Looking for my first bass, what do you recommend?

[SolarisMinor]

Hello! My first post here and looking forward to a lot of good information!

I am looking for my first bass, at least my first in 40 years. I started on bass at 10 and then switch to drums, which I played for decades. Took a few years off (16) and started banging away again a few months ago.

I think I finally figured out how to approach the bass, so I am in the market for my first bass.

I have up $1500.00, but I have read so many reviews about so many instruments my head is spinning. I have always liked Ibanez. Was never a big Fender fan. Looking at 4 strings basses from Sire, Washburn, Warwick, Spector, Shecter, Yamaha, Ibanez, etc.

I want to play a variety of musical styles, but really leaning toward funk and heavy stuff.

I was, at one point, an experienced musician. These days, at 50, I just want to learn to be proficient on bass and enjoy playing. I like nice stuff, so I should be able to get a decent bass for the kind of money. I about had an aneurism when I saw what top of the line basses cost these days. I thought gas was expensive!

I have kind of narrowed my search to the following, but I am open to other ideas:
1. Sire M7
2. Ibanez SR1600D
3. Ibanez SR2600CBB
4. Shecter SLS Elite
5. Spector NS Pulse
And several older Yamaha, Warwick and Washburns.

What would y'all suggest?

 

[HelpImaRock]

I recommend you play every bass you can find in your budget, and take it home with you. Buying online certainly opens your options, but you really can't find what you like that way. Once you figure out what you like, which can take some time, then buying online becomes much easier later.

 

[chris_b]

Let's cut to the chase.

You're going to end up playing a Precision sooner or later, so you might as well save time get one now.

 

[GIBrat51]

My recommendation? Play as many of the basses on your list as you can; then buy the one you like the most - and can afford...
Oh... and welcome to Talk Bass!

 

[BBassBassington]

Those are all great choices. I'm going to also suggest looking at the Sterling Ray34 HH. Tons of tonal variety, nothing sounds like a Stingray, they're very well made, and you might even have enough cashola to go for a used MusicMan Stingray.

There's a ton of variety in that preamp, especially if you have the double humbucker version. Plus funk and metal bassists have used these basses to great effect.

At the end of the day you should get the bass that makes you enjoy and want to play. Whether that's an US Stingray, or an Ibanez Gio doesn't matter. It's your bass afterall. Enjoy the journey!

 

[SolarisMinor]

Thanks for all the replies! I should mention that I live in Paso Robles, California. Great wine, but lousy selection of music shops (at least the shops I know of).... There is really nowhere locally to try out the basses I am looking at. Mail-order is really the only option.

Ernie Ball is just down the road in San Luis Obispo, though!

 

[Lorenzo V]

I recommend the Eastwood Classic 4...It's not too expensive, good looking and (I believe) well made.

 

[matthewbrown]

I recommend looking at MTD basses before you make the leap. I have an MTD Kingston Heir and it does everything well, it's light, reliable, well balanced, looks enough like a Fender to pass muster with the diehards and above all, SOUNDS AWESOME. Very flexible tonal range. I did upgrade the pups, but that was it. Get one used and it won't break the bank.

 

[mike buzzetti]

Thanks for all the replies! I should mention that I live in Paso Robles, California. Great wine, but lousy selection of music shops (at least the shops I know of).... There is really nowhere locally to try out the basses I am looking at. Mail-order is really the only option.

Ernie Ball is just down the road in San Luis Obispo, though!

Im in Paso also go to Lighting Joes in AG 40 min drive tons of options to try out
Lightning Joe's Guitar Heaven

Used 4-String Electric Bass Inventory:

• Aria Sinsonido Fretless Travel Bass w/gig bag $395
• Conklin Groove Tools GT4, transparent red finish, w/hard case $650
• 2011 Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay H Model 130, vintage sunburst finish, rosewood fretboard, 3-band EQ, w/orig. hard case $1,475
• 2017 Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH, firemist purple finish, maple fretboard, black hardware, all stock, w/orig. hard case $1,800
• 2004 G&L ASAT Semi-Hollow bass, 3-tone sunburst finish, maple fretboard, w/orig. hard case $1,200
• 2006 Hofner 500/1-62L-O Violin bass, old sunburst finish, w/violin bass bag $1,550 (left-handed)
• 2017 Ibanez SRH500, dragon eye flat finish $550
• Peavey Void IV bass, black finish, w/gig bag $275
• Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34 Ash M2, natural ash body, roasted maple neck, w/orig. gig bag $595
• Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Series StingRay RAY4, vintage sunburst satin finish, maple fretboard $275
• 2000 Warwick Thumb Bass NT 4, neck-through design, made in Germany, w/orig. hard case & gig bag $1,995

 

[lomo]

My .02: you won't know what you want in a bass (other than aesthetics) until you have been playing for a while. Think about it..how will you know if a particular body shape or neck profile or string spacing (to give a few examples) feels good without having experienced several for a long enough period? My advice is to get a cheap used Ibanez (since you say you like them), have it set up properly, and focus on playing for 6-12 months before thinking about a higher quality machine. That said, I will candidly admit that when I asked my guitar buddies for advice on buying my 1st bass (at 40, 19 years ago).....they gave me great advice that I only understood to be spot on years later, which I ignored at the time, and wasted plenty of $$$ by doing so. They said: buy a cheap used Fender. It's the industry standard, will be excellent to learn on and will hold its' value. Instead I reasoned I should buy an acoustic bass guitar.....because that way I wouldn't have to invest in an amp and could pump my whole budget into the bass.......it took me 3 weeks to realize the ABG was an ergonomic nightmare which I lost money on selling before I bought a cheap Spector import and small combo. The Spector is long gone. 3 years later I switched to 5-string....2 years after that I got into fanned frets......2 after that I realized how much more comfortable a very light instrument felt.........my journey has been long and fun, but expensive.
Happy thumpin' and welcome !

 

[Relsom]

My .02. Play what you can and buy what inspires you the most. I agree with chris b that you will eventually own a Precision, but don't sweat it. I was playing 20 years before owning my 1st. Fender. Lots of good basses out there that don't start with a backwards "F" on the logo.

Edit: I saw the "inventory" list posted at the nearby shop. If you go you will likely notice the build quality is quite exceptional on the Ernie Ball Music Man offerings. They do feel great and play great.... make sure you listen to them plugged in. There's a signature sound that some people don't like and find difficult to dial out.

 

[SolarisMinor]

Im in Paso also go to Lighting Joes in AG 40 min drive tons of options to try out
Lightning Joe's Guitar Heaven

Used 4-String Electric Bass Inventory:

• Aria Sinsonido Fretless Travel Bass w/gig bag $395
• Conklin Groove Tools GT4, transparent red finish, w/hard case $650
• 2011 Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay H Model 130, vintage sunburst finish, rosewood fretboard, 3-band EQ, w/orig. hard case $1,475
• 2017 Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Special HH, firemist purple finish, maple fretboard, black hardware, all stock, w/orig. hard case $1,800
• 2004 G&L ASAT Semi-Hollow bass, 3-tone sunburst finish, maple fretboard, w/orig. hard case $1,200
• 2006 Hofner 500/1-62L-O Violin bass, old sunburst finish, w/violin bass bag $1,550 (left-handed)
• 2017 Ibanez SRH500, dragon eye flat finish $550
• Peavey Void IV bass, black finish, w/gig bag $275
• Sterling by Music Man StingRay RAY34 Ash M2, natural ash body, roasted maple neck, w/orig. gig bag $595
• Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. Series StingRay RAY4, vintage sunburst satin finish, maple fretboard $275
• 2000 Warwick Thumb Bass NT 4, neck-through design, made in Germany, w/orig. hard case & gig bag $1,995

Excellent info! Didn't even think to check AG. I'll check it out ASAP! Do you know any good teachers in Paso?

 

[SoCal80s]

You won't know what you like until you've spent time on a couple different basses. Buy a couple different low-cost ones first and you can upgrade to your dream bass later - when you know what it is. Ibanez, Schecter, and Squier make great low-price basses.

 

[mike buzzetti]

Excellent info! Didn't even think to check AG. I'll check it out ASAP! Do you know any good teachers in Paso?

Justinpecot

 

[BadSanta1281]

Just chiming in to give two thumbs up for Lightning Joe's.

Great family run store and great people.

 

[BlueTalon]

I have up $1500.00, but I have read so many reviews about so many instruments my head is spinning. I have always liked Ibanez. Was never a big Fender fan. Looking at 4 strings basses from Sire, Washburn, Warwick, Spector, Shecter, Yamaha, Ibanez, etc.

With your budget, you could get a reeeeally nice Ibanex or Schecter. If you know those fit your hands, that's what I'd recommend. Just find the nicest Ibby or Schecter for the money you feel comfortable spending. Better to play in person before buying, but you can buy online with confidence from a reputable online store.

Pay no attention to P-bass pushers.

 

[SolarisMinor]

With your budget, you could get a reeeeally nice Ibanex or Schecter. If you know those fit your hands, that's what I'd recommend. Just find the nicest Ibby or Schecter for the money you feel comfortable spending. Better to play in person before buying, but you can buy online with confidence from a reputable online store.

Pay no attention to P-bass pushers.

Yes indeed. I have been eye-balling this one since yesterday....

Ibanez SR2600CBB SR Premium 4-String Electric Bass - Cerulean Blue Burst - Used | Reverb

 

[jd56hawk]

I'd recommend you try a few dozen basses, starting with this one if possible.
You just might discover you won't have to try anything else.

Reverend Thundergun

 

[ElBecko59]

Yes indeed. I have been eye-balling this one since yesterday....

Ibanez SR2600CBB SR Premium 4-String Electric Bass - Cerulean Blue Burst - Used | Reverb

FYI if buying online , Buy from a company with a good return policy so you can try before you buy , I'd also buy from Sweetwater before that listed reverb seller for great customer service and besides they often list many of the same bass so you get to choose the exact bass you want from sweetwater

 

[SolarisMinor]

FYI if buying online , Buy from a company with a good return policy so you can try before you buy , I'd also buy from Sweetwater before that listed reverb seller for great customer service and besides they often list many of the same bass so you get to choose the exact bass you want from sweetwater

Excellent advice! I do buy a lot of my drum gear from Sweetwater.

One of the drawbacks to a country life is the lack of retail options, but it is so well worth the trade off. I lived in Orange County for 45 years and you can get anything you want behind the Orange Curtain. But, out here on my ranch, I have peace and quiet. The kind of peace and quiet you couldn't buy for $10,000,000.00 in OC.

Thanks to all the online competition and free shipping, most things are just a few clicks away. If I buy online, I'll be sure to make sure returns are reasonable. I am heading down to Lightning Joes on Tuesday though!