scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
That needed to be said, too. I've been playing for 35 years and I've never spent more than $600 on a bass guitar.
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Need bass guitar recommendations (All details inside)
- Thread starter tunabolt
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That needed to be said, too. I've been playing for 35 years and I've never spent more than $600 on a bass guitar.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
What bass comes with a pickup cover in this day and age? And not all Stingrays have one pickup.
Unfortunately, as a complete newbie to bass guitar, it is going to be very hard for you to tell the difference between how a bass can feel and how it feels in the store due to a poor setup.
As some above have said, don't spend a bunch on your first bass. Get a good, solid bass, learn to play, then go back out looking for that "right" bass.
- John
As some above have said, don't spend a bunch on your first bass. Get a good, solid bass, learn to play, then go back out looking for that "right" bass.
- John
4 pages and no one has yet pointed out that ALL of the videos posted on the first page with the exception of Chic were done with keyboards? 
C'mon TB...yer slackin'... 
C'mon TB...yer slackin'... My Ric came with a pickup cover. admittedly my EBMM HH has as much space taken up by pickups as my ric, but the standard stingray has less space taken up under the strings than my Ric. For me the Stingray is a far superior bass for slap of the two, tonally, and comfortwise. I'd lean towards the Stringray over the Jazz bass as well. Again... that's just my opinion of my basses. They're all set up for different situations so I could probably do a setup that would make the Jazz more slap worthy.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I'd still consider a lakland over an EBMM, Gotta agree that spending 1500 for a learner is kind of crazy.
That would eliminate the ric, the EBMM and make some Jazz basses questionable.
Someone else also mentioned Sires. If you go with a sterling, or a G&L Tribute you can get a nice bass at a reasonable price...
A lot of people will disagree on a lot of things... but most will say the same thing...
Try as many basses as you can, and find what works for YOU.
That would eliminate the ric, the EBMM and make some Jazz basses questionable.
Someone else also mentioned Sires. If you go with a sterling, or a G&L Tribute you can get a nice bass at a reasonable price...
A lot of people will disagree on a lot of things... but most will say the same thing...
Try as many basses as you can, and find what works for YOU.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
Random thought. I think the one design factor that makes a bass more or less slappable to me is the space between the strings and the body right around the neck pickup (if there is one). If there's too much, I founder, searching for the plucking string. If there's too little, I don't have enough room to maneuver. Aside from the fact that different basses have different EQ responses, some being more pleasant to slap than others, that's the physical challenge from bass to bass.
Can you post clips of slap bass that you like/you’re trying to do? That should help narrow it down...
but just try as many basses as you can, and pick the one that appeals most to you...
Also, don’t forget PJs. Like this Yamaha, seems really nice, should do everything you need, and seems to be available at your GC: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/BBP34-Electric-Bass.gc
but just try as many basses as you can, and pick the one that appeals most to you...
Also, don’t forget PJs. Like this Yamaha, seems really nice, should do everything you need, and seems to be available at your GC: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha/BBP34-Electric-Bass.gc
I love the Rick, always have ever since I was a kid- always thought it was one of the best looking basses I had seen growing up but playing a lot of funk music ala Louis Johnson, Marcus Miller, the Rick is not the ideal bass for the job, at least for me. That kind of decision and knowledge takes time.
I agree with many here that as a beginner, it may be hard to pick the right bass without getting some playing experience under your belt. Do you prefer a flat or a rounder radius on your fretboard? String spacing, heck 4 or 5 strings even - questions like this have answers that only come after some time with playing the bass. We can offer many suggestions, but ultimately, what is right for me, may not be the answer for you. My answer is find your path, but be patient and save your money. Buy used if you can, as you won't lose money at all and can often sell the instrument for the same price you paid for it as it's already used - it's difficult to find the right bass for you the first time around, but ideally each one should bring you closer to finding better basses each time, by being a better player yourself.
There are many good instruments to begin with and they're often not very expensive, find one that will encourage you to keep playing and to learn the instrument.
I agree with many here that as a beginner, it may be hard to pick the right bass without getting some playing experience under your belt. Do you prefer a flat or a rounder radius on your fretboard? String spacing, heck 4 or 5 strings even - questions like this have answers that only come after some time with playing the bass. We can offer many suggestions, but ultimately, what is right for me, may not be the answer for you. My answer is find your path, but be patient and save your money. Buy used if you can, as you won't lose money at all and can often sell the instrument for the same price you paid for it as it's already used - it's difficult to find the right bass for you the first time around, but ideally each one should bring you closer to finding better basses each time, by being a better player yourself.
There are many good instruments to begin with and they're often not very expensive, find one that will encourage you to keep playing and to learn the instrument.
I love funk but 95% finger style but if i want to slap i prefer these:
1- Jazz bass (i prefer flea or Geddy lee signature)
2- Yamaha Trb and BB series
3- Stingray
1- Jazz bass (i prefer flea or Geddy lee signature)
2- Yamaha Trb and BB series
3- Stingray
Just get the Thunderburd because it perfectly fits all the funky styles you wanna play. That, or the Ric.
Just get an OLP stingray for like $300 (best $300 bass ever IMO) then get it setup by someone who actually plays bass (preferably slaps it). Then use the rest of your money to buy a decent amp and a good cab.
You can get a pretty nice used one in your price range. Others have said not to spend a lot. While I agree with that, I also think that if you get a good one right out of the gate, you'll want to spend more time with it. A nice compromise is to definitely buy used. Then, if you don't care for it, turn it around for roughly the same price assuming you take good care of it. I've tried countless basses and have always ended back on the Fender Jazz.
I don't agree at all that you should get a 5-string. I played them for many years and ended up back on a 4. I certainly wouldn't get a 5-string for a slap bass. IMO, the string spacing is just too narrow. The extra range just isn't really worth it unless you play in a band. But that's me.
I don't agree at all that you should get a 5-string. I played them for many years and ended up back on a 4. I certainly wouldn't get a 5-string for a slap bass. IMO, the string spacing is just too narrow. The extra range just isn't really worth it unless you play in a band. But that's me.
I haven't read the whole thread, so my apologies if this has already been mentioned. check out ed friedland/ bass whisperer on YouTube. he has done some of the best bass reviews I've ever watched.
Don't base your purchase on just one video. The most versatile bass is likely a Precision with a J bass pickup at the bridge. With a decent amp and speakers you can get tones useful in many different styles of music. Second choice would be a Jazz Bass. My least favorite is the Thumb Bass. Very limited IMO despite the 2 pickups.
I'd go with a Stingray.
Listening to the clips above, a Stingray would be versatile enough to cover all those very nicely. It'll do smooth fat bass, it'll do bright slap, it'll do deep low end... it'll definitely suit all those songs.
Like you, I hated the look of the Stingray, but eventually I bit the bullet and it became my main bass about 10 years ago. There's something about it that makes it versatile without getting lost in options. Two pickup basses are good, of course, you find Jazz basses in every style of music... but I generally struggle to get it *just right* because with both pickups on full it loses midrange, which can make it disappear in the mix, so I need to work a bit harder at balancing the pickups right, and the tone control etc. A Stingray just works with minimal fuss, for me.
Have you tried a Thunderbird? Don't buy without trying one. Because of the body shape, with the strap button so far down the neck, it feels like the neck is very long compared to most other basses. It also often is a little imbalanced and have neck dive. I love the look, the sound, but uncomfortable to play, for me.
A black stingray with black pickguard and maple neck is classy AF.
Good choices, but the Ray34 will definitely be better suited, soundwise, for the music you posted. Either way, definitely try them before you choose. And keep your mind open, try other basses in the store, you may discover something else that you like better.
