Indecision is devouring me from the inside out

Can't give you any help on the jump to five. I'll leave that for those that have been there. What I can tell you is that Ibanez builds a great deal of quality in their offerings for a surprisingly affordable price. Enjoy the journey.

 

That does sound like a deal on the Ibby SR605. I wouldn't worry about starting on a 5 - one less transition to make later.

 

I started on a 5 string. It is not a problem. It makes some things easier. I have really never found it to make anything more difficult, even with the wider fingerboard.

 

I started with a 4. Played one for years before going to 5. It took me 6-9 months to get comfortable with the 5 since I had to basically learn the strings all over again. Starting with a 5 would have made it easier. After a year, I found that my L hand was hurting. The wider neck of the 5 was giving me issues. I went back to a 4.

Then years later, I repeated the same experiment with the same painful results. I'm done with 5s. If I had started with a 5, I might have quit bass altogether.

 

See if you can find a used SRX505 or SRX705:



The pickups in these slaughter the SR series, IMHO

 

500 is a very good amount and opens a vast array of basses in that price range. Ibanez is a really good brand and has a lot of loyal followers. Sire basses are great for that price range too. I have an Ibanez PL5050 from 1986 and still plays amazingly great. And I just got a Sire V7 and is off the charts for playability, tone and craftsmanship. Neither are a 5 string but I would not worry if it is a 5 or 4 string you are after or can find. I would consider it a bonus if you find a 5 string as mentioned here that learning a 5 string would be an advantage but not a necessity IMO. Best of luck and in that price range I am sure you will find a great bass that furthers your playing.

 

Sire and Ibanez SRs, as well as the Ibanez SRXs, are different animals. The Sire is a more “traditional” style bass in sound and feel. It's a classic Fender Jazz Bass clone, a tried and true tool of pros for 60 years. The Ibanez SRs are easy-playing, small-body, thin-neck basses with pickups and a preamp that some (me, for one) think are muddy. The SRX has a slightly larger neck than the SRs and more powerful, fatter-sounding pickups.

I played Ibanez basses for a lot of years, then I got a Music Man Sting Ray and then a Fender Jazz, and my Ibanez SRs seemed like toys.

Here’s my recommendation: If you want a classic bass, get a Sire. If you want easy playing, get an Ibanez. I’d go with Sire.

 

Don't let one opinion discourage you. If I had to have one bass, I would make it a 5 string.

Personally, I like it because most alternate tuning I have to play with are drop D and a 5 string with a low B accommodates this without alternate tuning. Also, you can often shift everything up the neck so it allows for what feels like a short scale bass.

 

It would probably be easier to transition from 5 to 4 than 4 to 5.

As you are still learning now, it would make no difference because you don't have years of experience being used to either one.

 

Exactly. I'm not-so-young anymore and have arthritis issues in my thumbs. I can play a 5 but it isn't comfortable so I don't. YMMV!!!!

 

It's unlikely that you will choose your forever bass this early in the game. Get the Sire and dont look back. If nothing else it will have good resale value if you decide you hate it, but I wouldn't be concerned about that.

Then get off of TalkBass and practice.

 

I like it as a concept or title for a song.

 

I think that if you bought yourself a good book on harmony, such as Twentieth Century Harmony by Persichetti and Norton, that you would not be so reluctant to play a 5 string bass, unless it turned out that your hands find the neck uncomfortable.



P.S. Guitar lessons are ********.

 

How you doing Shalbeom? Hey, it's your money and you can absolutely get what you want. But in my humble opinion, you'll get more use/fun out of a better 4 string. You've got enough of a budget (€1= $1.14 according to Google) to seriously upgrade. For @ 85% of all types of music you're likely to play, a 5`er is unwarranted. First, find a bass you can set up to really play. Get yourself a nice used Jazz (near perfect compromise between Precision and Richenbacher) or say a Schecter. Then join bands that challenges you. If you want to spice things up, try some effect pedals. No offense, but in 9 months, you haven't found your voice/style yet. A decent 4-banger can change your mind about where you're going. Good luck my friend.

 

I started with a 5, still play 5's and after 17 years of playing, I am buying my first 4 string. The Ibanez basses are typically light, balance well and are easy to play. At your early stages of learning, this is the MOST important part. As others have stated, get off of Talkbass and start practicing! A teacher is a great way to start and solidify the fundamentals. If your dream setup is a 5 string for music you love, go the 5 string route. I still got women with my 5 strings!

 

I agree, if you plan on going 5 in the future, now is the time to start. And, a good used bass with good fret job, good set up, and good feel and sound will make playing a 5 a lot more easy.

 

Without knowing where you live it is hard to advise. If you have access to any music stores I would go play as many basses as possible.

Forget brand name, forget 4 vs. 5, forget looks, any preconceptions of what you think is right. You have a budget that will get give you a wide range of choices for a new bassist. You see the popular brands that offer quality lower priced basses and there are many really good ones. Since very few buy one bass for life don't feel that you have to use your entire budget.

A relative beginner, IMO, should focus on feel. Neck profile, body shape, balance, weight, and setup or the ability to be properly set up. If your bass feels good and is as easy to play as possible you will progress whether it is a used Yamaha or a brand new Ibby SR???. Find what feels best. Buy. Practice and play till your needs evolve. Repeat.

Make sure you have funds something decent to practice through. Whether it's an amp or headphone setup. It is just as important to your progress as the bass.