i spend all my money on a Corvette to drive across country and have none left for gas, wouldnt a Chevette, gas and a MIM Jazz Special be a more wothwile expense?
My rant is done. Sorry to eat up your time.
Mon, 06/28/2010 - 2:28pm
#2
I think the best part about
I think the best part about UBP is the fact that no one on here is a straight up purist/gear snob. I think we all have the
attitude that if it plays good/looks good/feels good it doesnt matter what the headstock says or where its made.
I love cheaper basses, for one I can afford them, two I dont feel so bad if I scratch them or whatnot, and three I can afford them.
good picks as well, I really like the Peavey Milleniums... everyone I have played always suprises me. Like Fenderman says
if it plays, then play it...
rock.
DDD
Mon, 06/28/2010 - 3:37pm
#3
Cheapies aren't what they used to be.
I recall back in the old days, the cheaper basses had lousy electronics, terrible necks, ready-to-break hardware, and were heavy.
Not so anymore. Even the cheapest basses around these days are far better than those old ones.
It would be almost difficult to even find a bass anymore that would be unplayable.
If it sounds good, plays good, then it is good!
Tue, 06/29/2010 - 10:21am
#4
+1 on DDD's comment.
I think
+1 on DDD's comment.
I think the more people play their instruments, the less they obsess over new one's. Some of the best players I have ever seen played crap instruments, but they ruled them.
Tue, 08/03/2010 - 3:20am
#5
yeah
So do what mr Foxen does...
get a coupla hunks of wood outta some building skip
run em thru a planer/thicknesser
do a tasty paint job and srtip some wire offa the neighbor's foxtel cable to wind a pickup or two.
Grab one of them big brand logos offa EBay and stick it on.
add one string (cos I believe that's all you really need)
Pay $30 for a real case
and yer in business!!
(Sorry mrF - couldn't resist the stir-up)
Actually I own a cheap Daion P that I haven't played for ages, but after reading this post, I probably will.
Tue, 02/15/2011 - 11:21am
#6
Cheapies aren't what they used to be.
There is a series, body shape and style of electro acoustic, acoustic, acoustic bass, 12 string, classical, vintage, left-handed and travel guitar in the Crafter range to suit every budget. Not all cheap guitars doesn't sound good :D Mine is cheap but it sounds great!
Crafter Guitar; are durably constructed from quality solid wood, for good looks that will last a lifetime.
Sat, 02/19/2011 - 8:36pm
#7
I played a MIA Standard Jazz
I played a MIA Standard Jazz the other day and I thought it was crap next to my all maple Squier VIM Jazz. I thought about trading it in on the MIA but after playing it I thought it would be a step down.
Sure mine could use some better pups and a high mass bridge. But the feel of the neck and the tone from the maple blows the MIA out of the water. Also I have a Iby SDGR 370 m All maple (Still have to post the porn) It is soooo versatile I don't need any more basses, but I won't let my wife know that lol. It can throw any sound you want to dial in. The Ibanez cost $370 cdn and it kicks seroius a$$. I would recomend you guys to try the SDGR 300, 370 or the 550 beautiful basses 325, 370 and 555 respectivley.
I want to get an a jet black Ibanez SDGR 300 with maple fingerboard, but I am on a spending cap, because my car died, dam car arrrgh!!!
http://resources.ibanez.com/resourceservicehost/images/Ibanez/web/bass/products/test/SR300MIPT.gif
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Sat, 02/19/2011 - 9:23pm
#8
I think the more people play their instruments
Dthraco wrote:
+1 on DDD's comment.
I think the more people play their instruments, the less they obsess over new one's. Some of the best players I have ever seen played crap instruments, but they ruled them.
Look at SRV's main strat. that thing was falling apart, but what a honey of a sound
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Thu, 02/24/2011 - 10:00am
#9
bargain P
Last night I stopped in at a local independant shop, he had a squier P-bass that had been really thrashed. Finish had some serious scratches, like some guy in a metal band had spiked leatehr but it played o.k. And the neck was decent, truss the rod wasn't frozen. $75. Might be a good point to play with refinishing, P/U mods etc. Without committing allot of coin.
Fri, 02/25/2011 - 10:48am
#10
I recently stopped by the
I recently stopped by the local shop and saw a Squire P-Bass hanging there for 70 bucks. Two looks was all I needed.
The action is a little high for me but you can't beat a beater for $70 bucks!!!
I just ordered a Blonde maple neck for her. Can't wait to install it and try the new combination out!!
Also, I picked up Hohner B2A in December. Headless with a Steinberger system. This thing kicks like a mule!!
I love my Carvin LB70 to death, but the Squire holds up at gigs without the worry of damage or theft. Of course, being of my family, I'd have to kill anyone who tried to damage or steal her!!!
Wed, 05/25/2011 - 6:43am
#11
All my basses were
All my basses were inexpensive.
'80's MIJ Squier P-bass: $100
80's Peavey USA Fury I (rebadged T-20): $125
'70's Peaevy USA T-40: $275 w/hsc
'00's Epiphone MIK Thunderbird: $100
'90's MIM Fender Jazz: $250 w/ohsc
Wed, 10/12/2011 - 2:56pm
#12
.JPG "ink_collector's picture")
Of all the boomsticks I've
Of all the boomsticks I've had over the years, including the current crop of ladies that includes a custom and an Ibanez BTB, the one bass I'd kill to have back - and would buy in a second if I could find one just like it - is the early 90's Peavey Fury. That stick took abuse galore - gigs, practice, beer spills, you name it - and I never had one problem with it. I bought it new back in 93, and sold it in '00...and I wish I never had.
Hey, man, if it plays, play it!
You right.
B.A.S.K Assault Squad Leader UOF Badge #12 If you ask me to just play root notes again, I'm going to take that guitar off you and shove it down your throat! Don't play what's there, play what's not there. - Miles Davis THORNATUDE shall rule! - Thorn