Shootout: Best Four String Bass Under $300, Part III: Contest and WINNER

Part III

Okay, so now to the nitty gritty:

Best Basses Under $300

I'm going to break this into -$300, -$200, -$100 classes, new and used.

Used Basses

I have been encountering many deals in this range. If you have $300 and are shopping used, you have a wide choice. Silhouette, woods, construction style, decently respectable names, often sporting keeper hardware and electronics.

Hardest is picking what you want. MIM Fender, some MIJ stuff, loads of good Peaveys, Schecters, LTDs that were quite a bit higher priced new. No reason for junk at this price in this segment. If you're not blown away, keep your money until you are.

Under $200...now we're talking.

Ibanez Roadstar/II - these are USA Fender beaters. High quality everything, modern rock tones mostly but nothing on these was cheap or ill thought out. Had an RB690 in creme last year, aesthetically in a gray area but "shoulda kept" player. John Paul Jones was photographed playing my exact color and model, & played a PJ config Roadstar at Live Aid.

USA Peaveys - more USA Fender killers in a "grey area" silhouette. Super Ferrite pickups are coveted. CNC made, very early adaptation of the technology. Play first before cheaper import fare.

SX Basses - I had a 74 style Jazz copy, ash, maple/maple with pearloid blocks, and it's true what the forums say: a good one is Fender good. Maybe not the greatest, tightest assembly, but neither are/were Fenders in places like neck pockets. REAMS of info online, known quantity. Old headstocks are nicer, new ones can be given a "faux Suhr" treatment but ugly stock. Mod platforms, J pickups are well regarded. Getting collectible, particularly LPB finishes.

Used Sterling SUBs in this range are great, see below in New.

Used Fernandes basses are killer. MIJ can be had and are some of the best used budget basses around.

I played a rather killer Atlas non-MIJ that would have passed for such. J-MM without the J, passive with a series- parallel switch. Still might go back and get it, despite already have a bolt on MM pickup'd bass. They'll grab your attention.


-$100

Used under a bill, Deans aren't bad but Ibanez has really killer but to my eye just ok looking basses in the -$200 range new, enough so that you could snag a decent playing, mahogany or agathis bodied bass in a variety of pickup configurations for a C note or less.

If you need something with a familiar silhouette, Affinity series Squiers can be had. Nothing special, but worse copies abound.

Canvas branded basses are actually way decent, I was all kinds of enthused for a Warmoth neck swap, though, and the extra fret mooted that. Worth trying, Belcat pickups, good modder/beater, mine was Mahogany.

NEW BASSES

-$300

For Music Man fans, the SUB series by Sterling is about as good as it gets - if you want a direct clone, proper silhouette, etc. For those more flexible, the Fernandes Atlas 4x is similarly priced, and trades active electronics for an alder body, over the basswood SUBs.

I had an SB4 with very good stock playability and tone, discounted for $180. New $249 all day long. Series pickup, big balls, smaller chassis. Slap machine. Would buy again, great looking basses.

Another $20 gets you a Ray version, more variety in finishes and the "expected" Ray parallel bucker tone. I myself dig the SB4 tone but this look. Wouldn't kick any Ray out of bed for eating crackers, & in this range, this *is* a Ray.

They both have Sterling style necks, which while comfy, share the USA Sterling neck's lack of stability. Loads of neck adjustments going between the beach and desert, but access is easy.

The preamps are HOT and not USA spec, believe they say Spector on the PCB. Rock folks won't care, & there are mods to tame the pre.

Squier Classic Vibe and Vintage Modified basses set the standard in this range, and offer the Fender thing with appropriate headstock shapes and details. These were entirely designed to compete with new SXs and Rondo upstarts, and does well, though bumped up a price bracket.

A *hybrid* option is finding a loaded body with a compatible neck pocket for $100, & getting a Warmoth neck to fit to it.

Frankly, if I'm going for a Squier over a used Roadstar or USA Peavey, it's likely because I want the classic look. Well, Warmoth necks have the Fender headstock. I am still considering this option myself, as it is hard to beat. Warmoth necks are up there with the best, accessible in price, and the playability is mostly in your neck. Good place to spend the money. In the USA, no less!

Various Ibanez Soundgear variants in this bracket, and Soundgears are excellent players. Not huge on the shapes myself, but many dig em. Good quality woods, hardware pickups are ok.

*Honorable Mention* - the new Slick SLPB is a shoo-in for winner in this segment. Having finally tasted the guitar line and seeing its potential fulfilled, I am scraping coins at the moment to acquire one for review.

Brass hardware, great fretwork, quality woods and a great "Dusty Hill Custom Shop" vibe untouchable in this range. Make mine black, it'll be my four string companion to the Melody Maker.

There's no beating a truly good P, and this has the potential for imported greatness. I can't just give this segment's prize away because it looks cool, though. If I was ordering any of the basses in this segment, this is what I'd pull the trigger on. Review to come.

Again, difficult to choose on merits alone here. Individual needs and tastes will dictate. 

Of those mentioned that I played, either SUB is a value in this segment: Js, Ps, Soundgears abound, but active Music Man copies that look the part are harder to come by. And unlike Fenderalikes, Music Man clones aren't automatically going to be assumed to be cheap. Try convincing some older cats about how killer your Squier is...we have many bad old memories and perhaps haven't been looking for more, & missed the Post Rondo Renaissance. (Someone really oughtta send Kurt at Rondo something nice!)

I only pick that over a loaded body/Warmoth neck combo because it's an in between choice, and outcome depending on a variety of factors. I think, done right, in terms of value and overall potential in a traditional package, it's a tough case to beat. If raising saddles sounds like a job for a pro to you, maybe a successful neck swap is a bit much to ask.

There are folks who wanna look over at the bassist and see something "image appropriate". In this case, accommodation may work out for all parties involved. Warmoth has a quality product with real benefits to it.

-$200

Again, the meat of the competition. Where the beginner and budget conscious meet. And my personal choice for Overall Winner.

Ibanez has several strong offerings in this segment.

Various GIO Soundgear models with a variety of pickups and preamp options.

I personally like the Talman that sells for 199. Mahogany body, PJ Passive config with stacked volume/tone pots for each pickup. Plays great and has a lively drum head response to strikethrough and slap. Bit...meh on looks (shape alone), but if you don't mind or dig, VERY good.

Almost as good are the Squier Jaguar basses. Close enough, I'd likely pick it over a Talman based on looks alone. Best Squier in this range.

I'm positive SX and Brice basses from Rondo Music are still good values, haven't been on in awhile, but they had Deluxe Js in old spec for $189. If the nuclear orange neck and goofy headstock don't deter you, they're fairly vetted.

Better still are Xavier basses. SX=basswood now. GFS has a loaded P in alder, same pickups/hardware as in the catalog. A better looking SX already "upgraded". If the SLPB hadn't dropped, was looking at a burst rosewood P, Geezer style. Almost $100 cheaper than the upgraded Slick.

BUT...the best? Is also the biggest surprise.

WINNER OVERALL: Rogue LX400 Pro

"Um, dude? There's a typo. The winner says 'Rogue'."

"Correct."

"Unpossible!"

I was turning basses over constantly last year. SB4, SX SJB74, Ibanez RB690, Canvas PJ...the latter was supposed to be my foil to the SX, what I at first thought was my "keeper". J and PJ, why not?

I see this bass in the same GC I picked the Canvas up in. Was getting new strings for it...a quilt top with MM pickup catches my eye...what have we here?

$99? Dafuqouttahere!

I put it through a trial. The Canvas got instantly returned and I snapped this up instead.

Again, as a #2. The SX ruled the roost. At first.

After stripping off the SX finish and doing satin clear, a Model J swap, and loads of research on Warmoth necks...I realized it wasn't exactly what I wanted.

And...that the Rogue played better. Enough so, that Warmoths were being looked at.

Some will balk at the notion that a GC brand could unseat a...nobody brand selling clones from a shop in Joisey, but actually if SX basses have been "good enough" for you, then, drum roll: the Rogue is made in the same factory.

Instead of worrying about appeasing budget Vintage nerds, the Rogue team spec'd a bass that begged to be taken seriously, as a showcase of what the brand and factory are capable of.

Basswood body. Laugh, Bongos are Basswood.

Quilt veneer top. No PRS, but veneer tops of decent quality are no shame in this range. No more than a plain jane solid finish could be.

Very nice bridge design than can be strung traditionally or through body.

Six bolt neck of far wider spacing than your typical MM style.

A hard rock maple neck, excellent quality Rosewood board with real Abalone dots, what seem to me like crowned leveled and polished frets, a graphite nut, double expanding truss rod, tilt back headstock with matching veneer and the Rogue logo in pearl.

(Hint: try finding neck specs like that in this range!)

The J-MM pickup config sports a Series MM bridge pickup mated to a neck J with MM type slugs. 

These feed a volume pot: pulled up, only the volume and blend pots are in play. Down, the active preamp with bass and treble boost/cut controls come into play. Yes, $199 bass with an active/passive switch.

The preamp has no "budget" level bugs and save for severe treble boosts, noise free.

I've used this with my Behringer BDI21 w/ Franken P mod and a variety of GC and Rehearsal hall Ampegs. Solo or in a band mix, there's a lot to love here, the neck J has a bit more P vibe with the slugs, wouldn't be surprised if the MM pickup was an unlabeled GFS, as it's a quality sound. Not itching to replace it.

I was simply astounded by this bass at first, but honeymoon has long been over. This bass isn't just "good enough", it throws down a standard to be met.

After jettisoning the SX to Craigslist, & in a rare fit of hubris, I thought I was making a gear jump: pro level. A Warwick Streamer MM Pro was on the used rack for $650: after a long afternoon, and a few return visits, I was sure I was going to buy it and use it as band bait. Same way "I own an SVT, Marshall/Mesa stack, a PA" etc would work.

Then...I tried the Rogue again.

It's in a different league of nice. No doubt.

Some better features on a West German bass. Exotic neck, brass frets...

...but the Rogue was too damn close.  And believe me, I tried many a bass in the gulf in between.

To me: these are today what Aria  Pro IIs were before people wised up to their value. I'll bet Cliff Burton got some razzing for that "cheap" bass he played by some, but now? Anyone sell a Cliff Burton Rickenbacher? No? Cliff Burton Black and Gold is a coveted item.

For the price of the used Warwick, you could buy three Rogues, say D standard, Drop C and a fiver. Or a Rogue and a decent used amp, go start rocking blocks instead of fapping about more expensive gear.

By the by, these come in 4, 5, 6, & 8 string versions.

The Rogue holds up to basses waaay over it's price range, and could easily be sold for double wearing a different nameplate.

The feel...it doesn't feel like basswood anything. VERY solid. Confidence inspiring. I never even had to sand and oil the neck, nothing wrong with the stock satin.

Speaking of feel...went and had to do the rounds with a screwdriver on the SX and found lots of loose stuff. Bridge, neck, tuners.

Went over the Rogue...not one loose fastener. In a blind test, you'd think it was a good MIJ.

The SX was constantly being futzed with. Strings, pickups, series switch, refinish. It was always good, enough to encourage another mod....but it never quite hit the nail for me.

The Rogue is so complete, I can't justify messing with it. I've given more consideration to re-modding my #1 guitar, owned ten plus years, than I have modding this Rogue since I've owned it.

Conclusion:

Much like a Camaro has to be less than full potential to not threaten Corvette sales, or a Cayman is to a 911, brands owned by bigger more illustrious companies like Squier, GIO, Eqiphone, et al are likely hamstrung by a required necessity: don't step on the toes of the higher brands. Keep em moving up, GM style - Chevy, Buick, Cadillac.

Rogue had no higher ups to be held in check by, and it shows. No doubt more established brands can deliver in a similar fashion, but what of the upmarket? So maybe around $800 they'll offer up something like this.

Don't laugh, non SUB Indonesian Sterlings command that price.

Viva la "Lawsuit". Even better when it struts out on it's own thing, and succeeds. An SX J mod platform, or a finished ready to rooooock modern style bass that needs nothing - from the same esteemed factory? 

SUBS have neck and preamp issues. Squiers and Ibanez are often lacking in pickup and preamp quality. Better names, costing more.

This is why I look, this is why my blog exists. For $100 I fulfilled a need that, traditionally, according to the various Forumites, one would expect to have paid 4x over. Perhaps 10x, if you're a real cork sniffer.

A Rockbass may well be the next best thing to a used Warwick, but many went for more than this particular 90's Streamer West German example did, & cheapest was $375. This is the real "poor man's Warwick".

If "random guy" told me these were killer, sight unseen, I'd balk. Rogue? No way!

Can't be.

Turns out when you're not focusing on the "new under $100" bracket, a name doesn't mean a thing. If everyone were hip...they'll go up. But hey, I got mine!