Newbie here, please give some opinions TQ.

[streetrat]

Hi guys, i am new in this forum and also new in playing electric bass, been thinking of buying 1 new bass to start out but don't really know which to choose. Hope u guys are willing to help me out thanks.
So today i when to a music store to try out a few basses, the basses i like best are.....

1. Squier Fender vintage modified jazz bass, i like the looks and feel very much.

2. Ibanez sr600, the staff at the music store told me that sr600 can play alot variety of sound, from rock to jazz. I like the feel of it too, but the natural timber body is not really my type, so do u guys think that i should just care about the sound and don't look at my bass so much? Or is there any other series that can nearly compare to this, i can't find much review for this sr600, pls give some opinions tq.

3. Ibanez EDB550, like the look n feel but dono about the sound.

4. Yamaha RBX374, this i quite like the look of it, but alot people said its a beginner bass, what do u guys think?

I'm just a beginner trying to buy a bass, i have music background but i never play or hold a normal guitar b4. I listed the bass above because i like the looks and also the feel of it. Can u guys tell me which bass i should choose if i like playing those japanese anime rock, and i also like jazz very much like norman brown....will also appreciate if u guys can give some other options, that music store only have ibanez sr series n squier, yamaha. I want to choose a bass that can last me for many years in terms of sound quality. I am very serious about starting out bass, so i don't want a beginner bass to start out with. Please give me some opinions. Thanks and don't flame, thanks again.

[ThePerfectBass]

I highly recommend Ibanez and ESP basses as a good intermediate to pro instrument choice. There are many options with these 2 brand in a wide variety of prices. Really your decision should be about the following:

1) Look of the guitar - You have to like the way it looks...
2) Feel of the guitar - It should feel comfortable in your hands...
3) Tone of the guitar - It should sound good to your ears...
4) Fit and finish - Should be made of quality components
5) Value/Price - It should be within your budget and not put undue finacial burden on you to get it...and should be a good value for the $$ you spend...

That being said, here are some links to Ibanez and ESP on our site...

http://www.theperfectbass.com/ibanezbasses.cfm
http://www.theperfectbass.com/espbasses.cfm

You might also want to check out Music Man's Sterling line... This is a high quality imported version of Music Man's USA made products...we are a BIG fan of them here at TPB!

http://www.theperfectbass.com/sterlingbymusicman.cfm

As always, feel free to call us anytime and any of our player reps can help you narrow down your choice!

Peace!

James

[wafu_vasco]

I'm sure most people will say this, but ultimately it's got to be what you are happy with. You mentioned not liking the tone of one bass and the look of another - don't go for those, then! Don't buy what you don't like just because a store owner tells you it's good. Of that list I'd personally go for the Squire Jazz as it's a very versatile instrument and certainly capable of the music genres you mentioned. But, I also have two Ibanezes and love them to bits. I guess a lot of it depends on your budget - if you can go a little bit higher, I'd upgrade from a Squire Jazz to a MiM Fender Jazz: Squires can be regarded a bit as a beginner brand, where as a MiM Fender is more intermediate. I've been playing bass for fifteen years now and have seven basses - my MiM Fender Jazz Deluxe was only my second, but it;s still the best, better than all my other more expensive basses. Ultimately, though, just get something you like the feel of, sound of and look of and don't worry too much about what the salesmen tell you!

[ThePerfectBass]

Hey now... Don't bash "salesmen"...

[wafu_vasco]

Wrong forum to do that! Sorry!

[ThePerfectBass]

NO forum is good for that! That's like saying it's "ok" for me to complain about picky customers behind their backs!

[IbanezSGfan]

I have the IbanezSG 500 and have only been playing about 5 months and it plays AMAZING but... if you start on a bass with not so great action (can still have good tone) and a fairly slow neck, then you go and play on a faster bass (Ibanez) You will get alot better alot faster. So I have an old Peavey I like to practice on then I play on my Ibanez and it really pays off. Hope this has helped. Make sure to play alot before you buy though.

[Tmoney865]

In the end it came down to neck feel and string spacing.

If that was good then I tested sound.

I lucked out when I picked up an Ibanez BTB455.

It was all that, and so inspiring.

After a shredder set up to 1mm, it just keeps getting better.

The thing you are looking for is that which inspires you, and many instruments offer the specs for that. Feel + Tone = Inspiration, and that will be all that keeps you growing and playing in the end.

[cadency]

Originally Posted by ThePerfectBass

NO forum is good for that! That's like saying it's "ok" for me to complain about picky customers behind their backs!

I work in healthcare... venting is healthy :P part of the job!

[cadency]

So the thing, as I process through my beginner nonsense and obsess about wanting a new bass, I found was that even if you take a squier (often regarded as a beginning bass) you can often make some of these known good ones to grow with you. You can make the alterations that help them become the bass you want. Course, there's limits to this.

good luck!

[JxBass]

I'm a fan of the Squier Vintage Modified (and CV) series, so if you are drawn to it based on first impression I do not think you will be dissatisfied.

Good luck!