Choice paralysis for first bass

[lvrossem]

Hi there, I'm an aspiring beginner bass player who's hesitant between picking a Squier Affinity PJ bass or an Ibanez Gio GSR200B. I have tried both at a local store, and I was surprised by just how big and heavy the Squier was (I'm on the skinny side). THe Ibanez felt way better in hand bc of its lower weight and thinner neck, and tbh, I enjoy the look with 2 knobs on each side of the head. I didn't really hear a difference in sound quality, but that's just me. What's holding me back is the fact that people say the Ibanez is "only for rock and metal" and that the Ibanez Gio's often have quality issues like fret buzz and warped necks. Can anyone testify whether or not these complaints are bs in the current year, and help me ove rmy decision fright? Thank you!

P.S. The free 3 month subscription to Fender PLay also seems reaaaaaaally nice :))

Edited 20 hours ago by lvrossem

[Lozz196]

You can play any music on any bass, and at the point of starting out as you are, getting the bass that feels best to play will only help you to get better. I don`t know anything about the Ibanez basses but fret buzz can be down to poor set-ups or needing a fret-level, which any decent luthier should be able to do.  

[neepheid]

It's all cobblers that "this bass is only for that music" nonsense.  Get the one which felt the best/most comfortable to you.

[chris_b]

I don't know either of  those basses, but as you are just starting out. . . . play as many basses as you can get your hands on. You need a bass that sounds good and feels great to play. Worry about looks at some time in the future. Now you just want to buy a bass that is going to inspire you to play.

 

Good luck.

[SimonK]

Get the bass that makes you smile when you look at it, not the one that makes you wish you got the other!

 

...or do what the rest of us do and buy both 🙂 (borrowing money if necessary), accepting that it's a disease with no cure!

[chris_b]

There's a saying, "Buy your second bass first", ie don't buy a beginner bass because you will outgrow it in no time and have to buy a better bass. Buy that better bass first.

 

Looks like your budget is around £200. if you can squeeze £500 out of the wallet you'll have a much better choice of basses.

 

Pick wisely and you may never have to buy another bass.

[neepheid]

3 minutes ago, chris_b said:

Pick wisely and you may never have to buy another bass.

 

Use of the word "may" noted and approved.  But we're getting ahead of ourselves here.

[rwillett]

11 minutes ago, chris_b said:

Pick wisely and you may never have to buy another bass.

 

I would agree with @neepheid and that may is doing an awful lot of work here. 

 

All of the comments are spot on. We have different basses for all sorts of reasons but often just because we want to. Nothing wrong with that. 

[Mrbigstuff]

Just want to chime in on the Fender play sub. Ignore that and sign up to sbl instead. I wish I was a beginner again just so I could learn from their content.

 

Buy the bass that feels good. I’ve owned too many basses but my Fender stuck around because it was the only bass I actually tried in a store before buying. Don’t make my mistake and just buy what your heroes play.

[Stub Mandrel]

Buy the bass that feels best and is most likely to make you want to play it.

[Cato]

Getting a first bass you like and get on with and actually want to pick up and play can be a key factor in whether you end up sticking the course when you first start learning.

 

It sounds like for the OP that's the Ibanez.

 

Any bass at any price point can develop fret buzz, generally if it happens it'll be down to envrionmental factors and it can almost always be fixed pretty quickly and inexpensively either by a tech or by the player with the help of a couple of youtube vids.

Edited 19 hours ago by Cato

[Ed_S]

I'd been a bass player for about 19 years when I picked up a GSR200b by chance at a local shop and thought it was not only good, but actually too good not to buy right there and then. I'm sure there are some individual examples out there that have issues, but that can be said of just about any production bass. In my experience the neck was smooth and straight, the fretwork was well done, the hardware was solid, the pickups and preamp sounded good, and I thoroughly enjoyed playing it alongside other basses that cost anything up to 20 times more. If you get a good one there's no reason it can't be much more than just a beginner bass, and the only reason I don't still own mine is because I switched back to playing 5 strings exclusively and couldn't quite justify the space to store it.

 

 

[HeadlessBassist]

As others have said, spend some time in a store and find the bass that feels right in your hands and sounds good to your ears. You can really play any bass for most types of music. The most important part is that you get something that feels right for you.

 

And also, if you really want to progress, get a teacher and learn to read sheet music.

 

 

[Geek99]

1 hour ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Buy the bass that feels best and is most likely to make you want to play it.

And also make sure it’s good for playing metal… 

 

 

 

well, someone had to say it ….

 

@lvrossem it’s a running joke around these parts 

[lvrossem]

1 hour ago, Cato said:

Getting a first bass you like and get on with and actually want to pick up and play can be a key factor in whether you end up sticking the course when you first start learning.

 

It sounds like for the OP that's the Ibanez.

 

Any bass at any price point can develop fret buzz, generally if it happens it'll be down to envrionmental factors and it can almost always be fixed pretty quickly and inexpensively either by a tech or by the player with the help of a couple of youtube vids.

You're right. It was the first of the 2 I tried (using a strap), and something about staring down that sleek neck, those sharp-looking black tuning knobs spread along both sides of the head just made me feel cool yknow :)). 

[HeadlessBassist]

23 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

And also make sure it’s good for playing metal… 

 

 

 

well, someone had to say it ….

 

@lvrossem it’s a running joke around these parts 

 

What was that..? Sorry, I'm a little Mutton-Jeff from all that Metal...

[Geek99]

Back in the mists of time, a bass was being discussed and someone asked if it was any good for playing metal bass on. now  running gag, well, more like limping really 

[HeadlessBassist]

35 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

Back in the mists of time, a bass was being discussed and someone asked if it was any good for playing metal bass on. now  running gag, well, more like limping really 

 

Rapidly running out of steam, then?

[Burns-bass]

Id buy the Ibanez bass. It’s an absolutely brilliant bass, sound s great and plays really well.

 

Whenever you search online you’ll find people who complaining about something. Buy it from a shop and pay with a credit card and you’ll have bullet proof consumer rights.

 

I gigged with the Ibanez, used it for teaching and travelling. Loved it.

 

 

[MartinB]

It it feels good, looks good, and makes you feel cool, then the Ibanez is the right bass for you 👍

[prowla]

My advice is buy used - you can get more for your money.

Also, if you buy used, you will likely be able to sell it for what you bought it for, so it's cost-neutral.

[gjones]

Buy them both!

 

Edit: Most people on Basschat suffer from GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). They'll get the joke

 

Edited 16 hours ago by gjones

[Geek99]

Just now, gjones said:

Buy them both!

I think the accepted order of events is 

1. Face tricky choice 

2. ask here

3. wade through 617 replies veering wildly between helpful and “not so much”

4. Agonise for days ignoring partner and children in a wilderness of indecision and despair 

5. toss a coin

6. repeat steps 4 & 5

7. Buy one

8. regret it and buy the other, vowing to sell the first one

9. fail to accomplish second part of step 8

[ghostwheel]

8 minutes ago, Geek99 said:

I think the accepted order of events is 

1. Face tricky choice 

2. ask here

3. wade through 617 replies veering wildly between helpful and “not so much”

4. Agonise for days ignoring partner and children in a wilderness of indecision and despair 

5. toss a coin

6. repeat steps 4 & 5

7. Buy one

8. regret it and buy the other, vowing to sell the first one

9. fail to accomplish second part of step 8

10. buy Precision and play it almost always whilst buying and selling other ones.

 

[neepheid]

2 minutes ago, ghostwheel said:

10. buy Precision and play it almost always whilst buying and selling other ones.

 

 

Not this guy!