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beginner bass player, not sure which bass to get.

PneumaticFrog

PneumaticFrog

Jun 19, 2018
85
78
Perth
#1
hey all, I'm having trouble choosing between these 2 basses.
1. Yamaha TBRX304
2. Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling S.U.B. RAY4 H
these are around $500 to $600 AUD I believe, I was wondering which bass is better for metal, and also if there are any other basses around the same price could I get a suggestion? thanks.

*EDIT*
not really looking for a used bass as i can probably barter with the local guitar shop, however i will consider it if its a really cheap deal. also im kind of into RATM style bass playing

*EDIT 2*
definitely want to get this one, just wondering if it's any good, I have yet to try it but I just want to know if it should be good.
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#3
PneumaticFrog said:
hey all, I'm having trouble choosing between these 2 basses.
1. Yamaha TBRX304
2. Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling S.U.B. RAY4 H
these are around $500 to $600 AUD I believe, I was wondering which bass is better for metal, and also if there are any other basses around the same price could I get a suggestion? thanks.
Click to expand...
"Best bass for metal" thread!

We'll finally know. Yahoo!:hyper:
 
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#4
And that's the problem: when you are starting out, you don't know what makes a bass playable, or preferable to another.

Well, obviously, you can't just get the cheapest one you can find—there's no telling what you'll end up with

My advice is to contract with a teacher for a few months of lessons, and secure his or her help in choosing your first instrument. They will know what to avoid, and a good value or hidden gem.
 
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#5
PneumaticFrog said:
hey all, I'm having trouble choosing between these 2 basses.
1. Yamaha TBRX304
2. Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling S.U.B. RAY4 H
these are around $500 to $600 AUD I believe, I was wondering which bass is better for metal, and also if there are any other basses around the same price could I get a suggestion? thanks.
Click to expand...
You might be better off hunting secondhand on Gumtree or something and saving a few $. I've seen some potentially good basses going for reasonable prices there lately.

Put the extra $ aside...or towards amp, metal-inducing pedals, etc.
 
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#6
PneumaticFrog said:
hey all, I'm having trouble choosing between these 2 basses.
1. Yamaha TBRX304
2. Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling S.U.B. RAY4 H
these are around $500 to $600 AUD I believe, I was wondering which bass is better for metal, and also if there are any other basses around the same price could I get a suggestion? thanks.
Click to expand...

Who is your favorite metal bass player? What does he play? Get a bass like him.

All basses can be used for metal but you will look cooler playing a Schecter Hellraiser Extreme than a Hofner violin bass.
 
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#7
I'd start with a cheap Ibanez Gio. Great value and versatility, specially for a begginer. Once you play a little better and are able to recognize the difference between tones and such, I'd aim for a more precise buy, hopefully with the guidance of a tutor (as #4 said).
 
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#10
Poster is in Australia- I know prices are pretty expensive there in the way of basses. Bass Centre has the Ibanez SR300E for AUD$549, the Sire M2 or V3 is $599. I would probably take those over the Yamaha and the Sterling SUB. Nothing wrong with the Yamaha TRBX304 mind you, I have the TRBX305 but it's a little bit more limited in terms of tonal variety (sounds kind of muddy) in comparison to the Ibanez or the Sire. The Sterling SUB is a nice bass (I've had 4 of them) but not really versatile imo, great for what it does though. Both Sire models are both active and passive. I'm thinking the M2 might be more suited for your music.
 
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#11
TerenceE said:
For Sale - Sire V7 Vintage basses

That there would cover you good for a very reasonable price

Just add a torte guard and yer ballin!
Click to expand...

This is in Michigan near me - I would have bought one of these had I only seen the Craigslist posting sooner but I just ordered a Sire V3 from the website. :( Dang it. Much rather have the V7 Vintage (with gig bag) than the V3 (without bag) for nearly the same price.
 
#12
BubbaZed said:
Who is your favorite metal bass player? What does he play? Get a bass like him.
Click to expand...

There are already some good suggestions here, but this ^ is important.
Is not that you have to play what the people you like does, with time you will develope your own style and prference maybe totally opposite to what the people you listen use but, when you start is good to go to a "familiar place".
When I think of Heavy Metal I think of Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath, both P-Bass players, but you may think of more modern stuff with a completely different sound.
So, if you ask me, a good bass for metal (and almost everything) get a good P-bass, but that might not be what you are after.
 
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#13
PneumaticFrog said:
hey all, I'm having trouble choosing between these 2 basses.
1. Yamaha TBRX304
2. Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling S.U.B. RAY4 H
these are around $500 to $600 AUD I believe, I was wondering which bass is better for metal, and also if there are any other basses around the same price could I get a suggestion? thanks.
Click to expand...

No right answer unfortunately.

Find a bass that you are comfortable playing, and you will be able to adjust it to play ANY genre.

Of the two you mention, i would go with #2 based on aesthetics alone. Both will and can play metal...;)

Good Luck!
 
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#15
IMO if you are starting bass, buy a classic bass with full size frets, I bought a precision (G&L Legacy) when I was starting out, but a cheap squire P will do. I started in Metal and hard rock before gravitating funk and soul once I got hooked on bass, and after a steady diet of Led Zep...

Between those 2 choices I'd go with the S.U.B. though, it sounds and feels a lot like it's expensive cousin, and will be a comfortable transition once you're ready to move up.
 
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#16
Welcome to Talkbass!

Also, good for you for making a thread and trying to make a better choice. When I bought my first bass, all I knew was I wanted a bass and I had a budget... I walked into a store and bought the best looking bass in the store that I could afford. I didn't do any research or play any bass to see which one felt or sounded better. I didn't even play that bass until I got home.

After a while I realized the numerous issues it had, but it took a year or two of experience to really start understanding it.

@dreamadream99 's advice is sound...

dreamadream99 said:
My advice is to contract with a teacher for a few months of lessons, and secure his or her help in choosing your first instrument. They will know what to avoid, and a good value or hidden gem.
Click to expand...
 
#17
Maxdusty said:
Poster is in Australia- I know prices are pretty expensive there in the way of basses. Bass Centre has the Ibanez SR300E for AUD$549, the Sire M2 or V3 is $599.
Click to expand...

Definitely pays to shop around and price match/price beat between a few stores.

If OP is set on buying new, I would recommended browsing Belfield Music and Invalid Link Removed, as well.

Once I selected the last bass I wanted, I managed to get a couple of hundred knocked off the price and some extra strings, picks, etc by pitting a few stores against each other.
 
#18
That Yamaha looks pretty sweet. Super thin nut so it'll be easy to play and two giant soapbar pickups for plenty of output.
I'd get that if you're gonna be picking, the Ernie Ball looks more like a finger pluckers bass, eww.
Also can't go wrong with the Ibanez Soundgears.
 
#19
Welcome to TB.

It sounds trite, but it's true. Any bass you play well, with conviction, will sound fine for whatever style of music you play. As a beginner, find a bass that speaks to you, that's comfortable, set up correctly and fits within your budget. Once you find that bass, it should serve you well through your journey in music until you're ready for your next bass.
 

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