Pass the Pepto...

[Matthew_84]

View attachment 4773618

There’s the pink bass everyone was expecting!

 

[Old Garage-Bander]

There’s the pink bass everyone was expecting!

Thanks. My stomach feels better already.

 

[two fingers]

Thanks. My stomach feels better already.

Apropos the Pepto thread, right?

 

[zenabi]

Pepto for the gas, right?

 

[Nighttrain1127]

The deal still is even if you can't play what you want to, learn a simple song like Creedence Clearwater Revival Down on the Corner and then just go play it on the basses you want to try see what one feels better to you. At this point as long as it sounds like a Bass it will work for learning as long as it feels right to you.

 

[Matthew_84]

Pepto for the gas, right?

Wow that went completely over my head

 

[2112]

For everyone, like me, who came in expecting pictures of a pink bass, so they don't leave disappointed:

 

[zenabi]

Well I didn't know that Pepto was used as a term for pink basses. I was using the real world meaning of it being good for GAS. But what do I know?

 

[Egg250]

I don't know about Ibanez but with basses, cars, tools and everything else there is brand snobbery run amok. If the p-bass tone is what you're after, only a p-bass will do. The plethora of instruments, amps and cabs the available give us virtually unlimited ways to achieve "our tone". I have found some made in USA stuff that comes nowhere close to the quality of foreign made gear. I guess what I'm saying is, don't knock it 'til you try it. Good luck.

 

[P. Aaron]

Yes, I used the wrong term. There just seems to be more support for Fender/Squier than anything else on here.

I know I've missed out on some bargain Squier basses built in China. I did find one new VM, but in the wrong finish (for me) and the price hiked up! So any Squier I get will be from Indonesia.

Fender and Fender-like basses are dominant because historically, that tone has been the recorded and heard standard starting from the late 50's going forward. Fenders are mostly simple constructions and we've been influenced largely by the recorded music we've come to enjoy. That's just how that history has unfolded.

Go with what you think will work best for you. Fenders are just fine but, you have great choices with Ibanez, Gibson, Epiphone, Schecter, G & L, etc. Any bass has to click with your instincts. There are no wrong choices. There are players out there making us all think twice as they inspire us using whatever gear they make their music with.

When choosing your next bass, it is however very important to understand how the entire tone is created. Some of it is the player, the instrument, and don't overlook the amplification and speaker-box components either. I have a saying:

"Good amp will get you through times of bad bass better than good bass will get you through times of bad amp".

 

[StatesideRambler]

It's a little frustrating that "go out and play" is a common response to people asking about their first bass. I'd love to go out out and play as many basses as I can before deciding, but I can't play yet. This will be the bass that I will learn on.

I'm not concerned what others think about what bass (or basses) that I will own. This is purely about the sound of the basses. It's more of a dilemma about if the sound really matters at this stage.

You’re way out of sequence if you’re worried about sound but you aren’t yet an experienced player. With little to no experience under your belt you are best off getting a generic, middle of the road bass that feels good and plays well. Any of the entry level Ibanez, Squier, Epiphone, Yamaha and the like will take you much further and faster than dwelling on “the sound” that you aren’t yet equipped to evaluate. Once you can play a bit it’ll be worth thinking about sound.

 

[Grinderman]

I heard there was some thread about Pink Floyd on TB. I must be in the wrong place.

 

[DwaynieAD]

Where does Ibanez get a bad rap? I personally can't stand them but they are beloved by many.

 

[Dave Leighton]

I know Ibanez mostly gets a bad rap

I honestly didn't read past here. You heard wrong or need better sources...

 

[zenabi]

As much as I would like to change the first post, as well as the thread title, it can't be edited.

 

[Matthew_84]

Well I didn't know that Pepto was used as a term for pink basses. I was using the real world meaning of it being good for GAS. But what do I know?

I don’t think it really is TBH. We are just so used to people posting a thread and seeing a picture of a bass, that when you see something as colour-associated as Pepto, it just creates an assumption that there will be a pink bass… that was my reasoning anyway, I don’t think Pepto is a common term for pink basses (atleast IME anyway)

 

[zenabi]

I'll try to choose completely colourless thread titles in future.

 

[aero58]

....
Maybe I'm just overthinking and shouldn't be concerned at this point, so early on.

....It's a little frustrating that "go out and play" is a common response to people asking about their first bass. I'd love to go out out and play as many basses as I can before deciding, but I can't play yet....

Yes, you are overthinking things. And it doesn't matter if you can't play yet - see what bass "feels" best in your hands - you'll know.

 

[juggahnaught]

The plan was to get one bass. But the one that I had pretty much decided on is not available for maybe 2 months. So I've been looking, reading, thinking.

I know Ibanez mostly gets a bad rap, but I was going to buy an Ibanez SR300EDX. However, I did wonder if the SR600E would be worth the extra money, but I don't believe that will get me any closer to the sound that I think I might crave.

Originally, I guess I was trying to convince myself that it has enough scope for various tones that it would be the only bass I would want or need. Now, I am thinking that although an Ibanez might give something resembling a Jazz bass sound, it obviously won't get anywhere near a Precision.

I really like the look of the Squier 40th Anniversary Jazz Bass in Ruby Red Metallic. I quite like the 40th Anniversary Precision in Black, although not quite as much as the Jazz.

So, rather than make a mistake, I though I would create this thread to possibly work out if I should just go with the Ibanez, or if I might be better off starting with either a Precision or a Jazz and plan to get one of each of those instead.

Welcome. I didn't read the entire thread, but I'm not sure if anyone else has mentioned this - if this is your first bass, have you considered the cost of the "ecosystem" as well?

Playing bass doesn't just require the instrument - you will need some type of system to amplify the sound, cables to connect the instrument to said system, a strap, a tuner, and other paraphernalia related to using the bass to make music. You may also consider new strings as well as an instrument setup.

Any Ibanez SR bass that you get as a beginner will be fine for you, as the skill comes from the player. You said that you preferred the feel of the Ibanez basses you've played; based on that, I'd say wait for the Ibanez. (Also - you said that an Ibanez won't sound like a P bass - this is not entirely true; this depends on the pickup configuration, and although the pickup covers don't look the same, some soapbar-style pickups are split-coil internally, like a P bass. As such, this isn't as important as you'd initially think.)

To answer your more general question - nobody needs to "start" with a Precision. It's not simpler than other bass configurations in terms of learning to play the instrument, and there are various factors that make up the final bass sound - especially in recordings. I would say that you are indeed overthinking it a little bit. Go with your original plan - and get the paraphernalia to go with it - and focus on playing the instrument. After you've put in the time and the effort to reach that basic level, then you can focus on the next steps.

 

[Outbush]

The Nordstrand Big Breaks that equip the SR600E are some of the most awesome passive pickups out there. The neck pickup is located in the exact P "sweet spot". After getting my SR605E, I sold my Fenders because the Ibanez is a much better Precision than all the Precisions I've had. And it's capable of much more than that.

I sold everything else and sent back every instrument I tried since its purchase.

I’m glad you chimed in Unmost, I’ve seen a few comments like this about the SR600/605e. I haven’t played one but it was designed for versatility and I have a PJ bass with the same pickup in the bridge position & it is very impressive. If the ergonomics suit you I’d give it a go.