Bridgehouse

Most of my bass playing and owning has centred on P basses. I got a J recently and that would be adventurous for me, were it not that I took a flyer on the Shuker Uberhorn. My experience with that has put me firmly into the liking weird and wacky, custom and odd. The HKs look good…

Oh for cod's sake you lot. This is a discussion about strings, and these fishy puns are distracting from the flow of conversation. Shoaly you can see that? There's a time and a plaice for this sort of thing. I trout it will stop you tho. Hhhhh

Exactly what era was the era where basses “bellied” so the action was high?? Fret not though…

Tune have always fascinated me..

Been out and about today folks - so sorry I've only just caught up! Loads more great suggestions here for me to do some further research tonight. I'm definitely getting inspired to acquire some of the more affordable offerings out there to give them a go.

Lol, for the first time ever I wanted to use the correct term for female dogs, in the right context as well, but the swear filter won't let me!! Anyway, my point was supposed to be about the misinterpretation of "string noise"

They are all girls...

Actually, it's a she.

My dog has no nose either..

My strings make a noise. Given how much I've spent on basses and amplifiers I'd be really bloody cross if they didn't

What the heck is that, and why isn’t it available over here? That’s got a proper Ampeg vibe going on and looks great.

@Al Krow Actually, one thing I’ve not got is a choice of fretted and fretless which play well and sound good that I wouldn’t mind leaning against a window ledge down the dog and duck. I can’t see myself taking the Shuker for such a gig - recording and jams, yeah, but get within 5 metres of joe public? Nope. Not quite the same for the CS Jazz, but I’d prefer not to have to watch out for 4 grands worth of Jazz in a tent in a muddy field. So perhaps the giggable and not worry angle is one factor. Specially for fretless.

Nope. Don’t think I’m missing out on anything. The two main basses I’ve got are absolute keepers and the partscasters are going nowhere either. In fact, it’s probably the first time I’ve had a crop that I’m not thinking of moving on at all. This was more of a realisation that I’ve not had a cheaper bass before - and I’ve got the usual curiosity gas that one gets from time to time, and I’m wondering if I should satisfy that with some more bargain oriented goodness.

I've had a USA Stingray - liked it a lot but it wasn't getting played enough to justify hanging on to it. I'm hoping if I got a few cheaper basses I wouldn't feel I needed to get rid of them so quick if they weren't getting used as much. I don't use my partscasters as much as I could, but there's no way they are going!

There's some great shouts there for further investigation! The MTD sounds interesting, but I doubt I'd find a B30 for under £500 these days.. shame as I really do like the look of them, but I'm determined to try some cheaper end instruments rather than falling into the trap of just going up a bit more in price. Never tried a Sire. I really ought to as well.

I'm getting the impression that Yamaha's are high on the sub-£500 list regardless... Are any of them fretless, or are they a lot rarer? I'm gonna have to read that BB-mega thread...

Course, non-Yamaha answers also encouraged!

Now that's exactly the sort of bargain I'm talking about!!

So best bang for buck cheapie Yamaha either new or used?

Yes, also never owned a Yamaha bass. Shocking, I know. I've had some cracking Yamaha acoustics, and I've got a Yamaha Montage 6 synth which is bloody excellent so I have no idea why I've never looked hard at them.. I don't know my way around their models or numbers tho...

Quick recap on my current basses: - Shuker Uberhorn Fretless 4 - Fender Custom Shop 62 Jazz Charcoal Frost - Partscaster Semi-hollow 51 Precision Natural - Partscaster 51 Precision with a custom wound Ric-style pickup in Surf Green

After an earlier exchange with @AndyTravis and a conversation in the Den of Iniquity, it's occurred to me that I've only ever really had either expensive basses (more than £500) or Partscasters (made up from parts, self build, or self assemble/finish etc.) So, I'm clearly missing out on a huge chunk of basses here.. tell me, fine denizens of Basschat, what would you recommend that meets the following criteria: - 4 string - Fretted or fretless - Less than £500 either new or used - Active or Passive - Any manufacturer (the less common the better!) - You've owned it and really liked it, or thought it to be a great bass for the money

Mate, I know - and I love your philosophy on it as well. My problem is I just don't have the time to do the buying and selling - otherwise I'd be with you. Specially on the cheaper end stuff. I was musing earlier that I've only ever had expensive basses or partscasters.. I've got 2 expensives and 2 partscasters at the moment (and one more in build) - I've never bought a bass that's cost under £500... and I really need to do something about that!!!

Ahh, you mean you shift your stock quicker than they do?