Duke said:
In reply to Tony Sestito :
It's been a long time since I bought one, but it seems like the price of 'daily driver' guitars hasn't changed much in 35 years.
In 1985 a decent, journeyman quality electric guitar or bass was $250. In 2020, you're telling me the cost of a decent, journeyman quality electric guitar or bass is $250.
$250-350 is the sweet spot for a decent used Mexican Fender. New, they are around $600+. Mine is a cheaper Squier, but with some upgrades, namely better tuners and a better quality high-mass bridge, I would totally gig the bar circuit with it.
11GTCS
Reader
5/10/20 5:34 p.m.
Recon1342 said:
I do have a slight advantage with regards to cost... My brother owns a music store. Anything purchased will be through him.
If this is the case, I’ll recommend having him look for a good used “MIM” Fender PBass. You’ll be ahead quality wise of the majority of the Squiers. Have him do a restring and a good set up so it’s not frustrating to play.
As far as amps go, my son and daughter play through his Hartke A35 (30 watts, 10” aluminum cone driver) combo amp. His bass is an Ibanez with active pickups, hers is a Squier PBass. Both get great tone through it. Worth considering since I haven’t seen any other mentions. (Jack Bruce played Hartke) You won’t back the nails out of the siding or walk it across the floor with a small combo amp but hey, got to have future goals right?
I have met Mr. Hartke. He works at the Manhattan Sam Ash.
In reply to 11GTCS :
I'm likely going to be going with one of Ibanez's offerings. There's really not much of a used bass market here in Southern Idaho.
I really like Hartke stuff. Not huge on the early alu. drivers but the later hybrid ones are great. I used a Hartke "bass attack" pedal for years. Looking for another one when I get some disposable income actually. Great stuff.
In reply to barefootskater :
Just looked at their stuff. Combo amps are comparable in price to Fender units. May give one a try.
11GTCS
Reader
5/10/20 7:36 p.m.
In reply to Recon1342 :
My son’s is an Ibanez SD GR with active pickups. Somewhat cool story; we were out shopping as a family before Christmas a few years ago and we’re all in a clothing store. The ladies are having a blast (total Dad setup) so I’m like Dude, GC is just down the way, let’s go test drive some E36 M3....
Ladies are in on the scam, I’m trying to get him to pick a bass he really likes so I can know what to get him for Christmas. He tried a couple of 5 strings, not so much love. PBass were OK but pricey. He tried the Ibanez, loved the neck, loved the tone. Played it through a few amps (Fender, Orange, Mark Bass & Hartke). Around this time the ladies arrived and they all went off to look at keyboards or something. He’d been playing the floor model and they had a massive sale going on display models. Somehow this one was still pristine, I remember it listing for close to $600 and buying it for under $300. It’s a really nice bass. I bought the amp off Amazon, I remember bass and amp being less than $550 all in. Got away with the scam and totally surprised him BTW!
Mark Bass was an awesome combo amp but $$$. Hartke was close in sound for a lot less, there’s a way to take a line out and run it through the PA if you’re playing in a band. Good luck with the search.
11GTCS
Reader
5/10/20 7:43 p.m.
In reply to Steve_Jones :
Dude, that’s savage! Let the man dream! This from an ex drummer... 
11GTCS
Reader
5/10/20 8:05 p.m.
Here’s a pic of his bass from the Guitar and Bass thread...
11GTCS said:
In reply to Steve_Jones :
Dude, that’s savage! Let the man dream! This from an ex drummer...
Then you know the best way to get a drummer off your porch is just pay him for the pizza.
11GTCS
Reader
5/10/20 8:11 p.m.
In reply to Steve_Jones :
And that’s why I’m in HVAC! Savage, just savage! 
My Son is a bass player. I don't let him forget it.
In reply to Steve_Jones :
Probably one of those all-show, no-go lead guitarists, aren't ya?
Recon1342 said:
In reply to 11GTCS :
I'm likely going to be going with one of Ibanez's offerings. There's really not much of a used bass market here in Southern Idaho.
After some discussion with my BIL, I'm going to budget for and procure a Yamaha TRBX174EW. That's a big mouthful for a bass with a maple neck, rosewood fretboard, precision and jazz pickups, and a mahogany body with a mango (seriously) top. It also comes with Yamaha's lifetime warranty. Plus, the brown tobacco sunburst looks amazing...
In reply to Recon1342 :
Beautiful bass! You definitely can't go wrong with that one.
That’s sweet. Looks classic and unique at the same time.
I love a nice dark brown burst finish.
BlueInGreen - Jon (Forum Supporter) said:
That’s sweet. Looks classic and unique at the same time.
I love a nice dark brown burst finish.
I love it for those exact reasons... Fenders, with their pickguards, knobs, and everything in chrome are just a bit too busy for my taste. I love the modern shape with the classic colors, and I love that they matched the headstock...
In reply to Recon1342 :
I think Disco Dave would have approved.
My nephew has one like that; that was his first bass, and it's nice and easy to play. Sounds good, too! Yamaha instruments, no matter what they are, always punch way above their weight class. I've been playing my Yamaha Stage Custom drum kit for 25 years now and it still plays and sounds great!
11GTCS
Reader
5/16/20 9:48 p.m.
In reply to Recon1342 :
That’s a really nice looking bass. Enjoy, play the crap out of it!
Well, I was planning on purchasing the Yamaha I posted above... and then my wife surprised me with an early Father's Day gift.
It's a Yamaha TRBX305. (And everything else- Amp, cable, tuner, strap, bag...) Probably got way more features than I need or even want, but I am going to play the ever living crap out of it!
In reply to Recon1342 :
Congrats on a kickass bass!
Nice color! Nice string count!
