Affinity Series Precision Bass PJ Pack for beginner?

[Dave615]

Okay, I thought I had this all figured out starting out with a Fender Player II Precision Bass $800 and a 100 watt Rumble amp at $330 puts me at over $1200. That’s fine if that is what I need to do. But I just stumbled across the Affinity Series™ Precision Bass® PJ Pack for $380 that includes the bass, 15 watt rumble amp and a case.

You guys helped me out in my "First post, old guy thinking about playing bass??" thread in the intro section. So my question now is, can I get this to tell if playing bass is something I can do, or is this cheap option going to hinder my learning? If its not a good option, or isn't "as good" an option because it will hinder my learning, I'll continue on the way I was headed.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[jd56hawk]

The Affinty basses are better than they used to be but the 15-watt amp is little more than a toy. Sure, you can learn bass using a package deal, but you'll enjoy learning more with an amp that has some bottom end...then, you can experience what bass playing is all about, tone.
You might want to consider spending a little more money...a used Squier Vintage Modified or Classic Vibe and a Fender Rumble 40.
If you discover bass isn't your thing, you can sell both and make your money back. If you buy the package and sell it somewhere down the line, you'll be lucky to get $150.
( By the way, I just sold this two weeks ago, actually got good money for it, and someone bought it the day they hung it on the wall.)

 

[joeLowB]

Okay, I thought I had this all figured out starting out with a Fender Player II Precision Bass $800 and a 100 watt Rumble amp at $330 puts me at over $1200. That’s fine if that is what I need to do. But I just stumbled across the Affinity Series™ Precision Bass® PJ Pack for $380 that includes the bass, 15 watt rumble amp and a case.

You guys helped me out in my "First post, old guy thinking about playing bass??" thread in the intro section. So my question now is, can I get this to tell if playing bass is something I can do, or is this cheap option going to hinder my learning? If its not a good option, or isn't "as good" an option because it will hinder my learning, I'll continue on the way I was headed.

Thanks for all the help.

I learned to love bass on exactly that package...the Squire PJ plus a s8mple 15W bass amp.

It worked perfectly to help me learn the fretboard.

Yes, eventually you'll want a better amp. But the Squire PJ can take you a long way. I'm sorry I sold mine!


.

 

[DownLowJoe13]

If you commit $1,200 to learning a new hobby you will be more financially incentivized to learn, unless you are fortunate enough where $1,200 is spare change. If cost of entry is particularly important to you, Thomann Music has a Harley Benton Pack, 20 watt amp and bass, bag, strap and cable, for $185. You’ll lose $185 on the Squier Pack if you decide bass isn’t for you.

But…

The most important thing is making sure the instrument is easy to play. If it would frustrate a 20 year veteran, it’s going to frustrate a new player. My recommendation is to get a Sire Marcus Miller bass (great setup out of the box, great preamp, great feel, rounded fingerboard edges usually found on higher end instruments) and an Eden or Markbass practice amp.

 

[Dave615]

I gave up on that idea. I went with the “Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass” and a Rumble 100 Amp. The amp was delivered yesterday, the guitar will be here Tuesday.

 

[DownLowJoe13]

I gave up on that idea. I went with the “Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass” and a Rumble 100 Amp. The amp was delivered yesterday, the guitar will be here Tuesday.

This is the way! You won’t be disappointed. I have a CV ‘70s P in Antigua on order, will be here in November…

 

[MrAB4003]

I started out with a Squier Affinity starter pack like that 15 years ago. I still have my original bass and the strap, but nothing else. The 15 watt amp that came with it was terribly underpowered and it makes me wonder why Squier can’t include a slightly bigger amp (25-40 watts?) in their starter pack.

Wise move going with the 100 watt amp and individual Squier bass. 100 watts is plenty for home practice and rehearsals.

 

[SoulReflection]

I started out with a Squier Affinity starter pack like that 15 years ago. I still have my original bass and the strap, but nothing else. The 15 watt amp that came with it was terribly underpowered and it makes me wonder why Squier can’t include a slightly bigger amp (25-40 watts?) in their starter pack.

Wise move going with the 100 watt amp and individual Squier bass. 100 watts is plenty for home practice and rehearsals.

I agree...the Rumble 100 is the best of both worlds. I am only selling mine because my home studio is enough for practice. Rehearsals are not in my future (too old for that)! I am keeping my Squier Jag SS because I bought it at the old price and it does everything I could wish for.

 

[Yahboy]

Recommend Squier Sonic P and Rumble 40 or 100V3.

I can sure if you get the affy PJ, you will open another topic here about the noisy J pup. It will ruin your first day bass learn/lesson.

Stock pickups on Sonic P sound just fine, better than early day fender mexi Standard P.
Stock string also sound great to my ear too.

Sonic P are good start. If you seriously want a nice PJ bass, just focus on Fender Am performer PJ or Charvel Pro mod PJ.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

A previous poster described the Rumble 15 as "little more than a toy". I would have to disagree. No, it isn't a gig worthy amp, but for your purposes to learn to play and find out if you really want to play, it is a great choice. It does work well as a practice amp, but when you begin playing with other people, you are going to want something more.
I'm a 60 year pro and the amp I use most, except for full band gigs, is a Fender Rumble 100.
What I would suggest is when you get the Affinity, take it to someone who can do a setup for you. It, like almost all instruments, will come out of the box not ready to play. There are things a luthier can do to make it phsically easier to play and to play in tune.
I'd say the package is a great place to start.

 

[MrAB4003]

I agree...the Rumble 100 is the best of both worlds. I am only selling mine because my home studio is enough for practice. Rehearsals are not in my future (too old for that)! I am keeping my Squier Jag SS because I bought it at the old price and it does everything I could wish for.

I personally prefer the Ampeg RB-112 because it doesn’t have that “baked in” 7ender sound. But I like 100 watts more than 40 watts for a practice combo amp, especially if you play a louder genre of music.

 

[SoulReflection]

I personally prefer the Ampeg RB-112 because it doesn’t have that “baked in” 7ender sound. But I like 100 watts more than 40 watts for a practice combo amp, especially if you play a louder genre of music.

Then there are those who prefer the Fender sound over the Ampeg's. There is room for us all !

 

[MrAB4003]

Then there are those who prefer the Fender sound over the Ampeg's. There is room for us all !

I played Rumbles since I had my original starter pack. But then I heard the Ampeg sound and I liked it better than the Rumble.

 

[WeeBigMan]

I'm a guitar player, occasionally bass player. I bought an affinity PJ a few months back to get back into playing bass and I'm really impressed by it.

I almost exclusively live on the P-pickup, so I can't comment on the J much, but I can't say a bad thing about this bass. Looks great, feels great, sounds great and holds tune for weeks

 

[Malak the Mad]

@Dave615; I understand the first, big question; "Is this something I will want to stick with?" I went through the same self-reflection when I started searching for my first-ever bass. What's funny is that the first bass I wanted to get was also a Squier P/J...a Squier Standard Precision Bass Special in Satin Pewter Metallic, to be exact. I, too, was intrigued by the "best of both worlds" groove it seemed to offer.

What's also funny is that, just like you, it ended up not being my first-ever. It would seem that the P-Bass Special I wanted was damn hard to find, what with it being discontinued two or three years earlier. But, in all my research, I started learning about other basses, including the P/J Fender Aerodyne. It was so cool looking, but way beyond the price threshold I'd set for what might turn out to be another dead-end hobby.

All that changed when I discovered a great price on a mojo'd-up Aerodyne almost 1,000 miles away. It was a bit above my self-imposed ceiling, but after some phone calls, pictures emailed and a lot of mulling it over, I said, "Screw it!" and pulled the trigger.

Dusty? I didn't care! Finish cracks? According to a well-heeled musician I'd met, "Leave it! It's 'mojo'!" And I've never regretted the decision, 'cuz there are times when something special lands in your lap and you just gotta go for it!

 

[Wfrance3]

Don’t buy the package. Watch for a deal on a Rumble 40 amp. Get a good bass here, or FB market or CL.
Make sure it plays, ask if or make sure the truss rod works. Make sure you can see yourself being comfortable playing the bass. That’s about it…

 

[Chris Wilke]

I gave up on that idea. I went with the “Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass” and a Rumble 100 Amp. The amp was delivered yesterday, the guitar will be here Tuesday.

I would appear Dave615 has left the room. My guess is he is too busy enjoying his new CV 70s precision bass with Rumble 100 amp! Just getting the callouses to come in for real now.

Maybe he’ll take the occasional break from practice to pop in here, or to Google foam mutes, James Jamerson transcriptions. or “best funk lines on a Precision Bass”. Then again he may just be breaking in a set of new flatwound strings on his first gig!

Welcome bass brother! Play the hell out of it and don’t look back!

Post a pic if you have time!

 

[Dave615]

I would appear Dave615 has left the room. My guess is he is too busy enjoying his new CV 70s precision bass with Rumble 100 amp! Just getting the callouses to come in for real now.

Maybe he’ll take the occasional break from practice to pop in here, or to Google foam mutes, James Jamerson transcriptions. or “best funk lines on a Precision Bass”. Then again he may just be breaking in a set of new flatwound strings on his first gig!

Welcome bass brother! Play the hell out of it and don’t look back!

Post a pic if you have time!

I just got back yesterday from an RVing trip to Illinois. So I haven't jumped into it yet. But I'll be starting the BtoB in a few days.
I think I have most of the things I need. I'm working out a way to have sound through headphones for Bass and training video both. Trying out the tuning app. I still need to find a strap, but that's not critical right now. Here is a pic...

 

[Chris Wilke]

Very nice congrats!

For pretty cheap you can get a digital mixer (with USB interface built in). This can be used to play through headphones with mp3s/youtube videos, or any source through a home stereo outputs (assuming it has tape out jacks). Can also be used to record onto a laptop. Cheapest ones are under $100.

 

[G-Dog]

I gave up on that idea. I went with the “Squier Classic Vibe '70s Precision Bass” and a Rumble 100 Amp. The amp was delivered yesterday, the guitar will be here Tuesday.

Excellent choices, Dave! You should come to the Fender Rumble Club on TalkBass to learn how to get the most from your 100. You could also go to the Squier Classic Vibe Club to discuss your bass. You can also find other clubs & groups in the TalkBass Clubs & Special Interest Groups INDEX wiki page.

Welcome to TalkBass!