Best used bass for £200 ish?

hobbio · March 2021

I bought a 5 string Harley Benton bass a couple of months ago, and now I fancy getting a 4 string as well.

I'm not really a bass player though, so I don't want to sink much money into it. I also want to buy used so I get a better instrument and I'll get most of my money back if I decide to move it on.

Any idea on decent used 4 string basses for £200-£250 ish?

Gulliver · March 2021

hobbio said:

I bought a 5 string Harley Benton bass a couple of months ago, and now I fancy getting a 4 string as well.

I'm not really a bass player though, so I don't want to sink much money into it. I also want to buy used so I get a better instrument and I'll get most of my money back if I decide to move it on.

Any idea on decent used 4 string basses for £200-£250 ish?

Not sure what kind of bass you're looking for, but here are some suggestions

If you can find one, OLP basses are amazing for the money. However they are pretty tricky to get hold of because they're really good. That would be my number one choice if you're after a Stingray style bass.

Squier Jazz Bass - these occasionally pop up sub-£200, Vintage Modern or Classic Vibe would be perfect but hard to find in-budget.

I picked up a Yamaha RBX375 for £200 and that's a superb modern style bass - you'd want the 374 for fewer strings.

Ibanez SR300 would also be a really good, modern bass for the budget.

Gulliver · March 2021

hobbio said:

I bought a 5 string Harley Benton bass a couple of months ago, and now I fancy getting a 4 string as well.

I'm not really a bass player though, so I don't want to sink much money into it. I also want to buy used so I get a better instrument and I'll get most of my money back if I decide to move it on.

Any idea on decent used 4 string basses for £200-£250 ish?

Having seen you're in Southampton - this is over in Pompey and looks really good

https://reverb.com/uk/item/39495782-ibanez-sr400eqmbbt-electric-bass-brown-burst

Funkfingers · March 2021

Squier Vintage Modified series
Yamaha RBX or Attitude Plus (if you can find one)
Sterling/SUB
Ibanez Soundgear
Rockbass by Warwick (their less fashionable models)

prowla · March 2021

I had a SUB5 and it was a really solid bass, probably the best junior-brand bass I've had.

If you're not in a hurry and aren't too picky you can pick up a bargain - I got a beat-up MIM Fender Precision for £100 last year; whilst that price might be a one-off, £250 could be doable to pick one up.

RockBasses can be a bit hit and miss - I've had one which I found very uncomfortable to play and another I made from parts which was really good.

IntoTheRough · March 2021

I bought my first ever bass after playing geet only for almost 30 years - a Squier Affinity Jazz Bass in sunburst from GuitarGuitar (who were great). Can't fault the sound of it but I don't really know any better! I had to tweak the truss rod a bit because it was just too buzzy for me out the box.

Obviously this is a bit cheaper than you said as it isn't used. A bass playing friend of mine recommended it as basically the best I could get for that budget (I will only ever use it for recording).

You can hear it in action here and probably everything I've put out!

Adey · March 2021

I'm a rhythm guitarist learning bass as bass players seem to be in short supply, in my band at least - we have got through a few...

So I thought I'd just learn bass as it's easier to find a rhythm guitar player.

I bough an Ibanez Soundgear SR300E bass (one of the low mid-level models). It really nice to play. The only thing I would do differently is buy one without the on-board battery as I have to unplug it when I'm done playing or the battery continues to discharge.

Winny_Pooh · March 2021

If you have a modern style bass already then buy a 4 string precsion style bass. A "P" is still the most natural classic one size fits all bass tone. Vintage v4, Squire classic vibe(pricey now) or an SX will do.

Funkfingers · March 2021

Adey said:

Ibanez Soundgear SR300E bass … buy one without the on-board battery as I have to unplug it when I'm done playing or the battery continues to discharge.

Firstly, the SR300 has always been active, to power the onboard EQ circuitry.

Secondly, if the battery discharges even after the jack plug is disconnected, there is a wiring error on the jack socket.

If you upload photographs of the SR300 jack socket soldering terminals, somebody here can tell you how to correct the problem.

UnclePsychosis · March 2021

Hard to go too far wrong with anything that says Squier, Vintage, Yamaha, or Ibanez on the headstock.

For £200-ish a Yamaha BB414 would be my preference. Second hand Squiers seem to have lept in price - presumably the "everyone is bored in lockdown" effect.

MattBanshee · March 2021

You should be able to get an Ibanez or Yamaha for that price as noted already here - either of those would be great (though perhaps avoid any Ibanez GIO or any model numbers beginning with G, as these are the cheapy Argos-level models)

MattBanshee · March 2021

EDIT: ignore me

thegummy · March 2021

The Vintage V4 is pretty highly rated and sells for £270 brand new.

Not sure they'll be so easy to find second hand but if you do then it'd surely be under £200.

P.S. don't worry about the P style bass only having one pickup or think it means it lacks "versatility" in any way - P basses don't need extra pickups, knobs or switches to fit in to just about any genre you want. Especially if your band has a rhythm guitarist, a P will be good.

MattBanshee · March 2021

In a field of basses including Ibanez, Yamaha, Sterling and even *retches* Sire, I wouldn't touch a Vintage with a dog-chewed stick, and I'd laugh in the face of anyone trying to get £270 for one.

Adey · March 2021

Funkfingers said:

Adey said:

Ibanez Soundgear SR300E bass … buy one without the on-board battery as I have to unplug it when I'm done playing or the battery continues to discharge.

Firstly, the SR300 has always been active, to power the onboard EQ circuitry.

Secondly, if the battery discharges even after the jack plug is disconnected, there is a wiring error on the jack socket.

If you upload photographs of the SR300 jack socket soldering terminals, somebody here can tell you how to correct the problem.

Nothing wrong with the electronics. It's the lead I have to unplug, not the battery.

I'd rather just put it down when I'm done and not have to take the lead out....

thegummy · March 2021

MattBanshee said:

In a field of basses including Ibanez, Yamaha, Sterling and even *retches* Sire, I wouldn't touch a Vintage with a dog-chewed stick, and I'd laugh in the face of anyone trying to get £270 for one.

MattBanshee said:

EDIT: ignore me

MattBanshee · March 2021

Adey said:

Funkfingers said:

Adey said:

Ibanez Soundgear SR300E bass … buy one without the on-board battery as I have to unplug it when I'm done playing or the battery continues to discharge.

Firstly, the SR300 has always been active, to power the onboard EQ circuitry.

Secondly, if the battery discharges even after the jack plug is disconnected, there is a wiring error on the jack socket.

If you upload photographs of the SR300 jack socket soldering terminals, somebody here can tell you how to correct the problem.

Nothing wrong with the electronics. It's the lead I have to unplug, not the battery.

I'd rather just put it down when I'm done and not have to take the lead out....

Passive or active regardless; you really should unplug the cable anyways unless you want to end up with jack socket connection issues along the line.

thegummy · March 2021

Adey said:

Funkfingers said:

Adey said:

Ibanez Soundgear SR300E bass … buy one without the on-board battery as I have to unplug it when I'm done playing or the battery continues to discharge.

Firstly, the SR300 has always been active, to power the onboard EQ circuitry.

Secondly, if the battery discharges even after the jack plug is disconnected, there is a wiring error on the jack socket.

If you upload photographs of the SR300 jack socket soldering terminals, somebody here can tell you how to correct the problem.

Nothing wrong with the electronics. It's the lead I have to unplug, not the battery.

I'd rather just put it down when I'm done and not have to take the lead out....

I'm with you on finding that an annoyance.

Not exactly the hugest inconvenience of all time but still, I understand you wanting to avoid it.

It's not just the inconvenience when you remember to take it out, when you forget because you're used to years and years of leaving cables in then it drains the battery.

hobbio · March 2021

Thanks people, plenty to think about here. I'm more into modern looks rather than P or J basses so I'll look down that avenue.

hobbio · March 2021

Gulliver said:

hobbio said:

I bought a 5 string Harley Benton bass a couple of months ago, and now I fancy getting a 4 string as well.

I'm not really a bass player though, so I don't want to sink much money into it. I also want to buy used so I get a better instrument and I'll get most of my money back if I decide to move it on.

Any idea on decent used 4 string basses for £200-£250 ish?

Having seen you're in Southampton - this is over in Pompey and looks really good

https://reverb.com/uk/item/39495782-ibanez-sr400eqmbbt-electric-bass-brown-burst

This is right up my alley and I miiiight have put an offer in

Adey · March 2021

As it seems to be sold now, I guess you may have bought it????

hobbio · March 2021

Adey said:

As it seems to be sold now, I guess you may have bought it????

...yes

Funkfingers · March 2021

Adey said:
I'd rather … not have to take the lead out.

I'd rather not have to wipe my own arse but, these days, you just can't get the staff.

thegummy · March 2021

Funkfingers said:

Adey said:
I'd rather … not have to take the lead out.

I'd rather not have to wipe my own arse but, these days, you just can't get the staff.

Luckily the majority of toilet rolls are automatic so you don't have to wipe your own arse.

No wait, that's not true. But it is true that with most basses you don't have to take the lead out.

Adey · March 2021

If bass players weren't so fickle I would still be doing the rhythm parts in my band!

Adey · March 2021

Actually, I have found I quite enjoy doing the bass parts and may well stick to it.

I have joined the dark side....

Adey · March 2021

hobbio said:

Adey said:

As it seems to be sold now, I guess you may have bought it????

...yes

Make sure you remember to take the lead out.

Mudcrutch · March 2021

The only road now is Fretless.
Im a big fretless Bass guitar convert.

thegummy · March 2021

Mudcrutch said:

The only road now is Fretless.
Im a big fretless Bass guitar convert.

When I've browsed out of curiosity I'm always surprised how few choices there are for fretless.

Mudcrutch · March 2021

thegummy said:

Mudcrutch said:

The only road now is Fretless.
Im a big fretless Bass guitar convert.

When I've browsed out of curiosity I'm always surprised how few choices there are for fretless.

I guess it depends where you look.
Theres quite a few now that have fret markings but are fretless.
Im not a fan of those, I like fretless to be fretless.
I find myself being more creative and having more fun when not looking for markers on a neck.
I would love a double bass but don’t have the room and can’t play standing up.

UnclePsychosis · March 2021

thegummy said:

Mudcrutch said:

The only road now is Fretless.
Im a big fretless Bass guitar convert.

When I've browsed out of curiosity I'm always surprised how few choices there are for fretless.

I don't think its that surprising - for starters, fretless is very much a 'niche' and secondly, not very many people pick up a fretless electric bass as their first bass, so the market for beginner/budget fretless instruments is almost non-existent.

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Best used bass for £200 ish?

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