I just bought my first bass a week ago. It's only $200 including the case, strap, learners guide vhs, and amp. It's a brand new fender, but obviously a cheap one. I've had one lesson so far, but I haven't put the thing down sense I got it. (It hurts to type my fingers are so sore.) The issue is, I get a horrible rattle sound when I play. The E, and A strings are the worst. Is this standard with cheap guitars, or do you think the problem is my lack of skill?

alll you need is a little bit of a set up I think.

if the person you're taking lessons from hasn't heard that and coreected it, I think you should find a new teacher.

There are small screws in the bridge end of the bass where you can raise the strings up and down. between these screws and an adjustment with the truss rod (steel rod that runs through the neck to bend it backwards and forwards) you can get rid of all the buzzing and rattling.

Those starte basses from Fender are great, I've tried them before and didn't have any problem getting a sound out of them.

So, ask your teacher, and if your teacher can't set it up take it to a music store and ask for a set up to get rid of the buzzing or rattling.

Easy,

Janek