For those of you out there who aren’t builders but rather modders (or just a player that likes to tinker with instruments,) one bass instrument that can be had for well south of 500 USD (and even into the sub-400s) is the Peavey Millennium Bass.
While true that it is tough to beat Squier when it comes to bang-for-the-buck, Peavey Millennium puts up a good argument with its much flatter 15-inch radius fingerboard and the fact there are certain models out there with active electronics in them.
If you were looking around for your next bass to mod that stays on the inexpensive side and is not Squier or SX/Rondo, Peavey Millennium is worth a look.
What does it sound like stock?
See below. With very minor tweaking, even if just a basic pickup upgrade, the Millennium can be made into a force to be reckoned with for little money.
Yep, the passive Millennium is a great bargain. I’ve had a couple for several years. You can usually get them for $150 or so use.
I have x2 Peavey Millennium’s I’ve modded , one with Fender Cobalt PU and the other with Norstrom PU’s, boyj with 3 band active EQ. Also check out the Peavey Grind 35″ scale. The Millennium’s can be picked up as blem models for about $150.00 with case.
any piss poor simi well bilt bass can soud better with up graded pick ups. this is a no brainer. picking out a good string for the sound you want is another basic. i read a good article on this website or in a mag that was very helpful in really discribing the differances in strings and the sound it will produce. an article on this page would be a great help to novice players trying to get a certain sound.
I have a Peavey Millinium with 2 active soapbar pickups and a preamp that was given to me and it is very nice.
Another is a Peavey G for around $275 ,Throw in a Bartolini W4CBC pickup and a Bartolini 2.5 preamp and BAM! A less then $600 Modulus.
Invest about $100.00 on bass set up tools on ebay. Then buy a $99.00 China Bass, a nice neck(I won several from Hillimire Guitar),a decent bridge from TNT Guitars, maybe some active pickups from Guitar Fetish, a 20mm gig bag(ebay again), and some strings from Carvin, aqnd you can build a $200-300.00 dollar ax that plays like a $1,500.00 instrument!
The Peavey Grind is another good platform. A 35″ scale, neck-through construction for just a few dollars more than a Millenium. The passive soapbars are lame, but they’re the same size as EMGs.
The peavey grind is an awesome buy too. Wish i hab never sold mine, and just upgraded the pickups.