I want to learn to play songs by Earth Wind & Fire, Kool and the Gang, New edition, Luther Vandross, and smoot pop songs such as Masayuki Suzuki- Daddy Daddy Do. But i also am interested with playing songs by metallica and megadeth since I have a guitar and have learned to play heavy metal on my guitar for a couple years. Im new to bass but mainly want to learn to play soul music on the bass. I dont know what bass to go with as there is alot of information I still dont know. All i know is ive played and stuck by Ibanez with all of my guitars but I want to get the right bass for the music I want to play. Im willing to spend 650 on a bass I will keep for years. Quality over anything. Any help i appreciated.
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I recommend Jackson basses. They have entry level basses that are much better than most cheap beginner models, and of course, they make higher priced models, with all the bells and whistles. The Spectra Bass models have a thinner neck like a Jazz Bass & the Concert Bass have a wider neck more like a Precision Bass. I really don’t understand why more people on TalkBass don’t talk about them very much.
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Thank you for responding so quickly. You wouldn't recommend a 5 string string bass? if not why? also the price is lower then i expected, is there a reason you would recommend something more expensive?
Check out their website. They make 5 strings too. A lot of metal players endorse them. Generally speaking, the higher priced ones will have more and different choices for the electronics, and for different & more expensive woods & finishes. Most models have a choice of PJ pickups or Humbuckers available in each line.
I am a guitarist also, and I love the feel of all of Jackson’s necks.
I played the electric guitar for about 15 years when I started playing bass. Bought a used Fender Jazz Bass (Mexico) and was very pleased with it. It does the soul and funk think very well as they are known for their slap tone. Also Jason Newsted and Rob Trujillo are known for playing Jazz style basses. So my recommendation would be a Fender Player Jazz or a Vintera Jazz.
Here are a couple more nice looking Jackson 5 string basses. Jackson’s are quality made, and reliable. Most importantly they have fast great necks.
Active pickups give you more sound choices, but most older funk like you are wanting to learn, was probably played on older basses with passive pickups. Both choices would be fine, but a lot of the Jackson’s have a bypass switch that gives you the option of using them as active or passive on the same guitar.
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G&L Kiloton Tribute.
Sure, plenty of good $300 basses around these days, but with something better, like this, you won't find it necessary to upgrade half a year from now.
Yes, it sounds even better than it looks and it will work for all genres.
Thousands of players here will tell you it’s not needed, and thousands will tell you that you just have to have it. Nearly all of the old funk and r&b you want to learn, was done on a 4 string. There were very few 5 strings before the ‘90s. A lot of new metal music uses them, however. Probably the most important thing to consider is the neck width of a 5’er. Try some in person if you can.
Plenty of good choices especially if you go 'Mint' used.
Ibanez SR Premium 1200 or 1300 are great basses for multiple genre tone but will cost you about 1k used.
Yamaha PJ BB734/5, SBMM Stingray34/5 H OR HH both are active may give you enough flexibility with heavy stuff.
Many good Fenders in your range P, Jazz, P/J; active or passive and great recreations from other manufactures will get you the Soul, R/B etc. may or not need a pedal for Metal stuff depending on amp eq abilities.
Ibanez SR Premium 1200 or 1300 are great basses for multiple genre tone but will cost you about 1k used.
Yamaha PJ BB734/5, SBMM Stingray34/5 H OR HH both are active may give you enough flexibility with heavy stuff.
Many good Fenders in your range P, Jazz, P/J; active or passive and great recreations from other manufactures will get you the Soul, R/B etc. may or not need a pedal for Metal stuff depending on amp eq abilities.
You will probably be better off with a 5-string since a lot of newer pop music uses below E notes. You can find a used Carvin 5-string (LB75) in your price range with Jazz-style pickups that will give you the sound that will fit in with the music that you want to play. Carvins are great basses that are built as well as basses costing much more, but their resale value has historically been bad so you can pick up a great instrument for a fraction of the original price.
I have a LB75F fretless that I bought new in 1992 that I wouldn't part with.
Rick B.
I have a LB75F fretless that I bought new in 1992 that I wouldn't part with.
Rick B.
5 string basses are much more practical if you play places with big, very capable PA's. If you're going to play through an amp, bass amps aren't designed to reproduce the notes on the B string (they actually don't do all that well on the lowest notes on a 4 string). So, if I were to be gigging with an amp (I do some gigs like this), I ring a 4.
I play mostly ampless gigs, where the PA's are quite capable, so if the music calls for it, I'll bring a 5. Recently, however, we've been doing virtual stuff, where the speaker that's playing my bass is someone's home speaker attached to their computer. I've been playing mostly 4's - no point in playing notes that won't be heard.
I go back and forth between bass and guitar. I prefer a short scale bass as a 30" scale length doesn't seem that much further than a Strat, which is my preferred 6 string.
JeezyMcNuggles
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Talman. Most expensive one you can afford. I have a 600. They don't make them anymore. They replaced them with the 500s (or 550. Can't remember.). But, its the same bass just different wood and no blocks and binding. But, mines a straight funk machine bro. 600 bucks.
I hate to be that guy, but somebody's gotta do it: Buy a Fender Precision. There are good reasons why at least half of us use them
JeezyMcNuggles
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4 string Fender Jazz. It’s pretty straight forward.
5 strings not needed, active not needed (the music you mention was largely recorded on passive 4 string Basses).
However, if you want a 5 string, go ahead and get one. Same with active electronics, same with other makes and models - as you said, there are a lot of choices out there, so get something that apppeals to you. If you want an Ibanez, well, Ibanez has a lot of models and surely makes one you’ll like — and their quality is in general good so it’d be hard to go too wrong with an Ibanez quality-wise.
Ask again about specific makes and models once you start to narrow down your choices.
Welcome to bassin’!
5 strings not needed, active not needed (the music you mention was largely recorded on passive 4 string Basses).
However, if you want a 5 string, go ahead and get one. Same with active electronics, same with other makes and models - as you said, there are a lot of choices out there, so get something that apppeals to you. If you want an Ibanez, well, Ibanez has a lot of models and surely makes one you’ll like — and their quality is in general good so it’d be hard to go too wrong with an Ibanez quality-wise.
Ask again about specific makes and models once you start to narrow down your choices.
Welcome to bassin’!
