Beginner needs help with picking a Bass

[red_rhino]

As for brands I can get Ibanez, Sterling, Vintage, Cort, Wasburn, Warwick and a few others shipped here but Fender(Squier), Yamaha, Gibson, Danelectro aren't available to me

Of those, my choice would be Ibanez. I have a GSR200 that just sings! Seriously. Most of my basses cost many thousands more, but I wouldn't hesitate to rock this thing at a gig. It's a great beginner bass with a neck profile you will probably adapt to easily coming from guitar.

The only Ibanez I don't care for are the Luthite ones. I prefer a real wood body.

 

[projectapollo]

I'd buy this. No affiliation.
For Sale - Fender MIA P w/ Lollar precision pickup

 

[Ric5]

I'm s complete beginner at bass but I have some six string guitar experience quite a few years ago. I've always wanted to learn bass and now have the opportunity being retired with time on my hands.

What do I get? A cheap model like a Ibanez, Cort, Vintage or the like or a better more expensive one? I've been advised if buying a budget bass it won't be worth much when I come to sell. I'm not too worried about that, what I want is playability. I know some better models have better pick ups and hardware which gives a better sound but I'm not worried about that, just something I can get along with.
Any advice?

go to your local Music-go-round and try some of the used basses and take home the one that speaks to you

 

[zon6c-f]

I'm s complete beginner at bass but I have some six string guitar experience quite a few years ago. I've always wanted to learn bass and now have the opportunity being retired with time on my hands.

What do I get? A cheap model like a Ibanez, Cort, Vintage or the like or a better more expensive one? I've been advised if buying a budget bass it won't be worth much when I come to sell. I'm not too worried about that, what I want is playability. I know some better models have better pick ups and hardware which gives a better sound but I'm not worried about that, just something I can get along with.
Any advice?

These are good times for you, as newer inexpensive quality Basses are readily available .
I am fortunate to own a "boutique" Zon and ... a Squier ! as well as a few other Basses. They each serve a different need and voice to choose from.
If you stay with bass you could buy a 2nd (inexpensive) and different bass.

Although not opposed to used amps ; that's more where you get what you pay for imho but there are less expensive amps that can serve you well. ( I own some of those too!)
• Do Not go into debt over Basses or amps!
• Use your ears and wallet VS anyone's opinions .

Welcome to Bass and keep us posted !

I'm s complete beginner at bass but I have some six string guitar experience quite a few years ago. I've always wanted to learn bass and now have the opportunity being retired with time on my hands.

What do I get? A cheap model like a Ibanez, Cort, Vintage or the like or a better more expensive one? I've been advised if buying a budget bass it won't be worth much when I come to sell. I'm not too worried about that, what I want is playability. I know some better models have better pick ups and hardware which gives a better sound but I'm not worried about that, just something I can get along with.
Any advice?

 

[Fretless370]

I've got it down to these, a Vintage P lookalike:

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A Vintage J bass:
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A Cort Artisan:
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This Cort:
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A Ibanez ?:
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Or this Sterling:
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I personally would go with the Sterling. Just my 2...

 

[devnulljp]

Go try Squier CV and VM PBass and Jazz Bass and pick the one you like the best.
Good, cheap, readily available, someone will buy it if/when you decide to buy something better later. You might find you don't ever need to upgrade, they're good enough as they are.

 

[pappabass]

Save a few $$ and get a Fender. Plenty of the cheaper basses are actually decent. My main player is a Sterling ray 4 I got on sale at GC for $260. I have more expensive basses, but I like my cheap bass. If you are buying for resale, buy a Fender

 

[Bassblisters]

I just ordered a Blackstar Fly 3 Stereo Bass setup for low volume use with my synths and a mixer. If you can, I would pay more and get the Roland Micro Bass Dr RX for a low-volume, smaller practice amp.

 

[ERIC31]

Get this. Ibanez TMB-100. Great bass for about $200. I've had mine for about 3 years and it's my #1. Great beginner/intermediate bass and I've even seen some pros playing them.

 

[AustinRanger101]

My advice for a well rounded, great quality/low price, mid-range, playable bass is a Sterling Ray 34. I just got one for about $700 USD new. The Sterlings are built the same as the $2000 EBMM's just lower quality craftsmanship. For the feel and tone, it was a purchase i was very happy to make. Very well rounded.

 

[BOOG]

I'm s complete beginner at bass but I have some six string guitar experience quite a few years ago. I've always wanted to learn bass and now have the opportunity being retired with time on my hands.

What do I get? A cheap model like a Ibanez, Cort, Vintage or the like or a better more expensive one? I've been advised if buying a budget bass it won't be worth much when I come to sell. I'm not too worried about that, what I want is playability. I know some better models have better pick ups and hardware which gives a better sound but I'm not worried about that, just something I can get along with.
Any advice?

I started five years ago at 45 years old, and my approach was to get something that I liked the look of and was well within my budget. I knew I wanted an amp that was affordable and beyond that, I would learn. So, if I had to do it all over again, that's the way I'd do it.
Aside from that, take the time (and patience) to learn how to setup and adjust your own bass.
Enjoy the journey.
Welcome to TalkBass!

 

[SunByrne]

As for brands I can get Ibanez, Sterling, Vintage, Cort, Wasburn, Warwick and a few others shipped here but Fender(Squier), Yamaha, Gibson, Danelectro aren't available to me due I'm guessing to licensing agreements which is a shame as I rather fancied a Yamaha.

Which model Yamaha did you fancy?

If it's a TRBX304 or higher, look into Sire. Is Sire available to you?

 

[MCF]

Fender MIM PJ Mustang. Nice first bass. Decent Pickups. Marginal tuners. Short scale; you'll adapt immediately.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Squier Classic Vibes are probably your best bang for the buck in terms of classic designs to buy new. For ~$350 you get a whole lot of bass. I see some of the older CV's used in the ~$200 range on Reverb often enough that you probably wouldn't be waiting long to find one you like.

 

[Gasman]

I recommend buying used. I'm not sure why certain brands aren't "available" to you, but if you buy used then it's any brand you like assuming the seller ships international (and many do).

Otherwise, I'd recommend a Precision bass. Doesn't have to be Fender. But that design is the gold standard and will do just about anything you want.

 

[Lil Mo]

My favorite bass is a Fender Dimension - I love that the neck is compound radius going from 9 to 14 so it really allows me to go faster as I move up the neck. It is also asymmetrical as it is thicker on the bass string side and thinner tapered toward the treble side.... super comfy. It is not painted or glossed on the back - just really smooth Maple (the fretboard is rosewood). I also have a custom made Carvin LB70A that I had built with a very thin neck though now I dig chunkier necks too. My advice is to go to guitar center pick out some basses and close your eyes and have someone hand you a variety and with your eyes shut see what feels best in your hands. Start there. I have a Rick that I don't play a lot bc while I like the tone I really do not like the binding on the sides or the radius or where it joins to the body. I'm not a fan of shark tooth inlays on a bass. The binding keeps reminding me of a les Paul. Necks are very important in the choice of a bass. All this to say that the flatter the radius, the faster playing, but they come in all varieties. Trust people on here when they say to go for how it feels in your hands. (Ps- I have both 24 and 21 and 19 feet basses etc ) and that factors in as well. I have a collection of over 30 basses and I have numerous others I have sold for various reasons. I would be happy to talk to you about any of them pros and cons

 

[EmuBass]

I play bass and have a little guitar experience, too. If Ibanez Talman basses are easy to buy where you are, those are very good basses for the money, and there I no reason you couldn't start with one and play it for the rest of your life. It's a good passive bass for most styles of music. Whether you buy an inexpensive bass or an expensive one, it needs to be set up by someone who knows what their doing.

One thing that is more important with bass than with guitar, in my opinion, is getting an amp that's loud enough to make the bass sound good. I've heard a lot of 1-5 watt guitar amps that sound great, but almost no bass amps under 50 watts that even sound good. At home, I practice with a 1 watt tube amp for guitar and a 100 watt solid state bass amp, for example.

In my experience Talman is active. But I share your thoughts on the amps.

 

[StatesideRambler]

OP: It's too bad that so many here are not reading your posts before replying. Sorry for that.

I'm s complete beginner at bass but I have some six string guitar experience quite a few years ago. I've always wanted to learn bass and now have the opportunity being retired with time on my hands.

At the beginner stage you needn't sweat most of the differences in bass design. A P-neck vs. a J-neck will be noticeably different but neither is going to impede or accelerate your progress; solid body vs. hollow or semi-hollow will differ enough to notice but all of them will serve you well. Short-, medium- and long-scale are different enough that you'll probably feel the difference even as a beginner. As with the others, though, none is superior to the others and moving from one to another in the future will be difficult only if you make difficult.

Most of the barriers we face in life are of our own doing.

For your bass I recommend mid-priced (€250 - €550) Ibanez, Cort, Sire (if you can get it) or Washburn. For the amp, I like the Ibanez Promethean series. Most others I like are probably unavailable to you. Look for Traynor, G&K, Hartke and Trace Elliot. All good 'uns.

Good luck in your quest!

 

[LaklandLaksNADA]

If you have some guitar experience you wont want a POS bass. I'd get a used sire (400-600 range) and learn on a decent quality one. Can resell if you go used pretty easily if you need to down the line.​

 

[Thumb n Fingers]

I'm pushing Yamaha RBX-170Y these days as a great starter bass. Similar to a Sire, they are huge bang for your buck. And when I say starter, I mean in price point only. I happened into one quite by accident, and I find I'm equally as comfortable playing it out as some of the more expensive basses I own. Just a great tone and super fast neck. For less than $200 you get a bass that is at least the equal to many others in the $500 to $700 range.