Advice on first (decent) bass

Go to the music store and play as many used basses as you can find in your price range. Your money will go a lot farther buying a perfectly good second hand bass.

I don't think anyone on this board owns a Jackson.

 

I agree, buying used will usually get you a better instrument for your money. In that price range I would stay away from active electronics.
The MIM Fender Jazz or Precision is close to your price range and are pretty good instruments, and are easily upgraded. If later on you decide you want something more expensive, you will have a good backup bass.

 

Hello Wroot

I agree with MJB on the trying loads and going secondhand.

The problem with UK is that althought the exchange rate is 1.477 something instruments are more like 1:1 ratio $ to £.

My answer to this question is always sh Mim Fender Jazz or Precision. The model is a matter of taste but they are well made and good value.

A freind of mine recently bought sh mim Jazz for £275 it was mint and a leftie so you should get one a bit cheaper. IF £250 ish is out of your budget wait.. the Mexican stuff is way better than the Squier stuff (unless you come across the Silver Series). The other thing to remember with mass production instruments is that quality and dimensions vary so try loads.

Happy hunting

BTW Mr Fireseed your post was not there when I was typing so great minds do agree

 

Welcome to TB

Humbuckers are literally just that, they buck hum. Single coil pickups, when soloed, can produce audible hum in the signal. Humbuckers incorporate a design that makes them less susceptible or impervious to hum when playing them soloed. This makes them quieter, so that hum and extra noise don't ruin your sound. 'Soloed' means playing the bridge or neck pickup by itself.

Passive basses have characteristics that make them desirable in some cases, but an active bass may offer you more sound shaping options. Still, passive basses have produced (and still produce) some of the best bass sounds ever recorded.

Active basses better? You will get different opinions. Not necessarily better, but different. In many cases, they can boost a signal, helping to clean it up and reduce noise. Active electronics will also offer more EQ options in most cases when compared to passive electronics. I prefer passive and active basses for different sounds they can produce, so it just depends on what you would like to hear at the time.

Some of this you may already know, but I'll post it just in case. An active bass will require at least one 9 volt battery, sometimes two in rare cases. Some basses will not function or will sound bad when the battery is dead or going dead. Some basses will have passive/active operation so you can continue playing in passive mode even when the battery dies out, some just die out until you replace the battery. These are just features to look for depending on what you would like.

Since you are abroad, I don't know what sort of basses are readily available there. I'm afraid I couldn't really suggest a bass, but I hope the other stuff helps make an informed decision. As mentioned above, Fenders make good starter basses. Good luck!

 

My first bass that I bought was a Danelectro. The reissues are very affordable and depending on your physiology Dano makes short scale basses which are easier for smaller people to handle. And if you look around you'll see a lot of big names that play a Dano occasionally.

 

a fender jazz made in mexico used is the best bass i can suggest you in that price range. if you see one, give it a try!

 

oops..i wanted to say made in japan.

mexicans are good to, but i prefer a lot japanese fender.

 

Yeah the MIM Jazz and Precision basses are really good. You could always get a Peavey, their basses are pretty cheap and lots of people like them, like me.

Id go with the Fender though.

 

ibanez is good as well. try going for a cheaper Soundgear type. you will like it.

 

You're in the UK? I'd go with an OLP Stingray. Can't go wrong with a 'Ray and I've only heard good things about them...retails for about UK250 (sorry, can't make the pound symbol )

 

I have a Yamaha BBN4 and I really like it. I dont know what sound you are going for, but my only dislike is the fact that it does to produce some what of a soft wimpy sound. However that is not always bad. it has the perfect tone for some playing styles that need a sound like that.

 

Another thing you might want to consider that I did is this; get a friend that plays bass for longer than you and knows how to slap well, to play the bass for you. If you like the way they make it sound, then you can try it, and if you like the configuration of it then you should get it. Thats how I got my first bass. You need to have an idea of what the bass will sound like when you are proficient, not when you know how to play the bass line to some punk song that has two notes that alternate. (I tried out my first bass by playing sunshine of your love... the first song I learned on the bass. Thought I was the coolest person in the store........)

 

I own a 1991 Charvel/Jackson Eliminator Bass.
It has a real good tone and I bought it for $150.
Try to find old Jackson's if it has a similar tone.
You are basically set because all Jackson's have decent or higher quality ALL!

 

Same response I always give... MIM Jazz, or MIM P-bass.