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help me buy my first bass..

A

ashjamben

Mar 23, 2008
12
0
#1
thanks for checking out my thread, i'm sure this kind of thing get's asked every day but i'm new here.

so i've been playing electric and acoustic guitar for about 4-5 years, but just don't play my electric much anymore, if at all. so i'm deciding to sell up the guitar and amp and buy a bass.

firstly, the bass's i've been looking at:

precision bass - probably MIJ or MIM
jazz bass - same again, probably MIJ or MIM
epiphone ripper - big fan of death from above and i know he used to use a grabber which is similar enough for the price
olp stingray copy - i just like stingrays, altho i've never played an olp version

just to add at this stage, i'll most definetly buy second hand from an ad-mag or ebay

i've probably got about 400-500 english pounds to spend

i suppose this is the most important thing, my influences. i can imagine playing quite plain things such as David Gray, but i really like quite heavy bass sounds like in RATM and Death From Above. one of my favourite bands is Minus The Bear.

so please, any help, advice, suggestions, anything.

thanks alot
 
#2
welcome, ash!

I'd say an MIJ Fender (P or J) would get you the best bang for the buck.
The Epi Rippers are pretty cool, but totally unlike a Grabber in every way but body shape. Also I usually associate Jesse Keeler with Ricks, not Grabbers.
Not a fan of the OLP stuff I've tried.

Best of luck, and welcome again. :)
 
#6
Anything by G&L. I bought this one....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WT4AP58jC5o

I came here asking the same question as you, and someone recommended me the G&L L2000 Tribute. I bought it and really love this bass.

G&L also makes a nice Jazz and Precision bass. The company was founded by Leo Fender...so they are great basses, as is anything by MusicMan and Fender. I mention the Tribute L2000 because they are great 'bang for the buck' basses.
 
#7
shatterd said:
Anything by G&L. I bought this one....

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WT4AP58jC5o

I came here asking the same question as you, and someone recommended me the G&L L2000 Tribute. I bought it and really love this bass.

G&L also makes a nice Jazz and Precision bass. The company was founded by Leo Fender...so they are great basses, as is anything by MusicMan and Fender. I mention the Tribute L2000 because they are great 'bang for the buck' basses.
Click to expand...

+1 to all this. Tribs are killer.
 
#9
This will probably come off as sacreligious but I've been playing bass for close to 30 years and I've never owned a P!

That being said, I would ALSO recommend the J because it is a Fender and I really believe in them. I've owned a couple over the years, though not currently.

To be fair I should disclose that nearly all the basses I've ever owned are 2 pickup models of some sort or another.
Except for my P.O.S. 1st axe (a really horrible copy of a P with a garbage non-P pickup) and a Sting Ray (that I wish I still owned), ALL my other basses over the years were dual pickup instruments. I just like the extra flexibility you can get by going from one pickup to the other or using both.


I dont know how prices are in the UK but given your budget, if you get your hands on a good used bass, you should be able to get a good starter amp as well.

Good luck and enjoy your transition!!
 
#10
Might check out a Carvin...They are made in America,and have a GREAT price as a new bass( because there's no "middle man"...and if you catch a used one you'll get a KILLER bass for a KILLER price. Look them up on Carvin.com.
Kent
 
#11
thanks for the quick replies.

the G&L sounds pretty good, but i'm too bothered about the look of guitars (i know i shouldn't be) and i just don't like 'modern' looking guitars/basses

i'm gonna have a visit to my local guitar store to try out some P's and J's, because although i've played plenty of both i don't really know which i'd prefer.

as for the OLP i think i'm gonna give that a miss. i want a pretty decent, solid bass that's gonna last a while and the OLP seems more of a beginner bass. as well, i'm really interested in the epiphone purely because i like the look of it, but that probably isn't the best way to buy a bass. and because they're limited edition it would have to be second hand.

anyone care to recommend either the precision or jazz to get a really good distorted (allah DFA 1979) sound?

Also, any like the highway one stuff? i know i was originally going to MIM or MIJ stuff (altho, i'd be more tempted to get MIJ for the extra cash and extra quality) but i might be tempted to go MIA. Also, from the fender website, which do you know is MIM, MIJ and MIA?

thanks
 
#16
ashjamben said:
anyone care to recommend either the precision or jazz to get a really good distorted (allah DFA 1979) sound?

Also, any like the highway one stuff? i know i was originally going to MIM or MIJ stuff (altho, i'd be more tempted to get MIJ for the extra cash and extra quality) but i might be tempted to go MIA. Also, from the fender website, which do you know is MIM, MIJ and MIA?

thanks
Click to expand...

just a reminder :)
 
#18
Yup, if you're doing just one, make it a Fender. If , for no other reason, you can more easily flip it if you need/want to. Fenders are the like the Colt of 1911's. Whatever the opinion, they are, and set the standard. Lots of people play them for more than trivial reasons, and just about every maker references them somehow. We listen to, and enjoy a lot of music that's played on them for a loooong time, now. One last thought, recording guys like them in the studio, so I've observed lately by the amount of "studio" refurbs/builds i've done lately(all P's). Whatever you do, don't get too lost in the minutae. Use yer ears, too.
Josh
 
#19
thanks for the post JDB

a good point you brought up, recording.

i'm off to uni soon studying music tech and although they do have bass's there it would be good to have a pretty solid bass to use whilst recording of my own. also, hopefully i'll be getting a band formed when i'm there so a good, solid bass for gigging with is essential.
 

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