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SurfGuitar101 Forums » Gear »

Permalink Your inexpensive guitar or bass that’s a keeper

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My Squier Bronco bass (slightly modded) is mine.

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Several years ago, I bought a used MIM P Bass for $300 Cdn (gig bag included). I preferred its feel to that of new American P Basses that I tried at the music shops. It was already really good but great now that I did an all-new wiring harness w/new pots and Seymour Duncan pickup. And now that I have flats on it, it is perfect for my needs as a guitarist that uses the bass for home recordings and the occasional gig. With rosewood no longer available on affordable instruments and the tones, it was an amazing investment.

Lorne
The Surf Shakers: https://www.facebook.com/TheSurfShakers
Vancouver BC Canada

Samurai wrote:

This one. It’s a killer guitar for $500
image

I'm guessing that's a gretsch. What model?
Edit: Nevermind, I just saw your post about it! (It's a G2655T-P90 for those who are curious). Looks fun to play!

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Last edited: Jul 05, 2022 10:58:23

BB_Bunny wrote:

Samurai wrote:

This one. It’s a killer guitar for $500
image

I'm guessing that's a gretsch. What model?
Edit: Nevermind, I just saw your post about it! (It's a G2655T-P90 for those who are curious). Looks fun to play!

Yes, it’s so cool! I guess one of the best surfing Gretsches, and I had some of them) So punchy and focused, almost like Jazzmaster with some added semi hollow vibe)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

that gretsch is amazing! absolute looker. i love their cheaper lines. i have an epiphone wildkat back in florida with p90s and bigsby, but I want to get similar pickups in your gretsch. need to ship it home to me someday.

Last edited: Jul 05, 2022 15:00:40

cosmonaut wrote:

that gretsch is amazing! absolute looker. i love their cheaper lines. i have an epiphone wildkat back in florida with p90s and bigsby, but I want to get similar pickups in your gretsch. need to ship it home to me someday.

I also got this jet recently and it’s a rock’n roll beast) 499 Euro on sale.
image

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Is that the G5232T? I saw a used one recently for $400, and a G5120 for $300 pop up locally. I wouldn't mind having something for some rockabilly/roots rock action, but I also think maybe I need to cool it on the guitar acquisition for a bit.

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BB_Bunny wrote:

Is that the G5232T? I saw a used one recently for $400, and a G5120 for $300 pop up locally. I wouldn't mind having something for some rockabilly/roots rock action, but I also think maybe I need to cool it on the guitar acquisition for a bit.

Yep, G5232t in Tahiti Red!

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

I've had several basses since my first one in 1973. All the current ones are Fenders and one Gibson.

But my very favorite is the one I have named "The Mongrel". It was an eBay purchase around 20 years ago.

It is basically a 1965 Fender Precision with an aftermarket Warmoth Jazzmaster neck and updated electronics. A few years ago I replaced whatever pickup was in it for a Jason Lollar, my favorite bass pickup.

Since it has so many modifications and only the body and the external hardware are original Fender, it is no longer a real Fender, it's just a mongrel. But the happy accident is that it's the best bass I've ever owned or played.

image

Jack
aka WoodyJ

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money
(1978-1990)

Last edited: Jul 05, 2022 20:10:00

Nothing else sounds like a P-Bass.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

My Danectro 56-U2 reissue from the 90's is great. It cost me all of $150.00 ...NEW!

Bob

RobbieReverb wrote:

My Danectro 56-U2 reissue from the 90's is great. It cost me all of $150.00 ...NEW!

THAT is an amazing find! You should post pictures so we can drool over how lucky you are.

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Toneschaser wrote:

A lot more went into these than they are worth, but I did the work myself so it wasn't so awful! And they sound and play fantastic!

That's kind of the appeal to me when it comes to cheap guitars. The initial cost is low and I can practice setup/repair on something that is much lower stakes than something expensive. Financially, it's easier to start with something cheap and piecemeal parts here and there to eventually end up with a fantastic custom instrument than it is to drop all the money at once on something prefab. Plus, the skills you learn along the way can be applied to more expensive instruments later on down the line. I'm not against investing in a good instrument, but there's something to be said for a cheap project guitar.

Premiere Single Out Now! - Keep On Running
Psychic Chime - Instagram
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RobbieReverb wrote:

My Danectro 56-U2 reissue from the 90's is great. It cost me all of $150.00 ...NEW!

Yes, I’ve heard a lot of good about them, and not easy to find them I guess.

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

New Single is out!

https://waikikimakaki.bandcamp.com/album/rhino-blues-full-contact-surf-single

Waikiki Makaki

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

In general, I loved the Squier Vintage Modified series for modding and when initially offered, these guitars went for about $300-$350 - can't remember the exact amount but you can occasionally find them used on Reverb for not much more.

To me, the Squier Classic Vibe series' pickups are better than the Duncan Designed pickups on the Vintage Modified series, but I prefer the Vintage Modified necks (fuller C) than the slimmer C on the Classic Vibe series.

Stratosphere has enabled me (and others, I'm sure) to go nuts on a variety of parts builds - if careful, savings can be had.

I think my favorite parts build is my Gretsch Astro Jet build that I call my Astro-Sonic. I found one of those unfinished Gretsch Astro Jet (and Gretsch Corvette) bodies (on eBay some years back for like $75) and there was a guy with the handle Jack Daniels on the Gretsch Pages (guitar forum) who offered to make necks for us ambitious Gretsch parts builders at the time. I got his premium neck package for like $225, which included thumbnail inlays, double-truss rod, binding - it's a fantastic neck. I added Sperzel locking tuners, TV Jones T-Armond pickups, and a Mastery Tremolo. My guitar tech finished the guitar in Sonic Blue and there was another Gretsch forum guy who made me a pickguard and truss rod cover for a low cost. Overall cost probably puts it around $800 but it's priceless to me.

image

image

Back in April, I picked up a used DiPinto Orbital, which is DiPinto's budget model made in Indonesia, for about $400 or so. When I tried it out in the store, I had no idea it was the budge model - it played and sounded great so I had to have it. I later found out from another Offset Guitar forum member what model it was - he actually works at DiPinto. The Orbital is all stock except today I swapped out the stock bridge and put in a spare Tru-Arc bridge. This 4-pickup guitar is a surf beast. I get why Los Straitjackets play out with DiPinto guitars. Each pickup has a corresponding button to turn on or off so there is quite a variety of pickup combinations. No further plans to mod it. Definitely a keeper!

image

image

The doofus formerly known as Snorre
Surfysonic on YouTube
World Famous Philistines: 2014 - 2015
K39: 2013 - 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv9JADQ4ukw

Last edited: Jul 06, 2022 16:09:02

I recently started a new project, and when I picked up our 15yo ivory Mustang bass to lay down a track, I thought about what a great bass it has been through the years. It is the bass on all our records. The shorter scale neck was perfect for Ellie and the sound is still great. The tone nob is extreme, meaning we could get almost any bass sound we wanted. It's a keeper.

Shoot the Pier on Bandcamp
Shoot the Pier on Reverb Nation
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We are on Instagram under "@shootthepiersurfband"

My Country EP ... Florida Dirt Fire
https://floridadirtfire.bandcamp.com/album/florida-dirt-fire

My French Love Songs ... I really needed a change...
www.lonelyrose.bandcamp.com

SurferBill wrote:

I recently started a new project, and when I picked up our 15yo ivory Mustang bass to lay down a track, I thought about what a great bass it has been through the years. It is the bass on all our records. The shorter scale neck was perfect for Ellie and the sound is still great. The tone nob is extreme, meaning we could get almost any bass sound we wanted. It's a keeper.

I have the Fiesta Red equivalent, and I love it. I’ve had P-basses, Jazz Basses, a P-J base, and a couple of Warwicks, it is, in many ways, my favorite. The Warwick has more sustain, but for most duties, the Mustang is my favorite.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

Squier Tele basses

image

Jill Martini & The Shrunken Heads

Last edited: Jul 09, 2022 14:45:10

synchro wrote:

SurferBill wrote:

I recently started a new project, and when I picked up our 15yo ivory Mustang bass to lay down a track, I thought about what a great bass it has been through the years. It is the bass on all our records. The shorter scale neck was perfect for Ellie and the sound is still great. The tone nob is extreme, meaning we could get almost any bass sound we wanted. It's a keeper.

I have the Fiesta Red equivalent, and I love it. I’ve had P-basses, Jazz Basses, a P-J base, and a couple of Warwicks. The Warwick has more sustain, but for most duties, the Mustang is my favorite.

The artist formerly known as: Synchro

When Surf Guitar is outlawed only outlaws will play Surf Guitar.

I purchased my Danelectro '59M NOS+ in Copper eight months ago from Sweetwater. It was a demo for $431. It had exactly one tiny blemish and came with a warranty. Sweetwater has been great to deal with.
Anyhow, I love this thing - great sound and light weight (6.5 lbs). I did have the action lowered a bit, but that's all it needed.
image

Last edited: Jul 10, 2022 10:20:25

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