Guitarist selecting first Bass

[davidjackson]

And you can't get pregnant from playing bass fingerstyle, at least not the first time you do it.

And definitely not if you're standing up at the time...

 

[Dredmahawkus]

A lot of you guys are suggesting basses that are 'like' guitars. I don't know that I feel that's the best idea. He's playing a different instrument; its a bass not a guitar, so he should get a bass that feels best for him as a BASS, not whatever feels most like his guitar.

Get a bass for bass, piano for piano, and guitar for guitar.

I used to play guitar and now play jazz bass.....all those short scales feel funny to me.

 

[Aznslappadabass]

I'd personally wouldn't recommend short scale as I feel you will benefit more from learning the full scale of bass all at once. Stepping into as full scale bass may not be easy initially, difficulty offset by slimmer necks and bodies, but I would not recommend limiting yourself to short scale because of initial difficulty. There are so many more options in 34 or 35 scale basses.

edit: forgot to throw in a suggestion, if I would recommend a music man style bass sterling design. It has a nice thinner neck and design but gives a real monster of a tone and is great for a pretty diverse sound while still keeping the potential for a pretty classic tone.

 

[electracoyote]

Another vote for a J Bass, 1.5" at the nut, standard two-rail electronics array.

You may evolve into other things as time goes on, but this is a very safe bet right out of the gate.

I also have mixed emotions about a short scale as your first bass, and I'm a guitar player. I know I can zip around pretty damn fast on a short scale bass, but then when you need the performance of a full 34" scale, it might feel awkward. Shorties can spoil you (although it didn't seem to hurt McCartney much when he parked the Hofner in favor of Rics and Jazzers). Probably best to start with a standard 34" scale bass.

 

[gorskkr]

Thanks to all for the recommendations. I certainly have a lot to think about as i play multiple basses this weekend.

I'm going to take all advice to heart but will most likely go with the simplest of all advices: play whatever you can get your hands on and buy whatever feels and sounds good.

Having said that, I don't think I'm going to be stuck in short-scale bass mode. I want to learn bass for what it is, and if that's playing a standard "34 and my fingers and wrist take a while to get used to it, then so be it. I love guitar but I don't want that to make me select a smaller bass that ultimately makes me want to get the real thing in a year or too.
-------------------------------------------

Also, for you guitar and bass players.... Is it just as easy to change a bass's strings as it is for guitar, or am I entering a whole different ball game? I'm thinking about changing the bass strings as soon as I make my purchase. I think about these basses sitting in guitar shops and having these old strings on them which are most likely muddying the sound. Or do you not change the strings on a bass as often as you would an electric guitar.

Sorry for the ranting today, been a crappy day at work, hate being a salesman.... I just want to go home smoke and make some music!

 

[topo morto]

Easier to change a bass string - less winding to do - and they also go back on much more easily than guitar strings, which is a good thing as they're expensive!

Also, many people prefer older strings - the zinginess you get from new strings isn't always a good thing.

 

[gorskkr]

I intend on leaving tomorrow before stores close with new bass and amp. I'll post pictures and let you know what I select. I hope to be playing like this in a matter of years (wishful thinking no doubt)... Watch the video its actually quite amusing along with some nasty bass

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYDfwUJzYQg

 

[dougjwray]

Easier to change a bass string - less winding to do - and they also go back on much more easily than guitar strings, which is a good thing as they're expensive!

Also, many people prefer older strings - the zinginess you get from new strings isn't always a good thing.

I just have to add that if you use flatwound strings, a single set can be left on for a long time. I mean years.

 

[gorskkr]

I just have to add that if you use flatwound strings, a single set can be left on for a long time. I mean years.

wow i had no idea. I change my guitar strings once every 2 months if not sooner. Good to know...

 

[topo morto]

It's not just flats - My rounds have been on over 2 years and no reason to change them. Does depend on how much you play, if you clean the mud off your hands before playing, etc!

 

[Bassic Playing]

After learning to put on guitar strings, replacing bass strings is fantastically easy, the sort of thing you can probably manage almost perfectly the first time.

But the type and what you want them to sound like does affect how much you change them quite dramatically; you might have tapes on for 10 years, but ernie ball rounds for 3 months or so

 

[noobiebro]

Go for the Ibanez. I switched from 20 years of guitar to completely noob bass. Started with SR300. Worked like a charm. Thin neck, didn't suck like everything else in the store in the same price category. Incredible to play, OK sound.

I'd probably be playing the SR300 if some idiot in my area wouldn't have offered a 2 year old 2 hours played PLASTIC COVERS ON THE PICKGUARD MIA Fender Jazz Bass for 60% of the usual retail price.

 

[gorskkr]

Go for the Ibanez. I switched from 20 years of guitar to completely noob bass. Started with SR300. Worked like a charm. Thin neck, didn't suck like everything else in the store in the same price category. Incredible to play, OK sound.

I'd probably be playing the SR300 if some idiot in my area wouldn't have offered a 2 year old 2 hours played PLASTIC COVERS ON THE PICKGUARD MIA Fender Jazz Bass for 60% of the usual retail price.

Funny you should say that... The first bass I plan on playing when I walk in the door is going to be the ibanez sr(200 or 300). Then I'm thinking a Fender Jazz bass.

 

[noobiebro]

Funny you should say that... The first bass I plan on playing when I walk in the door is going to be the ibanez sr(200 or 300). Then I'm thinking a Fender Jazz bass.

I'm guessing that either way you go, you won't be doing a bad choice. They sound significantly different. Pick the one that sounds like the one you want. They are not that different to play and they both got a narrow neck.

If you ask me, you have more choice in sounds in the Ibanez, but Fender's "everything at full blast" sound works for me way better than anything I could dial out from the SR300. Then again, a MIA Fender costs about twice what a SR300 would cost.

 

[gorskkr]

I'm guessing that either way you go, you won't be doing a bad choice. They sound significantly different. Pick the one that sounds like the one you want. They are not that different to play and they both got a narrow neck.

If you ask me, you have more choice in sounds in the Ibanez, but Fender's "everything at full blast" sound works for me way better than anything I could dial out from the SR300. Then again, a MIA Fender costs about twice what a SR300 would cost.

I was planning on spending $300 on a bass. Do you think I need to go a little higher than that to get something quality that wont buzz or anything else. I would just hate to buy something for like $200, $250 and then I realize in a year that I made a poor choice. I'd rather spend the extra $ now then regret...I can spend in the $400 range if I have to...

 

[wcoffey81]

don't ignore a schector bass either. they are as good as anything in your price range and there is also peavey to consider. you don't need to play a fender or a fender look-alike to be a bass player

 

[noobiebro]

I was planning on spending $300 on a bass. Do you think I need to go a little higher than that to get something quality that wont buzz or anything else. I would just hate to buy something for like $200, $250 and then I realize in a year that I made a poor choice. I'd rather spend the extra $ now then regret...I can spend in the $400 range if I have to...

An Ibanez SR300 won't buzz if you set it up properly. Mine didn't (after adjusting it). You mentioned the Jazz Bass, too. I have no experience on a $300 Squier Jazz Bass, but based on what I've heard, it's a good buy, too.

I don't think $300 vs. $400 will make a major difference. I'd guess that the difference is as big as the price difference. It's probably better, but not completely different. When I was checking the SR300 out, I tried a couple of $500 basses out for playability. SR300 felt better.

If you are worried about how your instrument is going to maintain its value in case you choose wrong, get a used one. A proper $300 used instrument is going to be roughly $300 used one year from now. $300 new is going to be worth $200 used.

 

[DaMoose]

As was mentioned before...a lot of good advice here. From a guy who switched to bass from many, many years of guitar (and found out that is what I should have been playing all along), here is my $02:

Buy used for the reasons mentioned by noobiebro.

Just like guitars, a great amp can make up for a less than stellar guitar. One thing to consider if you are getting the rig to record as opposed to gigging, you might not need a speaker to get started. Spend the $ on a small head with a DI out or research the sound you are looking for and get a DI with some effects.

Be sure to try out as many neck styles as you can. The style that you like will become obvious very quickly. For me, I like wide necks, the same as I do on guitars. I bought an Ibanez several years ago for recording and liked it but when I started playing bass for several hours at a time with a group, I realized that a wider P neck fit me alot better. Find the one that fits you.

Most of all, have fun!

Rock on.

 

[oldcatfish]

As another guitarist that converted to bass I agree with most of the advice.
Personally I started on a p-bass, but think that an Ibanez SR would have been an easier transition. A short-scale would have been even easier.

As far as the amp...if you are more interested in recording rather than playing in a band, I'd get a good pre-amp/DI or even better, a multi-effect with amp sims first (you can use a keyboard amp or powered speaker to amplify it). That will help you figure out what amp tones that you do like. With guitar amps a Fender Twin sounds a lot different than a Marshall JCM800. With bass amps, an Ampeg sounds very different than an SWR or GK.

 

[gorskkr]

I ended up going with a Fender P-Bass. After trying many basses I ended up not liking the feel of the more slender, lighter basses. When I played short scale basses they felt like guitars trying to be basses (no offense). I also didn't like the narrow necks, I felt like there needed to be more room. I got a pretty good deal and ended up dropping down $450 for it.