Christopher's Workshop Hybrid Bass

While there are less expensive basses that will hold together well, and be loud enough to be heard at the job, this is the least expensive bass I know of that will also sound good to the discerning listener.  If you care about the quality of your sound, it starts here. $2400 US includes Bruce Sexauer's personal set up routine, ie: fingerboard planing and polishing/sound post fitting and placement/bridge fine tuning/nut filing/end pin reaming/etc. as needed. This means that this bass plays as well as any bass can, and sounds as good as it is capable of, which is far better than the price suggests.