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Newbie looking for a bass

#22
+1 on the Squire.......I paid $199 for mine and it is a good bass in all ways. Try to get it new, it will be a great way to start off. This is the Christmas season and you can get a squire + a starter amp from GC or Sam Ash (or any other retailer )for under $350....This way the bass can get set up right from the start......Good luck . . . .
 
#23
I don't know what your budget is but you can get a Squier Classic Vibe Precision or Jazz bass brand new for $350. They are good quality basses especially for that price. I played one a few weeks ago. It was well built, easy to play and had a really good tone.
 
#24
Brand new Yamaha 5-string for $299 is a pretty good value since it's really a $400 Bass. Since it is on closeout, the color choices are limited (no black). I am familiar with your adventure having recently bought a bass for my 14-year old son who has been playing guitar for 4 years and now is playing bass. Do a search on my moniker and you can find some good information on reasonably-priced basses (By reasonably-priced I mean under $400). Once you get to the $300+ range there are a LOT of options which can be hard for a beginner to figure out. Here's the Yammy link. Not too certain how long that deal will last though.
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If you need to stay under $200, here is your "best bet" and many here would agree. You can get this Squier in a Jazz (J) or Precision (P) style for $149.99. Either would be a better bet than the used one you are looking at. Used basses can have wear issues, electronics issues, warping issues, etc. It can be REALLY hard for to properly evaluate an older piece.
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#25
thesilence said:
Honestly I know a lot of people have had good experience with SX but if you look at the threads most people have to do a good bit of work on their on to get it up to snuff. In my opinion a good beginner bass will be completely playable out of the box and will be reliable, I know as a beginner the last thing I wanted to do was have to fix a bass I just bought (shimming, straightening a neck, filing frets, etc.)
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+1
I fully agree with the above statement.

My Recommendation would be a Squier Classic Vibe 60's P or J bass. Much better quality, decently priced at $349.99 and sound, look and feel as good or better than many Fender MIM basses I have played. Excellent electronics with Alnico V Magnets in the Pickups. I have owned a Fender MIA Jazz, an MIJ Fender 51P Re-issue, and now all 3 Squier Classic Vibe's (60's P and J and 50's P)
 
#27
ndabunka said:
If you need to stay under $200, here is your "best bet" and many here would agree. You can get this Squier in a Jazz (J) or Precision (P) style for $149.99. Either would be a better bet than the used one you are looking at. Used basses can have wear issues, electronics issues, warping issues, etc. It can be REALLY hard for to properly evaluate an older piece.
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Totally agree..
I'd stay away from the used bass seeing as you're new to all this.
Wow..$149..that's nuts..
Undoubtably the hardware is cheap and the pickups as well..for 100 bucks you can get a set of dimarzio dp123 for the jazz bass (I would go with the jazz personally..more tonal variations for you to play with)..(& I know the DM's rock).

Nice thin neck on a jazz, and it will need some setup probably to be more comfy, but that's not rocket science, you can get all the info here and you have to know that stuff anyway as temp and humidity changes with the seasons or traveling around.

Get it new..for 150 bucks you have a starting point..
 

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