I think that for the sake of the newbie, this post needs to be marked "sarcastic" a little more clearly.
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first bass?
- Thread starter bassnoob23
- Start date
+1000
im new to playing bass and im about to get ma first guitar should i get http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...-Omen-Extreme5-5String-Bass-Guitar?sku=520227
or
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-Edge-5-5String-Bass?sku=519803
please help, thanks!
How it goes bassnoob? I've tested out both Deans and Schecters and think the quality and sound of the Schecters are much better. As far as the 5 string issue, I say go for the 5. I started on a 4 string short scale and moved up to a 5 full scale just a year later. I honestly prefer having the versatility available. I've been playing 5 string models for 19 years now and when I hold a 4 or anything under 24 frets I feel like I'm holding a toy and can't play half of the things that I've written. Just my 2 cents.
I say Schecter too but of course I have a Schecter bias. Great basses, nice slim necks for the amount of stings (also means tighter string spacing), and going to a 4 after playing a 5 is pretty easy. Even 4 string P bass necks feel chunky compared to my 5 string schecter neck.
When Munji said
andMunjibunga said:
Munjibunga said:
That was all serious and informative and stuff, and I agree with the statement, it's OK to start with 5 strings.
But the rest of it, where he made fun of four-bangers and even-number instruments, was just being silly.
I also second the notion of starting out on a 5. I wish I had, I've been playing for 17 years now on 4's and keep putting of getting a 5 or a fretless because I just don't want the hassle of having to learn and be a "noob" again.
Despite its mirthful tone, I am serious. He's ahead of the game by starting on a five-string if he ever intends to play one. In many ways, it's easier to play than a four-string, and is 20 percent more versatile.
Ok I'll take the flame bait... So why is exactly that you can't be a serious player if you only have a 4 str instrument? I'd be willing to bet that I can even take the G off my 4 and still be pretty good.
I totally agree with this even though I played 4 for years (back when there were no 5s).
As for Schecter vs Dean. I don't know. I've seen some decent Deans for the money but Schecters always blow me away with looks and playing feel. But my problem is that Schecters never have impressed me much with tone. To me if you look used there are so many basses out there with killer tone that you really don't have to compromise. But I'm very reluctant to recommend a used bass to a total newbie. One reason is that we all know that used basses can be huge bargains IF you know what a quality bass is and how to accomplish the minor fixes that used basses sometimes need. But a noob often hasn't a clue about this stuff and therefore can get stuck with what is really a great bargain but he doesn't know how to deal with turning it into a playable bass. So I guess what I'm saying is that UNLESS you can find an experienced bass player to help you pick a used bass I'd stick with beginner basses. But I think my advice would be to keep to the "standard" basses. In other words get a nice Fender (probably 4 string) in your price range if your musical taste is more old school or get a nice Ibanez (5 string) in the same price range if your musical taste is more modern. Then as you learn to play bass and get experience you will come to know where you are really going and what bass is really the one you need to be playing. I think it's almost impossible to pick the "right" bass for you when you start out knowing nothing. So look for basses with wide application and good resale value and you should be OK.
Yeah, I think if I had to choose...Well, if *I* had to choose I'd make sure I went and played them all before I plunked down the money, but of those I've played a nice Yamaha 5 string would be my personal pick for a decent newbie bass.
The fact is, 4 or 5 strings is all about taste. And when you're a total beginner, you don't know what your tastes are yet. That's why, IMO it really doesn't matter which one you start on, because it's basically just a guess either way. It seems that more people prefer 4 strings to 5, which is why it is recommended to start more often, because there's a greater chance that that is what you will want. But, if the OP thinks he wants 5 strings, I don't see any reason at all to discourage it, because like I said, it's really just a guess. I just didn't want the OP to walk away with the mistaken impression that 5 strings are inherently superior, as you jokingly said earlier.
im new to playing bass and im about to get ma first guitar should i get http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...-Omen-Extreme5-5String-Bass-Guitar?sku=520227
or
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-Edge-5-5String-Bass?sku=519803
please help, thanks!
Schecter. they're easy to play, sound great for the money, and relatively light-weight. My first was a Schecter Stiletto Extreme 4. i haven't played an Omen 5, but I hear they're pretty jazzy, too.
My bass teacher is one of the top studio musicians in Montreal.
He plays a 70's beat up 4 string jazz bass.
And Schecter is a quality brand that makes a great product, no BS.
Dean is a money hungry whore of a company who pulls instruments out of their rear end and poops all over the name "Dimebag darrel".
avoid dean
[QUOTE="Q";8917186]Ok I'll take the flame bait... So why is exactly that you can't be a serious player if you only have a 4 str instrument? I'd be willing to bet that I can even take the G off my 4 and still be pretty good.[/QUOTE]
Tell you what ... it's enough that you took the bait, so I'm just gonna reel you on in, but throw you back for another day.
Tell you what ... it's enough that you took the bait, so I'm just gonna reel you on in, but throw you back for another day.
Like it's been said before. If you want a 5 go with 5. I wanted to start off with a 5er but changed my mind after being told relentlessly that i should start off with a 4 string. I kick myself everday for not going with what was recomended instead of what I wanted because now I can't afford a 5 string.
As far as which brand to go with there's always the typical name brands (fender, ibanez, schecter) but don't just buy the name. Go to your local music store and try out every bass you can get your hands on. If you find something you like try and get the details down on it (tye of pick ups, how many frets, weight, nut size, radius, etc.) and then try to get as close as you can in your price range.
As far as which brand to go with there's always the typical name brands (fender, ibanez, schecter) but don't just buy the name. Go to your local music store and try out every bass you can get your hands on. If you find something you like try and get the details down on it (tye of pick ups, how many frets, weight, nut size, radius, etc.) and then try to get as close as you can in your price range.
I suppose it all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.
When I started playing, I was coming from guitar, and was primarily a singer. I wanted to be able to play bass and still concentrate on singing well. For me, a five made a heck of a lot more sense, as it required me to make a lot less position changes and lateral movements on the neck to hit the notes I needed.
15 years later, I now find I primarily play 4 strings, but more because of my interest in a more vintage tone.
Starting with a 5 will never be a handicap in my opinion, as with very little work, you can adjust to playing a 4 string, whereas, I've heard many complain about adjusting to a 5. And there are times when having the grunt of that low B is an itch you can't easily scratch with a 4 (outside of drop tuning).
As far as basses, if you can find somebody to check out the bass for you, and you can find a clean used example, a Yamaha TRB-5 is a fantastic 5'er for the $. Still wish I had mine...
When I started playing, I was coming from guitar, and was primarily a singer. I wanted to be able to play bass and still concentrate on singing well. For me, a five made a heck of a lot more sense, as it required me to make a lot less position changes and lateral movements on the neck to hit the notes I needed.
15 years later, I now find I primarily play 4 strings, but more because of my interest in a more vintage tone.
Starting with a 5 will never be a handicap in my opinion, as with very little work, you can adjust to playing a 4 string, whereas, I've heard many complain about adjusting to a 5. And there are times when having the grunt of that low B is an itch you can't easily scratch with a 4 (outside of drop tuning).
As far as basses, if you can find somebody to check out the bass for you, and you can find a clean used example, a Yamaha TRB-5 is a fantastic 5'er for the $. Still wish I had mine...
I played guitar for 10 years, stopped for about 8, then went to bass just over 2 years ago. I started with a 5 string. A used Dean actually and very similar to the one you've posted a link to. It has EMG soapbars and is passive. I have never played a Schecter so I can not compare the 2. My Dean has been good to me and I paid $160 for it. However, since I had played guitar for years I had a very good idea of what was going to suit my playing when I started road testing basses.
I went with a 5 for 1 reason - I don't like to tune my instruments down. Songs I have learned to play that required down tuning I was able to adapt to use the 5th string. This has worked for me very well, but might not work for everyone. A lot of stuff I play is in E but sometimes I need to go down to D and even with some Black Sabbath I'm using low C. I hate tuning and retuning so a 5 makes life easy for me.
However, for the past year I've been wanting to pick up a 4 string and finally did tonight. I realized that I don't use the 5th string all the time so having both a 5 and a 4 would suit me very well and let me jump back and forth without retuning. Why have a 5th string hanging around when its not being used? This is what pushed me to pick up a 2nd bass (that and the love for having multiple toys around).
Plus while you're learning, if that 5th string is just hanging around and not being used you're adding some extra reach in there while you're already just starting to learn. Why make it difficult on yourself? Learning to properly play an instrument is hard enough. You can cut yourself a break by starting on a 4 string.
I'm going to strongly agree with finding someone that can help you find a used bass that is in good shape. 6 months from now that bass might be sitting in the corner with 5 months of dust on it. If you dropped $4-500 on a new bass you're going to lose some money if you give up playing and want to get rid of it. However, if you pick up a used bass, unless you overpay or beat it up real bad, you can probably break even.
If you do stick with playing and you have picked up a decent used bass it will be with you for a long time. Plus it will free up some cash to put towards a good amp. Play for a year or two before moving on to a more expensive bass. I got my first guitar when I was 12. It was a cheap, used Les Paul copy (made by Memphis). The neck was thick, the sound wasn't great, the action was high, but I learned to play very well on it. 4 years and a lot of playing later I moved to a strat copy with a nice thin neck, low easy action, and much better sound. My playing exploded when I got that 2nd guitar. The Les Paul copy was a learning experience and it paid off big time. If you can learn to play on something that isn't the greatest but at least decent you will be that much better when you're ready to move up to a more expensive instrument.
I've been playing guitar on and off for 20 years now and there are many others here with decades of experience. Don't let us make the decision for you, but take some of the things we're discussing into consideration.
And good luck with whichever route you go
I went with a 5 for 1 reason - I don't like to tune my instruments down. Songs I have learned to play that required down tuning I was able to adapt to use the 5th string. This has worked for me very well, but might not work for everyone. A lot of stuff I play is in E but sometimes I need to go down to D and even with some Black Sabbath I'm using low C. I hate tuning and retuning so a 5 makes life easy for me.
However, for the past year I've been wanting to pick up a 4 string and finally did tonight. I realized that I don't use the 5th string all the time so having both a 5 and a 4 would suit me very well and let me jump back and forth without retuning. Why have a 5th string hanging around when its not being used? This is what pushed me to pick up a 2nd bass (that and the love for having multiple toys around).
Plus while you're learning, if that 5th string is just hanging around and not being used you're adding some extra reach in there while you're already just starting to learn. Why make it difficult on yourself? Learning to properly play an instrument is hard enough. You can cut yourself a break by starting on a 4 string.
I'm going to strongly agree with finding someone that can help you find a used bass that is in good shape. 6 months from now that bass might be sitting in the corner with 5 months of dust on it. If you dropped $4-500 on a new bass you're going to lose some money if you give up playing and want to get rid of it. However, if you pick up a used bass, unless you overpay or beat it up real bad, you can probably break even.
If you do stick with playing and you have picked up a decent used bass it will be with you for a long time. Plus it will free up some cash to put towards a good amp. Play for a year or two before moving on to a more expensive bass. I got my first guitar when I was 12. It was a cheap, used Les Paul copy (made by Memphis). The neck was thick, the sound wasn't great, the action was high, but I learned to play very well on it. 4 years and a lot of playing later I moved to a strat copy with a nice thin neck, low easy action, and much better sound. My playing exploded when I got that 2nd guitar. The Les Paul copy was a learning experience and it paid off big time. If you can learn to play on something that isn't the greatest but at least decent you will be that much better when you're ready to move up to a more expensive instrument.
I've been playing guitar on and off for 20 years now and there are many others here with decades of experience. Don't let us make the decision for you, but take some of the things we're discussing into consideration.
And good luck with whichever route you go
You want a 5?--get a 5! Its pretty much the standard now anyway. Between the Schecter and the Dean, its pretty clear now that the Schecter is the way to go. Something else in this price range worth a glance if you're at a GC or the like is the Squire Deluxe Jazz 5: http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...e-Jazz-Bass-Active-V-5String-Bass-?sku=512618
Like many, I thought the Squire line had been a joke for years (pity, because they started off great back in the 80s). Then I stumbled on this model and for the heck of it, I tried it out. I was really impressed. Then when I saw the price tag, I was totally blown away. The Schecter is great but I think this Squire is worth a look as well.
Like many, I thought the Squire line had been a joke for years (pity, because they started off great back in the 80s). Then I stumbled on this model and for the heck of it, I tried it out. I was really impressed. Then when I saw the price tag, I was totally blown away. The Schecter is great but I think this Squire is worth a look as well.
