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Help me choose my first bass.

#21
katalyzt13 said:
As far as what neck-thru guitar I use, right now my main guitar is a Carvin DC145M I had built earlier this year. I have bolt ons and set in neck guitars as well, but neck thru feels more natural and just has better sustain, etc.
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You are rocking a sweet axe! I don't even play guitar that well, and cannot quit thinking about a Carvin carved top semi hollow.
Have to be a Frank Gambale though otherwise what would be the point? Ooh..Frank Gambale..says a bolt on neck bass is cheaper and if you can tell the difference, with such super human awareness, a career in the circus awaits you. Listen to Mr. Frank..Gambale..
 
#23
I'd check out the Ibanez ATK, I think you might like the style based on what you liked about the t bird. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] This has a classic feel with modern touches, and should be able to do many different styles for you. Also the Yamaha RBX line are rock solid and good sounding basses. http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/guitars-basses/el-basses/rbx/?mode=series I agree too, that Ibanez soundgear is a great place to look. Peavy makes some solid basses in your price range. If you have a guitar center near by, I'd go in and play everything you can within your price range. As has been said, you wont find a lot of neck through basses under 400 new. Another thing to consider is a used Music Man SUB. They are built to Stingray specs but not made in USA like the Stingrays. They are rare and can only be found used, but check craigslist and evilbay and you will come across one. I love mine. It's a great sounding bass and I got the 5 string for something like $500 from guitar center's used gear section online.
 
#25
The Epi TBird Pro is a great instrument. The neck dive is not that bad at all (if the strap button is placed where the plate would go if it had one).

The pickups are NOT limiting, mine had a really nice range of tone. I highly, highly, HIGHLY suggest playing one and make your own decision.

I only had 2 problems with mine.

1) You'll need to buy an oversized case for it ($$$).

2) It was a little on the heavy side.

Don't let the haters talk you out of this bass. I'd be willing to bet that 80% of the people who don't like the T-Bird are P bass snobs. They'd tell you to just go get MIM P and that's all you'll ever need. Personally I hate the look of pretty much every Fender bass. IMO, aesthetically, you cannot get much better than the T-Bird.
 
#26
OldGreg said:
The Epi TBird Pro is a great instrument. The neck dive is not that bad at all (if the strap button is placed where the plate would go if it had one).

The pickups are NOT limiting, mine had a really nice range of tone. I highly, highly, HIGHLY suggest playing one and make your own decision.

I only had 2 problems with mine.

1) You'll need to buy an oversized case for it ($$$).

2) It was a little on the heavy side.

Don't let the haters talk you out of this bass. I'd be willing to bet that 80% of the people who don't like the T-Bird are P bass snobs. They'd tell you to just go get MIM P and that's all you'll ever need. Personally I hate the look of pretty much every Fender bass. IMO, aesthetically, you cannot get much better than the T-Bird.
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Thanks, I like your username by the way. Best episode of the Mighty Boosh ever.
 
#28
i had an epi T-bird a while ago. it was a rough and ready thing. didnt look well, didnt play well. ill admit, it was the biggest dog i had ever seen. yes, the pro IV's look well, especially with that neck through body, but dont compromise your comfort and playability for looks. i shifted the strap button on mine to the heel of the neck joint, and it made a difference, yes, but the thing still sank like a brick, and playing something low on the fretbaord always gave me a really tired wrist (from trying to hold it up all the time). I dont recommend this for a beginner. everyone starts out on a jazz. or a precision. but as has already been suggested, look into geting an ibanex sr300 or something along those lines. they can even be picked up second hand for little money. i was going to get one when i was starting out, but i had no money for it. Your next safest bet i would, if you dont want to jazz, precision or ibanez, an OLP. i have one at the minute, and i love it. get the single humbucker one, the dual humbucker is bad for slap stuff. you can get active or passive. im making upgrades to mine at the minute, but it will be fantastic when its complete!

I dont even know that you should be pushing so much for the active electronics. my previous experience of them hasnt been overwhelmingly good. I would stick with something simply to start with. and i would say an OLP is a veryy good place to start, and even a bass that you can use for a good long time from beginner to semi-pro.
 
#30
I think the T-birds are not nearly as bad as everyone else is saying... a bit muddy in tone, but the neck dive can be remedied with a good strap, and a repositioning of the button. Can't have just one though, need a good strap, and the button.
 
#32
katalyzt13 said:
By modern, I do want something with modern features, but the reason I prefer the TBird is because it has classic lines. The Schecter Stiletto is out of my price range, though - need to stay under 400$.
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The best thing about Schecters is the depreciation. You can get used Stiletto Elites in great condition, with beautiful wood tops and matching headstocks for $300 and even less if you look hard. I should know, it was my first bass, got it for $300, recently sold it for $200.
If you don't get the epi tbird pro (which I recommend you DO get BTW), you will not be able to find a NEW neck through bass in your price range.
I say look at good condition used basses, even if you were to get the epi pro I'd still say get a used one and spend the extra cash somewhere else. I saw a trans-black one go for $250 on guitar center used gear page a few weeks ago (and it had the strap button on the back of the neck too!).

BUT, all that said, here's the best advice:
When I was looking for my first bass I did the same thing. I looked for an active, neck through, with humbuckers. Because i was used to playing guitar and that's what I thought I would like. After buying and selling and trading and playing other gear in the store and at friends' houses, my favorite basses are a passive, bolt on, P bass (custom) and a Squier VM 70's Jazz. The Schecter got so little play time I eventually sold it. The moral: what sounds good on paper might not sound as good to your ears, play a lot of basses and get the one that sounds and feels right to you.
 
#33
So, as a heads up, what I ended up doing is purchasing an Ibanez SR370 because I ran across one that was under $200 in mint condition. Now I'm just looking for a small practice amp that can pull off some decent funk slap tones. I think I am still going to eventually purchase the Thunderbird Pro, but down the road. Worst case scenario, I will keep this Ibanez around for slap and use the Thunderbird for stoner rock, etc.

Any last minute suggestions for a small combo? Need to get by as cheap as possible.
 
#37
Well, got my Ibanez SR370 today and pretty happy with it. Very nice instrument for what I paid. Now I have to wait till payday for an amp and it is driving me crazy - My Vox JamVox isn't doing a great job for bass, so I'll hook up my Line 6 Toneport tonight to see if it does any better. I've already been jamming on 'Another One Bites The Dust', though.
 
#38
tegs009 said:
1. thunderbird is a bad choice, no offense, i understand how cool they look but gibson can't make basses

2. excellent starter bass for you is an ibanez soundgear with actives, no neckthru but those things aren't as cheap. it does have a 24 fret neck that is the thinnest in the buisness

3. I use it for everything from reggae to metal, you should be fine
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I actually tried an Epiphone Thunderbird with Elixir strings on it and it sounded quite impressive. Deep sustainable tone.
 

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