Members Reaper 66 Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 I've been playing guitar a little while but I've decided to take up the Bass. I don't have a big budget, like $250, for the bass and an amp. I was considering these 2 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Bass/Electric?sku=515933 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Bass/Amps?sku=480382 Anybody have any experience with them, or better suggestions??My music interest is mostly Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Washburn makes a good bass, but this isn't it. You'd do better to get an Essex bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Addix Metzatricity Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 My main bass is a Washburn XB-600, though from looking the XB-100 mine is definitely more than a 6-string version of that. I love mine, but I've never played a cheap Washburn... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveyDevey Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 I've got a fretless XB200 that I've been pretty happy with. It's not the best best I've ever played, but it's certainly worth more than the $200 I paid for it. The pickups could be better, but the neck is great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Originally posted by SteveyDevey I've got a fretless XB200 that I've been pretty happy with. It's not the best best I've ever played, but it's certainly worth more than the $200 I paid for it. The pickups could be better, but the neck is great. Ooooo, purdee. I love the looks of a nekkid fingerboard! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bholder Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 I like the Washburn semi-hollow and hollow basses, but their sold bodies have never done much for me. Haven't really given any of them a fair chance, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveyDevey Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Originally posted by bassman1956 Ooooo, purdee. I love the looks of a nekkid fingerboard! Me too. That's one of the reasons I bought it. I would really love to make it a little beefier sounding though. I think it's the pickups, but that's far from my area of specialty. Sounds plausible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Addix Metzatricity Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Just for fun, here's pics of my Washburn XB-600. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Originally posted by SteveyDevey Me too. That's one of the reasons I bought it. I would really love to make it a little beefier sounding though. I think it's the pickups, but that's far from my area of specialty. Sounds plausible? Yeah, I'd say a PJ set of Nordstands with an Aguilar OB3 preamp. It would sound awesome! And cost twice what the bass did, probably. But, if you love it and plan on keeping it, it would sound awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveyDevey Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Originally posted by bassman1956 Yeah, I'd say a PJ set of Nordstands with an Aguilar OB3 preamp. It would sound awesome! And cost twice what the bass did, probably. But, if you love it and plan on keeping it, it would sound awesome! What would you suggest for something cheap? I'm thinking just about anything else would sound better, but I really don't know what I'm talking about. I don't play much bass anymore, and when I do my time gets split between my fretless and my 5 string. So, I can't really justify spending a ton of cash on something I only play with a few times a week, ya know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassman1956 Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Well, let's see... Barts, SD's, Dimarzios, Sadowskys. Maybe Aeros, RioGrandes. Could always just do the pups now, and the preamp later. You can also ebay pickups. Often they're brand new, even with warranty yet. Not a steal, but cheaper than a regular store. The big question is, where is your tone and where would you like your tone to head? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bringtherock Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 I bought a used MIA XB-900 from my local music store for about $600. It's my first decent bass...nice and light, low action, clean sound. It was pretty well taken care of, and i'm pretty happy with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Washburn has made some very nice basses Esp during the 80s with their abt series. Ibanez tried to copy them somewhat when they ntroduced their soundgears, but wasnt as good. That said today the best imo low budget basses are the Esp Ltd B series lower end. B154 in your range. Very nice exended pocket bolton neck (6bolt) with very nice maple neck with rosewood fretboard. Solid agathis body (dark like mahogany but better articulation then mahogany) with maple top. Very good soapbar pups by esp with 2 band acive eq. Actually like mine betterthen their higher priced neckthru B series due to better crunch with the b154 & somewhat tighter sound due to agathis rather then mahogany body. Very good hardware on it as well. So is very good bass out of the box with no need to replace anything really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Perfessor Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 The XB100 was discontinued. They, like many entry level basses, aren't real good. I play a Washburn T24 taurus bass and it's fantastic. Low, low action, straight neck, sounds great and everywhere I take it people want to try it out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NeonVomit Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 I've got a Washburn XB120. Hot, HOT pickups. Perfect for black metal. Excellent build quality, pretty lookin' bass. Good neck, too... and the bridge is excellent as well. Overall, a great bass for a low price. Washburn make some excellent instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SteveyDevey Posted April 2, 2006 Members Share Posted April 2, 2006 Originally posted by bassman1956 Well, let's see... Barts, SD's, Dimarzios, Sadowskys. Maybe Aeros, RioGrandes. Could always just do the pups now, and the preamp later. You can also ebay pickups. Often they're brand new, even with warranty yet. Not a steal, but cheaper than a regular store. The big question is, where is your tone and where would you like your tone to head? I wouldn't even know where to begin on describing my current or desired tone. It just seems like my active 5 string is MUCH louder and more defined than my passive fretless 4 string. I've never really known if it was because it was passive, if it was fretless, the dead ass strings, the possibly horrible pickups, etc. The electronics have been a bit finicky though, just completely cutting out from time to time. I've opened up the control cavity and mucked around with it a few times when it's happened. Sometimes it comes back, and sometimes not. I'm really just worried that I'd replace the pickups and it not sound any better. I'd hate to spend the money and time to not get the change I'm hoping for, ya know? (It's got passive electronics, fyi) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Reaper 66 Posted April 3, 2006 Author Members Share Posted April 3, 2006 Thanks for the info. Nice pics of those 2 too. I like the looks of the fretless but just starting out on bass I should probably stick with a fretted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted April 3, 2006 Members Share Posted April 3, 2006 i HAD the xb 100, when i say had its kinda weird, i still have it, although it no longer resembles the xb100. i'm pimping it out. a few things about the xb 100.the body is very comfortable, the pickup is weak. the neck is very comfortable, the bass also hangs very well. the frets are pretty soft and wear very easily. i played rock/metal and punk rock on mine. the neck is VERY unstable. mine was anyways warping and needed adjustments. heres a few pic of what it looks like now. i havent got the time to finish it at the moment, but i got a new maple neck for it. http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y206/achtungjackass/Slappy/slappy.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Addix Metzatricity Posted April 3, 2006 Members Share Posted April 3, 2006 Slappy's got a pretty nifty coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted April 3, 2006 Members Share Posted April 3, 2006 btw +1000 on getting an SX bass instead, i have one also. it sounds really nice. the quality is also about 2 times that of the xb. the neck is a hell of a lot better than the xb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted April 3, 2006 Members Share Posted April 3, 2006 Originally posted by Addix Metzatricity Slappy's got a pretty nifty coat. thanks you i did it myself. slappy is currently living on top of a shelf cos i'm too busy to finish it off and put it together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members der oxenrig Posted April 3, 2006 Members Share Posted April 3, 2006 I have the XB-102, the 2-pickup version of the XB-100. The neck is very slim, like a Fender Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. I don't like it, but I love chunky necks. The pickups are weak and microphonic, and the hardware is decent. If it wasn't a gift, i'd have gotten rid of it by now and gotten an SX P instead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.