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Getting a free bass, suggestions needed

S

sydandpaigesdad

Dec 5, 2010
70
3
#1
Hi all very new to learning the bass just started lessons and loving it! Anyways, a fella I work with overheard me discussing my lessons and said his brother in law took two bass lessons and decided it wasn't for him and gave him a bass, long story short he decided on guitar lessons and the bass has been sitting in his closet....he told me he'd like to give it to me so someone could enjoy it! After reassuring me this is what he wanted I agreed. All he knows is it's a squire and not very old, I was thinking affinity since it was for a beginner. I've been taking my lessons on my acoustic Ibenez I got for Christmas and like it but decided I'd like to try something a little less bulky and see how that felt and now I get the chance
Assuming it is a affinity I know they aren't popular on here but is their anything I could do to make it a little better quality seeing as it's free I'm sure I'll keep it for a while until I progress enough where buying a higher quality bass would actually make a difference lol. Thanks in advance and I'll give a big thank you to my co worker and buddy Coung for his generosity
 
#3
It's hard to say without seeing it/playing it first hand. Take it regardless, and play it as often as you like. You could do stuff like adding new pick-ups, but if the frets aren't level, a nut slot is too low, the neck is slightly warped, etc.. Then it may not be worth it.

I started off on a crappy bass with pretty much all of the issues I stated, plus horrible hardware and electronics. I decided to just buy a MIA Fender and my beginner bass has been sitting ever since. Plus it was so difficult to play properly that it actually made me a much better player. Something I didn't realize until I had a good Fender in my hands.

But again, if everything seems okay, but it just doesn't sound great then maybe new pick-ups will be worthwhile. But be weary, you're new to bass. It took me about two years before I started seeing all of the faults with my bass. Not that they weren't there before, I just didn't know what to look for.

Take the bass, get a good setup done on it, and enjoy it. One day you'll know what to do.
 
#6
Matthew_84 said:
I started off on a crappy bass with pretty much all of the issues I stated, plus horrible hardware and electronics.Plus it was so difficult to play properly that it actually made me a much better player. Something I didn't realize until I had a good Fender in my hands.
Click to expand...

+1
My bass starting story too, baptism of fire hahaha

Cutting your teeth on a low-quality bass and moving onto a high end one is like walking on your hands all your life and one day realising what legs and feet are for, to an extent.

What that analogy doesn't cover is the fact that, being so used to that difficulty that it is no longer a difficulty to you, rather a norm, that when it is taken away, you will find playing far easier, tranlating itnto better playing. (damn complex sentence, or maybe I'm just tired!)
 
#9
A good setup is always my first step with a new (or new-to-me) bass.

You can do your own basic setup pretty easily--truss rod relief, string height, pickup height, and intonation. Check out the sticky in the Hardware, Setup, and Repair forum.
 
#10
Don't let anyone else tell you whether the bass is good or not.

PLAY it. Get used to it. Make up your own mind.

Squier is making some pretty decent instruments these days, and the Affinity line is not junk. There are too many people on TB who are ready to spend $300 changing pickups, tuners and bridge on a $100 bass - when they could easily play it as-is and it would sound great.

A setup? Of course. That's how you get the most out of the bass regardless of its cost.

Strings? Maybe...if you don't like the sound. they make a big difference immediately. BUT - I love old strings - others don't. I'd be nuts to change strings when a bass hits my front door. I play it and evaluate what I hear.
 
#13
I can see an advantage to starting on a bad bass - to a degree!

First off, if you start playing bass and you like the act of doing so, it won't matter what you have to play.
Any bass is better than no bass at all.

Second, it helps build technique. Strings too high and neck too wide can help build hand strength and get you used to fretting more accurately.

Third, in the future, you will appreciate better gear. You will think back to a time when you played "that horrible bass" for so long. But it inspired you to go further... and get better... and save for something more suited to your style.
It makes you appreciate the finer things.

In your case, it's free, so who cares? If it functions and your hands don't bleed when you are finished, you are doing fantastic!

I just bought a kinda-crappy P bass copy for my girlfriend's nephew to learn on. I'd hate to have to play the bass, but he's ECSTATIC to have it. I just gave it to him tonight and you'd think it was Chrismas for him.
And when he gets good enough to use one of mine, he'll see what else is out there, but he's got to pay his dues to get to that level.

Play the Squier. Love it! Get some strings and a setup after you've gotten used to it. It will shock you at how much those two things can help even the most basic of basses.
 
#15
Thanks guys it's awesome to have a place like this for a new guy to learn and get advice, of course I'm going to take the bass it's free and I can alternate between it and my acoustic, got just the info I was looking for, think I'll take it to the shop I take lessons from and have them do a setup for me, ok thanks so much guys
 
#18
Pilgrim said:
Don't let anyone else tell you whether the bass is good or not.

PLAY it. Get used to it. Make up your own mind.

Squier is making some pretty decent instruments these days, and the Affinity line is not junk. There are too many people on TB who are ready to spend $300 changing pickups, tuners and bridge on a $100 bass - when they could easily play it as-is and it would sound great.

A setup? Of course. That's how you get the most out of the bass regardless of its cost.

Strings? Maybe...if you don't like the sound. they make a big difference immediately. BUT - I love old strings - others don't. I'd be nuts to change strings when a bass hits my front door. I play it and evaluate what I hear.
Click to expand...

BIG +1!
I can't see any downside to a beginning player getting a free bass, no matter what others may think of it.
Even if it's junk (which it probably isn't), you should have seen the crap that was around in the 1970s for beginner instruments!

A good setup is a fine first move, and then learn how to do setups yourself.
You don't need a Custom Shop bass or a fancy boutique bass as a beginner, just something reliable to get your feet on the right path for you.

Even an experienced player will spend quite some time tweaking a bass to their own needs, or at least they should before deciding to sell/trade or try something different.
Take your time.
 

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