Guitarist learning bass!

Nowhereboy · #1 03-03-2013, 09:40 AM

Hey guys, I apologies in advance if you get a lot of these threads.

I'm a guitarist, been playing for about 10 years, I've decided to have a dabble at the bass recently, main reason being a band Ive wanted to be a part of for a while asked if I would play bass for them.

I've already bought a bass, I picked up an ibanez sdgr300 recently.

Ive already searched on this forum a few times for amp suggestions and couldnt find what I was looking for.

Basically I want a nice bass amp, even just a head for the time being, I dont want to spend more than a few hundred ££ if possible and it has to be pretty versatile. I know nothing about bass amps, tube, solid state? What should I be looking for?

I quite like the look of the ashdown evo3 300watt head, would that be loud enough to gig with if I had a decent cab?

Heres a couple of songs from the band I play with, if that helps you understand what I'll be playing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3jCnbXUBzI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Oy4Vm-f9cY

drTSTingray · #2 03-03-2013, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereboy

I quite like the look of the ashdown evo3 300watt head, would that be loud enough to gig with if I had a decent cab?

Yes, definitely.

In the UK a lot of bass players playing in smallish venues use the Ashdown Mag 300 and 4 x 10 Mag cabinet - including upright bass players. Very good value for money and a professional sound. Your bass should sound fine through one. You can always use two cabinets if you want more output but I doubt that would be neccessary.

I used this set up for years but am now using a 500 watt set up (either Ashdown or MarkBass, dependent on the gig!) to get more headroom - I have to be careful not to drown out the guitarists though - their 'vintage' valve amps are not as good at spreading the sound out.

Best of luck with your transfer to bass.

mellowinman · #3 03-03-2013, 10:18 AM

If a bass senses you are dabbling, it might attack.

stepswork4me · #4 03-03-2013, 10:26 AM

That head will do the trick.... just pick good cabs.

Nowhereboy · #5 03-03-2013, 03:11 PM

Thanks drTSTingray, just about set on one of them now, Im gonna try one out tommorow before I dive in and buy one.

mystic38 · #6 03-03-2013, 03:16 PM

alos a guitarist cross-player here, you picked a good bass to get started.. just be careful that you dont get a GAS attack..as i now have more bass amps than guitar amps..lol,

but you cant go wrong with the mag300 head

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereboy

Thanks drTSTingray, just about set on one of them now, Im gonna try one out tommorow before I dive in and buy one.

wmheilma · #7 03-03-2013, 03:26 PM

Crossing over is fun! Lately, I have been doubling on guitar in a duo which has bee a blast. I hope you have so much fun playing bass that you leave your guitar in the closet for a while! Check out Berry Oakley's playing in the older Allman Brothers recordings. Before joining the Allmans, Berry went from gigging as a lead guitarist to the bass position in order to get a steady gig. He plays some really great lines!

Dredmahawkus · #8 03-03-2013, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mellowinman

If a bass senses you are dabbling, it might attack.

bass is nothing like guitar! I played guitar for years. you dont chase tone like you do with bass....its never ending! I have been playing bass since november and I already have 2 amps a cab and 3 basses....and 2 pedals.....along with like 9 packs of strings thats going to take years for me to go through! it just does not end! be warned!

IPYF · #9 03-03-2013, 04:05 PM

That Ashdown should be pretty alright, based on what I hear in your songs. I'd get a minimum of one 410. Get two if you can afford it as the 350 is not the loudest head at 8ohm and might have a bit of a hard time keeping up with a drummer and a valve guitar amp. Ashdown cabs start cheap and have a surprisingly good resale value so two of the Mag 410s would make you sound killer.

Nephilymbass · #10 03-03-2013, 04:21 PM

For me the trick to a good bass tone is just a pre amp that sounds good. For rock/metal the majority of people I know prefer sans amps and thy are pretty cheap to buy. There are several that give various amounts of control. I use RBI. If you use a sans amp and line out to the pa the rest of your rig is just a stage monitor and you won't need to blow a ton of money.

Gear aside I think the biggest deal with guitar players switching to bass is the right hand technique and feel is a lot different. If you play bass like a guitar any decent bass player will know you're a guitarists. If your going to play with a pick try using your left hand more for muting and stay away from "palm muting" like you would on a guitar. Not saying palm muting on bass is a complete no no, but people who transition to bass really over do the palm muting. Playing fingerstyle (without a pick) will take longer to get used to but IMO would be better in the long run especially considering your a guitar player. Lots an lots of good bass players use a pick but they are normally bass players from the get go.

Nowhereboy · #11 03-10-2013, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephilymbass

Gear aside I think the biggest deal with guitar players switching to bass is the right hand technique and feel is a lot different. If you play bass like a guitar any decent bass player will know you're a guitarists. If your going to play with a pick try using your left hand more for muting and stay away from "palm muting" like you would on a guitar. Not saying palm muting on bass is a complete no no, but people who transition to bass really over do the palm muting. Playing fingerstyle (without a pick) will take longer to get used to but IMO would be better in the long run especially considering your a guitar player. Lots an lots of good bass players use a pick but they are normally bass players from the get go.

Thanks for the advice dude, for the time being I do play with a pick mainly and yes, I recon its pretty obvious Im a guitarist. On the other hand I play a lot of acoustic and Im quite a percussive sort of player which has transferred nicely on to the bass, I often mute the strings using my fretting hand and sort of tap the bass with the bottom of my picking hand and its working really well on the tracks I play in my new band.

I can play finger style but only to a very basic level, Im fine with one note grooves and moving up and down the strings but anything with a bit of tempo is VERY hard for me, I find it really difficult to keep time, my fingers have no rhythm. Playing fast grooves with triplets like my songs require would be nearly impossible for me to play with my fingers!

Ohh and on another note I bought this yesterday http://www.andertons.co.uk/bass-amp-...ag115-cabs.asp

BassmanPaul · #12 03-10-2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowhereboy

I can play finger style but only to a very basic level, Im fine with one note grooves and moving up and down the strings but anything with a bit of tempo is VERY hard for me, I find it really difficult to keep time, my fingers have no rhythm. Playing fast grooves with triplets like my songs require would be nearly impossible for me to play with my fingers!

It's called practice.

Give yourself some time and speed and accuracy will come.

aftec · #13 03-10-2013, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nephilymbass

Gear aside I think the biggest deal with guitar players switching to bass is the right hand technique and feel is a lot different. If you play bass like a guitar any decent bass player will know you're a guitarists. If your going to play with a pick try using your left hand more for muting and stay away from "palm muting" like you would on a guitar. Not saying palm muting on bass is a complete no no, but people who transition to bass really over do the palm muting. Playing fingerstyle (without a pick) will take longer to get used to but IMO would be better in the long run especially considering your a guitar player. Lots an lots of good bass players use a pick but they are normally bass players from the get go.

Yup, it's a completely different mindset. I played guitar for 20+ years before I picked up a bass. The approach of the instrument is way different. My reason was to concentrate on the melody of a given tune, and grab it by the core. If you can play rhythm on a guitar, fining a groove with a pick and passing notes are quite natural. Think Duff McKagan.
Playing fingerstyle is a different animal, but it is absolutely amazing to reveal, that your note arsenal is tripled or quadrupled. Just keep on working your stuff.

Gear wise, I would advise a Tech 21 VTBass for Ampeg tones, Gallien-Krueger MB200 or 500 amp head and a 1x12 or 2x12 NEO speaker. Light and cuts through a dense arrangement you have in that band.

Nowhereboy · #14 03-10-2013, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aftec

Gear wise, I would advise a Tech 21 VTBass for Ampeg tones, Gallien-Krueger MB200 or 500 amp head and a 1x12 or 2x12 NEO speaker. Light and cuts through a dense arrangement you have in that band.

Thanks for the advice dude, Ive already bought the ashdown now, along with a 210 and 115 cab, hopefully that will do the trick nicely anyway

Dan55 · #15 03-11-2013, 07:05 PM

Sounds like you're set, but don't even think that's the end of your gear buying. Hahahaha

Dan

4-stringB · #16 03-13-2013, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aftec

Yup, it's a completely different mindset.

He's completely correct. As a so-so guitarist/halfway decent bassist, I cringe whenever I hear a crossover bassist solo. They ALWAYS go up high on the neck, like their days as a guitarist. IMHO, if you're gonna solo, stay low, 'cause you're the bassman....PS, I don't like slap, because that's not bass. A unique, distinctive voice, yes, but bass, no....

RockNRollAl · #17 03-13-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dredmahawkus

bass is nothing like guitar! I played guitar for years. you dont chase tone like you do with bass....its never ending!

My experience was quite the opposite. I played guitar for 20+ years, chasing tone all the way, until I bought an Eden rig to play through. Instant tone on the guitar!

Then a few years ago, I switched over to bass - and kept buying more Eden gear.

Found out that I'm far better on bass than I ever was on guitar. What a waste of time...

mystic38 · #18 03-13-2013, 12:18 PM

?????...

no idea what guitarists you hang out with but everyone i know the tone is equally important or more so than the skill... tone is king.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dredmahawkus

bass is nothing like guitar! I played guitar for years. you dont chase tone like you do with bass....its never ending!!

aftec · #19 03-14-2013, 12:55 AM

Actally skill=90% of tone.

JimmyM · #20 03-14-2013, 01:58 AM

I'd say closer to 95%. Doesn't matter what I play...I make everything sound pretty similar at the end of the day. Some gear makes it easier than others and some gear sounds better to me so of course I have favorites, but it's all about you and what you do with it.