Another vote for Ibanez SR. You can find a used SR300 for less than $200 and they'll cover most any genre of music. They're a GREAT beginner/intermediate bass IMO and I always try to recommend them to people starting out.
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Choosing a new bass
- Thread starter CheekyViking
- Start date
The Affinity series can be either great or crap, at that budget quality and set-up can vary. The last one I played through, while it didn't sound the best with stock strings, I had a hard time putting down.
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
- 6,942
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- Endorsing Artist: Langstrom Carrot Farms
I've been enjoying bass lessons and I want to get a new bass to jam with my friends and just chill with at home.
I've been looking at three bassguitars in particular:
The Squier affinity Jazz bass
Yamaha TRBX174
Squier vintage modified
I'd hope to get some insight as to why and if there are any special things to note about these bassguitars
When you say you've "been looking" at them, have you played any of them? Are you satisfied with how they feel? How they sound?
If you haven't actually played any of them, then I suggest you go to a store and try them out (if possible).
Another vote for suggesting you try the Ibanez SR300s.
I have a Yamaha TRBX505 and it's really a nice bass and one of the best 5 string in my sub $800 budget. The tuners are good and it never goes out of tune. The TRBX505 (and 4 string TRBX 504) has active/passive electronic. I run passive most of the time for vintage sound and get a nice P tone, active sound more modern and can get close to a MM. I know it's a bit higher in your budget but highly recommended, way better than Squire Affinity and VM I tried.
I will also suggest an Ibanez SR series if you prefer smaller neck and more modern sound.
I will also suggest an Ibanez SR series if you prefer smaller neck and more modern sound.
I vote Squier VM. The Affinity is one of those inexpensive things where you might not even get what you pay for: you get less.
The Yamaha is probably good for the price but is also in the starter bass range and likely to end up leaving wishing for more eventually.
The Yamaha is probably good for the price but is also in the starter bass range and likely to end up leaving wishing for more eventually.
There are lots of nice low cost options. If you have access to any music stores go try a few and see what feels right. Then see what appeals to your ear. There is quite a bit of difference in the feel of a P neck, a Jazz neck, an Ibby neck, etc. Also strap up and check for balance. A neck heavy bass can be pretty annoying. For a reasonable price you can get very functional basses these days. So decide what your priorities are. Feel, balance, sound, budget and identify what works. If you have an experienced bud to help maybe you can buy used. You can get more bass for your buck.
I have an affinity P-bass and a VM Jazz (fretless). The P-bass is ok, I got it for $50 with HSC so it was my learn everything about how a bass works bass. The pickups were basically garbage and put in some quarter pounders and replaced the pots because i said i wanted to learn how to rewire and solder ect. I also learned that those affinity Pbass cavities are very small and had to do some routing to fit high quality pots. The frets were a little uneven so i learned how to level and do minor fret work. I also replaced the bridge. In the end i learned 1) you can make a $50 guitar sound like a $500 if you spend an extra $150 bucks in parts and lots of time on youtube and on the bench.
For the VM i also replaced the pickups to barts, rewired it and put it the vintage black knobs (those are much better looking IMHO). And it sounds great. Love it, the neck and ebinol fretboard are sweet. FYI the new VM freless basses have thicker necks (bad), and different pickups (not much different).
I want to get rid of the Pbass as soon as possible but the VM is not going anywhere, I dont even want another fretless.
For the VM i also replaced the pickups to barts, rewired it and put it the vintage black knobs (those are much better looking IMHO). And it sounds great. Love it, the neck and ebinol fretboard are sweet. FYI the new VM freless basses have thicker necks (bad), and different pickups (not much different).
I want to get rid of the Pbass as soon as possible but the VM is not going anywhere, I dont even want another fretless.
Jazz basses will have a brighter sound. They get a variety of sounds from throaty to nasally, growly to somewhat punchy. They work well for small band situations (like one guitarist, one bassist, one drummer, that's it) where you're playing out front as a bassist, or for funky stuff, like slap bass, etc. They can be played in any style of music, but they're particularly good at what I mentioned. They're probably a bit more versatile than a P-bass in terms of what you can cover, but a P-bass does some other things better.
Precision basses are warmer, and punchier than Jazz basses. They tend to accompany bands well and lay down a good bass sound even if there are a lot of musicians in the band competing to be heard. They can sound warm or thumpy as well, so they work for motown stuff or blues. A lot of rock or punk players would favor these, but they work for music like soul, RnB, Western, etc. too.
Jazz basses have narrower necks that are easier to fret on for some people. Others really prefer the thicker Precision style necks. It just depends on what's comfortable for your hands. Beginners might think a Jazz neck is easier but if you start on a Precision neck you might find it easier to adjust later. I like both really, they have a different feel.
For most people, if they play either neck style enough they will get used to it. There are some people with large or small hands that seem to prefer one or the other neck though for comfort reasons.
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Squier Vintage Modified. Jazz or Precision. You won't be sorry. I favor the P for the thick satisfying tone and response.
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I have a squier vm five string p bass. It's quite nice sounding and no problems with finish or anything.
our drummer has a squier affinity p bass. I gave it a full setup plus new strings. It plays fine but the tone is lacking compared to my vintage modified and my jazz bass with aguilar pickups.
our drummer has a squier affinity p bass. I gave it a full setup plus new strings. It plays fine but the tone is lacking compared to my vintage modified and my jazz bass with aguilar pickups.
I'd go with whatever you can find a great deal on used, that you also think looks cool and plays nice. I think the looks thing is more important than some, mostly because if the bass looks great on its stand, you're much more likely to reach for it to practise on a whim. Plus, basses look cool. Why not get one you like?
Beyond that, I think you should just get the best one you can afford used, with an eye on resale. If you're starting out, it's likely that what you think you want will change over time, as your technique improves, and you start to have a better understanding of what you want out of an instrument. I started off thinking I needed the thinnest neck possible because I thought it would be easier to play. Then, a couple years in, I played a P, and instantly fell in love with the fatter neck, so switched exclusively to P necks for a while. Now, I find I'm comfortable on both standard Fender sizes, but don't like the really skinny Ibanez style necks (or, more specifically, don't like the narrow string spacing). My preferences have evolved with my ability, and it's likely yours will do the same. So get a great deal used, and that way you're free to sell it and at least break even when something new catches your eye...
Beyond that, I think you should just get the best one you can afford used, with an eye on resale. If you're starting out, it's likely that what you think you want will change over time, as your technique improves, and you start to have a better understanding of what you want out of an instrument. I started off thinking I needed the thinnest neck possible because I thought it would be easier to play. Then, a couple years in, I played a P, and instantly fell in love with the fatter neck, so switched exclusively to P necks for a while. Now, I find I'm comfortable on both standard Fender sizes, but don't like the really skinny Ibanez style necks (or, more specifically, don't like the narrow string spacing). My preferences have evolved with my ability, and it's likely yours will do the same. So get a great deal used, and that way you're free to sell it and at least break even when something new catches your eye...
