First time buying a bass...

[Baseballfan1456]

Hello there, maybe you can help me. See, i've been wanting to learn bass for a while now, but the only problem is trying to find a good bass...i'm looking for one for a price between 500-600 dollars...

Thanks in advance!

[Bloodaxe]

Greetings,

With your price range you should be spoilt for choice, especially if you go down the used route.

Heard good things about the current crop of Aria stuff - the IGB series, & there are those that sing the praises of Ibanez - the GSR-200 looks good. I'm trying to source a lefty for a mate of mine & have seen one of these for under £200 ($400 ish) - looks good at the price & the reviews are favourable.

Alternatively try & find a local small friendly guitar shop (can be a hard thing to find all of those together) & go in & ask!

Alternative to the alternative - book a couple of lessons with a local Bass tutor & see how you go, then start picking their brains if it all kicks off.

There'll be a few more suggestions along a bit later - it's 2:30 am over here!

Best of luck,

Pete.

[Musky]

$500-600 should get you a Fender Japan precision or jazz, or maybe a US made Highway. I'd probably be inclined to go for a japanese one as they can eclipse the US made basses in terms of quality.

You've got a lot of choice at that price, but both the Jazz and Precision are classics that should hold their price well. Be sure to try both though, as they're very different in both sound and feel.

Who are your favourite players/bands by the way? I usually find people starting out are happiest with something similar to what their heros play.

[stingrayfan]

Get yourself to a Sam Ash or Guitar Center and try loads out. People will give you lots of very good and very informed advice but you need to really sit down (or stand up) with the bass and see how it suits you. e.g. If you're small, a Fender Jazz will feel too big and heavy but a Warwick style bass might be a better fit or vice versa. FWIW, I can't really get on with either, despite both being market leaders! Just go an try loads of different ones until something feels nice.

Whatever you do, don't buy your first one mail order without trying it in the flesh first!

[The Funk]

If you're in the US, you can forget about Warwicks in that price range. If you're getting a first bass, you can't go wrong with a Fender Jazz bass.

[Baseballfan1456]

Well, is there any real difference between the Jazz and the Precision?

[The Burpster]

The main differences are :-

1. (IMO the most important) the Neck: The Jazz has a skinny neck, which is narrower at the nut (The bit that the strings go over near the head) which reduces the string spacing. (a lot will say tihs makes it easier to play, although it doesnt for me as I have big hands)

2. The Pick up arrangements. The P usually has one split mid spaced single coil pup, and the J usually has two pups a neck and bridge pup.

As to the benefits of either, only you with time and experience will be able to come to your own decison. The Fenderheads on here will wax lyrical about the benefits of one or the other as will everyone have their own preferenace or neck type.

I'm sorry to be boring and repetative but you really need to go to a shop and try several in your price range......

THEN DO THE SENSIBLE THING !

That is [i][b]walk out[/b][/i]....... and go back the next day to buy (you will have narrowed it down to one or two max) and you'll pick it up again and love it lots and lots ...... If you dont, ask yourself "is there more to try?"

I didnt have the benefit of that when I started.... My first was bought as a present. [u]NOW[/u] I know it had the wrong neck for me, it was passive and had weak electrics but at the time I loved it ..... you have the benefit, and believe me it is a benefit of being as completely objective and educated about your choice as you can be ; before you make it.

I also agree with that advice above that a Por J is an excellent choice for your first bass. I'll point out to you that a large number bass players (incuding pros) ONLY play a P or J...........

[paul, the]

[quote name='Baseballfan1456' post='28195' date='Jul 7 2007, 08:43 AM']Well, is there any real difference between the Jazz and the Precision?[/quote]


Assuming reliability is a given, what two factors are most important when looking at regular solid basses? > tone and playability.


What are the biggest factors on tone and playability? > the pickups and the neck.


What are the two distinct differences between the jazz and precision bass? > the pickups and the neck.

Wiki:
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Precision_Bass"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Precision_Bass[/url]
[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Jazz_bass"]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Jazz_bass[/url]

My best advice is to go into your local music shop and play the basses in your price range, or just above if you want to buy on ebay. Acknowledge the differences in weight, neck shape and nut width between the different basses and make sure you're comfortable playing all over the neck. You should also be able to play 1 finger per fret on the low E string - nut width, neck shape and scale will affect this ability.

The traditional Jazz shaped bass is renowned as a good starter instrument because of its versatility and ease of use. Another good idea is to tell us what music you're into as a pattern may emerge that would suggest a certain pickup arrangement. But most will tell you that a Jazz is a safe bet.

I don't really have any knowledge of the American market, so I can't really recommend makes to you. But if you go down your local and see something you like, but are unsure of its rep' - feel free to let us know and we will help you out with brand satisfaction.

Harmony Central has a good, comprehensive list of user reviews also:
[url="http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Electric+Bass#manufacturer"]http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews...ss#manufacturer[/url]


Do you have anything in mind? No doubt you've had a gander around here and seen something you'd quite like?


-I'll have a look online for a first time buyers guide - there's mill's of them. Then you've got strings and amplification to consider


paul.

[paul, the]

Oh and welcome to Basschat!

Did you have a good Independence Day? I wish we had someone to declare independence from. I think I'll just stick to my plans for communist revolution.


Очереди, медкомиссия!!!

[The Burpster]

I've just had a look and I know its a bit of a drive from you, but if you can get to Toledo, go and see Alice and Fred at

[url="http://www.durdels.com/"]http://www.durdels.com/[/url] Durdels music........

Great people and they will be able to help you. They always have a selection of Fenders in, and quiet a few others.......

[paul, the]

[quote name='The Burpster' post='28209' date='Jul 7 2007, 09:41 AM']I've just had a look and I know its a bit of a drive from you, but if you can get to Toledo, go and see Alice and Fred at

[url="http://www.durdels.com/"]http://www.durdels.com/[/url] Durdels music........

Great people and they will be able to help you. They always have a selection of Fenders in, and quiet a few others.......[/quote]


Above and beyond the call of duty Bob, nice one.

[The Burpster]

[quote name='paul, the' post='28211' date='Jul 7 2007, 09:44 AM']Above and beyond the call of duty Bob, nice one.[/quote]


Better than that, I've emailled them to let them know he's a perspective customer and to look after him !!!!!!

They (Fred and Alice) sold me my PRS's, they were brilliant!!! If they were in the UK I would have no hesitation in travelling from one end of it to the other to see them..... If I can help them out and in the same breath help another bassist get started, I will go to sleep happy tonite!

[lowhand_mike]

the advice to go and try lots of basses is always a good one, but as it is a first bass and i might assume from the post that Baseballfan hasn't played bass before that the prospect of going into a shop and trying out basses can be very daunting (it still is for me and i can play a little )
if you want to narrow it down you should really look at a Precision, a Jazz, a precision deluxe(its a sort of precision and jazz cross), definately take a look at ibanez bass's, SR's are very good as are the SRX's and you should be able to find one in your range.
Also if you want to hear what they sound like but aren't confortable playing get someone in the shop to play them to you and then have a play aorund on the neck to see if it suits your hands.

[lowhand_mike]

just looked on durdel and they have got a suire precision specail for $249 reduced from $415. worth a look

[nixonuk]

May I jump in?

I am looking for a new bass and I am bit of a newbie. I do have a bass that I bought online (there is a warning there!) without trying. I have recently moved over to a pick as I want to play punk/rock music but as it has the 2 pickups (sorry dont know the correct terminology) I want a simpler model as my plectrum keeps hitting the pick up( obviously my technique is wrong but working on it - early days). I want something with a bit of punch (or Punk!)

I went to a local shopt today and the guy recommended a Dean 'Metal Man' bass. Anybody got any info on them?

[Musky]

Hmm.

No experience of the Deans at all I'm afraid, though a quick google reveals they've got the body shapes and and headstock to suggest that neck dive could be a problem.

Aside from that most of the Metal Man models have pickups right next to the bridge, which is the prime picking area for an aggressive punk/rock sound - though if you're considering one maybe you play a little further up the strings anyway.

The simple answer is give it a try and see how it sounds and feels to you. For comparison try a Vintage modified Precision - the Precision is pretty much the yardstick for punk/rock type stuff, and the VMs have been getting very well received by all who've tried them. You can pick them up for £175 delivered from Thomann.de, so you could use that to haggle with your local shop.

[nixonuk]

Many thanks Musky. I am at that stage as a beginner where I dont know whether to go back to fingers, or plod on with the plectrum. I am better with fingers but I know for the music I want to play most Bassists use a plectrum. decisions decisions lol!

[Musky]

[quote name='nixonuk' post='28309' date='Jul 7 2007, 02:34 PM']Many thanks Musky. I am at that stage as a beginner where I dont know whether to go back to fingers, or plod on with the plectrum. I am better with fingers but I know for the music I want to play most Bassists use a plectrum. decisions decisions lol![/quote]

It's horses for courses really, and a pick is pretty much the only way to get that aggressive attack (unless you're John Enthwistle .

There are benefits to using fingers, but it largely depends on the style you play and for what you want I'd stick with a pick. There can be some snobbery about pick vs fingers (usually from the fingers style players), but at the end of the day it's the results you get that count. There are amazing players of both styles that sound incredible.

[nixonuk]

Thanks Musky,

I love the Stranglers and tried 'Longships' the only one I know off by heart with both fingers and pick and it certainly sounds more authentic using the pick. I might stick with the bass I have for now until I have read up a lot more. Thanks for the pointers mate.

[Baseballfan1456]

Hey guys, sorry about not replying faster, different time zones and all that stuff...

To Musky: My favorite bassists would have to be Flea and Les Claypool, mainly due to the fact that I love their slap bass...

To paul, the: Thanks for the advice and yes, I had a pretty good Independence Day...

To The Burpster: Thanks a lot for showing me the link, although i'm not quite sure that i'll actually be able to drive to that store...However, there is a Guitar Center that is significantly closer...

[paul, the]

[quote name='Baseballfan1456' post='28457' date='Jul 7 2007, 11:25 PM']To Musky: My favorite bassists would have to be Flea and Les Claypool, mainly due to the fact that I love their slap bass...[/quote]


Ahh, now that's really useful information! I'm no slapper, and I play a passive bass but I would presume most would suggest that you buy an [url="http://www.tunemybass.com/bass_guitar_buying_guide/bass_pickups_1.html"]Active[/url] bass. But I know that passive jazzes have been slapping for a long time.

Active basses are usually pricier in general, so they would filter your search results down nicely when shopping.


Perhaps one of these could fall in your lap for $500-600 s/h:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/G-L-5-STRING-ACTIVE-BASS-TRIBUTE-L-2500-DIABLO-HEAD_W0QQitemZ150136097711QQihZ005QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViwItem"]http://cgi.ebay.com/G-L-5-STRING-ACTIVE-BA...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.com/IBANEZ-BTB-500-Active-Bass-Guitar-MIJ-w-SKB-Hard-Case_W0QQitemZ110143493631QQihZ001QQcategoryZ38080QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZVewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.com/IBANEZ-BTB-500-Active-...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Or maybe an Ibanez SR400, Tobias Toby Pro or a Traben.
For a cheaper option: a Peavey Fury bass.
A more expensive option: the Carvin LB range.

If I were in your position I'd look out for a s/h G&L Tribute; they're well rated, have major niche street cred' and have Fender's midas touch.

paul.
(opinionated and inexperienced)

[Musky]

That does indeed help.

I'd agree with Paul about an active bass being a good choice, and add the MusicMan SUB to the list. It's basically the cheaper version of what Flea uses and is a great bass in it's own right. It has recently been discontinued (and probably slightly above your price limit anyway), but should be easy to pick one up used. These were also available passive, so check what you're getting before shelling out.

[ARGH]

I disagree about active basses and the beginner,its often a bit confusing with all those extra knobs and switches and batteries to be delt with on actives,plus cheaper basses tend to have a poorer quality and componants and therfor sound than what we are used to,as hearing on record,by are 'heros'.

I say if you are a fan of slapping,and thats the route you want to take,then a Fender Jazz,be it Yank,Mex or Jap,is ,I feel the right direction to take,spares and replacment upgrade hardware are/is easy to fix and find,and as tastes change (as they will) its an easy instrument to trade with or modify.