New bass advice needed...

Sounds pretty extreme to buy such an expensive bass when you are just starting to play bass. Have you got any experience playing string instruments? Choosing instruments is always very personal, though I would advise looking for some second hand Music Man or Lakland and buy a cheapy amp.

 

I'm South African too

What sort of music do you play? Might help if we knew that.

 

I think your approach is a very good one-buying good equipment early on can save you a lot of money, If you have spent enough thaught on what exactly it is you need . or like in an instrument.
Do your research and do not hasten into it.
I am sure you can pick up a decent instrument for the money you have and possibly less.
I'd look 2nd hand.

Good luck!

 

Gee-wizzz, so there really are more of my types around?

Where are you guys from (I'm from Krugersdorp).

I recently bought my SR900 from Toms in Braamfontein - they had a 50% discount on all of their basses. Not sure if it's still going. If so and you can visit them - go and try out some - they probably have the best variety to choose from in the country!

 

Haha, well unfortunately I was only born there (Durban) and lived in Cape Town 'till I was about 6 then moved to Melbourne, Australia. I still consider myself a proud South African though

+1 for LDonnie's statement

 

That sounds like a great bass.
What about a Lakland 5501?
Or a Music man Stingray 5 sub?
Or an Ibanez ATTK?
Yamaha NathanEast style 5's or BB
All great choices

 

What you're explaining is the equivilent of someone buying a mercedes for their first car.

Buy something more affordable until you learn what you like, dislike or even if you continue to play bass.

Otherwise I guarantee you'll be selling that bass off for 3/4 to 1/2 of it's value once you decide you'd prefer something different.

 

i'll second the stingray sub basses, great basses for the money.

 

FWIW: Might have a problem getting those in SA. The norm appears to be Ibanez, Peavey, Cort & Yamaha.

 

The Ibby SR 505 basses have a skinny neck which might help a beginner. Definitely look for second hand.
Are you looking for a bass that will go lower than the standard low B? I suspect you will need pretty thick strings to hit those low notes.

 

Well, if you still are set on buying an expensive bass, get one with a tight B. You will need it because of the downtuning. I thought Laklands and Music Mans (also SUB's) have awesome B strings so that is why I supposed you could look for some of those. There are more great B's out there, but I don't really know which, probably some other people will chime in. Ofcourse, you can always use the search function . Cheaper basses will probably lose character in A.

 

+1 and I think that you can find one in the classifieds at the moment

 

Get a bass with a good well built neck (i use an esp/ltd d-6, with neck-through construction) and a .130 for the B.

 

Not sure which models you're referring to, but I had a look on the 'net for ones available down here and they are extremely expensive (the equivalent of $2,400 US) - or R24,000!

 

If you are drop tuning the B string a whole step I would lead you back to the Ibanez. I was actually looking at the same model for my first 5 string.

It has a string through bidge option which keeps a little more tension on the strings. Probably something that you are going to want to cinsider no matter what you look at.

 

Don't forget that the "tightness" of the B is not only down to the bass , but also on the strings and the set up of the instrument.

 

I'd get something you're always likely to want to keep - or if you fall out of love with the bass - something you can always sell. That has to be a USA Series Jazz or Precision. It's the benchmark for everything else. They are easy to play, easy to sell.

Then buy something like a Hartke 3500 Head or an Ashdown Mag 300 Head and build a 2x12's cab with a couple of Eminence Delta 12LFA's (or a 15 and a 10). That should all be somewhere near that budget.