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Need a bass for work

What's the best choice?

  • Buy the exact same make/model you have now until you learn what you're doing.

    Votes: 2 2.9%

  • Buy any old 4-string. After all, you're a beginner and can't tell the difference.

    Votes: 1 1.5%

  • Buy a "nice" 4-string. Get what you want. You'll thank me later.

    Votes: 14 20.6%

  • Buy another 4-string, but get something different, like a shorty or P-bass.

    Votes: 7 10.3%

  • Take your 4-string to work, and play the 5 at home. You'll eventually get good at both.

    Votes: 16 23.5%

  • Since you're planning to go to 5-strings eventually, just take the plunge and buy a 5 now.

    Votes: 19 27.9%

  • Don't do anything. Just wait until you get home and practice on the exact same instrument.

    Votes: 9 13.2%
  • Total voters
    68
#21
Greenman72 said:
OK. Here's my story:
I'm a newbie. Started lessons 3-4 months ago. I currently own a "beginner" bass. It's an Aria Pro II that I got for $250. It's a decent entry-level bass. Eventually, I plan to get a "good" one. But as a total noob, I don't really know what I like just yet.


Knowing that--I need to buy another bass to keep at work, and I'm trying to figure out what to do. (Note - for the Amplug to work well, it has to be a passive bass.)
- Should I try to buy the exact same make/model as my current one? Should I try to get a different style of bass, like a P-bass? Is there any value to having a variety of basses? (Keep in mind that I'm still in my first few months.)
- Should I just buy another "beginner" bass? Or should I step up and buy a "good" bass, and hopefully grow into it? (For the record, Ibanez and Yamaha both have entry-level instruments for entry-level price.)
- Any other tips, tricks, or advice? (Short scale? Acoustic? How do you tune it if you don't have an amp? Or should I just buy a cheap amp, like a Rumble 15?)

Just curious to hear your thoughts.

(edit - for the record, I already have two basses. I have the aforementioned 4-string, and I have a nice five-string, a Yamaha TRBX605. My plan is to eventually move to 5-string, because of the genre I like to play. I know some people say you should go straight to 5, and others say to learn on a 4 first. I plan on doing the latter. Is it advisable for a newbie to learn on both 4 and 5? Or should you just stick with one until you get it figured out?)
Click to expand...
The first thing I'd recommend is DON'T SPEND MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND. As you're finding out, you can spend a whole lot of money on bass very quickly. Your first comment has the nugget of wisdom -- you don't know what you like yet. You have two basses, so you can keep one of them at work. Play them until you figure out exactly what you like about them, and exactly what you don't like about them. You can check out other basses in guitar stores also, and make notes of what you like and don't like about each bass you play. Eventually you'll be in a position to buy another bass, and you will have a far greater chance of having it work for you in every way.

Regarding the 4-string or 5-string: When I was young, 5-strings were a brand new thing, and most stores didn't even have any. Today, they are ubiquitous. If the type of music you want to play is best suited with a 5-string, then go ahead and start with that. They're only marginally more expensive than a 4-string, you can get strings for them anywhere, etc. There's no reason not to.
 
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#22
Greenman72 said:
Or should you just stick with one until you get it figured out?
Click to expand...
Yes, the 5.

Go play everything you can that's local and you can afford. I love Ibanez SRs, so one of those would be my first choice, but the point of trying as many as you can, is to find out what you prefer the feel of - tone is far less important than ergonomics or feel.
 
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#23
BlueTalon said:
The first thing I'd recommend is DON'T SPEND MONEY YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND. As you're finding out, you can spend a whole lot of money on bass very quickly. Your first comment has the nugget of wisdom -- you don't know what you like yet. You have two basses, so you can keep one of them at work. Play them until you figure out exactly what you like about them, and exactly what you don't like about them. You can check out other basses in guitar stores also, and make notes of what you like and don't like about each bass you play. Eventually you'll be in a position to buy another bass, and you will have a far greater chance of having it work for you in every way.

Regarding the 4-string or 5-string: When I was young, 5-strings were a brand new thing, and most stores didn't even have any. Today, they are ubiquitous. If the type of music you want to play is best suited with a 5-string, then go ahead and start with that. They're only marginally more expensive than a 4-string, you can get strings for them anywhere, etc. There's no reason not to.
Click to expand...

I endorse this advice.
Especially this sentence:
"You have two basses, so you can keep one of them at work."
Also the advice above to wait a year before buying more gear is good.
Also!
A headstock tuner works without an amp.
 
#24
Greenman72 said:
OK. Here's my story:
I'm a newbie. Started lessons 3-4 months ago. I currently own a "beginner" bass. It's an Aria Pro II that I got for $250. It's a decent entry-level bass. Eventually, I plan to get a "good" one. But as a total noob, I don't really know what I like just yet.

I just bought an Amplug and a set of good headphones, so now I can pick up the bass while I'm at work without disturbing anyone. Plus, I can music from my phone through the headphones simultaneously. Winner!

Knowing that--I need to buy another bass to keep at work, and I'm trying to figure out what to do. (Note - for the Amplug to work well, it has to be a passive bass.)
- Should I try to buy the exact same make/model as my current one? Should I try to get a different style of bass, like a P-bass? Is there any value to having a variety of basses? (Keep in mind that I'm still in my first few months.)
- Should I just buy another "beginner" bass? Or should I step up and buy a "good" bass, and hopefully grow into it? (For the record, Ibanez and Yamaha both have entry-level instruments for entry-level price.)
- Any other tips, tricks, or advice? (Short scale? Acoustic? How do you tune it if you don't have an amp? Or should I just buy a cheap amp, like a Rumble 15?)

Just curious to hear your thoughts.

(edit - for the record, I already have two basses. I have the aforementioned 4-string, and I have a nice five-string, a Yamaha TRBX605. My plan is to eventually move to 5-string, because of the genre I like to play. I know some people say you should go straight to 5, and others say to learn on a 4 first. I plan on doing the latter. Is it advisable for a newbie to learn on both 4 and 5? Or should you just stick with one until you get it figured out?)
Click to expand...
I always kept a bass at work when the job allowed, a decent Squier sufficed. If you need to practice with a amp a headphone amp is the way to go but often I didn't even bother with that.
 
#25
Hey having a work bass is a right of passage.

I'm always looking for that "better than what I have" work bass.

Now I have a Schecter Sam Bettley signature model that I'm selling for a passive Jazz or Precision.

Id buy a better/higher quality bass, and make the Aria your work bass.
IMG_3362.jpeg
 
#26
Play the Yamaha 5 if you want to play 5 string. There's absolutely no advantage to "learning the 4 string first". In fact, I'd argue (after 37yrs of doing this myself) that there is a distinct disadvantage to that attitude. You'll never be ready if you keep waiting till you're ready.

As to one at home and one at work, where are you going to get the most dedicated practice? Use the 5 string where you'll have the most focus and use the 4 string at the *other* place.
 
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#31
Greenman72 said:
OK. Here's my story:
I'm a newbie. Started lessons 3-4 months ago. I currently own a "beginner" bass. It's an Aria Pro II that I got for $250. It's a decent entry-level bass. Eventually, I plan to get a "good" one. But as a total noob, I don't really know what I like just yet.

I just bought an Amplug and a set of good headphones, so now I can pick up the bass while I'm at work without disturbing anyone. Plus, I can music from my phone through the headphones simultaneously. Winner!

Knowing that--I need to buy another bass to keep at work, and I'm trying to figure out what to do. (Note - for the Amplug to work well, it has to be a passive bass.)
- Should I try to buy the exact same make/model as my current one? Should I try to get a different style of bass, like a P-bass? Is there any value to having a variety of basses? (Keep in mind that I'm still in my first few months.)
- Should I just buy another "beginner" bass? Or should I step up and buy a "good" bass, and hopefully grow into it? (For the record, Ibanez and Yamaha both have entry-level instruments for entry-level price.)
- Any other tips, tricks, or advice? (Short scale? Acoustic? How do you tune it if you don't have an amp? Or should I just buy a cheap amp, like a Rumble 15?)

Just curious to hear your thoughts.

(edit - for the record, I already have two basses. I have the aforementioned 4-string, and I have a nice five-string, a Yamaha TRBX605. My plan is to eventually move to 5-string, because of the genre I like to play. I know some people say you should go straight to 5, and others say to learn on a 4 first. I plan on doing the latter. Is it advisable for a newbie to learn on both 4 and 5? Or should you just stick with one until you get it figured out?)
Click to expand...
Can we see a photo of the Aria? Curious which model it is.
 
#33
My number one is a Fender P Bass. But my backup bass gets a lot of use. Because it sounds good, nice playability, and is compact.

It's a Hohner B2B I got used. It has stock PJ pickups but it is Steinberger shaped with licensed bridge, so good enough quality, stable neck. I do not care that it has a much slimmer neck or closer string spacing. Vive la difference. I don't desire a second P (probably a lesser bass anyway).

Because of the small body, and it's not too precious, for me, it's a great back up bass to keep in the car during gigs. Grab for a jam. Use for a little couch bass through a fender mustang mini amp. And have as an electric on hand to supplement when I'm mainly playing my double bass.

So, IMHO, an additional bass that adds to your stable with some new affordance, and for at work, something compact seems useful.
 
#34
Buy what you can afford and inspires you to play more....leave the one you love the least at work. Don't bother with acoustic cause they don't sound that great without a amp and they don't travel well. Taste change...every bass I've bought over the decades was my #1 when I got it and then I moved on.
I've played high end, cheapies, 5's, 4's etc... some players are lucky enough to find their bass day one.... others like me took decades.
Funny thing is after playing every new fancy thing since the 80's I found my thing in a passive 4 string fretless through a small tube amp...basic 50's tech. Go figure.
My humble opinion.:bassist:
 
#36
Rottie Roo Roo said:
Sorry to be that guy, but I've never had an air-conditioned job. Do they really let you just pick up a bass and start playing on company time? I'd probably get fired if i did that while operating a crane
Click to expand...
You simply hook your bass to a midi device, adjust the output to drive certain signals to operate a crane, two birds, one stone.
 
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#37
Gluvhand said:
Can we see a photo of the Aria? Curious which model it is.
Click to expand...
I'm guessing it's a Detroit model bought from Sam Ash thru reverb. Of course I could be wrong. What is it was an SB- Elite?

But I'll throw in my 2 strings. Go to the pawn shop and buy a $50 bass, find someone that can show you how to set it up and you will have a good instrument for the office. Or you can look into the Glarry - Harley Benton options and grab something somewhat playable for just over $100. YMMV (I've never played Glarrys or HB, but some folks here, swear by them.)
 
#38
Two pages and no one has said that you need a G&L Tribute?
Then let me be 'that guy'

A G&L Kiloton Tribute (with tapewound strings) is the perfect bass (at the perfect price:quality ratio) to have: in the office, in the holiday house, at the in-law's place, in your childhood bedroom, in your mate's garage, one upstairs, one downstairs...

really G&L should sell them in six-packs!
 
#39
Bass for work? It would not have lasted five minute in my last job. (probably be a pile of wood chip - I was a tree lopper). I did not vote, as there were no carrots. However, if you want one for work, a cheapie that matters not if it gets "lost". You can give it a good setup and play it. All you are doing is practice, whilst your "good" bass (the one at home) can be "the one", until GAS sets in again.

Note: "All you are doing is Practice" does not belittle the need to practice. You NEED to practice until you CAN'T get it wrong!
 
#40
You have one bass. We bass players have what vocalists would love to have - the ability to switch voices just by swapping a piece of gear - they would kill for that. Don't throw that away by having two of the same bass - get something different.

That said, whatever you get should be something that inspires you to play, so you will actually practice. That is more important than the color, the price, the brand - everything. A bass that makes you want to play, you will practice more, and THAT (the practicing more part) is the real key to being a better bass player.
 
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