What kind of brand and type of bass for beginner ?

[mohammadadi]

I Do really want to buy a bass that cost under 200 bucks and I'm a beginner . Thanks !

[TheDuke13]

I myself started out with a Squier Jazz. It was probably like 120 or something like that. Although there is also Ibanez which make some good basses for beginners as well. I bleive the gsr 200 or something which is 200.

[MisterFabulous]

There are some really good basses starting at around $250 new.

Lots of bassists here rave about the Squier Vintage Modified (VM) or Classic Vibe (CV) series basses.

I have tried two different model Vintage Modifieds and they're both a lot of bass for the money. Good fit & finish, competent pickups and they sound good.

I really like the VM Jaguar long-scale.

Others will chime in about their favorites.

[darkstorm]

About the only half way decent bass you might find for that kind of price. That doesnt need fretwork or at least pup upgrades. is gonna be used. Go check out all the music stores you can get to. Try several, narrow it down to just a few faves of those closest to your budget range. Save up some more, and get nicest one you can find for you. I wouldnt even concider anything new for $200 or less. There are some great basses availoable for around $300 and bit more new. But thats it imo.

The main problem with cheapo basses is: Bad fretwork, bad build with mediocre hardware, and poor qaulity pups & electronics. By the time you get the thing up to speed, with fret levelling and removing of nastty fret edges sticking out side of fretbaord. And put in decent pups etc, you could have eassilly afforded a better bass right out of the box.

Best advice is go become familair with several brands. How they feel, play and sound to you, and which of those you like best in all regards. If your not familair with what kind of basses your fave players use and what kind of basses are most used in music where you really like the basses sound. Then become familair. And try those out to to see if theyd work for you if found nice used one you could afford.

[slaphappychappy]

Cort is worth a look.

[PrietoBass]

Mow lawns. Wash cars. Dress up like a Santa elf. Shine shoes.

Once you get to about $250-275, watch out GC used section, or use a discount coupon, and get yourself a Squier CV Jazz 60. Haggle, especially at the end of the month when GC is trying to meet their sales quotas.

If you're a beginner, don't buy the bass yourself. Take a proficient bass playing friend (or even better, a bass instructor), and have him play several and pick one for you. Then, you play it. Don't worry about not knowing enough, what you're looking for at this stage is that the instrument feels good in your hands. If it doesn't, you won't play it... and you can forget your bass playing dreams right then and there.

I got mine for $245, new from GC. I upgraded the bridge, but it really didn't need it. That bass don't need a thing... I took it to a luthier in Colorado (guy has worked with top notch musicians from all over the country) and he couldn't believe that it was a Squier. Squier gets bashed a lot, but I tell you, some years from now people are going to look back at the CVs from 2008-2011 and recognize that those basses where a true bargain.

You won't regret it. Depending on your musical goals, it may very well be the only bass you will ever need.

[waleross]

Go get a Squire........

[String Theory]

Originally Posted by waleross

Go get a Squire........

+1. They are really good for the money. Down road you might upgrade the pickups but that's about it.

[hifibass]

It could be a $10K "Unobtainium Custom Special" but if it doesn't look cool to a new player and if they don't appreciate it, it won't get played. Fortunately there are about 1000 times the number of good starter basses that meet that criteria than 45 years ago when I started.

[jabsys]

Used Squier VM or CV