Yojan Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Hey Guys, I've been reading a few of the threads for a while and I've decided to join and ask for some advice regarding which bass guitar to buy. I initially put it on talkbass.com but didn't realise just how American the advice would be... it's tough to compare prices over the atlantic. Now, I know that it depends a lot on how it feels to me when playing it, but I'm stuck a fair way from a good guitar shop with no car, so I'm kinda resorting to internet shopping... Anyway, I haven't played much bass but I've got a good training in piano and drums so I'm hoping I can pick it up ok. I don't have a big budget either and I'm looking for a 2nd hand bass that can keep me going for small gigs and occasional recording. I play mostly classic rock. I'm trying to decide between a: Squier Jazz (probably korean) Vintage V940 Washburn XB400 Any thoughts? I'd appreciate any experience you guys may have had with any of them, or any other recomendations in a similar budget (around £100-£150 second hand) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdphysio Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 There was a great Squier VM Jazz that sold on eBay earlier today for £150, & included Gator hard case & 2 extra sets of Ernie Ball strings!....a great buy IMO. Welcome, by the way. Karl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 squier/fender its the working mans tool.Go for one of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Of the 3 you're considering I'd go for the Vintage V940 without any hesitation. You might also consider the Vintage V4 Precision copy - [url="http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html"]http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Hamster' post='407144' date='Feb 11 2009, 11:28 PM']Of the 3 you're considering I'd go for the Vintage V940 without any hesitation. You might also consider the Vintage V4 Precision copy - [url="http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html"]http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html[/url][/quote] I would not....You do want to be a rock,n,roll star dont you?....Groupies only know fenders. Edited February 11, 2009 by YouMa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrjim Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 [quote name='Hamster' post='407144' date='Feb 11 2009, 11:28 PM']Of the 3 you're considering I'd go for the Vintage V940 without any hesitation. You might also consider the Vintage V4 Precision copy - [url="http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html"]http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintagebass.html[/url][/quote] i can vouch for the v940 as well... its very good for the money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Oh and buy used Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) Buy a used fender or squier. Your resale value will be sh*t if you dont buy a name people know. At least if you find another hobby you can get your money back. Edited February 12, 2009 by YouMa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) [quote name='mrjim' post='407163' date='Feb 11 2009, 11:46 PM']i can vouch for the v940 as well... its very good for the money[/quote] Really mate...Dont bother. Buy the best well known bass you can afford. Edited February 12, 2009 by YouMa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 [quote name='YouMa' post='407214' date='Feb 12 2009, 01:20 AM']Buy a used fender or squier. Your resale value will be sh*t if you dont buy a name people know.[/quote] If you sell it in here, people will know what you're selling and you'll get market value for it. TBH I'd rather buy a budget Yamaha than a cheap Fender/Squier if we're talking sight unseen. At least Yamahas are reasonably consistent, with a Fender god knows what you'll get for your money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Burpster Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 [quote name='thisnameistaken' post='407242' date='Feb 12 2009, 03:59 AM']If you sell it in here, people will know what you're selling and you'll get market value for it. TBH I'd rather buy a budget Yamaha than a cheap Fender/Squier if we're talking sight unseen. At least Yamahas are reasonably consistent, with a Fender god knows what you'll get for your money.[/quote] Actually very sound advice...! Whilst the ones you mention look like the proper thing, buying a cheap squire/fender is a bity hit and miss. Dont get me wrong it may be an absloute cracker, but it may be pretty shonky too, would you know the difference with your level of experience? Buying a new Yamahe or 2ndhand Ibanez (even better) is a sure bet..... bit like backing the favorite on a horse race - you wont win as much as an outsider but your chances of winning are much higher..... Does that make sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yojan Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 [quote name='The Burpster' post='407247' date='Feb 12 2009, 06:23 AM']Whilst the ones you mention look like the proper thing, buying a cheap squire/fender is a bity hit and miss. Dont get me wrong it may be an absloute cracker, but it may be pretty shonky too, would you know the difference with your level of experience?[/quote] Thanks for all the really helpful pointers. I was actually watching the Squire 70s jazz auction, but didn't win it in the end. Looks like a tie between the Squire and the Vintage, (although I'll check out the Ibanez you mentioned). I'm definitely buying used - learnt that trick early on in my drumming days, heh. I'm not that bothered about the resale value, I'm a bit of a hoarder, tbh, so as long as it still works for me I'll probably keep hold of it. It's a real bummer not having a car and having to shoot in the dark a bit, but you guys have been loads of help! Hopefully I can be helpful to the forum too, a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 [quote name='Yojan' post='407306' date='Feb 12 2009, 09:09 AM']It's a real bummer not having a car and having to shoot in the dark a bit, but you guys have been loads of help! Hopefully I can be helpful to the forum too, a bit.[/quote] There may be a Basschat member in your area that will help .. Edit your details to show where you are. That always helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Yojan, if you can get to a shop do so. At least to get a feel for the types of neck on the basses you're considering. Drums will put you in good stead for playing bass. As a pianist you may be drawn to Ibanez, most their basses have a very bright piano like sound, however in some ways a beginner wants a more thuddy bass to start with. Advice you are getting here about sell-on value depends on whether you will be spending much time in the bass seat. If the instrument is a keeper then ignore the advice about Fender/Squier. Likewise P/J copies/s-h are such a mixed experience I personally wouldn't consider buying them blind off the net. Used Stingrays and Warwicks might be out your price range but keep eyes open as their prices are quite depressed at present. Fender sellers hold out for top dollar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldGit Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 The fundimental question, what's your budget? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tinman Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) Hi and welcome. All good advice above, 2nd hand is the way forward for you I reckon. You could always look at this one As an example of something other than Squier etc. A good sounding, solid bass. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=40040"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=40040[/url] Edited February 12, 2009 by Tinman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soopercrip Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Would recommend you stay away from 'starter kits' from stagg. my first bass was a stagg and it looked like it was made by an apprentice joiner who didn't have any thumbs. Pup controls were all skewed, made from balsa, strings were like razors and it made a noise like a farting morris minor.LMAO Pic looked good on e-bay tho.... Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 [quote name='Yojan' post='407123' date='Feb 11 2009, 11:13 PM']....I'm trying to decide between a: Squier Jazz (probably korean) Vintage V940 Washburn XB400....[/quote] As a starter I imagine that all 3 of your choices would be good, but I would go for a Squire, because I've never played the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe_bass Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Go for a Squier, great opinions on the new VMJ etc here. I had, actually have (although in bits!) a vintage V900, it's an ok bass but you'll be hankering for more after not long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I also recommend the Squire, either one of the Vintage or Classic Vibe models. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aceuggy Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Linus27' post='407702' date='Feb 12 2009, 04:06 PM']I also recommend the Squire, either one of the Vintage or Classic Vibe models.[/quote] +1 on the Squier. I play a 60's Classic Vibe and it's very well made. A lot of bass for the money IMO. Edited February 12, 2009 by aceuggy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrcrow Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 (edited) welcome best bass is really geared to your budget, then your anticipated style, and then resale potential which i feel is most important most start off on a bass which satisfies the above and then get dis satisfied via listening and watching others on CD and DVD and live i guess the most generically accepted model for really starting on is the fender P clone/ model which is pretty extensive and quite a jungle of models and marques...it doesnt have to be fender there is a great market out there in price and value for money for low budget playing go for 4 string passive and learn to play well with what you eventually get Edited February 12, 2009 by mrcrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Do have a look around, I've never understood why the Classic Vibes seem so well received. Ones I've seen in several shops appear chunky, clunky and plasticy but they've gone down so well I figured it was just me. On the other hand I've picked up custom shop jazzes and found them heavy and sharp-edged. There are some very likeable P/J types out there but they don't reveal themselves in online photos. If you're really picky about instruments you have to handle them first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppo75 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 [quote name='YouMa' post='407138' date='Feb 11 2009, 11:25 PM']squier/fender its the working mans tool.Go for one of these.[/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 hiho,i,d go for a vintage v4 n get a wizard pick up,just fitted one and thumbs up all the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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