Any music from ska ,grunge , heavy metal 
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Keep in mind that the Sire M5 and M7 models have exactly the same Swamp Ash body, Maple neck, hardware, pickups and preamp. Essentially, they share the exact same high-quality build.
The only differences between the two models is that the M7 offers a Flamed Maple top and matching headstock, and a few finish color options. The M7 is also more expensive than the M5.
Personally, those cosmetic differences weren’t worth the extra cost of an M7, so I went with a natural finish M5 with a black headstock, which happens to match the black hardware. The feel and playability of a bass are the most important criteria to me, so an M5 it is.
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So I looked up prices at Anderton’s. Although £300 GBP is roughly $400 USD, instruments are cheaper here. So that $350 bass will probably cost around £350, not £260.
With that in mind, I would strongly encourage you to bump up your budget to £400, and/or to look at used basses from the list given.
Under a true £300 new, the only one I think I’d consider is the Yamaha TRBX174. But even then… spend the extra money and/or buy used. It will save you money later on.
You will enjoy playing it more. So learning will be more productive. You will be more likely to stick with it longer. You will get more “milage” out of that bass.
If (when) you decide to sell that bass either because you want something nicer or you just don’t play… it will be easier to sell and have higher resale value. That £350 new bass will easily sell for £250 used private party. Of £130 if you take it to a shop. Whereas that £250 new bass will sell for maybe £100 or £60 at a shop.
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I haven’t seen Thomann’s house brand, Harley Benton, mentioned yet. They are among the best low cost instruments out there, punching way above their weight. For example, their HBZ-2004 Deluxe costs only £249…and that’s their expensive line.
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Yes. Strong agree on these. This is probably the correct answer for the OP if shopping new with a 300GBP budget.
I didn’t think of them because they aren’t common here in the U.S. and I was really just going on what’s available at Sweetwater and Guitar Center.
That HBZ Deluxe is absurdly nice for that price point. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a neck-through bass that cheap.
Personally, I’d go with either the MP-4MN or MJ-4EB because I like a bass with a humbucker and a fat mid-body pickup. I think I’d pick the 4EB, because the humbucker is closer to the Music Man sweet spot, whereas the 4MN is more of a P-Bass with added bucker.
…and this color combo is 100% my style.
But that’s what I like, not necessarily what I think the OP should get.
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Very attractive bass! I love the wood tones. Neck through body too!
What does it sound like?
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FWIW there are two versions. Notice the pups are different. The second one is $165 more expensive and has the active 3 band Eq.
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He looked so angry in the thumbnail.
Turned out… he wasn’t angry at all?
I’m so confused.
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as i pine for my yamaha 734a to arrive, i’ve started playing my 234 again and dang that thing plays and sounds real nice. super solid for the price. i might dabble with some upgrades for it soon
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Yup same here , love my v7
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My first bass is a MIM Fender P from the mid 1990’s. Back then the parts were all American but they were assembled in Mexico to save labor. Sounds and plays as nice as my America made Fenders. Paid $500 for it with a fresh setup and new strings and a hardcase. I’ll never let it go.
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I got an Ibanez sr. I fully recommend them. It’s my favorite bass I have ever played. And when I get my five string I’ll be getting another SR
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no you aren’t, you know perfectly well what clickbait is 
btw i always have loved patrick’s channel. just a solid player, not as flashy as most of them and has a nice pocket. and a fun personality too.
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I would not blanket recommend an Ibanez SR to everyone. They have very thin necks that are often polarizing. For some people they are perfect, but for others they are a terrible fit.
There is also a big jump in quality between their premium and budget lines.
I own a 1600 and a 370. The 1600 feels amazing, and the 370f… least favorite bass I’ve owned. I got it because it was the cheapest decent fretless I could find to spend enough time confirming that I enjoyed playing fretless, but I almost immediately started shopping for something else.
Fair, mine is 305edx. Absolutely love it. The neck is what I love specifically. I also think it’s a very versatile tone. Although the power tap switch is dumb. I am looking at the 1355b for my five string. Any feedback on that one?
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What didn’t you like about the fretless?
It wasn’t the fretless part. The SR370 is not the bass for me. I don’t care for the neck. It’s thinner than I prefer and I don’t like the combo of the lacquer, thin, and rounder C or U shape. Don’t hate but don’t love.
I’m not a fan of the tone either. It’s too tinny for my tastes. I wanted a warmer, fatter sound. However, it’s the older SR370, not the current 370E, and the pickups and the preamp are different. It’s also possible it’s the specific strings on it.
The 1355 will be similar to my 1600. (Pretty sure all the 1xxx series are.) They’re great. The neck 1600 is thin, but feels much nicer to me. The finish is raw and it has a flatter backed D shape which feels nicer to me on a thin neck. Those Nordstrand pickups are big and sharp. They sound great. I’d loosely prefer the Big Split over the big single, but that’s whatever.
I also really like the preamp it has. Particularly love the Active/Passive switch with the treble knob also serving as passive tone control. Only issue is that I’d prefer fatter control nobs that were more precise, and a more positive detent to feel when they’re centered.
My fretless I upgraded to is a Fender P-bass with a Warmoth P neck. I’d prefer a Jazz neck, but I got a stoopidly good deal on it ($350, and I spent $100 on lightweight tuners). When I decide to upgrade, I’m eyeing either the Ibanez SRD900 or a Sire Z7, but want to put my hands on each first.
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Hah yeah I think that must be Patrick Hunter’s thing for youtube: no matter which bass, my man Hunter goes full-on veins-sticking-out-of-the-forehead like he’s hammering a Dingwall in his bedroom after failing his driving test. I swear he’s going to burst a blood vessel one day 
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