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First Bass purchase advice?

#21
Corsair said:
I'm a guitar player (the other kind ;) ). I'd like to take up learning bass. I'm confident I want a Fender P-Bass to start. I've already gone to multiple stores trying them out to get a feel. I've also been lurking the forum while doing my own research.

I've been looking at the Fender Player Precision and American Professional Precision. As someone starting out, should I wait until I'm farther in the journey before considering the more expensive basses? I can afford an American Professional but I'm not sure if I should dive in like that, yet. The American Professional was my favorite of the ones I tried. The Fender Player I tried was a close second.

I'm curious what the more established bass players think.
Click to expand...
Get the best bass you can afford, it sounds like you already know what you want. No need to waste time and money buying a cheaper one to then buy another one that is what you actually want down the road. Plus its not even that much cheaper, its not like you're deciding between a $100 squier and a USA Std.

If that particular instrument is what you like get it, but if you find you just like the Am Pro Precision model, then find a used one to save cash.
 
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#23
some food for thought questions for you:

Will you be switching to play bass primarily? Or just adding it in?

what sort of guitar/guitar rig to you play? If you'll still be a guitar player primarily, and have a squier, that will change a lot of our opinions.
 
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#27
Most every one who plays guitar thinks bass is an easy shift.
Truth is that it isn't.
First of all you must understand that there is quite a huge delta between the treble clef and the bass clef.
To play bass well you really need to think like a drummer.
A drummer with the ability to be melodic.
It is best to become a drummer who can play notes of the song key and introduce riffs, lines, arpeggios and flavor. After all, being original is all about your PERSONAL
 
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#28
The first line of your post is " I am a guitar player".
If you said " I am a musician" then I might have some advice about how to be a bass player.
If you are a guitar player, and identify as such, you should stick with your ax.
The treble clef and the bass clef are two very different things.
What is your motivation for a change?
 
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#31
Corsair said:
I'm a guitar player (the other kind ;) ). I'd like to take up learning bass. I'm confident I want a Fender P-Bass to start. I've already gone to multiple stores trying them out to get a feel. I've also been lurking the forum while doing my own research.

I've been looking at the Fender Player Precision and American Professional Precision. As someone starting out, should I wait until I'm farther in the journey before considering the more expensive basses? I can afford an American Professional but I'm not sure if I should dive in like that, yet. The American Professional was my favorite of the ones I tried. The Fender Player I tried was a close second.

I'm curious what the more established bass players think.
Click to expand...
New limited edition Midnight P bass.
Looks great, sounds great and the price is right.
Not to mention, that's rosewood, not pau ferro...very few new basses with rosewood these days.
znoqoi.jpg

Plenty of money left over to buy a nice little practice amp that can still be used for gigs...300 watts!
35jebl0.jpg
 
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#32
Corsair said:
I'm a guitar player (the other kind ;) ). I'd like to take up learning bass. I'm confident I want a Fender P-Bass to start. I've already gone to multiple stores trying them out to get a feel. I've also been lurking the forum while doing my own research.

I've been looking at the Fender Player Precision and American Professional Precision. As someone starting out, should I wait until I'm farther in the journey before considering the more expensive basses? I can afford an American Professional but I'm not sure if I should dive in like that, yet. The American Professional was my favorite of the ones I tried. The Fender Player I tried was a close second.

I'm curious what the more established bass players think.
Click to expand...

A PB is a great instrument to start on. My standard advice is be patient and buy a lightly used bass, which if you can hold off you can get them for 30-to 40% off retail, maybe more. You will have a higher quality instrument for the price of a lessor instrument. Further,I’d you deside down the road maybe you’d rather be painting fruit instead, you stand a good chance of getting most of your money out of the instrument when you try to sell it.

That said, welcome to the board.
 
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#33
Corsair said:
I'm a guitar player (the other kind ;) ). I'd like to take up learning bass. I'm confident I want a Fender P-Bass to start. I've already gone to multiple stores trying them out to get a feel. I've also been lurking the forum while doing my own research.

I've been looking at the Fender Player Precision and American Professional Precision. As someone starting out, should I wait until I'm farther in the journey before considering the more expensive basses? I can afford an American Professional but I'm not sure if I should dive in like that, yet. The American Professional was my favorite of the ones I tried. The Fender Player I tried was a close second.

I'm curious what the more established bass players think.
Click to expand...

First off, I'm excited for you! As a multi-instrumentalist myself (including guitar), I can say that bass is probably the most fun instrument I know how to play!

Honestly, if you have the means, I'd recommend just getting the one you like the best. If that so happens to be a Player (which are very nice), awesome. Same if it's the Professional. These are Fenders after all, not some specialized, esoteric $10k boutique. Buy the one you like, use it, and love it.

And welcome to the forum as well!
 
#34
I recently picked up a bass after 30 years of guitar and decided to stick to the £500 budget. There are some cool basses for that price.

If bass becomes a major part of your playing then you can always get something more special. For the time being, a more affordable bass would serve you well.

Focus on the music and playing and not the gear. (Easier said than done).
 
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#35
Liam Wald said:
The first line of your post is " I am a guitar player".
If you said " I am a musician" then I might have some advice about how to be a bass player.
If you are a guitar player, and identify as such, you should stick with your ax.
The treble clef and the bass clef are two very different things.
What is your motivation for a change?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't consider myself a musician. I know some music theory, but I'm not well versed in it. I play guitar because I like recreating music that I like to listen to. It would be the same with bass. Learning to play songs that I like where I've noticed the bass and want to learn those songs. Maybe it would lead somewhere, but this is more for personal enjoyment and hobbies.
 
#36
Corsair said:
I'm a guitar player (the other kind ;) ). I'd like to take up learning bass. I'm confident I want a Fender P-Bass to start. I've already gone to multiple stores trying them out to get a feel. I've also been lurking the forum while doing my own research.

I've been looking at the Fender Player Precision and American Professional Precision. As someone starting out, should I wait until I'm farther in the journey before considering the more expensive basses? I can afford an American Professional but I'm not sure if I should dive in like that, yet. The American Professional was my favorite of the ones I tried. The Fender Player I tried was a close second.

I'm curious what the more established bass players think.
Click to expand...
First bass, no matter what you choose, I'd say buy used. If you decide it's not for you, you'll be able to get most of your money back by selling an instrument you bought used rather than new.
 
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#37
My concern with buying used (and I would if I came across something that fit the bill) is that it could take a long time to find something I liked. When I've checked the big chain stores there hasn't been much used inventory or at least not what I'm looking for. The smaller stores usually focus more on guitar than bass, so there may be one or two and usually not what peaks my interest. At least when it comes to Fender I've seen more Jazz pickup configurations instead of P-Bass split pickup style basses. Maybe I'm not looking in the right places?

Brand new, I would consider buying online or order through a store if I already tried the same model somewhere. Used, I'd have to see it and play it.

I'll keep looking.
 
#38
As another guitar player who has just got his first bass I encourage you to go for it. I also decided I wanted a P Bass and could not be happier.

I have sort of made a commitment to myself not to buy new guitars anymore unless that is the only way to get the particular one I want. I have just lost too much money buying new and selling within a year.

But with the Bass I decided to build it. Another great way to lose money if I was to decide to sell it. But I don't see that happening.
 
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#39
P Bass is a great choice but there are many other options than Fender. You don’t have to limit yourself. That being said, if I had the money for one of the AMERICAN Fenders I would buy it.
My American Standard Jazz is a step above what my MIM was.
 
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#40
jd56hawk said:
New limited edition Midnight P bass.
Looks great, sounds great and the price is right.
Not to mention, that's rosewood, not pau ferro...very few new basses with rosewood these days.
View attachment 3337878
Plenty of money left over to buy a nice little practice amp that can still be used for gigs...300 watts!
View attachment 3337881
Click to expand...

I was all about making a Midnight P my next acquisition, until I read up here that you have to remove the neck to make a truss rod adjustment. :rollno:

Too bad....it's a gorgeous instrument otherwise.
 
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