• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Advice?

O

Omens

Aug 12, 2008
4
0
#1
Hi, I'm new here. I need some advice on which bass I should get. I've been playing bass now for about 3 1/2years for fun.. (never been in a band, & I'm not too sure on the specifics of the anatomy of a bass). Currently I own a Epiphone Embassy Special IV.. http://epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=234&CollectionID=12


Now I would like a new bass, and I'm a Gibson fan because all the assistance I had with my Epiphone (even though my bass has kinda gone downhill over time..) So I went to Guitar Center, and tried out tons of basses.. I want a bass within the 200-350 range (possibly 410ish max) .. So anyways, after trying them I asked a customer service rep there.. He was trying to sell me on the Guitar Center brand basses.. This one, to be specific..

Link Removed

Again though, I really like the Gibson brand.. I was really drawn towards the Epiphone Thunderbird IV.. I love the look, feel and it just seems comfortable.. But I'm not sure of the sound quality in comparison to other basses in this range.. it was this bass, if I got it though I'd get it in the new Silverburst model coming out this september..

Link Removed

On a side note I really liked the Squier Vintage Jazz Bass. Mainly because it was fretless and just felt smooth. But it's look just looked so plain, not the thing that would moisten the ladies, if you get my drift.. this one.

Link Removed


I love playing all forms of music.. from Primus to Tool..

I'd just really like some suggestions on what to get, within a few months I should get the cash to be able to afford it.

Thanks for the advice!

(Also, does anyone know if it'd be possible to take the frets out of a t-bird? Or if it's even worth doing?)
 
#2
Omens,

You have enough experience playing the bass to decide for yourself at this point.

Buy the bass that plays the easiest and sounds the best to you. Follow this advice and you almost can't go wrong.

You don't really need the GC sales guy's advice...half the time they may just be trying to unload something on you or make more money by selling you something that isn't ideal for you (though, there are some decent guys that work at GC...don't get me wrong).

Having said that, keep in mind that a fretless bass will be harder to play in tune. If your fretting fingers are just slightly off from the exact point of intonation, your note will be slightly flat or sharp. So, the fretless will be more challenging, but it will certainly help you improve your accuracy and technique. Also, the fretless will give you a different slap/pop sound that a fretted bass.

By the way, the thing that will really get the ladies going is not how your bass looks, it's how well you can play the bass.

You can take the frets out of any bass, but you must do some research to find out how to do it correctly. If you just rip out all the frets and fill the slots with wood filler, you run a huge risk of tearing out large chunks of the fretboard, developing a lot of buzz or even possibly warping the neck.

Whether or not it is worth doing is purely a matter of opinion.

Oh, one more thing: when you are playing potential new basses you might want to bring your own amp with you. Different amps can definitely change how a bass sounds, so test the new basses on the amp you are planning to use.

Good luck and have fun finding that new bass!
 
#3
XylemBassGuitar posted the perfect reply, no need for anything else.

I have 3 Birds from 3 different companies but the EPI-TBIRD I have, it is what I expected, it serves it's purpose, but certainly NOT my #1, unless that gritty dirty muddy sound is what you are looking for, for the type of music you want to do. << IT does stay in tune forever, with great intonation and has never failed me yet. SURE a few hundred in mods would make it a lot "better", but I would rather play something " out of the box" that I like, and not worry about pup/nut/bridge changes, that would bring the total investment up a few hundred more than the 300 it costs out of the box, cause for 600 or so, you can get quite a nice Fender Bass.:D
 
#4
This is just my opinion. It's more difficult and expensive to change the way a bass feels (neck shape, weight, balance...etc) than it is to change the way it sounds. Of course their are limitations but It wouldn't really be unreasonable to buy an epiphone bird because you like the feel and then decide to change the pickups to get the sound (or close to it) that you want. Just make sure you play the bass that you buy before you purchase it unless you are confident in the sellers return policy. That's just my opinion though
 
#5
You mentioned your Epiphone degraded with time, which to me is all the more reason to hold out longer and save up more money to buy a nicer bass. Unless you are really desperate to have your bass tomorrow, I think that a $600 investment is a good way to go. This baby is gonna be your pride and joy and you'll probably put your hands all over her every day for many years to come. Anyway, that's just my opinion.

There is a HUGE difference between a squire and standard fender (I currently have an active-electronic jazz bass, and it has a lot of tone-shaping abilities all on it's own. Pretty good for different genres, and I can pull off that whacky Claypool twang from Frizzle Fry ;) )

Just my 2 cents, I think you'll be happier in the long run getting the bass you really want, even if that means you'll be eating ramen noodles for a month. :p
Oh, and dont worry if it doesn't look snazzy for the ladies. Everyone already knows the bass is the sexiest instrument in the band...

Happy shopping!
 
#6
#7
LarryO said:
It's more difficult and expensive to change the way a bass feels (neck shape, weight, balance...etc) than it is to change the way it sounds...It wouldn't really be unreasonable to buy an epiphone bird because you like the feel and then decide to change the pickups to get the sound that you want
Click to expand...

That is a really good point. Nice one LarryO!

Oh yeah, and Goatman has a really good statment: "Everyone already knows the bass is the sexiest instrument in the band..."

Heh heh...


Not a bad idea to wait until you can afford that $600 bass either. You might save money in the long run this way. That is, you might spend $400 now, but be ready for an upgrade from it in one year. Whereas you could buy the $600 bass and be happy with it for the next three years...effectively you'd save that $400.

Enjoy!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back