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I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK THIS QUESTION

gary mitchell

gary mitchell

Jul 14, 2008
2,020
1,671
austin texas
#1
I have a older friend who use to play bass. I listen to a tape of him and he was pretty good. He quit playing after having his left hand broken for years.He sold his bass and amp, his bass was a Fender P. John told me he would like to start playing again. He won't go to any place to try out a bass. He is afraid to be made fun of, so me and a couple of guys have decided to get him one. My question is would a Jazz type neck are a thicker P type neck be better for him. I know its up to him but he won't go with us, and its sort of going to be a surprise. We got him a nice old TNT bass amp. Again Thanks.
 
#3
It's very thoughtful of you and your friends to want to help your friend get back into playing music. Obviously, your efforts are complicated by his timidity toward trying out instruments in a store. I would suggest buying from a store with a good return policy, in case he wants to return or exchange the bass. I don't know the extent of his injuries, so I really can't comment on whether you should be looking at narrower necks, or perhaps even shorter scale necks. But if you get him something he can try out at home for a week or two, perhaps he'll be comfortable going into a store to exchange for something else if he doesn't care for your first choice in instruments. Good luck!
 
#6
I'd look towards a PBass since that's what he played before. As it stands there are so many different models of P's now from MIA's to MIM's to Squier's you should be able to find a PBass with a neck width and profile close to that of a JBass.

That's the direction I would go keeping in mind what others have said about buying from GC, MF or anyone else with a liberal exchange policy. Either way there a many good choices and you can't go too far wrong whichever way you go.
 
#7
When I first started, I went to the local shop and tried out a ton of basses. I didn't really know any songs or fancy riffs or anything, and there were few people already auditioning instruments through the amps. (Talk about stage fright!) So I tried everything unplugged. Once I found a couple that felt good and an amp opened up, I just played some quick scales, intervals, arpeggios, etc. at low volume on each bass while fiddling with bass EQ knobs, etc. to sample the sounds of the different instruments.

Knowing now that most combo amps have headphone jacks, I suppose I could have done that. It would have been significantly less intimidating! I could have used the excuse that I wanted to hear the instruments without all the background noise. So that's my idea for your friend. And if he doesn't already have good headphones, the local music stores will probably have some decent demo headphones over in the keyboard section. He can ask a clerk if to borrow a set for a few minutes. Also - see if he'll during normal work/school hours. The store will probably be much less busy.

As for what bass to get him if he's absolutely against going to the store... No idea. I'd guess a P since that's what he used to play. It'd probably feel the most familiar to him. Honestly though, I wouldn't want someone else to select an instrument for me.
 
#9
i don't know what type of break or to what extent your friend's hand was injured but, after enduring broken fingers on both hands, a full width 13/4 nut width and a relativly low profile is what I find most comfortable and less fatigueibg.
Brfore my injuries I had no problem with the 1&1/2 nut width of a J bass, after, J bass is akward and uncomfortable.
Your friend's injuries may dictate something different this was only my experienc/

You and his other friends are doing a fine thing and your friend must be an exceptional fellow to have earned such regard.
 
#10
Nice! Way to go.

My 2c is that the neck width is less important than scale length, if a hand injury is involved. So, if you are sticking with 34" scale, then I would advocate the P, since he knows it.

Otherwise, a 32" scale bass might really help him out. On that end, and based on only some shop playing, I would suggest one of the Fender Jaguar basses. Seems they might be too pricey at ~$800 on the bay. VERY easy playing and pretty decent tone. Nice axes. There is also a Squier version, but no idea if those are OK or not. Don't know if that helps, but IMO.

GL
 
#11
gary mitchell said:
He won't go to any place to try out a bass. He is afraid to be made fun of,...
Click to expand...

Made fun of? At Guitar Center? He'll probably be the only one worth listening to!

Good on you for doing this. The earlier posters have given some good advice. Get him what he had, then if it doesn't work, take it back. Maybe after playing the first one, he'll change his mind and go with you for the second one if needed!
 
#18
Untrue people at GC will laugh at anybody good or not to make themselves feel better. I heard a guy playing the Munsters theme song on a Epi get laughed at by a guy who 5 minutes later bragged about playing the crappiest version of Smoke on the water I ever heard. They braggart guy 50 the Munster kid early 20's YOU do the math.

But, I digress.

Anyways to the OP I might think of getting your friend a nice strap also not the $5 nylon kind the $20 and up kind. If he has a hand injury a quality strap can insure he doesn't have to exert as much pressure to keep the neck level while freting and it'll feel good too.
 

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