A good starter bass

[pudgychef]

Whatever you get, price in a setup with a reputable setup/repair guy. It will make all the difference in the world.

+1 on getting a good set up on whatever you chose - can 100% be the difference between a budget friendly bass being awesome or discouraging.


I often think a great first bass is a P or J based design. Simply because it introduces the player to the two most common styles of bass (in particular P or JJ pickup set-up) and allows them familiarity with the industry standard sound. I also think there is no need to be distracted by active pre-amps and what not when learning the basic fundamentals of the instrument. Once they have the basics down - well heck the world's you oyster.... so I would also suggest a VM Squier as its under your price point or a used CV Squier.....or SX P or J but as said above a good setup by someone who really knows what they are doing will make all the difference

 

[mitchgilbert]

My first bass was a Yamaha RBX260 that I picked up off eBay for $130ish, I still love it to this day.
One of the fastest basses I've ever played and having owned both that a Classic Vibe Squier P, I'd go the 260 any day. The tone on them is fantastic for a beginner and I had no trouble using it across various genres.

 

[RBX4]

Finding a good starter instrument is always very hard. Ive been looking at the Yamaha RBX374 im looking for something thats playable but also $300 or less. any suggestions?

Get it!

 

[guillermohands]

my opinion is any fender o squier jazz bass . personally...

 

[ian_s]

+1000 on reserving some purchase money for new strings and a good setup. A bass that sounds good and plays comfortably will keep you practicing.

 

[Kaa]

Used Peavey Foundation, Fury, Forum or Patriot is the way to go...should be able to get it under $200. Which leaves you $35 for D'Addario Chromes or GHS Pressurewound strings and $25 for a Comfort Strapp and $40 for a decent tuning pedal or a monster cable/cord... Fender's PT-100 is a good one to get to stay in tune.

The Truth has been spoken.

 

[LoTone]

+1 on getting a good set up on whatever you chose - can 100% be the difference between a budget friendly bass being awesome or discouraging.


I often think a great first bass is a P or J based design. Simply because it introduces the player to the two most common styles of bass (in particular P or JJ pickup set-up) and allows them familiarity with the industry standard sound. I also think there is no need to be distracted by active pre-amps and what not when learning the basic fundamentals of the instrument. Once they have the basics down - well heck the world's you oyster.... so I would also suggest a VM Squier as its under your price point or a used CV Squier.....or SX P or J but as said above a good setup by someone who really knows what they are doing will make all the difference

+1

 

[ifender]

À p bass

 

[GrooveRonin]

anything squier is always nice i remember i walked into the shop and i saw a squier vm p bass with olympic white finish and man it just played amazing. possiblu cause it was already broken in yup it was used. i hope it has a good home

 

[Ronbassman]

A lot of people on this site, pros and newbies, seem to like very much those Squier Vintage Modified basses. I haven't played on myself but that's the whole point of this thread, so I say go for one of those.

What I would recommend is going for a 5 string bass right from the start. That way, you will avoid all the common issues when making the transition from 4 to 5 strings.

 

[yogz_ve]

I ended up buying the vintage modified Squier for cheap so i also got a Rockbass Streamer STD . Loving both basses !! maybe i'm playing the streamer a bit more . As a guitar guy i don't know much about basses but i think both sound just great, the Mec humbuckers on the Streamer are a bit on the weak side but they got a nice funky sound, maybe ill make it active later .

 

[psmurph]

I know this is a stale thread but STILL I see this model/topic brought up here and other places.
My experience puts YAMAHA near the top of mass-produced (in expensive) instruments with an obviously, sharp Quality-Assurance team. [They seem to hold together, well.] Of course, they make many fine, high-end instruments also; in and out of the string-families.
Now, my latest pawn-shop-find. (I knew one would show up.)
I was looking for something INEXPENSIVE to supplement our Middle School's Jazz-Band division since our district is too cheap to spring for one yet...
I finally found this RBX260; perfect! relatively, small and lightweight (good for beginners), good tone where it counts, wide range of timbre/response (tone), If it gets lost or stolen, I'm not out much... Oh I forgot; the price...?
I would have spent more but my favorite opener, "What is the least you would take for this...?", Immediately brought the price down from $74.95 to $50.00! (They prob had it sittin' a while) I reached for my wallet and almost forgetting to plug it in and try it out 1st. ;-) The pots are CLEAN!(no noise). Except for a few smudges, it was gig-ready and I used it a couple days later in a jam-session.
Now I have a good back-up for my Fender MARK HOPPUS-Precision. I'll rave on that one, later.