About to purchase my first bass

[alrigtdon]

Hello all

Hoping i could trouble u guys some advice. I am looking to purchase my first bass and am tossing up 3 options;

1) A cort GB34A $399 Australian Dollars

2) Yamaha RBX 270 $449 Australian Dollars

3) Fender American jazz bass That i get my friend to bring over from the States (Musicians friend) about $1300 Australian dollars

I would like to play jazz think Scott LaFaro, Charles Mingus, Dave Holland (all upright players but no way i can afford one of these plus no teachers anywhere near me)

Ideally i would like to spend nearer the $400 mark, the reason i have the fender in my list is because of the opportunity to get it back from the states in the next two weeks and i am wondering in terms of resale value potential whether it is a better investment. Also i play the guitar and have done for a number of years and therefore feel i know what is involved with learning a new instument and am therefore more likely to stick at it than perhaps a total newb.

Anyway i appreciate any advice offered, Cheers Don

 

[Valerus]

That jazz bass is waaay too expensive for a starter bass.

 

[ModestCargo]

I'd say if you play guitar, and given Australian prices for Fender, I'd say go for that one.

It's a lifetime instrument whereas the others are not.

Mine is simply killer.

 

[SUBHARMONICZERO]

A good alternative to the $1300 MIA might be one of the Fender Jazz Basses that are made in Japan for Japanese market. The ones that have the "Crafted In Japan" designation at the base of the neck above neck plate. Not the ones with "Made in Japan" on the headstock. Check around you might find one for much cheaper and of the same quality as the early CBS Fender instruments. It's yer first bass, don't blow all your cash on an MIA...you'll need a good amp too.

 

[alrigtdon]

Thanks for all the advice so far, Subharmonic, the CIJ basses you mentioned are these the basses people talk about getting through various japanese websites?

 

[alrigtdon]

which is the better guitar between the yamaha and cort?

 

[Jake of Bass]

My first bass was a Yamaha, a similar (but older) model to the one you're looking at. I gigged on it heaps. It would be a good first purchase IMO.