complete bass noob question about potential first bass

[JACink]

Id recommend a Squire over an SX any day of the week, particularly from the Classic Vibe or Vintage Modified series (the affinity series is junk IMO).

Doesn't quite line up with:

So the thing is I want to start learning bass and my budget is super low atm, a friend suggested I should check SX Basses, they're super affordable and have decent reviews in most sites that I visited. Some people say that I should invest in a better bass to keep me from losing motivation but all I can afford right now is something around this budget + giving it a setup if need be.

 

[el murdoque]

+1 for the thomann suggestion.
If you're shopping at the lowest end of the pricerange, the quality control is not as good as it is with less affordable instruments. It's always good to have a return policy then.
A friend of mine once bought a bundle with a Harley Benton bass and combo for €200. I was quite surprised with how good that stuff was. Not in the least bit great. But the bass was playable, the setup was ok and the intonation was good. The amp was nothing you could use with a drummer, but i played an acoustic session with that stuff and actually had fun.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Another consideration. Pawn shops tend to be full of Squiers, which can be very decent instruments. I would not buy one without bringing someone who knows more than you to make sure things are OK, but I have seen them for under $100.

When it comes to instruments, I would not buy something without trying it out in person if possible.

Just some thoughts.

 

[nerkoids]

Hi guys, just joined this forum looking for some basic knowledge pretty much.

So the thing is I want to start learning bass and my budget is super low atm, a friend suggested I should check SX Basses, they're super affordable and have decent reviews in most sites that I visited. Some people say that I should invest in a better bass to keep me from losing motivation but all I can afford right now is something around this budget + giving it a setup if need be.

I found this bass which I believe it's a SX Vintage P/J 62

which I can afford but I really like that punchy tone of P basses so I was wondering if you lose that P-Bass sound by adding the J pickup? And would this be a good first bass?

Any tips besides the main questions are also appreciated

If you can get that particular bass, you most likely will be fine.

I believe these SX basses, unlike the ones sold in North America, are sold in Spain, so it should be relatively easy.

The only thing I would change on this bass would be the string tree -- the one that comes with grooves on these cheap basses have a nasty habit of messing up the silks and possibly snapping a few D or G strings. I'd replace it with a Fender or Gotoh branded string trees (or something that doesn't have grooves).

 

[electracoyote]

As a teacher, I've had a lot of SX basses pass through my hands.

They are a great choice for a beginner on a budget.

When I wanted to develop my fretless chops on a budget, my first fretless bass was an SX.

Lots of experienced players here on TB have a big collection of SX's. They deliver iconic P and J tones, and you won't outgrow it quickly. The main thing at this point is a reliable bass, set up to be a good player, and you hunkering down over it and building your chops and knowledge. You can do that with an SX just fine.

 

[primusfan1989]

Doesn't quite line up with:

Let me clarify, I have no love for SX basses, their low cost is enticing however any time Ive had one in my hands Im always incredibly dissatisfied with their quality, particularly the fret dressing (which is almost non existent), so you can buy a SX for $150 and pay to have fret work done (set up+fret work between $60-100 depending on who's doing it) or buy a squire for $250 and most of them are pretty good to go. $250 is going to be spent on the bass no matter how you spend it...

 

[DrummerwStrings]

self making the set up is out of question, I'm a complete noob and want a proper job at least for the first bass, after that I'm willing to learn how to do it by myself

I did the same thing. Chunger kicked off a huge 2-part thread when he bought a bunch of SX basses to setup & modify for young bassists & school music programs. What I found valuable was the photographs, the step-by-step descriptions, and the apples-to-apples comparisons between the same model. Just read the first 5 pages or so to get a good idea of setting up a bass - I don't want to dump 60+ pages at your feet:

basses for newbies (SX batch build thread)

At one point he compares a Squier with some SX basses, I think it's here:

basses for newbies (SX batch build thread)

Check the forums here & YouTube for setups in general, but you probably knew that.

 

[JACink]

Let me clarify, I have no love for SX basses, their low cost is enticing however any time Ive had one in my hands Im always incredibly dissatisfied with their quality, particularly the fret dressing (which is almost non existent), so you can buy a SX for $150 and pay to have fret work done (set up+fret work between $60-100 depending on who's doing it) or buy a squire for $250 and most of them are pretty good to go. $250 is going to be spent on the bass no matter how you spend it...

I am not disputing whether Squire or SX are better than each other, as I have never played an SX and my favourite bass out of the ones I own is a Squier VM Jaguar (admittedly with DiMarzio's and flats).

The point that I am making is that the OP is in Portugal, where (if anything like Spain which is "just over the hill") used basses (or anything else) are not easily found and are usually priced at around 80% of the new cost (yes, it is that bad!). That only leaves new. Looking at the prices of new basses, some of the best deals are found on Thomann. At this moment, the cheapest Squier VM precision model is 375€ ($415). An Affinity P/J is 239€ ($260). However, you can get a Harley Benton P bass for as little as 88€ ($95).

Again, this is not a "this is better than that" comparison, but 90% of the Harley Benton basses are pretty decent and would be more than a match for 90% of Affinitys (maybe even some VM and CV). It is true that the majority need a decent setup and new strings, so add another 50€ ($55) and for a total of $150 the OP has a bass that is more than adecuate for someone wanting to learn on a a very tight budget.

And if the OP should get one of the 10% that are not decent, or simply decides he doesn't like it, he can return it within 15 days (for another or just cash back) and Thomann even cover shipping.

Over here, where decent music stores are very few and far apart (I wish we had a chain of Guitar Centers, no matter how much some people hate them), online and unseen is where the majority of purchases happen (especially in these sorts of budgets).

 

[Jonathan Eliot]

My experience is limited - I started playing in January - but I can say that I am quite happy with my SX Ursa 1 which I bought new from Rondo. It stays in tune and sounds good through a Fender Rumble 40 and through pretty cheap headphones (my main practice time is when my son is napping)!

 

[Gaolee]

wasn't expecting this much feedback thanks guys you rock i'll definitely look into all the basses and sites mentioned

and just for the sake of more information here's the deal

I'm saving up for my drivers license/car, hence the small budget for the bass but I'm pretty committed to learn it, I don't think a cheaper bass will throw me off, I will have more money to throw around at the end of the summer but I just can't wait to get one even if it's cheap and has no resell value maybe it's dumb but I'm too eager to wait ... I still have my first classical guitar which was like 30€ at the supermarket about 7 years ago, I kind of get attached to new stuff even if it's cheap it's always the start of something
My brother also used to play bass and he moved to England leaving his amp and speaker behind which is perfect for a poor pleb like me, he had a cheap yamaha that got a set up and sounded pretty great, he always told me that a 200€ instrument could sound like a million bucks in the right hands so having a cheap bass was no reason to quit which also motivated me (even tho I was more into guitar at that time) seeing him practice so many hours with a "crappy" bass/amp was inspiring.

I never had lessons or followed daily exercises while playing the guitar, I would just sit in front of the computer and learn random things for fun, nothing too serious but I think it's about time I really learn an instrument and I've always had a secret crush on basses so I'm going for it

edit: self making the set up is out of question, I'm a complete noob and want a proper job at least for the first bass, after that I'm willing to learn how to do it by myself
and about squiers, even a used affinity series which I hear are not worth it at all is about the same price as this SX new or maybe I'm not digging hard enough (?) the sx would be a total of 159€ (around 138 pounds / 170 usd)
anyway I'll keep searching, only get paid at the end of the month either way

Your brother is right. A virtuoso will sound great on a pile of junk. The rest of us need all the help we can get. But, the inverse is also true. If you are just starting out, you will have a learning curve. To be good, you must first suck. And eventually you will be good if you keep at it.

Is there a reason you can't look for a used bass? I don't know what's available or not in Portugal or in your part of Portugal. You may be able to get a sorted, set-up bass for less money than you would spend on buying one and getting it set up and sorted if you find a decent used one. [edit] Just saw the other post that says used may not be an option. Ah, well, so much for that advice. [/edit]

And congratulations on discovering truth - all instruments wish they could grow up to become a bass.

 

[Abra]

Your brother is right. A virtuoso will sound great on a pile of junk. The rest of us need all the help we can get. But, the inverse is also true. If you are just starting out, you will have a learning curve. To be good, you must first suck. And eventually you will be good if you keep at it.

Is there a reason you can't look for a used bass? I don't know what's available or not in Portugal or in your part of Portugal. You may be able to get a sorted, set-up bass for less money than you would spend on buying one and getting it set up and sorted if you find a decent used one. [edit] Just saw the other post that says used may not be an option. Ah, well, so much for that advice. [/edit]

And congratulations on discovering truth - all instruments wish they could grow up to become a bass.

it's pretty hard finding used stuff because most of the time even if it's a great deal, the shipping prices are huge! I may be lucky and find a good deal in Portugal but it's not that likely. I'm constantly looking tho so who knows

 

[Abra]

My experience is limited - I started playing in January - but I can say that I am quite happy with my SX Ursa 1 which I bought new from Rondo. It stays in tune and sounds good through a Fender Rumble 40 and through pretty cheap headphones (my main practice time is when my son is napping)!

awesome, did it play well out of the box or was it a lemon?

also does anyone have any experience purchasing from muziker?

 

[Phildevoid]

Welcome to TB and you have come to a good place for info. I have played the Rondo SX series and for the money, it is a good bass. Someone already gave the sage advice of getting it setup and put new strings on. I will say that the Squire basses are amazing for the money. I played a few that sounded real close to my expensive American Jazz, if not better.

 

[Gaolee]

it's pretty hard finding used stuff because most of the time even if it's a great deal, the shipping prices are huge! I may be lucky and find a good deal in Portugal but it's not that likely. I'm constantly looking tho so who knows

Best of luck to you. Sometimes we forget how lucky we are in the US. Don't forget to post pictures and boast about it when you find your bass.

 

[madbass6]

Hi guys, just joined this forum looking for some basic knowledge pretty much.

So the thing is I want to start learning bass and my budget is super low atm, a friend suggested I should check SX Basses, they're super affordable and have decent reviews in most sites that I visited. Some people say that I should invest in a better bass to keep me from losing motivation but all I can afford right now is something around this budget + giving it a setup if need be.

I found this bass which I believe it's a SX Vintage P/J 62

which I can afford but I really like that punchy tone of P basses so I was wondering if you lose that P-Bass sound by adding the J pickup? And would this be a good first bass?

Any tips besides the main questions are also appreciated

That will work out Just fine for a first bass! after you feel ready to play outside your basement walls/room or garrage then worry about investing in something better! Go for it!!

 

[Abra]

Great news!

So I just talked to the website support guy where I found the SX bass (portuguese site) and asked a few questions just to feel safer since I wasn't going to be able to play the bass before buying it and he told me that they can do the setup for free, and if there's still something wrong with it I can trade or get my money back with no problem, all shipping costs are on him I wouldn't have to move a finger

So all in all it's 159€ for a brand new SX already setup, with the option of returning it (free shipping) if I don't like it... This is perfect for my situation

I'll still be on the lookout for other good deals that may pop up but at least the "shot in the dark" part is over with this one

 

[JACink]

Great news!

So I just talked to the website support guy where I found the SX bass (portuguese site) and asked a few questions just to feel safer since I wasn't going to be able to play the bass before buying it and he told me that they can do the setup for free, and if there's still something wrong with it I can trade or get my money back with no problem, all shipping costs are on him I wouldn't have to move a finger

So all in all it's 159€ for a brand new SX already setup, with the option of returning it (free shipping) if I don't like it... This is perfect for my situation

I'll still be on the lookout for other good deals that may pop up but at least the "shot in the dark" part is over with this one

Good news

What model SX is it?

 

[Abra]

Good news

What model SX is it?

in the description it says this
SX Vintage Precision Bass 62 Black:
Electric bassguitar Vintage Precision 62 series. Colour: Black. Traditional retro styled 3-piece body made of solid alder. Great sound perfect for rock, jazz, blues and country! Maple neck with rosewood fretboard, 20 frets, and dot inlays. 2x single coil pickups.

 

[BassChuck]

Some people say that I should invest in a better bass to keep me from losing motivation.......
And would this be a good first bass?

If the 'quality' of the bass is the basis of your motivation, you've got some thinking to do before you lay down any cash.

If the neck is straight, the bass can be set up (bridge is adjustable and tuners move) and the electronics work (no static knobs turn) then it will function as a good first bass. Learn to play some things, get with other musicians, see what if feels like to play music. Then you're ready for another purchase.... if you need it.

 

[JGbassman]

That bass will do fine and you will enjoy it. I wouldn't worry about upgrading anything except for buying a better set of strings for it. When you get the bass, if you aren't happy with the sound, buying a better set of strings will probably make all of the difference.

Good luck and welcome to talk bass!