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need help buying a bass

S

secretmana

Guest
Aug 20, 2015
5
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#1
Hi, my name is Danny and im a guitar player looking to broaden my horizons by introducing bass to myself. Im looking to buy a fretless acoustic 5 strings ( dont want.anything else) but the problem is I dont want to spend over $500 ausd. If I need to I can spend.more but not too much.
This will be.my first bass but I know my way around a guitar ( been playing for 5 years) im just looking for a good bass thats fairly cheap and matches the specs I want.
if I could get a wawrick rockbass alien 5 for 5-600 id be over the moon but I dont see too many secondhand ones about.
So uh any reccomendations would be great.
Cheers.
 
#2
This is apparently 272.3514 in Australian dollars. I don't know if the seller would ship to Australia, but here's the cheapest fretless acoustic 5 string I could find.
Fretless 5 String Acoustic Electric Bass | Reverb
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There's this on Australian ebay for $529.81 + $46.44 shipping in Australian dollars.
Michael Kelly Dragonfly 5 String Fretless Acoustic Bass MKDF5FL Smokeburst | eBay
$_57.jpg
 
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#4
hrodbert696 said:
OP, you're new, so I don't know if it occurred to you to do a search, but you are aware that an ABG is generally not loud enough live to compete with an acoustic guitar, yes?
Click to expand...
Good point. Why exactly do you want an acoustic? Just because? Or do you plan on playing it in a band and think you won't need an amp? I'm not saying don't get one but lots of people are under the mistaken impression they can get useful unamplified volume from an acoustic bass guitar.
 
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#8
Gorn said:
Good point. Why exactly do you want an acoustic? Just because? Or do you plan on playing it in a band and think you won't need an amp? I'm not saying don't get one but lots of people are under the mistaken impression they can get useful unamplified volume from an acoustic bass guitar.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all of these replies, ive checked out the michael kellys and im considering one. They look nice.
And im planning on using an amplifier with it, I just want the warmth an acoustic offers, and not have to depend on an amplifier to hear it. Ill just be using it at home for now, by myself to practise on.
 
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#9
Where in Australia are you? IMO it's always best to try before you buy, and I would be particularly cautious with an ABG because it won't be easy to sell it if you don't like it (the used market for basses in Oz is pretty small).

Most capital cities will have a big chain store (e.g. Allens Billy Hyde, Gallins etc.) where you could go to try out some instruments. HOWEVER - these big chain stores may not have any ABG's in store. They tend to cater to wannabe guitar hero's, so they stock shed-loads of Epiphone Les Paul guitars but very little of interest for bass players.

The best places to physically pick up and play ABG's may be a "boutique" store, like Bass Centre / Acoustic Centre in Melbourne.

If you want to go down the internet-only route, then there are a lot of internet-only stores that are based in Australia. But generally, places like Bass Centre will also do internet orders and match the prices of the internet-only stores.

I am not affiliated with any of the stores named above. I generally shop around for the best deals, but Bass Centre is close to me and has never let me down.
 
#10
Jughead6 said:
Where in Australia are you? IMO it's always best to try before you buy, and I would be particularly cautious with an ABG because it won't be easy to sell it if you don't like it (the used market for basses in Oz is pretty small).

Most capital cities will have a big chain store (e.g. Allens Billy Hyde, Gallins etc.) where you could go to try out some instruments. HOWEVER - these big chain stores may not have any ABG's in store. They tend to cater to wannabe guitar hero's, so they stock shed-loads of Epiphone Les Paul guitars but very little of interest for bass players.

The best places to physically pick up and play ABG's may be a "boutique" store, like Bass Centre / Acoustic Centre in Melbourne.

If you want to go down the internet-only route, then there are a lot of internet-only stores that are based in Australia. But generally, places like Bass Centre will also do internet orders and match the prices of the internet-only stores.

I am not affiliated with any of the stores named above. I generally shop around for the best deals, but Bass Centre is close to me and has never let me down.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info mate, I live In coominya qld. Hour and a half drive from brisbane.
Yeah ive realised that not too many places cater for bass players. Ive been looking around ebay and gumtree for some secondhand basses but theres so very few options
 
#11
Hmm... you may have little choice but to buy over the internet.

Some Aussie stores have a pretty regular flow of good quality secondhand basses (again I'm thinking of Bass Centre, because I have sold some of my secondhand stuff to them before). Maybe send them an email and tell them what you're looking for? They may be able to source something, or at least give you some guidance. I've bought stuff from Gumtree, but if I am unsure of myself I generally prefer to buy secondhand stuff that has been "filtered" via an expert.

Good luck, and welcome to TB!
 
#12
+1 for bass centre.

FWIW i have tried a fretless alien warwick bass, and although it sounded nice, it was so quiet. you will definitly need to amp one up to hear it in a band setting.
 

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