Buying for beginners, looks might not be everything, but...

[TeaTime]

Does anyone buy a bass they think is ugly?

When I was young and foolish I bought a Rickenbacker bass, because everyone in my music environment (this was pre-HTML era kids!) insisted that they were the absolute best bass in the world. I personally thought they were the ugliest basses back then, and even today are still near the top of that list. On top of that the ergonomics did not work for me at all, and I hated the tone.

So yeah, I foolishly purchased a bass that I thought was ugly. I quickly replaced it. Happy ending though - after sitting in its case for 30 years basically unplayed I sold it at a price that made me happy, to a guy who got his dream bass at a price that he thought was a steal.

Also...buy the Reverend!

 

[Deleted member 271037]

An inexpensive bass with a good setup is worth twice as much as an expensive bass with a bad setup.

No matter what, have a good tech look at whatever you choose and plan to spend money on a setup.
I'd go for a sub $400 bass as a first bass.

Very good advice. Cheap basses are generally quite good these days but the factory setup of cheap/mid-priced basses (and some expensive ones too) is usually very poor. The best investment BY FAR that a beginner can make is a professional setup. Unfortunately most beginners don't know about this and many beginners also buy their first bass online from companies that couldn't care less about setting up instruments properly as long as the boxes keep moving out the doors.

 

[CallMeAl]

My first was an Ibanez SR. I went to the store and picked up all the basses. That one felt best in my hands. I guess I liked the looks too, but wasn't really a deciding factor. It was feel (and price!)

 

[themickster]

When I was young and foolish I bought a Rickenbacker bass, because everyone in my music environment (this was pre-HTML era kids!) insisted that they were the absolute best bass in the world. I personally thought they were the ugliest basses back then, and even today are still near the top of that list. On top of that the ergonomics did not work for me at all, and I hated the tone.

So yeah, I foolishly purchased a bass that I thought was ugly. I quickly replaced it. Happy ending though - after sitting in its case for 30 years basically unplayed I sold it at a price that made me happy, to a guy who got his dream bass at a price that he thought was a steal.

Also...buy the Reverend!

You proved me wrong. Good on you.

 

[jamro217]

This solely rests on the individual "beginner". A retired concert violinist who is just "beginning" is vastly different than a child's first musical encounter of any kind. I suggest viewing instruments as you would clothing: buy what fits you. A retired violinist may not choose a Glarry for a first instrument, and a child may not choose (and/or actually acquire) a Ritter. For people with smaller hands, short scale instruments may be more comfortable. Many players just starting out want an instrument identical to the one their bass heroes play. The black '72 Jazz with a maple neck and black blocks, for instance. Maybe a fretless sunburst Jazz sans pickguard. Or how about a Hofner? The problem there lies with the infinite number of copies and knockoffs that vary in quality from firewood to sublime. Even the same product from one manufacturer can be night and day. That's where the concept of "Pre-CBS Fender" commanding top dollar came from. Finding the right combination of looks, build quality, comfort and sound is a challenge we all face, not just beginners. I would strive to find the highest quality instrument for the lowest price in the preferred style. Using the method of what creates which tones (neck pickup only on a shortie like an EB-O isn't exactly a slapper's delight), which scale length, neck profile, weight, and finally the sound (which can be modified at a later date), a bass can be ordered a la carte to a player's preference at almost any price point. P basses alone come in thousands of combinations of neck sizes, colors, pickup choices and fret choices. And that's the plain vanilla of basses. The more extravagant the instrument, the more options you have, hence the more complicated the decision process of which is the right one for you. If this was easy, we'd all have just a couple of basses: a main and a backup. Now, menu please...

 

[Bass Motifs]

Assuming some budget limitations, I think playability is top of list for any instrument. Likely that the new start already has some bass-heroes, so they're gonna want something in that line. One of the entry level versions of that?

For our kids I'm conscious that: (a) they don't care what I think; (b) it has to be cool to them; (c) they'll soon want to upgrade; (d) they'll probably ding or even break something while learning to take care of it.

Randomly my first bass was a solid yamaha BB in black. Good neck etc. Got a Fender jazz bass six months later because of my own bass heroes.

 

[smatanovic]

I am a nooob and bought my first bass (a Squire Jbass) in March so that I could play with my daughter, who is a guitar player. I bought Squire based on the fender name, and since then I've bought a Sonic PBass and a Player PBass. I've been really happy with the playability of the squire instruments but I've also learned enough to appreciate the better materials of the MIM. I feel lucky that I have the means to do any of this, TBH, but I feel that, at around $200, the Sonic instruments gave me 75% of what I wanted (mostly the ability to make sounds that sounded like my idols + an instrument that looked cool). Everything else is luxury for me.

 

[Bass V]

good looks and ballsy tone are sexy, that's the hook. playability / feel are the clincher.
I had it all for $200 used (Epi 'Bird), then bought a newer / bigger / badder version (Epi Explorer).

 

[2thAche]

Whatever the bass is that is played by the person who inspires you. Or a P bass.

 

[Sid Fang]

You've already seen variations on this, but it's hard to go wrong with a Squier VM or CV series bass as a starter. They are of very good quality for the price and easy to sell for a minimal loss if you decide to move up or move on. And I say this as a guy who doesn't particularly like Fender style basses.

 

[Sid Fang]

And while it won't have the same resale value as a Squier, you might want to see if one of the newer Epiphone Embassy basses works for you. I've got one of the original "batwing" versions from the 60s and the set neck mahogany with T-bird pickups is a wonderful sound, but the balance is horrific. They lightened the headstock and lengthened the upper horn for the reissue and apparently it's a really sweet bass at a starter price - I haven't played one yet.

 

[Artman]

I have been playing bass intensively for over 13 years and started out on a Squier VMJazz.

Didn't know a Jazz from a P.

Lucked out that the Squier was a really nice and inspiring instrument to play, as I love Jazz basses.

Now that I have been through at least 12 or so basses since starting, I have found my "keepers and go-too's"

An American Fender J, Reverend, Sadowsky, and Schecter; I have really bonded with all of those upper scale price point instruments, until……….

I just purchased a Yamaha BB234, which is a lower line instrument, that I purchased exclusively to leave at my job, and am blown away how well made and playable it is.

With experience you get to know what you're looking for in an instrument. The look, feel, tone, neck shape, weight all come into play.

The Yamaha is extremely surprising how a good a $320 can be.

If all the others were not there, that BB would work just fine.

Sometime the price fools you.
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I don't know if Yamaha has ever made a bass that doesn't play well and sound good.
Those BB234s are great instruments in their own right. Low price or not.

 

[Artman]

There are a lot of great playing, good sounding basses available in the sub $600 range today.

Find a bass that isn't too heavy, balances well in your lap and on a strap, sound good to your ears, and doesn't look bad to your eyes.

You should be able find one like that for less than$600. Many for much less.

Set the extra money you save aside for one on one lessons from a pro bass player.

 

[HP Hovercraft]

As good as Reverend's are, their necks may not be the best for a beginner.

Why? What's the profile like? I'm interested in Reverends but mainly because I think they look cool. Never played one. A guitarist friend swears by them (and is an endorsee).

 

[GTHintz]

To anyone just starting out I'd invest in what you can afford. If its a 200$ used bass go for it. If you can invest 1000 get that. The main thing is getting something in your hands and getting lots of time to pluck on it and learn. We all had to start from nowhere. Level 0. Pick it up and get used to holding it and fretting some notes. Get a decent little combo amp or a preamp pedal with headphones and aux like the tc spectra drive or nux mld preamp. Thatll let you learn on headphones and teach you all about shaping eq knobs and give you an aux for playing along to music, drum tracks, etc. Plug your laptop or tablet into it and run learning software. Youll hit the ground running. As far as basses go just go with what you like the look and sound of with other people. You'll learn why basses sound like they do later. There's too many excellent starter basses to list and most won't cost more than $300. Learn how they adjust and how to tune them and you'll be well on your way.

 

[JimmyM]

I never regretted buying quality instruments, even if it wasnt the instrument what I ultimately ended up with. Key's and bass these days.

My Nash PB63 is what I consider quality, and to me worth the asking price easy.

Removing sub-par stuff from your learning experience (or life) is highly beneficial.

That's assuming the cheap stuff you buy is always subpar. It isn't. And the price you pay is no guarantee you'll get something that isn't subpar. That said, I played a Nash once that was pretty sweet. No knock against him.

 

[Prodigus Filius]

Does anyone buy a bass they think is ugly?

Of course they do he he

 

[Prodigus Filius]

I thing the number one thing is you don't want to do is buy an instrument nobody else is going to want when it's time to move on to other passions or a better instrument. If you try to "cheap" you way through this is much the same as throwing money down the drain. Buy quality, and consider buying used gear.

Cheap and quality are not necessarily mutually exclusive per se, but I can see reselling a big name brand may be easier regardless of the quality.

 

[rantbot]

Plus it's harder to find those pants in red and white !

If, along with the usual package of hex key wrenches, cheapo strap and cord, inappropriate pick and maybe a gig bag, manufacturers also included matching pants with new basses . . . if would revolutionize the industry.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Why? What's the profile like? I'm interested in Reverends but mainly because I think they look cool. Never played one. A guitarist friend swears by them (and is an endorsee).

I have a Reverend Decision and it's fantastic.

Different, but it was expensive. $1100

Just got a Yamaha BB234 a few weeks ago, and now want a BBP in my fleet.

The neck of the Reverend is sweet!