Scoobs

Thanks again Gents, plenty to be going on with for now..

Thanks for the replies both. TKenrick your video does make a lot of sense and I really like your style especially compared to some of the other online 'bass educators'. Makes sense that theory and harmony aren't bass specific, and it is reassuring to hear that what I am thinking about sounds like quite a big subject/subjects/set of skills/chunk of Knowledge.

Hi Folks, I'm looking for recommendations for a couple of books to help my playing. I want books as I struggle with videos and look at a screen all day as it is. I'm not really sure how to label what I'm looking for so here's a bit of a ramble. I'd like help with constructing bass lines and understanding how chord progressions fit together, circle of fifths and which notes lead naturally from one chord to another. ?? chord tones maybe ?? and practice recommendations. I'm really enjoying playing double bass and bass guitar and I'm nearly feeling brave enough to try to play with a jazz group whose bassist has left - as long as they promise to play nice. Anyone got any ideas?

Not yet fully formed Naxos, but agreed it has a solid foundation. Slightly trickier to negotiate will be the next three questions I can see coming namely: Do you need to spend that much? Darlington - isn't there one any closer? And finally what's so special about that one (maple, sunburst, PJ pickups, jazz neck obviously but doesn't carry much weight with a non bassist) Wish me luck

Cheers Jack, latest news is she is happy with the Farida for now which is great news for me. Less good news is the thing has developed a weird crackle, watch out for a help post coming up. Meanwhile I need to get a case together to justify buying Karlfer's P Bass special to SWMBO...

Beer is a great way to measure inflation and yes it did take some saving up! A lot of papers delivered and lots of early mornings went into mine.

Thanks for all the replies folks lots of good options around - it still amazes me how much you can get for relatively little money these days. My memory may be fading but I'm fairly sure I paid more than £150 for my first bass and that was in 1983! It wasn't a brand I recognised then or ever see now either.

Latest word from the lady in question 'I don't care what it looks like, it's the sound that matters'. 😎 She's already playing ukulele and guitar (well right now she's banging out a 12 bar blues on the piano but that was from her younger days !!), so the current discussion is all around lessons, what on and how often and what do we do when the magic money tree stops producing!!!

I'm not convinced by the hofner either, and happy Jack I agree with you, it's like most things, if you like the way it looks/sounds you'll play/use/ride it more. Preowned would be good, one I like if she does go off it would be ideal.

Daughter isn't small for a twelve year old, but her hands look small when she plays the Farida,and it just looks too big and cumbersome. I'm fairly sure it's heavy (I've not played many other basses in the 21st century but it's heavier than a MIM precision I have played)

I thought the Squier mini precision looked quite good too, but I think she might want something with 2 pickups. I expect the CV mustang is pretty nice, looks a level up price wise from the others though and more expensive than mine which I might struggle with!

Thanks folks, looks like there are more options than I thought. I think scale length is probably the most important thing, I'll go and do some more internet digging. Just checking, everything above looks to be passive from the knobs (or lack of) to my amateur eye, I think we could do without batteries to worry about....

Sorry if this has been done before, I did try the search and I have googled it, but nothing very helpful appeared. My daughter is keen on the bass and wants to learn properly so apart from getting some lessons from someone who knows what they are doing (ie not me!) I think she probably needs a bass. The only one we have in the house is (still) my Farida Jazz as I haven't replaced it yet. I think it is too big and way too heavy for her so I am looking for something else that will be comfortable for her to play and progress on but not too pricey in case the enthusiasm runs out sooner rather than later (unless it is something I want obviously ). What would the bass chat hive mind recommend? A short scale bass? Squier Jaguar is it? Or does anyone make playable kids basses? What sort of budget would be realistic? I don't want something so cheap it is unplayable and puts her off. Thanks for any advice.

@LukeFRC it's the sound/tone, I'm after something in the Motown / Jamerson (was he a Motown man?) style, I guess you'd call it vintage, not all clangy and bright. If I ever get to play with other people I'm hoping it would be soul or reggae/2tone/ska or on double bass.

Thanks Paul_c2, you do have a point, I could always stick some flats on the Jazz for now, I'm not kidding myself that the bass is holding back my playing at the moment, ability and lack of practice is doing that. The thing is that unless a fellow carrot cruncher can correct me, we are not spoilt for music shops round here, between Bath and Bristol I think there are 3. The only place that apparently stocks Yamaha basses is PMT in Bristol, and they don't appear to carry any BBs.

Giving up is probably how I ended up with a Skoda! Oh and not only is it a Skoda it’s a Roomster, no one ever called it a looker. However as a great tool for the job very hard to beat. Fine in the supermarket car park and with a roof box and bike rack on the takes a family of 4, dog, bikes and surfboards on a camping holiday for a week. We’ve had it 8 years, not cost us much either. Not completely off topic as I’m probably looking for the bass equivalent of the roomster, the Yamaha might be close, but much better looking!

That's good to know about the Yamahas, I'd really like to get my hand on one for a try but I can't find a shop with one in anywhere near here. There's a BB1024 for sale just over the bridge tho. I can't make the quote button work, but if I could put LukeFRC's quote in here I would. 'Least interesting........ high quality for their price point' well I drive a Skoda so that sounds like just the ticket!

Thanks folks, so I've tried a Squier cv P, a Sterling SUB4 and a G&L tribute Kiloton , and the necks on all of them were more my style than my Jazz so if I am going to change it will definitely be to a chunkier neck. Of the three the one I preferred was the P, so whatever I go for will have a chunky neck and a split pickup, whether it has another pick up as well is still undecided but I think Grahambythesea has a point - I've not seen anything mention a P style neck on a PJ bass I have looked at. Are the Yamaha BBs jazz style necks? I think this probably going to end up with either some flats on the jazz for now and some saving up, or a P bass of some sort.

Hi folks I think part of the problem is I don't really know what I want! Plus tryout options are quite limited. Is a P/J set up useful or a compromise that doesn't really deliver on either front is one of my questions. To prowla, sounds like I'd better check where the Farida comes from if that is possible - I'll get digging. I think I saw the Tokai and it did look interesting and I'm not too concerned about the name on the headstock, playing it well is my first priority! However it is a bit outside my budget unless the Farida is worth more than I paid for it! To Graham good point, I do wonder if I'm looking for a 5 legged cow if I go down the P/J route and look for a chunky neck, as several Precision style basses appear to come with Jazz style necks, eg The Bass collection talk about super slim necks on their P style basses, but I think the Vintage version is a bit more solid from reading a review, however I haven't read much about chunky P style necks on any other style of bass. It's that 21st century problem of too much choice again.......

Thanks for the replies folks so in order: Geek it’s more about space than cash so I have to stick to one bass. If I go for a P it may come down to either vintage or bass collection, unless I can find a second hand option. @stewblack The neck on your pj might be a bit skinny but then again you are just down the road (I’ll update my profile) so maybe if it was ok I could have a look? So what are the pros or cons of a PJ over a P or should I try to find what I’m most comfortable with and worry about pick ups later?