I have recently started learning bass guitar by going through the Beginner to Badass course. I am learning on a setup I’m borrowing. I am currently using a Ibanez SR300EDX. I’m not in love with it by any means and haven’t experienced any other basses in person. I mainly want to play rock/metal/punk type stuff. I am trying to get a bass for as cheap as possible, but definitely can’t go over $300. What is the best bass for my situation?
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A video Josh Fossgreen put out years ago recommended a Yamaha TRBX174. You can get one new for at or under $300. But you would find one cheaper used.
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You’ll have a hard time finding something decent under $300. Used Squier CV’s amd Sires cost more than that. I say look for a used Yamaha BB234 in excellent conditon.
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Definitely look for used. I got a used Yamaha TRBX174 for less than $200 and it was in pristine condition.
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Definitely a 174. Setup, strings will very nice. If you can put your hands on a used one and play it, all I mentioned may have already been done
Yeah. Used Yamaha BB or TRBX (any model of either) will be a great first bass.
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I started out with a 174 and graduated to something else pretty quick. It’s very okay for a beginner bass, nothing wrong with it but it feels like a beginner instrument. I’d go with the Yamaha BB234 in the $300 range. The build quality for what you’re paying can’t be beat for under $500 imo. The next step up from that are the Sire’s and Yamaha BB434 & TRBX 304.
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Maybe you can elaborate a little what you do not like about the SR300EDX?
He’s borrowing it
Squier
It’s not that there is something I don’t like about the SR300EDX. There just isn’t anything about it that makes me love it and say “When I get my own, I’m getting this one too.” But I am new to this so I don’t know what is out there and what to pass on other than just what I think looks cool.
You can get brand new Fenders or a Squire for under $300. Check Amazon too. Fender sells there. I just got a Squire with Amp, stand, gig bag, and tuner for $350 with Tax. I think I saw a couple P Basses for around $300 new.
Your best bet “now” is just web surfing for the lowest price.
That said if you invest some time to research then you can get a lot for $300. Which really about $250 at guitar center used or $270 new everywhere else before tax.
It takes some learning curve buying used, sometimes it’s easy to dive in to the lowest price but more often than not it’s just plain too good to be true.
What are you looking for? Or simply anything under $300.
YMMV but I would take a used Yamaha BB or TRBX304+ over a new Fender or Squier that had an original list price under $300 any day of the week; quality will be higher on the Yamaha than on a bottom of the line Squier.
Squiers start getting pretty good up in the $350-$400+ range though.
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Absolutely agree with this. The Yammy TRBX 304/ 305 is just an excellent bass not just for you and I or for Gigging but professional recording as well. If it’s good for Abe, it’s definitely great for me. I have the 305 version, at I loaned it out to Abe for this recording. …I only wish 
There’s a red one at Guitar center for $280
here’s mine
Here’s what it sounds like
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Abe and company sound good! 
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Oh man for sure he can, I think he’s a Yamaha guy. I know he plays with the BBNE2 but he also plays with a couple of Wyns. They are just awesome.
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Awesome here too:
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That’s a beautiful rendition and a beautiful bass too. RIP Randall.
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for $300 you can get the entry level stingray. howevz if you could swing an extra 80 bux the upgrade sub model is a better instrument.