i'm going to get my first bass soon, and since i havn't got any experience in choosing a bass, i'm not sure how do you tell a good bass from a bad one? Thanks!
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Good or bad bass?
- Thread starter LuckySeven77
- Start date
Set your budget first. No point in looking at $1000 basses if you only have $400. Take someone who knows a bit about buying instruments with you. Try as many as you can to see what feels and sounds good to you. Also consider used (after you try some different basses out), more bang for the buck.
Hope the helps,
smogg
Hope the helps,
smogg
It's hard when you are beginner.
I would suggest that you read as much here as you can. Search for phrases like "beginner" or "starter" in the subject this forum's threads.
Go you Guitar Center or whatever shop is available and mess around with the basses in your budget. I understand that you can't play, but you will get at least some feel for the ones you like and don't. If you are fortunate to know anyone with some playing experience, ask if they may be willing to join you on the trip. That's always a great help.
Once you have a few models to research, come back to TB and search for them. Talkbass has to be the single largest and most comprehensive source of bass-related information in existence.
I would suggest that you read as much here as you can. Search for phrases like "beginner" or "starter" in the subject this forum's threads.
Go you Guitar Center or whatever shop is available and mess around with the basses in your budget. I understand that you can't play, but you will get at least some feel for the ones you like and don't. If you are fortunate to know anyone with some playing experience, ask if they may be willing to join you on the trip. That's always a great help.
Once you have a few models to research, come back to TB and search for them. Talkbass has to be the single largest and most comprehensive source of bass-related information in existence.
I'm not sure of your budget, but I would buy either a Fender/Squire or Ibanez combo starter pack. You may find that you don't like playing the bass, which I hope you don't. No reason to buy everything you need separately when you get get a great kit with amp, strap, cable, and bass on the cheap. From what I understand, the Ibanez that comes w/ the starter kit isn't all that bad of a bass anyways.
My 2 cents avoid bass packs/starter packs/all in ones at all cost.
The bass amp is usually crap and the bass will usually become crap as well they aren't built for the long haul in other words.
My suggestion?
BUY a bass YOU like and will want to pick up and play everyday or whenever you see it.
Then TRY OUT BASS COMBO AMPS look on the used market and the music stores compare and contrast keep in mind unless your gonna gig and play concerts you'll proably want to keep it BELOW 50 watts.
I got a 15 watt Fender Rumble as a beginner truth be told I hated it but it got the job done. However if I were you I'd go with the Acoustic B20 or a Marshall MB15.
As for basses just look for what catches your eye, sounds good, and feels good. I personally wouldn't buy any bass that didn't meet any of these standards. It's all or nothing in life and especially in music. You have to bond with your instrument.
The bass amp is usually crap and the bass will usually become crap as well they aren't built for the long haul in other words.
My suggestion?
BUY a bass YOU like and will want to pick up and play everyday or whenever you see it.
Then TRY OUT BASS COMBO AMPS look on the used market and the music stores compare and contrast keep in mind unless your gonna gig and play concerts you'll proably want to keep it BELOW 50 watts.
I got a 15 watt Fender Rumble as a beginner truth be told I hated it but it got the job done. However if I were you I'd go with the Acoustic B20 or a Marshall MB15.
As for basses just look for what catches your eye, sounds good, and feels good. I personally wouldn't buy any bass that didn't meet any of these standards. It's all or nothing in life and especially in music. You have to bond with your instrument.
+1
If you %100 are sure you want to play bass buy something worth while dont piss money away on substandard beginner combo packs.
As someone mentioned earlier buy used for your first bass try a few out, check the neck, check the action "string height above frets" dont want something too high. Plug it in to an amp Check out the GK ultra light combo amps, alot of power and tone for the money and light. As far as basses go, Cant go wrong with Fender, Warwick(rock bass is the budget line good for a tighter budget), Ibanez soundgear sr400 and above, the schecter stillettos are nice.
how about peavys'? cos my budget is reaally small so i'm getting somethin cheap. but the cheaper peavy models have only 21 frets, is that a big drawback?
No, it's not a problem.
Realize that at the beginning you won't be able to well discern the difference between basses and your sense of things will develop over time, as well as what feels right to you in terms of feel and tone.
Find something you identify with, ensure it's properly set up, and have fun.
Realize that at the beginning you won't be able to well discern the difference between basses and your sense of things will develop over time, as well as what feels right to you in terms of feel and tone.
Find something you identify with, ensure it's properly set up, and have fun.
+ 2 on avoiding those combo packs (although I may have said this already, too lazy to check back). The price is very low for a reason: the amps are junk and you will NEED to step up to a better one very quickly and the basses are the lowest quality available.
I'm sure some of them are decent enough for a beginner but you're still better off with a low cost standalone bass that will serve you well even after you've passed the absolute beginner stage.
The basses above are good suggestions and Yamaha also makes some very good low cost basses.
Everyone's had some good suggestions so far.
Another +1 to avoiding combo packs. Even if you know absolutely nothing about bass, you'll outgrow those quite quickly.
I also absolutely agree with the suggestion(s) of going to your local shop and playing whatever catches your eye. Even playing a bass that's a little out of your price range isn't such a bad idea... it'll help you start to understand how the less expensive basses (like a combo pack bass) may have a glaring flaw.
Now, if your budget is $300, I'm not suggesting picking up a $1700 Stingray. I'm suggesting that if your budget is $300, maybe pick up a $400 bass. Sometimes, that extra hundred bucks can make a pretty big difference. For example, going from an SR300 ($299) to an SR500 ($549) will get you better body wood (mahogany), pickups and preamp (both Bartolini). This is just an example, but I'm a fan of buying a better instrument up front so you won't outgrow it as quickly, which others here have touched on as well.
All that said, check out the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 4-string. I've got basses ranging from $500 (my first 4-strings which I just can't bear to get rid of
) to $3000 and play 5's and 6's exclusively these days... and I'm still always tempted to pick one up when I go to Guitar Center. I just don't think that bass can be beat for the money. Good hardware (Seymour Duncan pickups, maple body/neck/fretboard), good sound and pretty killer looks too.
You could also check out Link Removed available through Link Removed. I've never played one, but they get a lot of "cheap bass" love around here, and from a couple of the vids I've seen on youtube, they sound pretty sweet.
5sg.
Another +1 to avoiding combo packs. Even if you know absolutely nothing about bass, you'll outgrow those quite quickly.
I also absolutely agree with the suggestion(s) of going to your local shop and playing whatever catches your eye. Even playing a bass that's a little out of your price range isn't such a bad idea... it'll help you start to understand how the less expensive basses (like a combo pack bass) may have a glaring flaw.
Now, if your budget is $300, I'm not suggesting picking up a $1700 Stingray. I'm suggesting that if your budget is $300, maybe pick up a $400 bass. Sometimes, that extra hundred bucks can make a pretty big difference. For example, going from an SR300 ($299) to an SR500 ($549) will get you better body wood (mahogany), pickups and preamp (both Bartolini). This is just an example, but I'm a fan of buying a better instrument up front so you won't outgrow it as quickly, which others here have touched on as well.
All that said, check out the Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 4-string. I've got basses ranging from $500 (my first 4-strings which I just can't bear to get rid of
) to $3000 and play 5's and 6's exclusively these days... and I'm still always tempted to pick one up when I go to Guitar Center. I just don't think that bass can be beat for the money. Good hardware (Seymour Duncan pickups, maple body/neck/fretboard), good sound and pretty killer looks too.You could also check out Link Removed available through Link Removed. I've never played one, but they get a lot of "cheap bass" love around here, and from a couple of the vids I've seen on youtube, they sound pretty sweet.
5sg.
+1 on NOT getting a starter pack, most are just CRAP.... they will discourage you to play.... you will know when it just "feels right"
Tap it like you would a melon. Sorry, couldn't resist.
As previously mentioned, determine your budget range. Then go to TB's classified section and shop around. You're bound to end up with an excellent instrument as each seller will tell you outright "this is the best playing / sounding bass I've ever owned". Hey, would we lie?
Riis
Peavey's are very good instruments too, add that to your list of things to try. Like everyone's saying, play as many basses as you can in your price range and go from there. Peavey, Yamaha, Epiphone, Ibanez, Squier and many others make really good instruments in your price range. You'll hear a lot of us "old-timers" say that the starter gear nowadays is WAY better than what we had 30+ years ago.
When you go to the stores to shop, definitely play the basses using a strap while standing up. Something might feel comfortable balanced on your lap but it might feel totally different when you stand up.
The 21 frets vs 24 is not an issue starting out. the VAST majority of bass playing is done on the 1st 5-7 frets. I have 8 basses that range between 20-24 frets and it literally makes ZERO difference to me.
There was a great quote on here about the top few frets a while back. Some guy was talking about all the soloing he did up around the 22-24th fret and someone replied "While you're playing up there, who's playing BASS?"
Try them out at the store. Some "feel" different and you may not like them.
I was in your position literally 4 days ago, buying my first bass. The starter pack amp sounded like CRAP at the store, so I decided I would be spending a little more than I had originally planned. I think it was worth it though.
One thing I learned from drumming: if you get the cheapest gear available then you're not going to enjoy playing. Get something that's a fraction better than "beginner" and you should be fine. If you can't stand the feel or sound of the bass then you're not going to enjoy playing it.
Check out the Ibanez GSR200. Search it at musiciansfriend.com and you can see some reviews of it as well.
I was in your position literally 4 days ago, buying my first bass. The starter pack amp sounded like CRAP at the store, so I decided I would be spending a little more than I had originally planned. I think it was worth it though.
One thing I learned from drumming: if you get the cheapest gear available then you're not going to enjoy playing. Get something that's a fraction better than "beginner" and you should be fine. If you can't stand the feel or sound of the bass then you're not going to enjoy playing it.
Check out the Ibanez GSR200. Search it at musiciansfriend.com and you can see some reviews of it as well.
Dude, that actually made me laugh sitting here at work! Made my quote collection.
lol5sg.
Both the squier and the ibanez starter packs are great thats what I would recomend. You can try the used market but make sure you have someone that knows what to look for with you though
