I want to start playing bass, advice???

[Batmensch]

I also suggest saving up and getting a better bass than what the 80 will get you. I can guarantee you if you get a crappy bass (which is the most likely scenario with that low a budget) it will frustrate you to the point of giving up because it will seem so hard to play. Do your best to at least double the 80 pounds, not only will you enjoy it more, you will better be able to tell if bass is for you, a crappy bass can't do that. ( I would also suggest a Squier of some sort).
I know this from personal experience, got a cheap POS guitar , learned a few chords, and then gave up on it because it was really hard to play because it was crappy guitar. Later switched to bass, got a decent, yet still relatively inexpensive bass (it was a Univox factory second, with a minor finish problem) that was fun to play, and I'm still doing it some 40 + years later because of that bass inspiring me to the point of wanting to keep it up.
And yes, if at some point you do indeed find that bass playing is not for you, you can sell the bass and at least get some of your investment back.

 

[3star2nr]

Get a bass that's comfortable and aestetically pleasing.

Buy a good amp appropriate for the songs you like playing. Read alot and don't give up.

 

[SeanO34]

Check out Thomann.de... Good German company with good prices, they have a brand name they sell exclusively (Harley Benton) which are good for the price!

For example; I just bought one for £130 and although its not the best bass I've ever played, it's well worth the money that I paid.

I think this would be a good place to start, only downside is you don't get to try it 1st... (There might be a 30day money back guarantee but I'm no 100% sure)

 

[eccles77]

For £80 you are going to end up with a piece of rubbish. Even second hand you will struggle to get something decent for that cash. If you can even increase your budget to £120, you could pick up a s/h Yamaha RBX 170, a Squier Affinity or an Ibanez GSR 200 for that sort of money and the good part is, if you don`t like playing bass, you will get all or most of your money back.

Please stay away from those really cheap basses on flea bay as they are just cheap and nasty and may put you off playing.

 

[newtobassmuse]

i'll be mostly playing rock music around the genre of the foo fighters, not really heavy... I think ill buy used but its so hard to find a good quality bass like a squier for a good price and around my area ive got a friend whos a
offered me a squier precision bass but hasn't said a price yet... its in great condition apart from some paint pen on the body. how much do you think its worth?

sorry I know it might be hard to do over the internet but its 5 years old and in great condition apart from the paint.

 

[Sav'nBass]

the only problem is I don't want to spend too much in case im not very good

Well then you might as well nit even start because unless you are a prodigy or a natural musician you won't be any good... and believe me with a cheap bass and no amp you won't even know how bad you suck.

Look.... You want to start playing bass and you want some advice?

Here it is. Be prepared to spend some time and effort. Don't expect to be playing like your favorite bassist in the first 6 months You will need an amp. Look to spend at least £160 give or take on a bass and another £100 or so on an amp. Listen to music more and go to studybass.com to learn the basics.....

 

[Roy Vogt]

Another vote for used-check the UK Craigslist, for example. The Chord CCB90 looks like a generic Chinese bass. It would probably be OK, but only if you have someone knowledgeable tweak the action and setup (definitely not a DIY for a bass newbie) and put a decent set of strings on it. If you have a friend who is a knowledgeable bassist or guitarist he may be able to help you. The SX basses are generally higher quality, but will still need a new set of strings and a tweak at least.
A used Squier Affinity P or J Bass would be a good choice-so would a Yamaha RBX170.

 

[Batmensch]

I would look for a Squier Affinity P-bass. You will still need to spend a little more than 80 pounds though, maybe a hundred or so for a used one.

 

[AlexanderB]

I am quoting an old Fender slogan "Start as if you mean to go on..." (?)
A second hand bass of a recognised (not premium) brand would probably be a little more expensive than £80 but it will hold its value if you wish to sell it later. In more recent years, brands like Epiphone, Squier, Ibanez, SX etc sell consistent and very decent instruments for little money.

 

[eccles77]

i'll be mostly playing rock music around the genre of the foo fighters, not really heavy... I think ill buy used but its so hard to find a good quality bass like a squier for a good price and around my area ive got a friend whos a
offered me a squier precision bass but hasn't said a price yet... its in great condition apart from some paint pen on the body. how much do you think its worth?

sorry I know it might be hard to do over the internet but its 5 years old and in great condition apart from the paint.

It is very hard to price a Squier bass without seeing it in the flesh as the quality can be very hit and miss on these models. Is it an Affinity model or a Standard Squier model? Without seeing the bass it is impossible to give you a guide price.

You may need to factor in a set up price and a new set of strings, which range from around £15 to £20 odd for a decent set, so bear this in mind.

Where abouts are you?

 

[hrodbert696]

It's perfectly understandable that you're shy about spending a lot on an instrument when you don't know how it will "take." There's no need for a beginner to go buying a $5000 professional setup.

But imagine someone who wants to learn how to become an artistic photographer: he's not going to get very far with a $50 digital camera he picks up at the drug store. Again, maybe he doesn't need to buy the $5000 pro studio setup, but he's probably going to need to spend a couple hundred on a decent camera if he really wants to learn it properly.

The same is true with musical instruments: look for a bass that would have cost at least $200-300 new and an amp that would have cost $150-200 new (what's that, 250-300 GBP or so, total?). Don't trust the no-name instruments that are super-cheap, look for names you would recognize or that you see getting batted around this board - Squier, Fender, Yamaha, SX, Epiphone, etc.

Save money by buying used, not by buying crap. If you get it from someone trustworthy and it has no issues, used gear is just as good as new. Also, if you decide to resell, you'll lose money selling gear you bought new but can probably break even on something you bought used, as long as you've kept it in good condition.

Yes, the Squier from your friend is probably a good place to start. Squier is Fender's budget-oriented sister company, and produces cheap versions of Fender designs (mostly out of Asian factories, while Fenders are mostly made in Mexico and the US). Vintage Modified (VM) and Classic Vibe (CV) Squier lines are VERY good, and sell new for around US$300, $200 used. The Affinity series is more hit-or-miss in quality but are usually OK to learn on.

In case you haven't heard, the two most common styles are the precision bass and the jazz bass. Both are used in all kinds of music, including the rock style you're talking about (the "jazz" bass got its name because back when they introduced it, jazz was more popular and Fender thought it could sell more with that name - it's just marketing, nothing more). The P is simpler - just one pickup - and has a thicker, chunkier neck. The J has two pickups, so more variety of tones, and has a thinner, slimmer neck. Each has its devotees, as you'll quickly learn if you keep visiting this forum. Start with either, and over time you'll find which you gravitate to.

 

[fmachia]

First off, congrats on deciding to take up bass! Hope you like it and enjoy playing as much as I do!

Before you go out and buy a bass, consider the whole picture. You are going to need a bass, an amp and a cab or a combo (amp and cab in one package), a cable, probably a set-up and maybe a set of strings. So try to check the music instrument stores websites to get an idea of how much these things cost new or used, and then you can start to have an idea of what budget you will need.

Whatever bass you get, you can probably leave the strings it came with, even if they are totally dead. You will be just doing excersises at first, they'll be good enough to get your hands in shape. So, you save the $ on strings at first.

Also, you could try to get those headphone amps, like the vox amplug. They should be 30 quid maybe? not far from that. So, no need to dish out a lot for a combo.

Another thing is, if you go with the cheapest bass you can find now, you are probably going to want/need a better bass in a few months, or whithin the year at the most. If you go with a cheapo but choose to spend around 150 quid or so, you may get more mileage out of it. I stuck to my chinese washburn xb-100 for a couple of years. I still have it, but I really abused that poor thing, and even busted the neck (btw: anyone here knows if a squier P neck will fit the xb-100? )

Sorry for making this long, but I just want you to explain that taking up bass is a bit more than having the instrument around your house. Not that I´m an expert, I started bass and I am self tought me, so I am not very good (get lessons if you can!). You will be stretching your hands, getting blisters on your fingertips (not if you are careful, but is hard not to get em at first) and probably getting frustrated at the fact that progress is gonna be slow. It just is, unless you are extraordinarily talented, or have training in another string instrument.
So, if you are going to spend at least months with it, then it is worth to spend some more on the gear and lessons.

Now, if you just want to get your hands on the bass and give it a try for a couple of weeks, by all means, buy the cheapest cr@p you can find and see how it goes. But remember that if you happen to like it, you will need to spend some more money to get the proper tools. Not a lot of dough, but a squier and a 50-100W combo with a good speaker is about the basic set up I think.

Whatever path you take, good luck and enjoy it!

 

[GAPendragon]

It's very difficult to find a decent Bass for under £80, but not impossible. My Ibanez is great and cost me £60, including a new set of strings and a flight case.

Look at Ibanez, Squier, Yamaha and Peavey. And used Basses / starter sets. And whatever you do, avoid Lindo like the plague.

 

[nashman]

Let's see ... OP doesn't have enough of a budget to buy a decent instrument or rig - and he's not sure if he wants to make a $ commitment in case he does not like it (which I doubt!) - perhaps you could rent for a while and if you really like it - save your pennies for a proper rig.

 

[NoShogun]

My advice is to go to shops that let you plug and play the basses and try to get a feel for what is most comfortable. Squier Affinity basses are great for new players, and I'm a fan of Yamaha products as well.

Don't be afraid to purchase a used instrument as long as someone can confirm that it's in good condition and is playable.

In my opinion, there isn't an entry-level bass at your budget that will sound very nice, so just look for something that is comfortable to play, as it'll make learning easier.

 

[MDBass]

I can assure you that you won't be very good at the beginning, no one is, so don't worry about that

If you enjoy it, you'll genuinely want to dedicate the time and energy required to increase your skill level, and if you don't, you can sell your bass and try a different hobby; as 'cool' as it is, playing music isn't for everyone.

With that in mind, definitely stick to the used instrument market; if it ends up not being your cup of tea, you should be able to resell your bass for what you paid for it, no harm done.

I'd recommend looking at vintage Peavey's; they are US made and considerably higher quality than their $100-$200 price tag suggests.

the only problem is I don't want to spend too much in case im not very good

 

[lebaron]

Hi! Whatever bass you decide on just make sure to rock the Sh*t out of it and have fun! Practice a bit and find some mates to make noise with! And welcome to TB

//D



Oh, and if you don´t have a budget for a decent amp at the moment; if you have a smartphone or tablet a cheap iRig (or copy) -interface would be great to use with headphones for practice.