Our first bass purchase

[AK Bass Guy]

I’m going to throw out a completely different option. Do you have more than I cello in the house? You could do a cello to bass conversion on one of them.
With a nice contact pickup you could really beef up the sound with a preamp. Very much a DB sound in a small package.

If that’s not to your liking I have Squier Bronco for my short scale and they are great for bang for buck, and with a little modding a really nice instrument.
This is my Bronco pre modding. Out the box.

 

[J-Mags]

If your wife has a herniated disc, you're gonna want to look seriously at the weight. Most basses weigh 8-10 lbs (3.5-4.5 kg), which starts out feeling comfortable if you've got a good back, but can end up aggravating chronic injuries. Anything under about 3.5 kg is pretty light for a bass. If you're unable to try basses out in person, some retailers like Sweetwater post the weights of their instruments. Japan is a good place to look for smaller-than-average instruments, because Japanese companies used to release medium-scale basses for local consumption.

I'm sure that as a cello player, your wife could handle a long-scale bass no problem, but she may want to use a short-scale bass to keep the weight down and avoid having to reach. They should sound fine for learning Jazz. If she's just starting out, it's not gonna be particularly hard for her to get a tolerable sound. She can deal with the sonic profile later, once she knows what she wants, but for walking basslines and such, it's not hard to get a tone that's appealing to an audience.

The absolute lightest bass would be something like a Hofner, either in the violin Beatle Bass shape or the more guitar-like Club Bass. It might work well for the kind of music you're playing, because they have a really distinctive thud without a lot of sustain. In terms of quality, these are the most finicky of the bunch, but they can be set up to perform well. The Icon series is cheap and the Contemporary series is probably affordable used, and a lot of players sound great on stage with either of them.

Someone mentioned Gretsch Club jets and Fender Mustang basses as well. I concur. They're great basses and most of them are affordable. The Squier Classic Vibe series is inexpensive, and I've had very good luck with them. The Japanese-made Mustangs are very well-regarded, and you might be able to find one in your price range if you're in Japan.

Another option to consider would be various lightweight 32" Japanese basses from the 1980s. I have a Greco "Spirit of the Live" that plays well, sounds good and weighs little. A Yamaha Motion Bass would be similar. A less-refined but very playable modern-day equivalent would be an Ibanez Mezza.

Then get some flatwound strings and a good strap!

 

[SJan3]

In Japan, I'd look for a Yamaha BB. You should be able to find them all over the place. There's also a bass broker who lives there and might be able to help. I think his name is Danny (Stewart, or Stuart as last name, maybe?), and he calls his business Bass Japan or something like that. He shouldn't be hard to find on Google or YouTube.

Edit: I found him for you. Here you go:

Good call on the Yamaha!

 

[Buck_BassMan94]

This won’t be a surprising suggestion, and others will probably have more interesting picks. But, if I were starting bass again and had to pick a reliable/versatile instrument to learn on, it’s hard to beat a MIM Fender P or Jazz. Either would handle any and all genres you’d want to experiment with. Either would be well within your budget. Either would serve your needs/playing ability for a long time. Most importantly, either of these would bring a level of familiarity in terms of the simple controls and classic tones.

 

[Thunderthumbs73]

Greetings.

Moderator: If this is in the wrong forum, please accept my apologies. I can post this elsewhere, if needed.

I am new here and I would like to ask for any suggestions or tips in purchasing a bass guitar. This will be for my wife and I to play. I will list the details below.

Me. I am an amateur musician. That is, I play for the love of it, I do not get paid. My focus is jazz. I have been playing the piano since 1983(?) and recently started playing the trumpet. I also played guitar when I was in college. For all three instruments, I am not that good. But, I try. I am quite familiar with jazz theory.

I attend a twice-a-month jazz jam 'session'. We take turns playing our selected tunes. I do piano backup at times and every now and then play the trumpet. Sometimes we are missing a bass player. I think with my knowledge of jazz, I can at least provide a simple backup for the group on the bass when necessary.

My wife. She has been playing classical cello for over 7 years. She has hinted in trying to play bass guitar. We think that buying a full blown double bass is a bit too much for now, especially as she now has a cervical herniated disc which has prohibited her from playing the cello. Drawing the bow is especially painful for her.

Unfortunately, her musical training did not include theory. So, my suggestion is for her to learn the basics of jazz theory, plucking away on the piano to keep her with music. When she feels better she can try her skills on the bass guitar.

So, what we are looking for is an electric jazz bass of which I can pick up now for our session needs that can double for my wife as she gets better and can apply some of the jazz theory she is learning.

Ideally, we can envision playing duo, bass with piano or trumpet.

Pricing/budget. I am not adverse to get a decent bass that will retain some resale value if the occasion arises. About USD 500-700 would be O.K.. I can be convinced to pay more if I need to. A good, used bass is also an option.

Type. I have been looking at either a hollow body or semi hollow body bass. Weight is one consideration. As I intend to use this for jazz, I would like to get as close to a double bass type of sound as possible. I am aware that there may be other ways to get that sound.

To fret or not to fret. My wife is already familiar with a fretless neck. As I have had some experience with the guitar, moving to fretless would be a challenge I am willing to accept.

What I am looking at now:

DIY kit.

As I am also a amateur woodworker, I am familiar with using hand tools and have made some furniture for the house. So, this might not be a big challenge to put together. My concern is that those 'kits' may not have the quality I would expect from manufactured models. Also, there will be time required to put it together, finish it and tweak it to my liking. Maybe for a future project?

Ibanez/Bass Work Shop Series SRH500F-NNF

This seems to tick off some of the boxes. It seems to be highly reviewed. There had been some on the used market. I have not seen any now so far.

I am looking at other Ibanez basses. There seem to be a semi-hollow version, AGB200 and a hollow version AFB200. However, they are not fretless.

Fender?

Other:

We know that the tuning for cello is different than the bass guitar. So, something will have to change, the guitar tuning or the player.

We live in Japan. Markets may be quite different than the States.

Thanks for reading this far. Any information to steer me in a good direction would be greatly appreciated.

There could be 20,000 different suggestions for instruments.

I'm going to go at this a different way. There are INNUMERABLE good-sounding, playable instruments that could fit the bill. Analysis paralysis in effort to find the absolutely BEST thing, and every possible desire to minimize every potential miscue or mis-purchase right from the very first moment. I get that as a theory so go to the forum(s) to hear from the experts or people in the area of interest. I get that.

So... The Ibanez is NOT close to a double bass sound (I play electric and upright), but as a fretless, electric bass instrument it also will not sound like a fretted electric bass instrument, but that Ibanez is playable and decent quality and a price point where both of you can converge musically. You two seem smart and have many musical skills. I'm sure you'll adapt to that instrument, and I predict you WILL use whatever bass in a "tuning in fourths" paradigm, because you will want to play the bass idiomatically which will easier occur with standard bass tuning, because complying with this standard, will be much easier than applying a cello tuning in fifths, in addition to the issues that tuning and other issues that presents, and also have to find ways to re-engineer bass parts built on tuning in fourths... but as applied on an instrument with tuning in fifths. Sure, you'll have your "the range in fifths is better" advocates in some rare corner, but for BEGINNERS... don't add the fundamental issue tuning and string relationship issues to the pot. Leave it EADG. Simplify your life as a bass player FOR NOW. Deal with extended tunings and frequency ranges later.

Buy that bass with confidence that it's a good instrument but cannot be the upright bass in electric bass form factor. Both of you learn and enjoy. It is a compromise, and that's actually the POINT. It's ideal for neither of you. If either of you do enjoy being a bass player, it won't be the last instrument either of you purchase. And if you learned on it, and even if you learn you need or want another bass in the future, well... congratulations, welcome to the learning curve of being a bass player in all it's diversity and choice, and that still proves this Ibanez bass you bought was the right one and had great value.

Good luck with it.

 

[klattman]

I had the SRH500F-NNF ibanez it won’t sound exactly like an upright but with some flatwounds or flat tapes on it, it sounds great for jazz.

It also is pretty lightweight.

 

[Take66]

First of all, I would like to express my extreme gratitude for all of the responses I have received regarding my questions. I appreciate the time and wisdom you all have put out to help us. I am sure that there have been similar discussions on this board.

I also want to express that I hope not to slight anyone who has contributed by not answering to all responses. However, I hope to cover some important points that were brought up here.

Overall, I understand that this is an evolving decision making process. I do have the propensity to dig deep in analyzing things which is enhanced by my architectural training. That being mentioned, compromises will be made in the end and admittedly this may not be the only bass we will get.

I spoke to my wife this morning and informed her about the myriad of responses I have received. I briefed her on long vs. short scale basses, weight, P-bass vs J-bass, fret vs fretless, solid body vs hollow body, etc.

We agreed that her condition may preclude her from picking up the bass at this time. My main concern for her was that because she could not play the cello now, that her interest in the joy of playing music is not diminished. She is now pecking away at the piano while going over a jazz theory book.

So, for now, I will proceed with making a decision based on what I can use/handle now as my bass. When my wife is physically ready, I will get a performing guitar stand for her and see how it works. If she needs something else, we have a point of reference to consider.

Ideally, when she fully recovers and continues the interest, she may try her hand at a double bass.

I will review my matrix of options. We are not in a rush. However, I promise to post a NBD of what I get in the end.

Much gratitude!

 

[J-Mags]

First of all, I would like to express my extreme gratitude for all of the responses I have received regarding my questions. I appreciate the time and wisdom you all have put out to help us. I am sure that there have been similar discussions on this board.

I also want to express that I hope not to slight anyone who has contributed by not answering to all responses. However, I hope to cover some important points that were brought up here.

Overall, I understand that this is an evolving decision making process. I do have the propensity to dig deep in analyzing things which is enhanced by my architectural training. That being mentioned, compromises will be made in the end and admittedly this may not be the only bass we will get.

I spoke to my wife this morning and informed her about the myriad of responses I have received. I briefed her on long vs. short scale basses, weight, P-bass vs J-bass, fret vs fretless, solid body vs hollow body, etc.

We agreed that her condition may preclude her from picking up the bass at this time. My main concern for her was that because she could not play the cello now, that her interest in the joy of playing music is not diminished. She is now pecking away at the piano while going over a jazz theory book.

So, for now, I will proceed with making a decision based on what I can use/handle now as my bass. When my wife is physically ready, I will get a performing guitar stand for her and see how it works. If she needs something else, we have a point of reference to consider.

Ideally, when she fully recovers and continues the interest, she may try her hand at a double bass.

I will review my matrix of options. We are not in a rush. However, I promise to post a NBD of what I get in the end.

Much gratitude!

Sending healthy vibes to your wife!

 

[bholder]

I'll 2nd the Epi JC fretless, and also nominate the Sire GB5 fretless:

Also fits your price range nicely. I've got one ordered, 5 string fretless in the black finish. Will try to remember to post here when it arrives. It's hollow, but sealed, similar to some much higher end boutique basses (Rob Allen, Rick Turner, Godin, etc.). Very well reviewed.

My GB5 arrived at Sweetwater! Incoming NBD report!!

Update: Arriving Thursday!! Pics and clips when it does!

Of The Dark It Is Born

 

[relayer66]

For learning to play bass, I’d recommend a four string, fretted bass. The Ibanez is a nice bass, but a fiver is not what I’d start with, I think four would be more comfortable and easy to manage, until you get the basics down, and especially string muting techniques. And four might be all you ever need.

If you really want to go fretless and get more of a woody sound…I picked up the newly released Epiphone Jack Casady fretless a few months ago, and I love the sound. Someone else recommended it in the thread and I second that, but it is a little unconventional in its ergonomics and layout, probably not for everyone.

Having lived in Japan for 8 years until recently, I know there is a fully equipped music shop in every mid-sized town. In Tokyo there is an entire neighborhood full of music shops (Ochanomizu). I recommend going to one and playing as many basses as you can until you find one you both like. Fender Japan also makes great basses for good prices.