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First Bass for Adult ??

#41
I don't necessarily support "spend very little on the amp" or similar words.

You need something with a decent speaker in it. Its true, you don't need a lot of watts, but you need a decent speaker. a lot of those cheap combos have speakers in them that can barely handle a 4-string bass---they really shouldn't be sold. Ask for real, specific suggestions on combo amps or budget cabs that actually sound good. Don't just go by any budget amp.

My first amp was a combo amp made by Orange with a 12-inch speaker. I got it because pros use Orange and a couple of people (not here) suggested them to me. Also, it was pretty expensive, like almost $300 for a 25w solid state combo amp so I thought it must be good.

It was awful. Just a bunch of boomy mid-bass.

I quickly realized how bad it was and replaced it with a budget head and budget cab that had good feedback here for sounding like something a big boy would use. I used that setup for a long time. I really liked the way it sounded in my house. It wasn't something to regularly play out with, as the speaker didn't have the spine for it, but I did use it a couple of times in smaller settings and it was fine for the experience. the cab was the B115 by "Acoustic". I got it shortly after that brand resurrected. If the cabs are still the same, I recommend it. It also made a great TV stand for my 32-inch bedroom LCD ;)
 
#42
Go used for both. The advise from others on a Squire VM is good, but you can land one of these for under $200 used rather than buying new, leaving you a little more for an amp. Again, used makes sense allowing you to get a slightly more powerful model that if you did want to have some fun in the garage with a guitar and/or drums, you're not drowned out.

That said, if you can find a Fender B-DEC on the used market for under $200, grab it. It's an extremely good learning tool with built in drum machine, full midi songs, lessons, various amp models and effects... it's only good for solo practice, but will really help you get you technique and timing going.

In both cases, if for whatever reason you don't have time or realize it's not for you, you can flip the gear for the same as you paid for it - or close. Selling used gear you bought new will result in a loss of 30-60% or so of original value, most of the time.
 
#43
Starting out is a bear. Your fingers ache, you get frustrated every 2 minutes, so what you want is an inspiring sound that will keep your fingers to the grindstone, so to speak. And that means buying used, whether GC used, eBay, or craigslist. Get the most experienced bass player you know to help you pick out your gear. And take into account ALL your physical limitations. If you can't play a full-scale Jazz, there are reduced-scale copies. Even if you save only $40 (don't forget to add the shipping and, if dealing with a business without a presence in your state, savings on sales tax), that's $40 you can put in an amp. Be on the lookout for a tuner, a metronome, a music stand, and instructional materials that friends aren't using that you might be able to get free, or buy used for a song. If you have a $400 total budget and some patience, get a sniping program and watch eBay for a couple of weeks to get the feel of things. Get some practice asking questions and learn to ask the right ones. If the strings are dead on a used bass and you need to replace them, that's another expense. Go back and search completed items to see what they went for. Get to know which Jazz copies are good and which bad. Talk a lot. Read this forum, also BGRA and Harmony Central. Obsess. At the same time, scope out the amps. You can get some rigs dirt cheap. If you *have* to buy new, you'll want a new amp instead of a new bass. There are many well-priced recent 100-200w 115T combos. You want a 15 and a tweeter. You can also put together some great combinations of heads and cabs, particularly older used ones, but you'll need help. TAKE YOUR TIME and have a blast looking!
 
#44
I have to agree with most people on here. Squier or Ibanez. My first bass was a Ibanez Gio with two knobs and 4 strings and no other identifying marks. I received it USED as a birthday present from my then-girlfriend. I played it for about about 5 years before getting a better one. In my experience, Ibanez has been the most versatile bass around, especially the cheaper ones. And using those two knobs (tone/volume) and a mediocre Behringer Bass Amp I was able to get the tone I needed.

The best advice a Guitar Center salesman ever gave me was "It's not the bass that matters, it's how the player plays it" and he promptly sat down and made a $179 budget bass sound better than the $1299 bass I was toying with.
 
#46
I took up bass around '05-'06 because our band needed a bassist. I was making the swith, and because I wasn't sure how long I was going to be playing I just borrowed a bass so to learn on. When the time came to play shows I spent about $300-$400 on a used MIM Fender Precision Bass and about $350 on a 50W Crate combo amp. I still use that amp to practice on, and if you end up playing shows, most places mic your amp, run you DI through the PA, or the place would be too small to mic up anyway. For gigging, I use an Ampeg SVT 610HLF and a Behringer BX4500H. I would definitely not invest that much in the beginning stages of learning to play. I would suggest borrowing a bass to learn technical things until you have decided on what feels good and what style you want to play. Just like most of the other guys said, you can craft your sound when you decide what you'd like and invest in it then. In all honesty, until you become a brilliant bassist, it's really about what looks cool, and then what feels good. Just my humble opinion.
 
#47
It is amazing nowadays what an 'entry level' bass is like. You will do fine with any of the suggestions given, the most important is a good setup. I wouldn't hesitate to buy used from a (fairly long term) member here, 'cause he (or she) will have a rep to maintain. I am partial to Fender products, I have 2 Precisions, a Jazz and an Affinity Squier Jazz, and they all are awesome. I have played a lot of Squiers in the local stores and have yet to find one that I would hesitate to buy at the price offered. Welcome and have fun!

P.S.- Books and teachers are great but NOTHING substitutes for holding it in your hands...A LOT! Make low sounds...good sounds...some bad sounds...but PLAY IT!
 
#48
lucas vigor said:
What, no SX love anymore?

(Oh, I forgot....those are only used by pros these days)



But seriously, this is the one time I would definitely suggest looking at the SX....you cannot beat the price, and if you decide you don't like playing bass, you are only out 129 bucks.
Click to expand...

I cannot recommend SX to a first timer. I've bought two and both went back. Its my impression that many of them are not worthy for play---out of the box. They can make great project basses,especially if you get one with no physical issues, and its true that SOME of them exhibit remarkable quality---for the price, but I would never tell a brand new beginner to get one.
 
#49
Ask lots of questions here on Talkbass - you'll get a wide variety of opinions over some topics, but that's good as they'll mostly be coming from players who know what they're talking about, even if they disagree. Variety of opinions can be confusing, but very, very valuable and instructive.

I "plus 1" the Squier CV/VM route, either J or P, and for amps recommend pretty much anything by Peavey or Traynor/Yorkville, regardless of age, so long as it's in decent shape. They're almost always a great value used or new. I'm not a fan of the 25w amps, personally - for around the same dough you can get 100 watts if you don't mind a 15 year old amp, and there's no reason to avoid an old Peavey or Traynor. They're built like tanks and sound great. I still have my old 40w Traynor combo bought new in 1986, and it has been used A LOT and in many styles, always with drummers on acoustic kits, and it still works flawlessly though I don't use it at all these days. It's worthless to sell, I might get $50 for it due to its age versus maybe $150-200 if it were new, so I'll keep it, but bear that in mind if you see any oldies out there. They can be a bargain.

Buying used stuff on Talkbass classifieds is pretty safe, in my experience. Cruise the classifieds here, even if you don't buy here, to get a sense of value and what's available. Again, ask lots of questions and don't be shy. People here tend to be very helpful unless you're trolling.
 
#50
In my view, there is no better value (new):

1. G&L Tribute Series (check out the JB-2 since you're thinking Geddy Lee.
2. Ibanez Soundgear stuff in that price range. BUT, get a bass made out of real wood...not agathis or a composite or something. Make sure it's alder or ash wood or something good.
3. Yamaha makes very good basses for the money in that price range. I would even put them at the top of the list perhaps.

Yes, used is always a better option unless you don't know how to properly check out a bass to make sure you're not buying someone else's broken bass.

As for amp, I'm down on most brands (new or used) lately so I won't comment.

LL
 
#51
Welcome to the best place to learn about bass.

I started out on bass and drums during Richard Nixon's first term as president. I ended up becoming a serious drummer and I let the bass slide for a loooong time. I bought a used Jackson JS 40 to get back into bass a few years ago. I gave that away to a niece that wanted to play. I've through a few basses and amps already. I'm now a real bassist and own a few basses. One of which is an older American made Peavey, another is a Squire VM. Both are very good basses, and although I own other more expensive cooler basses, these aren't going anywhere.

Squire, Ibanez or older American Peavey are my recomendations. (I like Schecters too and I don't think that they have been mentioned yet.)

Get a setup.

A small practice amp is okay to learn on in my opinion although I didn't go that way. I'd definitely pick up the small bass amp off of craigslist if you can. If you pay $50 to $75 for it used, you'll be able to resell it for the same when you want something bigger, louder and cooler.

I help to run a drum forum when I'm not here. I knew the value of a good forum. When I started getting back into bass I looked for a good bass forum and landed here. The information that I've gotten from TB has been invaluable.

Hang around, jump in and ask questions. Your Talkbass brothers and sisters are happy to help.

Have fun.
 
#52
Toptube said:
I cannot recommend SX to a first timer. I've bought two and both went back. Its my impression that many of them are not worthy for play---out of the box. They can make great project basses,especially if you get one with no physical issues, and its true that SOME of them exhibit remarkable quality---for the price, but I would never tell a brand new beginner to get one.
Click to expand...

:)


Ha!
 
#53
There are nice basses new from Ibanez, Esp Ltd, Jackson, and couple others in the $300=$400 range. Even more stuff used.

For combo amp nothing less then ten inch speaker one. Used Peavey, Acoustic, as two nice low cost choices which used would be quite inexpensive.
 
#54
Hi, I am 42 and, after many years of not playing, picked up the bass my father bought me when I was 15 and decided to relearn and make music. It is a Fender Squire P Bass. I had a BadAss bridge put on when I was 17. There are scuffs all over it. There's a ding in the neck. The nut broke and was repaired, but you can see where the local music shop filled in the crack. All stuff I did when I was a teenager. You know what? It sounds and plays great. The Squire has held up great over the years. And, remember, it's not the wand, it's the magician....Good luck and have fun.
 
#55
Get a tuner. You'll be 10 years ahead of the game.

Used Yamahas are a bargin. For three hundred bucks you can find a pro quality bass that will last your life time. US Peavey Cirruses go for 5 to 7 hundred bucks used and this bass will do everything you need.
 
#58
The worst place for a starting bass player to buy a first bass is online IMO. Even here on TB. Nobody ships for free. It can be figured into the cost of the bass so shipping is "free" and then a bass in unknown condition lands in a beginner's hands.

Find a Mom&Pop that will match online prices. Also try Guitar Center (did I just get hit with something?) to see what feels right. Try to take a guitard with you. If you don't know any guitardists, try to see what vibes come off the salesperson. The Mom&Pop near me would never mis-direct a noob.

If my first online bass was my FIRST bass, I would be twice as awful as I am now.

Good luck and let us know what you get!
 
#59
I agree with the recommendations of a Classic Vibe (aka CV) Jazz Bass. The CV Precision is incredible too, but if you're after a Geddy-like tone, a Jazz is where you'll probably want to go.

If you're buying a bass (or an amp for that matter) from a store that allows you to return it (like Guitar Center, Sam Ash, etc.), you might want to consider buying several basses that you think you like (and possibly amps), taking them home, trying them out for tone and feel, etc.

When my daughter was looking for a new viola some years ago, we had instruments at home from two or three different stores and it became an easy decision on which one to buy since she could jump from instrument to instrument to gauge feel and tone, etc.

Stores like Guitar Center and Sam Ash take a lot of heat around here sometimes, but I've found their selections to be pretty good, their prices fair and their return policies very generous.
 
#60
I agree largely with the other posters regarding choosing a bass. To me, it's all about feel, and only you will know what feels good.

MIM Fenders and Squiers are good instruments, especially for the money. If you find that you like thinner necks, A nice Ibanez SR may be in your league. In fact, a good cross between the two is a sweet vintage Ibanez Blazer that's in the classifieds now. Great P-Bass sound.

As for amps, all you really need is a practice amp. There is no better practice amp than one that makes practice fun. I picked up a Fender B-DEC 30 for use at the firehouse a few years ago, and it's a blast. Plenty of built-in stuff - tuner, inputs for CD player, amp modeling, effects (flangers, chorus, etc.), jamming and teaching loops, drum machines, MIDI interface, and you can even record yourself so you can listen critically and improve. I can't recommend this amp enough. They're not made anymore, but they can be had if you look.
 

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