First bass, what am I looking for? Jazz or Percision

[kanoharuayu]

I like metal / rock. I just want a good bass for playing those songs. I'm very confused, do I buy a JAZZ or a Precision or some other model? Should I get a 5 string? I don't know if you guys can tell what type of bass plays in these songs, but I'm mainly looking to play/cover songs with bass sounds like these:


(percision?)



(is this percision bass again?)


(jazz?)



really hard for me to tell, I only know about Jazz and Precision so far TBH. I see metal bands often have humbuckers and 5 strings. I should just buy one already and start playing, I hate research lol

 

[Ghastly]

Can't go wrong either way.

 

[Killing Floor]

Hold both in your hands. Doesn’t even matter if you know how to play. Hit a few strings and press a few frets with your fretting hand. Which feels better? That’s the one to get.

 

[chris_b]

For your first bass only you can make the decision. Try as many basses as you can find.

I'm a Precision fan, but I also own a Jazz. All 5 strings. Another fantastic bass is a Lakland. If you can try a 55-94 you might be hooked.

 

[el murdoque]

The first track sounds like you could get that sound with a Precision bass.
All tracks, TBH, sound like they've been done on a computer and not played by musicians, though.

If your choice was between Jazz and Precision, I'd look at the major difference from a player's perspective: The neck. The P bass has a wider, fatter neck and the J bass is slimmer. One will feel better in your hands.
You can play everything on a P and you can play everything on a J. No problem.
The nuances that people often worry about are easily lost in a mix and might be noticed by bass players with a good ear, but are usually lost to everybody else.

4 or 5 strings? I'd always go for 5, but that is my personal preference. I can't tell you what yours is.
A good way to get started would be to buy a cheap bass, something like a second hand Squier and have that set up by someone who can do proper setups. Take that bass and learn the ropes. Your playing preferences will develop along with your skill.
Once you have completed the first steps, you can go and visit a place that has lots of basses and try as many as you can get your hands on - you'll be able to decide what you like and what you don't like then.

 

[tvbop]

Ur over thinkin it. Either.

 

[Haans]

Or a PJ.

 

[kanoharuayu]

The first track sounds like you could get that sound with a Precision bass.
All tracks, TBH, sound like they've been done on a computer and not played by musicians, though.

If your choice was between Jazz and Precision, I'd look at the major difference from a player's perspective: The neck. The P bass has a wider, fatter neck and the J bass is slimmer. One will feel better in your hands.
You can play everything on a P and you can play everything on a J. No problem.
The nuances that people often worry about are easily lost in a mix and might be noticed by bass players with a good ear, but are usually lost to everybody else.

4 or 5 strings? I'd always go for 5, but that is my personal preference. I can't tell you what yours is.
A good way to get started would be to buy a cheap bass, something like a second hand Squier and have that set up by someone who can do proper setups. Take that bass and learn the ropes. Your playing preferences will develop along with your skill.
Once you have completed the first steps, you can go and visit a place that has lots of basses and try as many as you can get your hands on - you'll be able to decide what you like and what you don't like then.

Hey thanks, yeah I know the bass parts weren't so pronounced, I was also wondering if they were on a computer libraries or not.

like heres a bass cover of this song, then here's the official songs bass part

I honestly can't tell, It's all prob made with VST libraries lmao


anyway yeah I'm planning on buying a Harley Benton one for to try it out. IMO you can emulate BASS good with VST but they arn't good enough for constant round robin hitting of single notes like in powermetal and such yet or more advanced techniques where the bass guy goes nuts slapping everything lol

I'm thinking one of these TBH
https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_pb_20_sbk_standard_series.htm
4 string PB standard

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
(5 string progressive? whats that?)

or a jazz version. Jazz is the most sold on the website.

Anyway thanks for the advice. I'll go to local shop today and see if they have a JAZZ/Percision/ 5 string style bass to get a feel for what i might like lol

 

[lug]

I'd go Ritter.

 

[fu22ba55]

I'm thinking one of these TBH
https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_pb_20_sbk_standard_series.htm
4 string PB standard

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
(5 string progressive? whats that?)

Those are two totally different basses, in many many ways. ("Progressive" in this context just means more "modern" choices... e.g. it's a 5-string, and it uses active humbuckers (needs a battery), etc...)

Playing something in person is always your best bet, so it's good that you're going to a local store to try some stuff out.

If it's your first bass, the only things that really matter are these:

1) Is it playable (will it stay in tune, and is it comfortable TO YOU)?

2) Are you excited to play it?

Your first bass it just that... your FIRST bass. If you stick with it, you'll probably upgrade in a couple years, so don't worry about finding the perfect bass the first time. Just find something you LIKE playing, since you will be spending a LOT of time practicing with it in the first couple years.

(Don't choose a bass because others say it's the best. Get the one that feels the best in your hands and makes you want to pick it up and practice).

 

[Dave TB Killer]

 

[waver]

Don’t feel like you have to go with a 5 string. Many people play their entire careers on 4.

Personally I like simplicity. I can play everything I want to on a 4 string passive precision.

 

[dalkowski]

I'd go Ritter.

You're terrible. Come sit over here.

OP: I'm on team "start with whatever feels best in your hands." There is no single correct answer.

 

[defdog99]

5 strings weigh a ton for just a couple more notes. I call that an Advanced player version.

And 60-cycle hum on jazz pickups would irritate me if I was a newbie, unless I could slap like Marcus Miller.

Do you want your bass to sound like a SNES video game? That's active.

Answer: Passive 4-string P-bass.

 

[staurosjohn]

So my criteria is how the bass fits my playing style! I’ve been playing for, over, 40yrs & have realized that, because I have a ‘particular right-hand fingering style’ - I need, either, one pu or (in the case of a J-style) I need 70’s spacing. For me - it’s more about the fit & feel than sound. You, really, can sculpt your tone with amplification. I played a RIC 4001, for 35yrs, then realized it was not really a fit for my fingering style (I bought it new, in 1977, because I modeled GL).
I currently have 4 Precisions - but have, recently, had Jazzes, etc.
I suggest finding a bass which you feel comfortable playing… string, pu & amp choices, etc., will really be the factor in tone. I like some ‘attack’ - so I use LF 10% ow’s & SD QP’s

 

[Jeremy Crockett]

I'd go Ritter.

You're terrible. Come sit over here.

This is my favorite thread in at least 36 hours.

 

[dalkowski]

You're terrible. Come sit over here.

This is my favorite thread in at least 36 hours.

Thanks, we're here all week.

 

[Tim Rinkerman]

A Precision is harder to sound bad on than a Jazz. You kinda have to know what you're doing after a while to take advantage of the Jazz's pickup positions. A Precision will never let you down.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I like metal / rock. I just want a good bass for playing those songs. I'm very confused, do I buy a JAZZ or a Precision or some other model? Should I get a 5 string? I don't know if you guys can tell what type of bass plays in these songs, but I'm mainly looking to play/cover songs with bass sounds like these:


(percision?)



(is this percision bass again?)


(jazz?)



really hard for me to tell, I only know about Jazz and Precision so far TBH. I see metal bands often have humbuckers and 5 strings. I should just buy one already and start playing, I hate research lol

P bass, or some active Ibanez with soapbars.

 

[lfmn16]

Which ever one you can get the best deal on. You chances of finding “the one” the first time out is about zero, so find s good used Squier and you’ll likely be able to get your money back if you decide to sell it at some point.