Getting into it.

[DreadAlert]

Hey guys.
I'm new here, and to bass overall.

I've been listening to some RHCP recently, and I just love bass generally aswell. But Flea's awesome grooves have inspired me to get into bass playing.

I'm a complete beginner, and I'm looking for a beginner bass. I've been looking at complete starter packs with amp included, etc, and I've done across a few.
Please tell me what you think of these links and please recommend what you can for me to get started with!

[url="http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Bass_Guitars/Bass_Guitars/Beginner/sc1113/p8611.aspx"]http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Bass_Guitars/...1113/p8611.aspx[/url]
[url="http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Bass_Guitars/Bass_Guitars/Beginner/sc1113/p2284.aspx"]http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Bass_Guitars/...1113/p2284.aspx[/url]
[url="http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Bass_Guitars/Bass_Guitars/Beginner/sc1113/p7237.aspx"]http://www.nevadamusic.co.uk/Bass_Guitars/...1113/p7237.aspx[/url]

Thanks.
-DreadAlert-.

[JordanRLS]

Well they are all very good quality starter packs! I haven't experienced the peavey or the squier so i can't give an opinion really.

Have fun playing bass... and yeah i'm a fellow flea fan

[DreadAlert]

[url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/19657-dean-edge-09-bass-classic-black.html"]http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/1965...ssic-black.html[/url]

How's this? I've been scanning the net and this has got good reviews everywhere I've looked. Not too expensive either and I love the looks.

[DreadAlert]

By the way, i'm looking to get into the Heavy metal/rock/funk genre, from RHCP to Cradle of Filth.

[Bassassin]

Buy a bass from [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showforum=19"]here[/url]!

You'll get loads more bass for your money!

Jon.

[daz]

out of that selction id chose between the Ibanez or the Squier. The Ibanez is probably better for your choice of music, than the Squier Jazz

Edited May 7, 2010 by daz

[DreadAlert]

But I don't want like.. something AMAZING.

I'm not even sure I'll get into it properly yet. I don't own a guitar.
I just want something that sounds good, plays good funk, and preferably with a thin fretboard/really good action to make frets easy as my hands arent the biggest in the world.

Also, I kinda have an OCD thing about buying used products.
Please try and recommend and share your first guitars, but under £200. Maybe over if the amp comes with it etc.

Edited May 7, 2010 by DreadAlert

[JordanRLS]

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='831036' date='May 7 2010, 09:14 PM']But I don't want like.. something AMAZING.

I'm not even sure I'll get into it properly yet. I don't own a guitar.
I just want something that sounds good, plays good funk, and preferably with a thin fretboard/really good action to make frets easy as my hands arent the biggest in the world.

Also, I kinda have an OCD thing about buying used products.
Please try and recommend and share your first guitars, but under £200. Maybe over if the amp comes with it etc.[/quote]

I'd reccomend the ibanez, then.

But i'll always agree with the basschat for sale section !

[DreadAlert]

[quote name='JordanRLS' post='831039' date='May 7 2010, 09:17 PM']I'd reccomend the ibanez, then.

But i'll always agree with the basschat for sale section ![/quote]

Infact, I might go for the one up from the GSR190, the GSR200.

Any recommendations on cheap, good amps?
Also, I'm a complete noob. - Is it possible to plug headphones straight into your guitar with a special screw on connector for the headphone lead? .. Or something?
Or maybe plug into laptop to play through speakers?

Edited May 7, 2010 by DreadAlert

[JordanRLS]

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='831046' date='May 7 2010, 09:25 PM']Infact, I might go for the one up from the GSR190, the GSR200.

Any recommendations on cheap, good amps?
Also, I'm a complete noob. - Is it possible to plug headphones straight into your guitar with a special screw on connector for the headphone lead? .. Or something?
Or maybe plug into laptop to play through speakers? [/quote]

cheap amps... well that depends.
If you're going to be using it at home only, and you don't want it to be particularly loud, there are lots of cheap practice amps on the market.
However, if you want something a bit beefier there is always a bargain to be had on here (safer than ebay because you know you're buying from a like minded person.)
It all depends on what you mean by 'cheap' really!
good luck

[DreadAlert]

[quote name='JordanRLS' post='831055' date='May 7 2010, 09:34 PM']cheap amps... well that depends.
If you're going to be using it at home only, and you don't want it to be particularly loud, there are lots of cheap practice amps on the market.
However, if you want something a bit beefier there is always a bargain to be had on here (safer than ebay because you know you're buying from a like minded person.)
It all depends on what you mean by 'cheap' really!
good luck[/quote]

Well, by that I mean a practice amp for home use. And by CHEAP I mean preferably around the £50 mark.

[daz]

For £50 you wont get much, if you need to buy new. But Peavey are a decent name:


[url="http://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/buy/Peavey/Max_126_Bass_Amp"]peavey max 126[/url]

Edited May 7, 2010 by daz

[danny-79]

Out of the lot mentioned in the O.P id personally go for the Ibanez given the choice of the three, mainly because its close to my first bass (Aria) , but as mentioned in this thread, keep your eye out on the for sale thread, local paper, music shop etc an you will get more bass for your cash S/H then start looking for an amp to go with it.

Try not to get pulled in with the whole package thing as a cheep, badly set up bass cant be difficult to play and be off putting to a beginner.
My advice is save your cash and look out for something half decent, just the bass and then go from there .

[DreadAlert]

[quote name='danny-79' post='831091' date='May 7 2010, 10:27 PM']Out of the lot mentioned in the O.P id personally go for the Ibanez given the choice of the three, mainly because its close to my first bass (Aria) , but as mentioned in this thread, keep your eye out on the for sale thread, local paper, music shop etc an you will get more bass for your cash S/H then start looking for an amp to go with it.

Try not to get pulled in with the whole package thing as a cheep, badly set up bass cant be difficult to play and be off putting to a beginner.
My advice is save your cash and look out for something half decent, just the bass and then go from there .[/quote]

Yeah, I'm still not decided, but I'm considering the Ibanez GSR200. I could spend more I think.. and I've already got some decent speakers at home, with a subwoofer etc, and they're like.. 30w or something.. Will they work as an amp?

Edited May 7, 2010 by DreadAlert

[danny-79]

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='831118' date='May 7 2010, 11:15 PM']Yeah, I'm still not decided, but I'm considering the Ibanez GSR200. I could spend more I think.. and I've already got some decent speakers at home, with a subwoofer etc, and they're like.. 30w or something.. Will they work as an amp?[/quote]

You should be able to pick up a used, no frills, practice amp for about £50.ish that would be your best bet

[DreadAlert]

[quote name='danny-79' post='831130' date='May 7 2010, 11:40 PM']You should be able to pick up a used, no frills, practice amp for about £50.ish that would be your best bet[/quote]

Yeah I'll probably pick up a practice amp.
The Ibanez SR300 sounds good.

[Musky]

I don't think you'd do too badly with any of the basses you've mentioned, though of course the set up and build quality can vary hugely with budget instruments. It's well worth your while to have a quick try of the actual bass you're going to buy, even if it means paying a little more in a shop.

For what it's worth, I went shopping for a bass for a friend's son just before xmas and was very impressed by the feel and playability of the Zodiac even though I usually prefer a wider neck than it's Jazz-like profile. In the end I decided on a Dean Edge 10a for him, in part because I thought he'd prefer the looks.

Incidentally, I've just realised the Zodiac I tried had two pickups in a P-J configuration. That's something else to bear in mind - starter packs often have basses that are actually cheaper variations of the instrument that is sold on it's own.

[DreadAlert]

[quote name='Musky' post='831142' date='May 8 2010, 12:16 AM']I don't think you'd do too badly with any of the basses you've mentioned, though of course the set up and build quality can vary hugely with budget instruments. It's well worth your while to have a quick try of the actual bass you're going to buy, even if it means paying a little more in a shop.

For what it's worth, I went shopping for a bass for a friend's son just before xmas and was very impressed by the feel and playability of the Zodiac even though I usually prefer a wider neck than it's Jazz-like profile. In the end I decided on a Dean Edge 10a for him, in part because I thought he'd prefer the looks.

Incidentally, I've just realised the Zodiac I tried had two pickups in a P-J configuration. That's something else to bear in mind - starter packs often have basses that are actually cheaper variations of the instrument that is sold on it's own.[/quote]

Is the Dean Edge 10a any good?
Or maybe this?
[url="http://www.fairdealmusic.com/guitars/bass_guitars/4775_dean-vintage-series-z-bass"]http://www.fairdealmusic.com/guitars/bass_...e-series-z-bass[/url]

Edited May 8, 2010 by DreadAlert

[Doddy]

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='831036' date='May 7 2010, 09:14 PM']I'm not even sure I'll get into it properly yet. I don't own a guitar.
I just want something that sounds good, plays good funk, and preferably with a thin fretboard/really good action to make frets easy as my hands arent the biggest in the world.[/quote]

The bass won't play good funk-it's all about what you play on it.

I'd recommend a visit to a few of your local shops and look at a load of instruments,and see what you like.
Look at Ibanez,Squier,Yamaha,Cort....find one in your price range that feels good to you.

[Musky]

[quote name='DreadAlert' post='831166' date='May 8 2010, 01:50 AM']Is the Dean Edge 10a any good?[/quote]
The one I tried was. The neck was a typical Precision width but very slim back to front - it was far better than the Squier Classic Vibe I tried, though I suspect that the CV just needed a set up. Apparently my friend's son's bass tutor likes it as well. I can't really comment on the sound of it though, as I was playing through an unfamiliar amp in unfamiliar circumstances, but there was nothing that stood out as obviously bad.


[quote]Or maybe this?
[url="http://www.fairdealmusic.com/guitars/bass_guitars/4775_dean-vintage-series-z-bass"]http://www.fairdealmusic.com/guitars/bass_...e-series-z-bass[/url][/quote]
If you can live with the looks.

[Metalmoore]

I would go for the ibby or the jazz but i would suggest trying some cheap basses in a local shop and one or two expensive ones to compare to the cheap ones too especially the vintage modified range of squier. I would have a look in the for sale section here for a practice amp and a bass too.

[ZMech]

if you're a londoner (or nearby), then head down to [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/"]the bass gallery[/url]. Try out various stuff, talk to the guys, you'll get a good idea of the options.

If you want i'd happilly sell you my first bass and practise amp ([url="http://www.dolphinmusic.co.uk/product/28251-rockbass-streamer-standard-4-string-double-pickup-blue.html/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=base"]rockbass streamer std[/url]), just send me a pm.

Edited May 8, 2010 by Zach

[chris_b]

If you want a cheap starter pack look on Ebay.

[JackLondon]

Get the Ibby!

[cameltoe]

It'd be the peavey all day long for me.

However-

I've played a few Squier Affinity's, and they've not been good, but at least the potential is there for it to be 'modded' if you happen to fall in love with playing bass. A decent pickup combo, wiring kit and a Mighty Mite neck would give you a good gigging bass.

What the poster said above about trying out a few is very good advice. Different basses behave very differently, and it's important you feel comfortable with it strapped round your neck.