Hello from Consensus, Warwickshire. Analysis paralyis over choice of first bass

[Vague consensus]

Hi everyone

 

Thank you letting me join basschat!

 

Some of my family play various musical instruments, (mainly violin, acoustic guitar, piano and clarinet), but when I said I'm going to learn to play the bass, it was a shock, for as one relative put it, "you dont like loud noise!?

 

While I really can't handle loud high pictched noises, but low frequency, thats an entirely different matter....

 

Musical Influences, 70's, 80's Michael Jackson, Motown, Stevie Wonder, Jamiroquai, Marcus Miller.

 

Hence the reason I want to play the Stingray type sound

 

On the shortlist:

 

• Sterling by Music Man Intro series RAY2, X
• Or opt for an Active Preamp Ray 4/ RAY 34 with Active Preamp from the outset so I don't have to upgrade - 
• The Sire Z3, Z7 

 

Keen to get a decent quality bass, so the budget is less of a concern than the actual quality, which is flexible, but equally dont want to run before I can walk

 

Weight is a consideration, due to a prior lower back inury, which I'm keen not to have a recurrence

 

Keen to get everyones thoughts

 

[Wombat]

Welcome!

 

Buy all 4. You will end up with them all if you stick around here anyway 😂.

 

But more seriously you prolly need to play one of each. Basses of the same brand/model will feel slightly differently so getting the one you ‘want to play cause it feels right’ is the most important thing. You can make it sound pretty much how you want it to with an amp / modelling pedal …

 

Others will have other views of course…

[Vague consensus]

4 minutes ago, Wombat said:

Welcome!

 

Buy all 4. You will end up with them all if you stick around here anyway 😂.

 

But more seriously you prolly need to play one of each. Basses of the same brand/model will feel slightly differently so getting the one you ‘want to play cause it feels right’ is the most important thing. You can make it sound pretty much how you want it to with an amp / modelling pedal …

 

Others will have other views of course…

I am a complete beginner so currently lack the ability to play a riff or three. 

 

You could upsell me to pick a Music Man StingRay Special £££ 😀

[Wombat]

Yamaha make great ‘starter basses’ and many here only use that brand. Nathan East seems to like his!

If budget is not so much of an issue then ‘buying a brand’ is likely to be more saleable if you find you don’t like bass (it won’t happen ;-)) and want to move it on.

Again, playing something is important. I’ve often ‘fancied’ a Ray but when I’ve had the opportunity to play one I’ve not liked it.

I started on a Fender P then moved to an Ibanez with a Jazz neck as playing the P was like wrestling with a cricket bat. Several basses later I’m back on the P as I love the tone. But I’m lucky as I have the Ibanez and all the basses in between so I get to pick who comes out to play! Which will change on mood as much as what/where 😂.

If there are any open mics near you it’s likely any bassists who attend will let you have a noodle. They are mostly approachable people. But you are going to get recommendations based on ‘how long is a piece of string’. Unfortunately…

[ezbass]

 

It doesn’t really matter that you can’t play much right now, you know what feels comfy and is aesthetically appealing. These 2 things are the most important for your first bass, you’ve got to want to pick it up and if it doesn’t appeal to your eye and feels ‘wrong’, you won’t play it and that defeats the point. Set your budget, go to a retailer, play a bunch of basses in your price range and go home with the one that feels and looks right. Will this be your forever bass? Unlikely, but you’ve got to start somewhere.

[_Tom_]

21 minutes ago, ezbass said:
It doesn’t really matter that you can’t play much right now, you know what feels comfy and is aesthetically appealing.

^ this - some people prefer chunky baseball bat necks, others like something far slimmer. Does the bass sit comfortably on you (will you sit or stand to play?), and do you look at it and think “I want to play that!” 
You don’t need to be a virtuoso player in the shop, just try fretting up and down the neck, all the strings, and see if it feels good. Once you’ve narrowed it down you can always ask someone in the shop to play it for you so you can hear what it will sound like once you’ve got the hang of it.

[ezbass]

10 minutes ago, _Tom_ said:

Once you’ve narrowed it down you can always ask someone in the shop to play it for you so you can hear what it will sound like once you’ve got the hang of it.

And any decent shop will be happy to help as, if you have a positive experience and don’t feel ripped off, you’ll be back again & again & again…

 

A trip to Bass Direct (no, it’s not all high priced exotica, there are a decent bunch of sub £400 basses, albeit not MM types) or Guitar Guitar in Birmingham will be well worth it.

Edited 1 hour ago by ezbass

[ezbass]

58 minutes ago, Wombat said:

Yamaha make great ‘starter basses’

I started on bass back in ‘82 but was lured back to full time guitar playing until the early 2000s, when I ‘jumped ship’ properly. Both times my first bass was a Yamaha. They don’t make a duff instrument at any price point IMO.