Alfie Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Don't forget to set aside a few £££ for GAS, or "backup bass" which is the current de rigueur term. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Another thing to remember is that your first bass is the one that falls over after you leaned it against an amp, or falls out of a case that wasn't closed properly , gets 3/4 pint of Stella spilled over it etc,etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 [quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1323170411' post='1459972'] Another thing to remember is that your first bass is the one that falls over after you leaned it against an amp, or falls out of a case that wasn't closed properly , gets 3/4 pint of Stella spilled over it etc,etc. [/quote] True. Some of us don't learn though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 You'd only be disappointed.. I was :-) [quote name='Alfie' timestamp='1323166764' post='1459905'] When I was a teenager beginning to play I really wanted a Rickenbacker, but I couldn't afford one, I still can't. But that was my dream bass. [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 The price of the bass is irrelevant. It's far more important to start off on an easily playable instrument with a low-ish action (the height of the strings above the fretboard). If you want pay to £1500 for a bass and can afford it that's fine but it isn't necessary to pay that much to get a nice sounding playable bass. I would recommend finding a bass you like the look/sound of and then getting the shop to set it up for maximum playability (go to a shop with an in house guitar technician who will do this for you). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bankai Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) Wouldn't call something that's £1500 a beginner bass! But if I was just starting and was spending that much I would have thought a Fender American Deluxe Precision would be a good bet? Edited December 6, 2011 by Bankai Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Alfie' timestamp='1323166764' post='1459905'] When I was a teenager beginning to play I really wanted a Rickenbacker, but I couldn't afford one, I still can't. But that was my dream bass. [/quote] Funny things, dreams - my first 'proper' bass was a 4001 I got for my 18th. Loved it at the time, but with hindsight it wasn't a great bass, and I can't be doing with them now... Still, if you're young, get what makes you feel good if you can afford it. Sensible is for later in life... To the OP, I'd say - what do you want to see yourself holding when you look in the mirror? Get that one - with your budget, you'll be pushed to buy a 'bad' bass. Secondhand will save you money, though... Edited December 6, 2011 by Muzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dubs Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 The title of this thread genuinely made me laugh. The best advice is to try a few things and halve (at least) the budget. Unless you've got money to burn, £1500 is a crazy amount to spend on a bass for a 'beginner'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 [quote name='Bankai' timestamp='1323174377' post='1460051'] Wouldn't call something that's £1500 a beginner bass! [/quote] A 'beginner's bass' and a 'bass for a beginner' aren't necessarily the same thing... If someone wanted to learn to ride a horse would you put them on an arthritic old nag? OK, strange analogy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dom in Dorset Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1323178221' post='1460136'] A 'beginner's bass' and a 'bass for a beginner' aren't necessarily the same thing... If someone wanted to learn to ride a horse would you put them on an arthritic old nag? OK, strange analogy. [/quote] You wouldn't put them on a thoroughbred race horse either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 [quote name='Dom in Somerset' timestamp='1323180021' post='1460171'] You wouldn't put them on a thoroughbred race horse either. [/quote] Touche! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charic Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 [quote name='Conan' timestamp='1323166789' post='1459906'] Why learn on a crap instrument if you can afford a good 'un? [/quote] Because if you can play a crap instrument and make it sound good then you can make anything sound good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudmover Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Well I've just bought a jazz bass. mim for 120ukp.....very pleased ...its not pretty but it sounds great...I will invest my $$$ in a good tutor and try to do things correct...I am using a cardiff based tutorwho is highly recommended on this forum. maybe nice amp/cabs will come before getting a new bass. everybody is different...so do what's best for you. agreed with previous posts that going into a shop is intimmidating for a beginner. sod it....just buy a stingray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4-string-thing Posted December 6, 2011 Share Posted December 6, 2011 Ha! Spend a few hundred on a decent Squier or second hand MIM Fender P or Jazz then spend the rest on a really good amp (or a holiday) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinzz Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 (edited) I'm just looking for a good quality bass, easy to handle for a beginner, sounds good , with descent pickups that dont buzz/hum, active or passive ? budget is not really an issue, ive aquired an ashdown 5 15 amp so im sorted there More advice please lol Edited December 7, 2011 by skinzz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Ok, if you haven't got a particular image/sound/style in your head, and you just want a good quality bass with a range of sounds which is comfortable and easy to play, I don't think you can do better than an Ibanez SR500. They just feel so ergonomically right - the necks are slim and very easy to get around. Less than £500 if you're buying new, £300 or so for a decent secondhand one. They come with Elixir strings, which are coated and very slinky if you're playing fingerstyle. Just the easiest playing bass I've tried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 [quote name='charic' timestamp='1323181825' post='1460211'] Because if you can play a crap instrument and make it sound good then you can make anything sound good. [/quote] But that's the trouble for a beginner isn't it? As an old philosopher (with very poor grammar) once said: "Quest to make crap bass sound good leave many by wayside". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinzz Posted December 7, 2011 Author Share Posted December 7, 2011 I quite like the look of the roger walters p bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 [quote name='skinzz' timestamp='1323243960' post='1460870'] I quite like the look of the roger walters p bass [/quote] The Roger Waters one ain't bad either... (although it needs a black headstock IMO). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjay69 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 If budgets no problem theres no point asking us you need to get out there and try some, some will feel horrible, others much more like it. You could be a Fender man, Gibson, Warwick, wide neck, flat, thin, It's personal ! Anybody know motorbikes ? your either an Aria fit or a Shoei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Theres an 80s Ibanez SR800 in mint condition in the for sale section for under £300. If you can live with the colour (marmite) it has to be one of the better bargains to be had on here at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alfie Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 [quote name='skinzz' timestamp='1323243960' post='1460870'] I quite like the look of the roger walters p bass [/quote] Then you should buy a roger walters p bass (or the Squier Matt Freeman precision). Looks are everything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftybassman392 Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 [quote name='jjay69' timestamp='1323253245' post='1460989'] If budgets no problem theres no point asking us you need to get out there and try some, some will feel horrible, others much more like it. You could be a Fender man, Gibson, Warwick, wide neck, flat, thin, It's personal ! Anybody know motorbikes ? your either an Aria fit or a Shoei [/quote] With respect, surely the whole point here is that a beginner is in no position to make an informed choice, and no amount of tryouts is going to change that fact. You might as well tell him to go out and buy the one with his favourite colour scheme, or with the shiniest knobs, or any one of half a dozen other criteria that have nothing to do with the technical or aural qualities of the instrument. Nobody with any knowhow buys a £1500 bass just because it's a nice shade of blue. If the buyer wants to spend that much just because he can then fine, but let's not kid ourselves about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumblejunkie Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 another vote for the ibanez they are very tidy indeed the neck and frets are superbly easy to play and nice and light weight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted December 7, 2011 Share Posted December 7, 2011 Peavey make great budget basses and are really nice to play too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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