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Pass the Pepto...
- Thread starter zenabi
- Start date
I have no idea why you would use that bass for 80s songs. None at all.
Anyway, that bridge looks pretty similar to the bridge on the 80s Ibby I just picked up, except black instead of chrome. Maybe it's an older Ibanez body?
See that you do!!!
How do you know that?
If I had started on a P bass I'm not sure I would have stuck with it. I have smallish hands and started on an Ibanez for that reason. Similarly, I know people with big hands who find thin necks uncomfortable. So I don't think it's at all true that everyone who's happy with the feel of a P will be happy with the feel of an Ibanez—they're REALLY different. An experienced player can get by on whatever, but when you're new I think this kind of thing matters more.
Frankly I think it's more important that you like the feel of your first bass than it is that you nail any particular sound. It'll sound like a bass. TBers make a lot of noise about fine distinctions that most people who aren't bass players cannot hear (or do not care about) at all. If you do not like the feel of the bass it's going to be much harder to force yourself to practice, and there is nothing more important for a new player than getting hours of practice in. Finer points of bass tone are way less important at this point.
So while it's true that (obviously) you can't play yet, you can still go to a store and see how different basses feel in your hands. That's what really matters, especially when you're new.
I have no idea why you would use that bass for 80s songs. None at all.
Anyway, that bridge looks pretty similar to the bridge on the 80s Ibby I just picked up, except black instead of chrome. Maybe it's an older Ibanez body?
See that you do!!!
The neck pocket had to be rerouted for the neck so I don't think it is Ibanez. That's why there are no pocket stamps to help with clues.
Welcome to TB. The answer is to decide what sound(s) you need from the bass. If you play old Motown, the P will do nicely. Modern jazz? A Jazz Bass. Fusion? A RIC. Match the instrument to what you intend to use it for. If you aren't sure or have many different needs and can only afford one bass, choose the one that can supply the most. Ibanez instruments are top quality and can offer a wide tonal palette. Find a bass that you are comfortable with and learn how to EQ it so it can fit into many musical situations. Hope this helps.
Because I've handled an SR300E, SR370E, SR400EQM, SR1300, SR1820, but more so the first and last along with a Squier CV 60's and 70's and also a Contemporary Active HH. All of those felt really good to me, but I did notice that the Contemporary was much heavier than the CV basses.
After seeing the following video, my concerns about "small hands" shouldn't be anything to worry about...
I definitely hear the differences. This wasn't really anything about what someone has said specifically about the sound, it was more about me over thinking it a bit. But yes, I agree.
Covered in the first part of my reply.
My concerns were more about finger spread rather than getting around the neck. Not sure I'd ever go beyond a 4, but I guess it's probably too early to say.
I suspect there's a loose correlation at best between matching hand size and neck width. I have longish fingers myself and prefer slender necks. Most fivers bigger than common Soundgears feel too big, although I suspect if I had never played anything other than beefy five-strings those are what would feel natural to me. Which is not to say hand size/neck width doesn't matter, only that it's not as easy to anticipate as it seems.
Torso size, arm length, physical condition and the reach to the first fret from the bass's natural hanging/resting position probably have more predictable relationships to playing comfort.
Torso size, arm length, physical condition and the reach to the first fret from the bass's natural hanging/resting position probably have more predictable relationships to playing comfort.
Stretch, learn to move around the neck better or get a 5 and play the same 4 string based material in 5th position.
Now that's a proper pink. Not keen on the pastel-y stuff often seen on pink basses.
No.
As for learning to play, completely erase the idea of brands and tones from your mind.
As long as it's a bass. And if you can start out on something as nice and affordable as an Ibanez, you're already miles ahead of where myself and many others started out.
I remember at one point (late teens), the only amplification I had was the aux input on a car stereo that I powered with a 120vac-12vdc adapter and a 6x9 car speaker in a cardboard box. My bass was a $100 pawn shop short scale with no name on it. I had no idea what brand it was, what pickups it had, what "tone" it had other than the tone knob cut the treble and I didn't even know what action and intonation was until 2 basses later. I learned a bunch of songs by listening to them a million times and then hitting -stop, rewind, play- a million times until I figured it out. Yes, I was overachieving. I'm not asking anyone to be poor, musically illiterate and start out on junk equip. But, I learned a ton of songs on that junk equip and never once gave a thought to what kind of bass was on the recording. (Learned the entire hemispheres album, except for the crazy fill in la villa, which someone showed me later,....on that junk equip). My point is only that if I had waited until I could buy a Ric, or a Fender, etc,....I never would have started playing.
If you get hung up in the minutiae, you're just creating a road block and delay at the bottom of the hill. Don't. Just grab a bass and start climbing. Worry about tone/gear chasing later. Much later.
You can play anything on any bass. An Ibanez is a fantastic bass to start with and learn on. Especially if you already think it's comfortable.
Then, sadly, it's the wrong decision.I've made a decision and it's not pink.
Seriously, I'm looking forward to seeing what you get, and whatever that bass is, that you love playing it.
I know I didn't reply to much, but I've also been checking other threads, YT vids etc. and going around in circles mostly. I appreciate the replies. It's good to get other opinions. Some of it really helped. Thanks.
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