Short version: I feel uncomfortably uneducated when it comes to the vast number of options available for choosing a bass and understanding which style and options may best fit my personal needs and limitations. Would be very grateful for any help any of you can give! Looking for recommendations on a decent 5 string, $400 or less, not overly heavy, can accommodate what I feel is a narrower palm width though I'm 6 ft tall so neck length is not an issue. Playing modern country and rock. I'm going to go and try a bunch out and see what feels good, but any direction or advice would be very welcomed. I know very little about what brands have the best quality basses at that price point, things to look for, etc. I'd be happy to buy used as well, once I know what I'm looking for.
Extended version: I started playing bass again about a year ago when asked to help out a small town local country/rock cover band. My only other experience was playing electric bass in my high school jazz band 15-20 years ago. I always really loved the bass but my husband and I were married young and with having 4 kiddos and living life, playing bass was sadly lost in the mix. I didn't play bass in college and have never owned my own. I played the school's bass which I don't remember the brand, and my band teacher's various Carvin basses (he was a bass player as his primary instrument.). I remember the Carvin basses (a fretted and a frettless) playing great, but being VERY heavy. When I was asked to play in this band I picked up a $250 - $300 Dean Edge 2, 4 string at the local music store. I didn't really have time to look around or put a lot of thought into the decision unfortunately.
I do like my Dean and it plays pretty nice but not having anything to compare it to, I'm not sure if something else would better suit my personal needs. I do feel like my hand width is narrower which makes a 4 fret spread difficult in the lower positions. I'm 6 feet tall so the neck length feels comfortable otherwise. My husband plays guitar and it strikes me that even though he's shorter than me, his palm width is such that his fingers are straight when setting them on the neck over 4 frets vs my fingers flaring out quite a bit to reach that same spread. My bass playing band teacher's hand was the same and I remember being frustrated with how much easier it was for him to reach certain notes and play certain phrases. SO! Are there options I "need" to or can consider that might better accommodate what I feel is a narrower palm width? Or do my husband and former band teacher just have abnormally wide palms?
I feel like I end up "jumping" my hand around a bit more than I feel like I should...
And yes, I feel a bit begrudging about this purchase. I'm somewhat of a traditionalist who would be happy to play 4 string or ideally upright in a lot of the songs that we play, but the band is moving into much more modern country and even 5 minutes in the store this morning with the 5-string Dean Edge Pro ($700 so out of my price range), made it clear how much easier it would be to play some of the progressions the way I want to with the lower B-string in the mix.
I really appreciate any thoughts or recommendations! Thank you!
Extended version: I started playing bass again about a year ago when asked to help out a small town local country/rock cover band. My only other experience was playing electric bass in my high school jazz band 15-20 years ago. I always really loved the bass but my husband and I were married young and with having 4 kiddos and living life, playing bass was sadly lost in the mix. I didn't play bass in college and have never owned my own. I played the school's bass which I don't remember the brand, and my band teacher's various Carvin basses (he was a bass player as his primary instrument.). I remember the Carvin basses (a fretted and a frettless) playing great, but being VERY heavy. When I was asked to play in this band I picked up a $250 - $300 Dean Edge 2, 4 string at the local music store. I didn't really have time to look around or put a lot of thought into the decision unfortunately.
I do like my Dean and it plays pretty nice but not having anything to compare it to, I'm not sure if something else would better suit my personal needs. I do feel like my hand width is narrower which makes a 4 fret spread difficult in the lower positions. I'm 6 feet tall so the neck length feels comfortable otherwise. My husband plays guitar and it strikes me that even though he's shorter than me, his palm width is such that his fingers are straight when setting them on the neck over 4 frets vs my fingers flaring out quite a bit to reach that same spread. My bass playing band teacher's hand was the same and I remember being frustrated with how much easier it was for him to reach certain notes and play certain phrases. SO! Are there options I "need" to or can consider that might better accommodate what I feel is a narrower palm width? Or do my husband and former band teacher just have abnormally wide palms?
I feel like I end up "jumping" my hand around a bit more than I feel like I should...And yes, I feel a bit begrudging about this purchase. I'm somewhat of a traditionalist who would be happy to play 4 string or ideally upright in a lot of the songs that we play, but the band is moving into much more modern country and even 5 minutes in the store this morning with the 5-string Dean Edge Pro ($700 so out of my price range), made it clear how much easier it would be to play some of the progressions the way I want to with the lower B-string in the mix.
I really appreciate any thoughts or recommendations! Thank you!
