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First Bass?

F

FoderaIWantYou

Jul 29, 2011
34
0
Slidell, Louisiana
#1
I've been playing a few months using a buddys instruments. I plan on getting my first bass and have around $500 to spend. I've been looking into Fender, Modulus Flea Basses, and Peavey's. Any suggestions? I play a wide range of music from Ska to Funk if that helps. Just about all types of music. I figured I'd ask on here before making my decision.
 
#4
You really need to 'feel' them. It's not about brands, colors, shapes or styles. You need to play as many as you can and there will be one that will practically play itself, then you'll know.

I saw a wicked bass at GC a few weeks ago, I picked it up and it was the worst bass I'd ever felt. It may have been setup wrong, but it was very un-natural feeling.
 
#5
Used Peavey USA Basses. $500 should be able to get you a nice used Millennium, Accelerator, Foundation, Dyna Bass, or GBass. $500 on the used market might even buy you 2 of these if you shop carefully. As others have said try out lots of them if possible.
 
#6
Ive went into GC for hours playing bass after bass. Unfortunately the one bass I loved as of the feel to it was the vintage P basses. No other stuck out as much as those. As far as an amp goes ive got a nice little 10w Fender amp. And I know whatchya mean Gadget. Ive played ALOT of nice, famous, and vintage basses that I very much disliked.
 
#7
Also what about Squier? Ive heard lots of good things and lots of bad things about them. The vintage squier J basses. The bass ive been learning on is a Mexican Fender P which I love with Round Wound strings. (Pretty sure thats them. Thick and smooth, easy to slide on) Just trying to get some opinions and help deciding.
 
#9
I agree on the Peavey statement, I'm a big fan of them myself. I started on a Squier Affinity P-bass, but ended up actually LEARNING how to play on my Peavey NTB Grind 5-string. A gorgeous & insanely affordable bass that, with some cleaning-up and fine-tuning, has been by my side since the beginning.

(Except now I'm planning on making it fretless & active... ;) ha )
 
#10
Andy_D said:
Used Peavey USA Basses. $500 should be able to get you a nice used Millennium, Accelerator, Foundation, Dyna Bass, or GBass. $500 on the used market might even buy you 2 of these if you shop carefully. As others have said try out lots of them if possible.
Click to expand...

Sage advice here. Used Peavey basses are a steal and most are real players. If you like that P-bass sound also look into a used Peavey Fury. Set up right they are as good as if not better than any Fender.
 
#12
Squier Vintage Modified basses are excellent value new, and used ones are on CL all the time. SX is a great option if you want a Fender-style bass and want to put some of that $500 towards a bigger amp.
 
#14
I too am a firm believer in trying gear/basses out in person if you can. But for some bass suggestions and being a Fender bass user I would say you could go the Squier Vintage Modified route, great starter basses at a great price or a made in Mexico Fender basses. Or for cheaper yet you could look into used made in Mexico or made in Japan/crafted in Japan basses. Just my two cents.
 

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