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HELP: from ukulele to bass

wongahcheng

wongahcheng

Oct 17, 2012
135
176
#1
Hello, I've been playing ukulele since the last two years and currently plans in learning bass guitar. First reason would be the sound of the bass itself, and next would be the string numbers, which is the same with ukulele. I have played a little with my friends with basic chords progressions which I couldn't really remember until now but I do understand the bass chords. Problem is I knew nothing about guitar or any other string instruments. Would it be easy on me? Also it would be great if you could give me a few suggestions on decent bass for beginner. I have a huge interest in semi/hollow body and also short scale basses. My current list are Epi Jack Casady and also Höfner 500/1 Contemporary Violin Bass. Thank you! :D
 
#2
Welcome to the forums from another new member.

Since you have already been playing a string instrument, i guess you will not experience as much finger/hand pain etc. as a player who never touched a string instrument. Of course...
But the bass is a very physical instrument.(eg. thicker strings, longer neck, larger frets)
You have to push down the strings very hard relative to a guitar (or ukulele) - Plus you also have to be a bit more precise to avoid your strings "buzzing" against the frets.(finger RIGHT behind the fret)

Good starter basses... What about:
Yamaha's (RBX 170, 270 etc.)
SX's (very popular here on TB, makes mostly Precision and Jazz Bass copies)
Squier's (Fenders "little brother")

All pretty cheap - and extremely good value for the relatively small amount money.

I see you live in Malaysia? I don't really know what basses are readily available there, but if you can get the Hofner 500/1, it would not be the worst choice.
(I think i'd prefer a precision though ;)
 
#4
Get a Kala U-Bass. It's a Uke bass that plays fantastic and would fit right in with any Uke band you've played with in the past. The fretless version does a very nice upright DB type sound and the fretted version fits in anywhere from hard rock to jazz. Plenty of youtube clips on them and also a stron following on TB (thread dedicated to them in the BG forum).
Good luck.
 
#5
I think your original list is perfect, and actually matches the 2 basses I own after 40 years of playing. You are a man of taste.

May I suggest that you look into low tension strings like the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats and Jazz rounds. I use these, and as a beginner, you'll find them easiest to play.

I have the T-I Jazz rounds (32 inch) on my Hofner Ignition, and a set of Jazz flats, (34 inch) on my Jack Casady bass.

These are very high quality strings, and they last a long time.
Welcome aboard, mate.
 
#6
Hi there. I live in Singapore and my cousin has a music store in Batu Pahat.
From the prices they listed, it is quite expensive compared to Singapore. They stock mostly Fenders,Squiers and Ibanezes.
It would be alot better and cheaper if you buy here in Singapore if you don't live too far away.
I would be willing to bring you around too!
 
#7
Pimpernel Smith said:
I think your original list is perfect, and actually matches the 2 basses I own after 40 years of playing. You are a man of taste.

May I suggest that you look into low tension strings like the Thomastik-Infeld Jazz flats and Jazz rounds. I use these, and as a beginner, you'll find them easiest to play.

I have the T-I Jazz rounds (32 inch) on my Hofner Ignition, and a set of Jazz flats, (34 inch) on my Jack Casady bass.

These are very high quality strings, and they last a long time.
Welcome aboard, mate.
Click to expand...

I could see that we both have the same taste. How is the Ignition? It's in my list but considering that the Contemporary has the same pickup as the German made 500/1, I might be buying it instead, even though it is semi-hollow. If I'll be buying the 34 inch scale, then Jack Casady it is.
 
#8
Bryann said:
Hi there. I live in Singapore and my cousin has a music store in Batu Pahat.
From the prices they listed, it is quite expensive compared to Singapore. They stock mostly Fenders,Squiers and Ibanezes.
It would be alot better and cheaper if you buy here in Singapore if you don't live too far away.
I would be willing to bring you around too!
Click to expand...

I'll be coming to Singapore by the end of this November for Sigur Rós, perhaps we can meet later then? :D
 
#9
slngd said:
Welcome to the forums from another new member.

Since you have already been playing a string instrument, i guess you will not experience as much finger/hand pain etc. as a player who never touched a string instrument. Of course...
But the bass is a very physical instrument.(eg. thicker strings, longer neck, larger frets)
You have to push down the strings very hard relative to a guitar (or ukulele) - Plus you also have to be a bit more precise to avoid your strings "buzzing" against the frets.(finger RIGHT behind the fret)

Good starter basses... What about:
Yamaha's (RBX 170, 270 etc.)
SX's (very popular here on TB, makes mostly Precision and Jazz Bass copies)
Squier's (Fenders "little brother")

All pretty cheap - and extremely good value for the relatively small amount money.

I see you live in Malaysia? I don't really know what basses are readily available there, but if you can get the Hofner 500/1, it would not be the worst choice.
(I think i'd prefer a precision though ;)
Click to expand...

There's a store selling Höfner guitars and basses here, so it wouldn't be a problem I guess. Precisions also readily available, it's just the matter of Fender pricing here :(
 
#10
GBassNorth said:
Get a Kala U-Bass. It's a Uke bass that plays fantastic and would fit right in with any Uke band you've played with in the past. The fretless version does a very nice upright DB type sound and the fretted version fits in anywhere from hard rock to jazz. Plenty of youtube clips on them and also a stron following on TB (thread dedicated to them in the BG forum).
Good luck.
Click to expand...

I have heard about U-Bass before but haven't try it yet. I love short scales but my future bass wouldn't be that short! :P
 
#11
Regarding the Hofner Ignition versus the Hofner CT, I went with the Ingition because it's fully hollow, and to my ears has a more traditional Hofner tone than the CT. The CT has a block of wood running through the body, which gives it more sustain, and weight. I've owned 6 German made Hofners over 40 years. It's my favorite Hofner, ever. I prefer the Ignition, for my purposes, and of course the fabulous Jack Casady bass.
 
#13
Pimpernel Smith said:
Regarding the Hofner Ignition versus the Hofner CT, I went with the Ingition because it's fully hollow, and to my ears has a more traditional Hofner tone than the CT. The CT has a block of wood running through the body, which gives it more sustain, and weight. I've owned 6 German made Hofners over 40 years. It's my favorite Hofner, ever. I prefer the Ignition, for my purposes, and of course the fabulous Jack Casady bass.
Click to expand...

Ignition is half price of the Contemporary, and what makes that other than solid wood construction and also the pickup? How is the build quality? Best violin bass you have played since the last 40 years?
 
#14
, one thing though the ukulele is tuned differently than bass. Bass is tune in fourth I can't rmbr the ukulele tuning. It will be much harder for you though. Bass is not easy as it looks, well no instrument is easy. Cort is good but if I have more money I will go for mim fender or Ibanez sdgr. I am also from sg, any budget you are looking at for the basses ?
 
#15
welcome, wongahcheng! I've played bass since the 70s and have been playing ukulele for about one year now. you'll have to learn a new fretboard map but you should be able to make the transition. in my experience, it doesn't take any more strength to play a bass guitar than a ukulele. you'll have to get used to the longer scale of a bass, but all the mechanics of playing are about the same. more fingerpicking than strumming, though! with a little work and practice, you should be playing bass in no time. good luck!
 
#17
wongahcheng said:
Hello, I've been playing ukulele since the last two years and currently plans in learning bass guitar. First reason would be the sound of the bass itself, and next would be the string numbers, which is the same with ukulele. I have played a little with my friends with basic chords progressions which I couldn't really remember until now but I do understand the bass chords. Problem is I knew nothing about guitar or any other string instruments. Would it be easy on me? Also it would be great if you could give me a few suggestions on decent bass for beginner. I have a huge interest in semi/hollow body and also short scale basses. My current list are Epi Jack Casady and also Höfner 500/1 Contemporary Violin Bass. Thank you! :D
Click to expand...

Ermergerd. Never thought I'd meet a countryman on here. What up?
Back on topic, those two basses you listed there are pretty darn good. For hollowbodies and short scales, those are pretty solid.
 
#18
slngd said:
Welcome to the forums from another new member.

Since you have already been playing a string instrument, i guess you will not experience as much finger/hand pain etc. as a player who never touched a string instrument. Of course...
But the bass is a very physical instrument.(eg. thicker strings, longer neck, larger frets)
You have to push down the strings very hard relative to a guitar (or ukulele) - Plus you also have to be a bit more precise to avoid your strings "buzzing" against the frets.(finger RIGHT behind the fret)

Good starter basses... What about:
Yamaha's (RBX 170, 270 etc.)
SX's (very popular here on TB, makes mostly Precision and Jazz Bass copies)
Squier's (Fenders "little brother")

All pretty cheap - and extremely good value for the relatively small amount money.

I see you live in Malaysia? I don't really know what basses are readily available there, but if you can get the Hofner 500/1, it would not be the worst choice.
(I think i'd prefer a precision though ;)
Click to expand...

Lol im from malaysia to.. My whole school is filled with hipsters playing ukele. But if you like shortscale and hollow bodies, and ukelele is a rythmic instrument, you dont get that out of the bass guitar and maybe think about the guitar? Its more similar to ukelele, although string numbers are the same for ukele and bass , they are played very differently and have a very different purpose
 

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