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Need some advice on buying a bass.
- Thread starter funk_engineer
- Start date
+1 John, as always, made great points here.
I would say just keep it simple and go with a Mexcan Fender Jazz bass. If you can find one for cheap, go Japanese. Jazz basses are extremely versitle, and can be used in just about any type of music.
I would say just keep it simple and go with a Mexcan Fender Jazz bass. If you can find one for cheap, go Japanese. Jazz basses are extremely versitle, and can be used in just about any type of music.
I know that this is an old thread but I always thought to myself that there should be a standard set of requisites for purchasing an instrument 
.
1) What type of music are you going to be learning to play on this instrument???
2) What type of playing style will you be aiming for (fingerstyle, pick, slapping, etc..)???
3) Will you be playing at home sitting down or with a band standing up; will you be playing live in a studio???
4) What's your budget; or how much are you willing to spend on an instrument purchase???
Of course there are many finer details to take into account but these are four general requisites that I believe help to narrow down the list a bit
...
. 1) What type of music are you going to be learning to play on this instrument???
2) What type of playing style will you be aiming for (fingerstyle, pick, slapping, etc..)???
3) Will you be playing at home sitting down or with a band standing up; will you be playing live in a studio???
4) What's your budget; or how much are you willing to spend on an instrument purchase???
Of course there are many finer details to take into account but these are four general requisites that I believe help to narrow down the list a bit
...
Welcome to bassdom.
For funk, esepcially if you are going to slap, I prefer the J. P's have less top end and the slaps are a little muted for my taste. I have slapped a P, but prefer a J style.
Neck wise, I prefer the narrower spacing on a J, but this is largely because my main basses these days are fairly narrow spaced 6s, so there feels like too much empty space on a P. THat said, I played a P exclusively for about 5 years and never felt the neck was cumbersome.
As for which ones to look for, Play everything you can affoard and take home the one that moves you. Generally, MIA>MIM>Squire, but I have played individual MIMs that were better than certain MIAs I have played (not across the board mind you, but I actually liked the best MIM I played better than the average MIA, but not as well as the best of them). Also, don't limit yourself to fender. There are plenty of great brands out there. I personally think the Yamaha BB414 is the best bass on a budget right now. But it is all pretty subjective.
Edit.
Poo,I should have looked at the post date...
For funk, esepcially if you are going to slap, I prefer the J. P's have less top end and the slaps are a little muted for my taste. I have slapped a P, but prefer a J style.
Neck wise, I prefer the narrower spacing on a J, but this is largely because my main basses these days are fairly narrow spaced 6s, so there feels like too much empty space on a P. THat said, I played a P exclusively for about 5 years and never felt the neck was cumbersome.
As for which ones to look for, Play everything you can affoard and take home the one that moves you. Generally, MIA>MIM>Squire, but I have played individual MIMs that were better than certain MIAs I have played (not across the board mind you, but I actually liked the best MIM I played better than the average MIA, but not as well as the best of them). Also, don't limit yourself to fender. There are plenty of great brands out there. I personally think the Yamaha BB414 is the best bass on a budget right now. But it is all pretty subjective.
Edit.
Poo,I should have looked at the post date...
I'm a complete noob to bass guitar, too. I'm originally a drummer, been playing for 6 years. And bass has always been something that I've wanted to play. I'm looking at getting a bass, and the only big names I know are really Epiphone, Squier, Fender, and Gibson.
I've been looking online at some basses, and I came across Behringer and Hartke. Never heard of 'em before. If anyone has played them before, is it worth it? I think they were selling the sets at 250$. Bass, patchchord, amp, gig bag, the whole nine yards.
Oh. And regarding that kid who said "Bass follows bass drum". Not true. Bass is a melody unto itself
I've been looking online at some basses, and I came across Behringer and Hartke. Never heard of 'em before. If anyone has played them before, is it worth it? I think they were selling the sets at 250$. Bass, patchchord, amp, gig bag, the whole nine yards.
Oh. And regarding that kid who said "Bass follows bass drum". Not true. Bass is a melody unto itself
HELP HELP!!
hello, this is my first time on talk bass but reading your replies to funk engineer you all seem really helpful so was wondering if you could help me out...
i used to play US jazz but had it stolen, didn't play again for a couple of years then joined a band and borrowed a squier to play on and suprisingly enough really enjoyed it! i am ready to purchase my own again but not sure what to do, i have a j-retro preamp and bad ass II bridge in my possession but limited funds apart from that. these are both direct replacements for jazz so should i buy mexican bass and upgrade or can i buy squier and upgrade? if i get squier i can afford to put some SCN pickups in but if i buy MIM bass i can't. also if i got squier i would have a bass ready to play with upgrades and can save up for a better neck and schaller tuners to put on it which i assume would be better than the stock neck on the mexican. not sure what to do- help help help!
remember though initial funds are a problem and the answer i probably want to hear is "buy a squier and stick your upgrades on and you'll never need to buy another guitar again" but if thats not true then tell me. with all the uprades i've got i don't want the actual thing falling apart after 12 months but at the same time don't want to spend more money on a mexican when i won't be using any of the hardware from it.
hello, this is my first time on talk bass but reading your replies to funk engineer you all seem really helpful so was wondering if you could help me out...
i used to play US jazz but had it stolen, didn't play again for a couple of years then joined a band and borrowed a squier to play on and suprisingly enough really enjoyed it! i am ready to purchase my own again but not sure what to do, i have a j-retro preamp and bad ass II bridge in my possession but limited funds apart from that. these are both direct replacements for jazz so should i buy mexican bass and upgrade or can i buy squier and upgrade? if i get squier i can afford to put some SCN pickups in but if i buy MIM bass i can't. also if i got squier i would have a bass ready to play with upgrades and can save up for a better neck and schaller tuners to put on it which i assume would be better than the stock neck on the mexican. not sure what to do- help help help!
remember though initial funds are a problem and the answer i probably want to hear is "buy a squier and stick your upgrades on and you'll never need to buy another guitar again" but if thats not true then tell me. with all the uprades i've got i don't want the actual thing falling apart after 12 months but at the same time don't want to spend more money on a mexican when i won't be using any of the hardware from it.
I need some help deciding what kind of bass is right for me.
I am in a doom metal band and I play with my fingers, we tune down to B and I need something that is really heavy sounding and has great sustain, does anyone have any suggestions?
I don't really want to spend much more than $500.
I am in a doom metal band and I play with my fingers, we tune down to B and I need something that is really heavy sounding and has great sustain, does anyone have any suggestions?
I don't really want to spend much more than $500.
Hi...this thread looks petered out but I'll give itt a try...I"m a 60 year old waiting for a liver transplant....going crazy with bore dom. I want to bu a bass to fool around on. I have small hands and fingers. I think a 30' scale would beright up my ally.
my favorite basssist is Phil Lesch. Iwant to play along with my music collection which is quite varied. I dont expect to ever play in front of any one and just want to have fun.
Could you please give me some fedback on the Hammer Slamer, Gretch thunderjet, the squire bronco and the SX short neck. Build quaility, sound quaility, durability , one vs. 2 pisk ups and personal prefrences are all welcome I am in a rural arera where therare no stors that carry these models so I am afraid I flying blind. Would you be kind enough to be my hands eyes and ears...I know I am asking alot, but I see a short bass forum and read the whole thing but it is noe closed or I would have bugged them. please a little help in any of these areas would be much appreciated and contribute to my sanity....many thanx...peace and music, mack
my favorite basssist is Phil Lesch. Iwant to play along with my music collection which is quite varied. I dont expect to ever play in front of any one and just want to have fun.
Could you please give me some fedback on the Hammer Slamer, Gretch thunderjet, the squire bronco and the SX short neck. Build quaility, sound quaility, durability , one vs. 2 pisk ups and personal prefrences are all welcome I am in a rural arera where therare no stors that carry these models so I am afraid I flying blind. Would you be kind enough to be my hands eyes and ears...I know I am asking alot, but I see a short bass forum and read the whole thing but it is noe closed or I would have bugged them. please a little help in any of these areas would be much appreciated and contribute to my sanity....many thanx...peace and music, mack
Ok can somebody please suggest a good bass for me to upgrade to from a starter ibanez. I play jazz 80% of the time and then some funk, rock, and things like that. So a good jazz bass preferably between $200-300. I don't personally care much if it's an ibanez or fender or what just as long as I don't get 50 responses saying "Get a MIM fender jazz bass!!" So if you guys could suggest a good 200-300 dollar 2nd bass of probably intermediate quality and level, good for jazz, and if it's ibanez all the better, I would be very grateful. I am essentially looking for a good bass to last me my high school: jazz band/gigging career. Thank you everybody, and I just joined TB and I LOVE it so thanks.
Yeah so I play in a jazz-reggae outfit, think ernest raglin but with some panic at the disco influences. I've been playing the tuba so far but the band leader tells me that it doesnt really give the right quote unquote vibe, so here I am. My shaman witchdoctor tells me that talkbass is full of caring and helpful individuals so I was wondering if you guys could help me for my first bass? I'm selling my tuba to buy the bass so Ill have about a grand to spend. (check ebay listing if interested. http://cgi.ebay.com/MIRAPHONE-tuba-...Instruments&hash=item41515f117e#ht_500wt_1025)
So what bass do you think would be best for a tuba player? I've heard the jazz neck is easier to play but I have pancake hands with sausage fingers so perhaps the p neck would surfice? I kinda consider myself a ninja wacker rather than a slapper, so that throws a spanner in the tuba.
Thanks heaps for your helps!!!
So what bass do you think would be best for a tuba player? I've heard the jazz neck is easier to play but I have pancake hands with sausage fingers so perhaps the p neck would surfice? I kinda consider myself a ninja wacker rather than a slapper, so that throws a spanner in the tuba.
Thanks heaps for your helps!!!
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