Thank you!I totally agree with the above. OP: In the meantime here is a useful link (see below) for getting started. While it's very exciting and enjoyable sussing out amps, cabs, strings etc., don't neglect to also suss out safe technique. Starting off from ground zero with good habits will save you time in not having to unlearn any bad ones later. Safe technique is touched on in the link.
Best of luck...and welcome to the low end.
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Beginner Advice Needed
- Thread starter anubisdoobies
- Start date
Try it out. See if it feels comfortable to you. As you are learning to play switch it up and see what works better. Not my cup of tea but I am me and you are you.
Cool that you play the piano! My favorite bassist plays bass like a Pianist would do with the left hand 
Go to a store and play some basses and decide what you like. The used market is a very good place too. It's always better to buy a 300$-500$ Bass used than a 200$ new one. If you can find one take a look at a Marcus Miller V7 or P7. Very good feeling instruments due to the rolled fingerboard edges and you can switch from active to passive.
Go to a store and play some basses and decide what you like. The used market is a very good place too. It's always better to buy a 300$-500$ Bass used than a 200$ new one. If you can find one take a look at a Marcus Miller V7 or P7. Very good feeling instruments due to the rolled fingerboard edges and you can switch from active to passive.
Thanks for answering! I don't actually play the piano haha XD Just played a bit a year ago. Sadly not many used options are availableCool that you play the piano! My favorite bassist plays bass like a Pianist would do with the left hand
Go to a store and play some basses and decide what you like. The used market is a very good place too. It's always better to buy a 300$-500$ Bass used than a 200$ new one. If you can find one take a look at a Marcus Miller V7 or P7. Very good feeling instruments due to the rolled fingerboard edges and you can switch from active to passive.
Do you mean the Sire V7?
Yeah. I'm as old as you and I played a short scale for a while... Then I bought my Sire V7 and the transition from a shortscale bass to a longscale bass was pretty easy. The neck is very slim, the nut width is 38mm so it's very playable. Great for younger people too. I think feel is very important and that's why I would recommend it.Thanks for answering! I don't actually play the piano haha XD Just played a bit a year ago. Sadly not many used options are available
Do you mean the Sire V7?
I see. Thank you! Problem is it's about 700$... and I never even played yet haha XD
I'm excited for you. My 16yo daughter just picked up the bass this year and she loves it.
I like the Ray4. I almost grabbed one for myself earlier this year. But I agree that you should try them out before you buy, and when you find one you bond with, buy that one.
Amps: a single 8" speaker doesn't sound like a bass to me, but I know others feel differently. Like the bass itself, it's best to try it out. It's part of your sound—truly, it's what you hear when you play your bass—so it deserves a degree of careful consideration. I love the GK 10" practice amps, personally.
And lessons? I think that's a completely valid route to go. I also think it's valid to just seek out instructional videos online and hash it out yourself. My daughter—the bass player—wants to dye her hair pink. My wife was looking into all these ways to get it done professionally (and expensively) so she doesn't screw it up, but my girl was definitely into the punk idea of doing it herself, making a mess, possibly screwing it up. And that's cool, too. Same with the lessons/no lessons question; whichever direction fuels your passion is the way to go.
I like the Ray4. I almost grabbed one for myself earlier this year. But I agree that you should try them out before you buy, and when you find one you bond with, buy that one.
Amps: a single 8" speaker doesn't sound like a bass to me, but I know others feel differently. Like the bass itself, it's best to try it out. It's part of your sound—truly, it's what you hear when you play your bass—so it deserves a degree of careful consideration. I love the GK 10" practice amps, personally.
And lessons? I think that's a completely valid route to go. I also think it's valid to just seek out instructional videos online and hash it out yourself. My daughter—the bass player—wants to dye her hair pink. My wife was looking into all these ways to get it done professionally (and expensively) so she doesn't screw it up, but my girl was definitely into the punk idea of doing it herself, making a mess, possibly screwing it up. And that's cool, too. Same with the lessons/no lessons question; whichever direction fuels your passion is the way to go.
I know you are getting so many suggestions for a bass, but imo you can’t go wrong with a squier jazz bass or precision bass.
Thank you for your answer! I guess I can ask in the store both an 8" and 10" speaker, even though I won't buy one at the store I'm buying my bass.
If I'm not wrong, where I live they are only available in an overpriced shop. Thank you for your answer!
While the Sire V7 might be a little pricey for you, the Sire V3 or M2 are great entry-level basses. I would go to a a shop, play those, the Ray4, and an entry-level Harley Benton.
I thought the same thing when I started out (at your age, too). My friend and I played together for a few months, and then we met another guitar player and drummer who were just starting out. Gigs started and just kept coming. Once you reach critical mass, opportunities to play in front of people tend to present themselves, and you could very well end up gigging much more quickly than in a year or two.
All of the gear being recommended so far will serve you well. If you buy an amp intended for bedroom practice only (or for playing at low volumes with one other person) you absolutely will end up replacing it once you start playing in a full-blown band. Not saying you should buy something bigger at this point; just be prepared to do so if you progress further.
Beyond that, a few pieces of advice:
- Work with an instructor to help get you started. In hindsight, this is the most important thing I would have done differently and it would have made a big difference in how fast I progressed.
- Play a bunch of different basses and alway always always buy the one the feels best to you.
- Protect your hearing. That muffled ringing noise you hear after playing with a loud band is the sound of your hearing going away. It may not seem like a big deal at 15, but it absolutely will be at 50. Keep the volume down or use ear protection.
)Thanks for answering! Sadly, both the V3 and M2 are more expensive than the Ray4, and it's already pretty pricey(for me haha). Also, no Harley Bentons over here
Thank you for the long answer! I really don't believe about the gigs though, in about 3 years I'm going to the military since it's mandatory where I live. And, I don't know how much will I get into bass. Maybe in a month I'll want to drop it, and sell it all? I can't know from now, so I prefer starting with something small, and maybe I'll buy something more if I need. Also, I live in an apartment and I don't want to bother people in the building, even if it's allowed.I thought the same thing when I started out (at your age, too). My friend and I played together for a few months, and then we met another guitar player and drummer who were just starting out. Gigs started and just kept coming. Once you reach critical mass, opportunities to play in front of people tend to present themselves, and you could very well end up gigging much more quickly than in a year or two.
All of the gear being recommended so far will serve you well. If you buy an amp intended for bedroom practice only (or for playing at low volumes with one other person) you absolutely will end up replacing it once you start playing in a full-blown band. Not saying you should buy something bigger at this point; just be prepared to do so if you progress further.
Beyond that, a few pieces of advice:
Welcome to Talkbass. (Where the beauty of the basses is exceeded only by the people who play them. Or maybe it's the other way around.
- Work with an instructor to help get you started. In hindsight, this is the most important thing I would have done differently and it would have made a big difference in how fast I progressed.
- Play a bunch of different basses and alway always always buy the one the feels best to you.
- Protect your hearing. That muffled ringing noise you hear after playing with a loud band is the sound of your hearing going away. It may not seem like a big deal at 15, but it absolutely will be at 50. Keep the volume down or use ear protection.
I'll get ear protection. Thank you!
I think you’ll be satisfied playing the Ray4 through the P20 Promethean. You can learn a lot with those. You could get better gear but as you are a beginner I advise spending less on gear and more on lessons to make the progress you want to make.
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