Need Help Starting My New Bass Search

[dbsfgyd1]

Hello. I'm not a super talented bass player, and I'm only going to be playing with friends in a blues and blues rock cover band locally. However, I'm ready to ditch the starter bass I have now which I really do not like and buy one that I love playing and inspires me with the way it feels. I posted once or twice a while ago and have received some advice that I'd like to build on. The best advice is that I need to hold and play basses until I find what I love. For that, I am going to make the two hour drive to the Fort Wayne Sweetwater megastore. However, I have learned a couple of things from my old bass that I don't like which your hive mind experience might help me show up armed with a starter list of basses to try first.

Here's my main two gripes:

First, and I don't know if it's due to my playing style (I use my fingers and don't slap), but I can't stand how much percussive noise is generated when I play. Rather than hearing the note being played, you hear the note and the noises from my fingers on the strings. If I mute with my right hand, there's a percussive sound I don't like and just alternating fingers playing lines is too noisy for me. I want more note and less right hand noise.

Second, the G string and to a lesser extent the D string sound flat and without sustain in the lower/mid fret area (like 4-9 or so). When playing octaves or switching up an octave during a song, it suddenly sounds weak and tinny (tin-like) and less audible.

I'm happy with another "starter" bass as long as I love it. I have money but don't want to spend a lot due to my skill level and how engaged I'll be. I know for sure that there are at least a handful of basses under $700 that I'll love so I'm hoping that between you all and the bass playing sales person I'll be able to find one of them. Also, is there a certain type of string that will help me achieve the sound I've described?

I first bought a classic vibe squier jazz bass off Marketplace. I didn't love it due to what I described above so traded it for the same line but a p bass. The percussive noise was better, but still noticeable and I wished I could be even less. My problem with issue #2 remained. I just sold it so I've burnt that bridge. I am going to buy a new bass.

Advice I've received in a past thread about basses:

• Try the G&L lb-100
• The Lakland skyline 44-64 was suggested but is pretty pricey
• The Yamaha BBP34 was suggested but is pricey also
• Graphite reinforced necks were suggested to reduce dead spots at least a little
• Many used basses were suggested and best years discussed. I'm not sure how many used basses Sweetwater has, but if I'm going to go play a bunch of basses, I'm thinking most of them will be new

I don't care what brand or style it is as long as I like the sound and it's not too expensive. I'm happy to go used for sure. Hopefully reading over your responses will help me develop that list of where to start. Thanks so much!

The first thing I would do before you spend any money, is to make your problem with your bass isn’t your technique. Based on you post your problems could be also caused by a bad setup, your EQ, or old strings that need replacing, or any combination.

While this is talkbass, where discouraging members from buying new gear is highly discouraged, I think a little time invested ruling things out before you make that trip to FT Wayne might save you a buck or two in the long run. If nothing else, it might clarify your vision of what might make you more satisfied with your purchase.

I think the list of basses you posted when properly set up should suit.

 

[Sharko]

I understand your decision to sell your bass that needs some fretwork and buy that MIM P bass. It seems like a good deal if you can get it for $400. Given those options I think a lot of people here would do the same.

I also don’t think it will solve your issue of not liking the way your attack sounds when you play. Your bass may have some uneven frets, but you're not complaining about fret buzz on certain notes here. The problem you’re trying to solve and the problem the luthier are trying to solve sound like 2 different problems.

It might be that this p bass naturally has a different sound that you like better, but also you need to learn how to change the sound of your attack so that you can play different styles and play different instruments without falling apart. Strings, technique (including use of the tone knob), and EQ are how I’ve learned to change my attack over time.

 

[JimmyM]

I’m not going to suggest a particular bass or a setup since other people suggested it already. But I will suggest that you get used to the idea of some string noise. Technique can help make less of it, but bass is just a noisy instrument by nature. The good news is that it’s very hard to hear it in a mix.

 

[M-Mittlesteadt]

I've spent the last 40 years doing my own setups/repairs on all of my basses. Some of it can be challenging at first (like tapering fret height from the 12th fret on up where the truss rod or bridge height has very little to do with relief or action). I do my own fretwork, electronics, refinishing, hardware replacements, etc. I've even built my own bass bodies from scratch.

You can custom build your own at Warmoth, or even buy complete bass build "kits" that have everything you need to build your own from a kit. Fun to do.

It's actually kind of fun and a great learning experience customizing your own bass the way YOU want it.

But for now, whether you get a new bass or not, find someone who knows what they're doing AND listen to your concerns as a player. Most serious luthier's and setup/repair techs care a lot about what they do.

 

[groove pump]

I live in Kalamazoo, MI so there's only one tech in town as far as I know at Guitar Center. He's already looked at my bass and says it's got bigger problems that just needing a set up. When I posted about this eight or nine months ago, GC techs were roundly shat on so now I don't really know what to do other than bring it with me on a trip to the Fort Wayne Sweetwater and have someone there look it over while I play other basses. Any thoughts or advice?

I did read the entire thread. Aside from what you've already heard from our pals, a couple thoughts:

If you go to a shop like that Sweetwater store, sample different instruments. The tones they put out are one thing to consider, but something even more essential on my list is a decent fit. That includes how the contours, layout, weight, and balance all contribute to a recipe that's comfortable for me to play when I'm standing up and the bass is hanging on my shoulder.

If you're going to eventually want to play standing up, try these different instruments on a strap. If they don't want to balance well - "neck dive" is where the head stock wants to point down toward the floor unless your fretting hand supports it - that can be a serious nuisance and perhaps a red flag. I also used to put up with heavier basses, but now I'm 58 and well beyond my warrior years, so I don't give a second look to anything that's heavier than 9 lbs. even (with good balance on a strap).

Don't assume that a more narrow neck is "faster" or inherently easier to play. It might be great for you, but it might be a bit stressful for your particular hands if they need to scrunch up too much when fretting notes (even with rather low action). A few years ago I found a fantastic Japanese bass from a local seller, but after a few months of playing it, I was feeling more and more fretting hand pain and worried that I was headed for some sort of significant injury. When I switched back to an alternative with a wider neck, I was fine.

I sometimes make the unconscious mistake of trying to generate extra volume by playing harder; pressing on fretted notes with extra pressure and plucking the strings more heavily. That can get extra unwanted noises happening for me and also strain my hands too much. My solution here is to rely on my amp - the things that's supposed to throw my sound around. I've learned to turn it up loud enough that I have to play using lighter pressure and no hand strain.

In case you do some more bass shopping, one brand/line I'll strongly recommend is G&L Tribute. These are Indonesian-built alternatives to G&L's more premium gear built in the U.S. I've owned a few different guitars and basses from the Tribute series and the only reason that I don't still have any of them is that I didn't find the exact fit and weight that I wanted/needed to justify keeping them long-term. Have I played a couple of Tributes that I liked every bit as much as U.S. built G&L's?... Yes!!

 

[B String]

I live in Kalamazoo, MI so there's only one tech in town as far as I know at Guitar Center. He's already looked at my bass and says it's got bigger problems that just needing a set up. When I posted about this eight or nine months ago, GC techs were roundly shat on so now I don't really know what to do other than bring it with me on a trip to the Fort Wayne Sweetwater and have someone there look it over while I play other basses. Any thoughts or advice?

Sorry for what you're going through. This is a good example (for me) of why I would ever buy a new bass sight unseen. Again, when a student of mine bought a less expensive Fender bass at Guitar Center, I took him back to the store and had them bring out 3 or 4 other basses. (still in boxes) Out of all the basses I found ONE bass that didn't have "issues". We took it to "my guy" for a setup. That lower end Squire was as good a bass as most any I have ever played. Change the pickups and I would use it on any gig or session. My point... Have the tech look at it BEFORE you buy it. I didn't think Kalamazoo was that small of a city. I'm surprised there's only one store in the area that sells Fender basses. Hopefully you're getting it all resolved and you will have a Bass you love and enjoy making music with.

 

[B String]

I live in Kalamazoo, MI so there's only one tech in town as far as I know at Guitar Center. He's already looked at my bass and says it's got bigger problems that just needing a set up. When I posted about this eight or nine months ago, GC techs were roundly shat on so now I don't really know what to do other than bring it with me on a trip to the Fort Wayne Sweetwater and have someone there look it over while I play other basses. Any thoughts or advice?

"Mabey" If you bought the bass new you could make this a warrantee issue. Talkbass has had influence with a good number of Bass makers in the past. Perhaps getting to the company and letting them know the neck is unusable with backup from a repair person might get you a replacement neck. It's certainly worth the effort. jmho

 

[Davealicous]

I understand your decision to sell your bass that needs some fretwork and buy that MIM P bass. It seems like a good deal if you can get it for $400. Given those options I think a lot of people here would do the same.

I also don’t think it will solve your issue of not liking the way your attack sounds when you play. Your bass may have some uneven frets, but you're not complaining about fret buzz on certain notes here. The problem you’re trying to solve and the problem the luthier are trying to solve sound like 2 different problems.

It might be that this p bass naturally has a different sound that you like better, but also you need to learn how to change the sound of your attack so that you can play different styles and play different instruments without falling apart. Strings, technique (including use of the tone knob), and EQ are how I’ve learned to change my attack over time.

You and others have identified this as most likely my main problem, and I tend to agree with you all on that. Thanks so much for pointing this out. I think I'll book some lessons with a qualified bass instructor around here and see if I can find out what I'm doing wrong. Thanks so much!

 

[Davealicous]

I did read the entire thread. Aside from what you've already heard from our pals, a couple thoughts:

If you go to a shop like that Sweetwater store, sample different instruments. The tones they put out are one thing to consider, but something even more essential on my list is a decent fit. That includes how the contours, layout, weight, and balance all contribute to a recipe that's comfortable for me to play when I'm standing up and the bass is hanging on my shoulder.

If you're going to eventually want to play standing up, try these different instruments on a strap. If they don't want to balance well - "neck dive" is where the head stock wants to point down toward the floor unless your fretting hand supports it - that can be a serious nuisance and perhaps a red flag. I also used to put up with heavier basses, but now I'm 58 and well beyond my warrior years, so I don't give a second look to anything that's heavier than 9 lbs. even (with good balance on a strap).

Don't assume that a more narrow neck is "faster" or inherently easier to play. It might be great for you, but it might be a bit stressful for your particular hands if they need to scrunch up too much when fretting notes (even with rather low action). A few years ago I found a fantastic Japanese bass from a local seller, but after a few months of playing it, I was feeling more and more fretting hand pain and worried that I was headed for some sort of significant injury. When I switched back to an alternative with a wider neck, I was fine.

I sometimes make the unconscious mistake of trying to generate extra volume by playing harder; pressing on fretted notes with extra pressure and plucking the strings more heavily. That can get extra unwanted noises happening for me and also strain my hands too much. My solution here is to rely on my amp - the things that's supposed to throw my sound around. I've learned to turn it up loud enough that I have to play using lighter pressure and no hand strain.

In case you do some more bass shopping, one brand/line I'll strongly recommend is G&L Tribute. These are Indonesian-built alternatives to G&L's more premium gear built in the U.S. I've owned a few different guitars and basses from the Tribute series and the only reason that I don't still have any of them is that I didn't find the exact fit and weight that I wanted/needed to justify keeping them long-term. Have I played a couple of Tributes that I liked every bit as much as U.S. built G&L's?... Yes!!

Sorry for the late reply. Thanks so much for this post. Maybe down the road I'll go to sweetwater in Ft Wayne and go through the whole process. I guess it all depends on how serious I get about practicing all the time after I retire and playing out. For now, I just bought that MIM Fender P bass. I do want a much lighter bass at the end of the day as my back is degenerated now. I'm def stoked for your wise advice. Thanks so much.