What are your favorite basses that you got for $700 or less?

[gjohnson441496]

My 1977 Fender Precision AKA Blondie

 

[bassclef112]

This quickly hit a regular spot in the rotation - a mid 80's Carvin LB50. Dropped in a set of TV Jones Thunder'Blades.

Plays great, sounds terrific and came in below the price point.

 

[rtav]

The only two basses I own or need (OK... one was $740 and the other was $400)... Yamaha RBXJM2's, identical basses, one for my main bass (kept at our studio) and the other the backup/side project bass, kept at home:

 

[totallywink]

My Made in Japan Geddy.... sweetness

 

[edencab]

2 years ago, this 2004/05 MIM Jazz: $250
I swapped in the pearloid P/G from a plain slightly scratched up white one.....may have to get a black pearloid some day
(the pic shows Fender Flats, but is now wearing GHS flats)

 

[MatronMother]

Peavy T-40. $250. Best bass I ever owned.

 

[bordinco90]

Fender MIM 50s P Bass (I got it for $500 right here on TB in great condition!):

 

[Kaden Daniels]

Peavey T-40 aswell

 

[Menorahman]

I've heard great things about the T-40. No surprise considering how amazing the Cirrus is.

 

[macmanlou]

Fender MIJ Mustang. Got it new for $699 a few years ago.

 

[neo 7]

I got this one for $200. Medium scale fernandes pj with active emg pups, and the sweetest neck ever.

I got this medium scale Squier for $400, then another $100 to drop in a dimarzio model p. This bass comes to every gig.

 

[Immigrant]

How about free?

This bass was sent to me N/C, courtesy of former TBer nukes da bass. You meet the nicest people on TB. The headstock in the photo is my second favorite sub-$700 bass, a Fender Classic '50s P that I scored on evilBay for about $400. The original owner claimed it was wall art and I believe it. It had no wear at all when it arrived.

Ugh! Sorry about that. I had no other pics of it.

 

[Adaguneyak]

Bought this year and its amazing. Marcus Miller v7

 

[theduke1]

I picked this up a few months ago 400 shipped to me. I bought it just because I liked the way it looks lol.
Don't play it much cause I play 5 string exclusively but nice non the less

 

[kevteop]

Dollars?

I got a '91 Thumb Bass for £670, 12 years ago. I sold it earlier this year to fund a mortgage deposit, for £1200. It was worth more, it was a totally mega bass.

Back in the mid '90s I got a G&L L2000 for $350 in a sale at a place in Belmar, NJ. That was a pretty good deal too.

 

[dralionux]

G&L Tribute JB-2. $360.00 (open box item )

 

[Menorahman]

I got this one for $200. Medium scale fernandes pj with active emg pups, and the sweetest neck ever. View attachment 697530

I got this medium scale Squier for $400, then another $100 to drop in a dimarzio model p. This bass comes to every gig.
View attachment 697521

Nice finish.

 

[Bassics101]

My two fretless basses. One is a JHS Vintage Icon Jaco. After some fine neck work by a local shop, it is one of the thinnest, smoothest necks I've ever played. The second is a Squier Affinity that was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I ripped the frets from it. After filling and a set of 1/4 pounders, it's a great playing bass.

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Love these posts. There's a not so fine line on our forums that exhibit a true divide between high/low end basses. And $700 seems like a very real ceiling for a lot of guys/gals. It comes down to art (playing music being a true art form; the good, bad and ugly) and commerce using the player as a fulcrum. Do $1000+ basses sound and play better? I'll go 90% of them. But there's something to be said about a beater that grossly outperforms all realistic expectations. Of all the variables and unknowns that go into a real "player"; wood, temperature, build team, day of the week it was made. Finding a gem is hitting the lottery. Through sheer numbers alone, there has to have been a couple of Squiers that could hold their own with a Pre-CBS. While many people believe making more of anything dilutes the potential of an instrument. Being an optimist, I think it allows for more "magic" basses.

 

[UK Philip]

Since basses are borderline extortionate in the UK compared to the US, we don't get much in comparison.

I'd say the MIM Precision but that would come out at around 800 in your currency. My Gretsch Jr. Jet was a steal at £186 in anyone's money, though.