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Hi everyone. I'm a relatively inexperienced bassist and I was wondering if anyone could give any advice on fingerstyle technique? I've been playing about 10 months and I'm entirely self-taught- I started out with a pick because it just felt more natural and I also preferred the tone (I'm a fan of bassists like Peter Hook, Andy Rourke, JJ Burnel who all mainly use a pick). However I figured it's good to have a range of options at your disposal so for the last few weeks I've been trying to diversify and teach myself some fingerstyle technique. So far I've found it incredibly frustrating- it feels like starting all over again! I was wondering if anyone could give me any pointers on how to improve, especially with some of these problems: *I have major difficulty alternating between my index and my middle finger, particularly on lines that are mainly played on one string but have an occasional skip to another. *How can I avoid accidently playing the adjacent lower string to the one I mean to play? *I don't produce a nice smooth warm typical fingerstyle sound, more a kind of sharp snapping sound, especially with my middle finger *What do I do with my thumb? A lot of places online say rest it on the pickups but on my bass these are not particularly well located to do this. *It takes so much concentration for me to coordinate my fingers, I get sloppy with my fretting hand. Cheers!

Hi Guys Just bought a Music Man SUB off Mikey R, I'd just like to say he was really easy to deal with and everything went very smoothly. He handled all the postage and packing (included in the price as well), so all I had to do was make the payment via PayPal and then wait for the bass to arrive. Very easy and no hassle whatsoever. Made my order on a Tuesday and was playing my bass by Friday as well, so a very speedy process, and everything was in great condition when it arrived, just as detailed in the photos posted on this site. All in all a good trader and someone I'd definitely buy from again.

Hi Guys So I've decided on the amp I'm going for; considering it was strongly recommended here, and I tried it out for myself, I went for the Marshall MB15, so that's ordered and on it's way in the post! Still deliberating about the bass, but I'm close to reaching a decision. Just a few quick questions about accessories. These are probably really obvious beginner's questions but they have to be asked! 1. Can I buy just any old guitar lead, or are there specialist ones just for basses? Any particular ones you would recommend? 2. I'm probably going to be playing with a plectrum a bit, so I was just going to order some heavy-gauge picks online. Will these do the trick or again, do you have to get specialist ones for bass? Any recommendations for any particular brands? Cheers

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' timestamp='1326468429' post='1497668'] The question is are you looking to get into a band and gig quickly (something I'd recommend once you have the basics sorted)? If so, it'd be better to get a slightly cheaper bass and pick up an amp too. [/quote] I dunno, that might be thinking a bit too far ahead! Any particular reason why you'd recommend it? At most I can see myself casually jamming with a friend who plays guitar, who knows a year or 18 months down the line though? At the moment though, it's primarily just a bit of fun, nothing too serious. As for the amp, I'm not sure what I want really. On the one hand a little practice amp like the MB15 might be better whilst I"m learning to play, but then once I've reached a decent level of proficiency I might want a proper amp, in which case maybe I should buy one now instead of the MB15? [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1326472750' post='1497747'] Some great advice here. Isn't BassChat wonderful?! [/quote] Indeed! I can't stress enough how helpful this site has been so far. I'm just a bit paralysed by indecision at the moment though. Will be getting down to my local music shop next week though and trying a few basses out, even if I can't try out all the ones I've been considering.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1326356718' post='1495769'] I think you are still slightly missing the point. Both are decent basses, but you won't know which one YOU prefer until you try both. And even then, there will be some examples that are better than others. This "problem" is as simple or as difficult as you want to make it! [/quote] That's the problem though, I won't be able to try out both. Maybe the Squier at my local music shop but not the SUB. So I'm trying to substitute trying them out with some advice from you guys on here.[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1326359562' post='1495814'] +1 for trying before you make a commitment. Both the MM SUB and P-Bass will have a reasonably wide neck and it could be that you don't get on with a wider neck, in which case you would be looking towards a Jazz style bass or an Ibanez Soundgear/Yamaha (there is an RBX800A for sale in the classifieds that is a huge amount of bass for the money). But unless you try both wide and skinny necks, you won't know. It has nothing to do with hand size, incidentally - I have big hands but prefer skinny necks. Some people find both comfortable. [/quote] I've got big hands and long fingers, so a wide neck shouldn't be a problem. Plus a wide neck means the strings are placed further apart, which is good for me as a newbie- having messed around with a friend's bass before I was fine fretting individual strings, but doing the same with his acoustic guitar, my big fingers kept nudging two strings at once. [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1326362761' post='1495907'] I still don't think you need worry about an amp straight away unless you will be playing with mates. A headphone trainer is perfect for practice night and day. I think you lock into what you are playing a lot better with headphones, you can mix in an mp3 player or whatever to jam along to, you can experiment with the built in effects (most come with at least some basic ones) and importantly you don't annoy anyone else. [/quote] I don't need a gig-worthy amp obviously, but I do have a friend who plays acoustic guitar so it would be nice to play with them sometimes- nothing serious, just some casual jamming. Other than that getting a headphone practice amp would also necessitate getting a decent pair of headphones, which is more added cost.

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1326270639' post='1494605'] My advice would be..... slow down! You sound like you are in a big hurry to get something. Don't be. Take your time, try a few basses and amps and then think about it. It's a buyer's market at the moment so if you have cash in hand you are in a strong position to haggle and barter. But DEFINITELY buy used gear. On here if you can as you will be dealing with bass players who usually know what they are talking about! [/quote] Yeah, I'm kinda in a hurry... Not for any good reason, just because I've been saving up for this for a while, and I'm pretty excited about getting a bass. Probably shouldn't rush into it but its hard to have the willpower and self-control... I'm still torn between a Music Man SUB and the Squier CV Precision if anyone can give me a gentle nudge towards either one of those...

Alright to add a spanner to the works there's a Music Man SUB going for £400 on this site. Ou7shined highly recommended the SUB and I it does look pretty good. Simple question: that or the Classic Vibe?

OK after some deliberating, I think I'm gravitating towards the [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/squier-classic-vibe-50s-precision-bass-lake-placid-blue-maple/20770"]Squier Classic Vibe P-Bass[/url] plus [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/marshall-mb-15-15w-2-channel-combo/4314?gclid=CP_vmO_6w60CFVGKfAodMXdhCQ"]Marshall MB15[/url], as those seem to have been the most recommended on this thread so far. However I've got a few final questions: 1. Would it be worth going for a Fender Standard Precision Bass? I know they're about £150 over budget for me but I could definitely afford to stretch that far if needs be. Could be overkill for a newbie I know, but I'm just trying to think ahead and avoid a scenario that involves me buying another bass in 18 months time or whatever. Are they really [i]that[/i] much better than the Squiers? 2. Similarly I'm also tempted by the Ashdown EB180 recommended by Cyrene. Again, over budget, but is it really a step up from the Marshall? Again, could be a bit OTT for a newbie, but if it's good could last me a while. Once again thanks for all the advice guys, this site has been a real help! Hopefully having narrowed down the options a bit I can go out and actually buy my bass within the next week or two.

[quote name='daz' timestamp='1326216857' post='1493979'] Yes that Squier Vintage Modified P Bass from Dawsons would be fine as a starter bass, or not just a starter bass. I wouldnt worry about Valve amps at the moment unless you happen to come accross some fantastic bargain. I see the link you used was from Dawsons ? Are you near a branch ? They are pretty good at letting you try out a few before you buy. I have a local branch in Chester, and have bought a few bass from there. The adantage of buying the Squier vintage modified P bass is that you'd get it from new and still have well over £100 left to get a small combo. But as ever go and see how it feels. Especialy the difference between a P bass and a J bass. [/quote] Yeah, I have a Dawsons within walking distance of me in Reading. Even if I don't buy from them, I think I'm definitely going to go down there and try some out, it's always good to have test drive. It'll be a bit intimidating though, trying out a bass as a complete novice in front of a bunch of pros and musos! I'll be sat there awkwardly twanging the strings not really knowing what to do with myself!

OK, so it looks like there's a few options to consider. Seeing as 3 people have independently recommended the Squier CV P-Bass, and I've had a look at it online and it looks good, it seems like that is perhaps a good one to go for. I've had a look at the Music Man SUB, and although that looks great as well, it's no longer in production, and I couldn't seem to find it secondhand anywhere either. As for the amp, there appear to be three options, the Marshall MB15, as recommended by Lozz196, the Ashdown EB180 as recommended by Cyrene, or one of the cheaper practice amps recommended by Paul S and Ou7shined. Now whilst I obviously don't need a gig-worthy amp, I would like a bit more than the just capability to play through headphones, so maybe a 'basic headphone amp available of ebay for a few quid' isn't for me. The Ashdown EB180 is obviously at the top end of the price range, and the Marshall MB15 is more middle range, and then you've got the Peavey Microbass, PX4D, PX3B at the bottom end. So out of those three categories, what would you recommend for now? Imagine you were a beginner again, which amp would you prefer?

[quote name='daz' timestamp='1326143450' post='1492974'] Youd struggle to get a Stingray / Cab for anything like what your prepared to spend. That said its still possible to get a great sound for not much money if you take [/quote] Yeah, I know that it's miles out of my price range, I was merely quoting it as an example of a look and feel that was good (having had a quick noodle on a friend's).[quote name='daz' timestamp='1326143450' post='1492974'] So far as sound is concerned. A combo would be best for the money you'd have left, there are always plenty knocking about. Get one with a headphone socket, so you can practice in quiet. Possibly a Laney. [/quote] Sorry, could you explain to me what a 'combo' is? I know next to nothing about amps. Sorry for the relentless questions, but I'd rather get some impartial advice here than from a salesman in a music shop somewhere! [quote name='BB2000' timestamp='1326143547' post='1492976'] Most basses copy either the Fender A (1-1/2"), B (1-5/8") or C (1-3/4") nut width. Try all three to see what neck type you are most comfortable with. Having decided that set a budget and see what comes up in the for sale section here (you'll get more for your money buying used). FWIW 3 of the players you mentioned above play Precision type basses (perhaps the other 2 do too - I'm not familiar with them) so perhaps that would be a good starting point. For an entry P type bass look for a Yamaha BB414 - mint ones go for about £150 here (JJ and Hook have used Yamaha BB's at some point). [/quote] Would you definitely recommend buying used rather than new? I must admit I'd not considered the possibility of buying second hand yet, but I think I'll look into it now. I'll also look up the Yamaha BB414- £150 seems quite cheap though, I'm willing to spend a bit more than that to get something better. [quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1326147128' post='1493065'] I`d echo Daz`s view, Squier Classic Vibe Precision - great for the JJ sound. Ampwise, assuming you buy the Squier new, you`ll have about £80 leftover. Now an amp that is versatile, and loud, with a nice amount of gain on it, again for JJ type sounds, is the Marshall MB15. GAK, are doing them for £72. [url="http://www.gak.co.uk/en/marshall-mb-15-15w-2-channel-combo/4314?gclid=CP_vmO_6w60CFVGKfAodMXdhCQ"]http://www.gak.co.uk...CFVGKfAodMXdhCQ[/url] The MB has two channels, Modern, which has compression, and Classic, which emulates a valve amp, and has gain. Cracking little amp for the money. [/quote] [s]I had a look on my local music store's website, the only squier p-bass I could find was this one: [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/guitars/bass-guitars/squier-vintage-modified-p-bass-rosewood-neck-olympic-white"]http://www.dawsons.c...k-olympic-white[/url], is that the same one you're talking about?[/s] In any case what you're describing sounds like the best option for me so far. [s][Edit: I also found this bass: [url="http://www.dawsons.co.uk/guitars/bass-guitars/squier-vintage-modified-telecaster-bass"]http://www.dawsons.c...telecaster-bass[/url], is this the one?][/s] [Edit Again: I found the one you mean; it looks good] The MB15 also sounds like a good amp for the price. If I was willing to stretch to £100 for the amp though would I be able to get anything considerably better? Also could you explain what a 'valve amp' and 'gain' are? Once again, sorry for all the questions, and thanks for all the assistance. You guys are a real help, especially for a novice like me! It's good to have some advice to help me make sense of it all.

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Hi Guys.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I'm looking to buy my first bass guitar some time in the next few weeks. I've never played before, other than some basic noodling around, but I'm pretty sure it's something I'll enjoy and get into. For that reason, whilst I don't want to spend a shedload, I also want to avoid the ultra-ultra-low end of the price range, as I'd rather get one bass now that'll last me for a while, than buy a cheapo one, get really into playing it and then realise I'm gonna have to fork out for a new one because I"m not satisfied with it. So with that in mind I'd say I'm looking to spend around £400 (including the bass and amp), maybe willing to stretch a little bit further than that if there's something that really fits the bill. [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]So, with that in mind, could anyone make any recommendations as to general models/ranges I should look into? As I've never played before, and can't really name a particular 'sound' I'm looking for, so I'm afraid I can't really help in that regard. The best I can do is name some bassist's whose music I'm into; I'm a big fan of JJ Burnel from the Stranglers, Jimi Goodwin from Doves, Andy Rourke from the Smiths, Simon Gallup from the Cure, and especially Peter Hook from New Order & Joy Division. [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]As for how it looks, one bass I've seen that I really like the look of is the MusicMan StingRay. Now I know obviously that's a really high-end bass, but something that imitates or approximates the general dimensions & look and feel of that would be somewhere to start. How it looks is only a minor issue though, I'm more concerned about getting something that's value for money and is good quality.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Thanks in advance for any help, I'm really looking forward to my bass! [/font][/color]