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Possible to have bass too good for skill level?

#61
I wouldnt recommend starting with a five string based on personal experience. Its certainly doable though (just the way my mind works)I was comfortable with my starter Ibanez GSR90 after 3 years and decided to expand my range and options after learning how to solo by buying a Schecter Studio 5. Is it because you feel like you never use the B string or get confused sometimes when looking down at the strings? Whatever it is stick with it. No matter what bass you get there will at one point be a time where you get so frustrated and flustered you dont want to play ever again. Just take a break and be sure to listen for the bass in every song you hear, eventually it will inspire you to start playing and become better. Dont buy stuff on credit unless you have the money sitting at home. When you feel the need to buy another bass, mod your current one. always satisfied my cravings
 
#62
MMailloux843 said:
Hello all, new member here. I've learned so much here in the past months, and I'm on the quest to purchase a new bass. I recently bought a Schecter Custom 5, but am not as happy with it as I thought I would be..

Now my question is, it it possible that you can have a bass that is too "good" for your skill level? I started playing for real a few months ago. I'm not great by any means, but I absolutely love playing, and I know Im going to stick with it for my whole life. I've been looking at Fender MIA P and Jazz basses, and I'm wondering if these are just too good of basses to fit my skill level. I plan on having one of these forever hopefully, so I know it would be an investment on my part, but I'm wondering if I'm just going overboard trying to have a fantastic instrument at this point in my playing career.

Also, general P vs. J thread if ya would like. Having a substantial amount of trouble trying to make up my mind between the two! :p
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, I don't want to sound harsh, but... that's a very silly question.

So your skill is not fantastic. What has it got to do with the quality of the bass you buy?

A bass is a tool. A good quality tool is desirable, whether you use that tool to earn your bread, or you just want to use it once in a while.

The issue may be whether you think it's worth invsting $$$ in a tool. If you earn your living with it then you can probably justify a purchase more easily... but if you can afford a great quality tool, I can't understand questioning whether it's "too good".

It's not like you need to graduate to be allowed to buy into the next tier of instruments.

You want X and you have the money? What's the problem.

If you can afford a good quality bass now... get it now while you can! Bird in hand and all that.

Your idea of what constitutes a good instrument may change as you gain experience, but you can't predict that. I'd recommend getting a good used bass. You'll get better quality for your money, and if you change your mind, you will not be out of pocket much.

P vs J?
I'm a J through and through, and I think the neck pickup of a J can approximate the P sound close enough in a band context... so J for me. But... you have to figure out what YOU want. But it's not just the sound... P and J necks are very different... You must try them and see what calls you. Try as many as you can. One day a bass will wink at you and call you by your name... then just pray the price tag hasn't got too many digits ;-)
 
#63
No, not possible. You might have a bass that you do not feel comfortable playing, or more likely a bass that is uncomfortable to play. As you become more proficient you will begin to truly understand what really feels good and is very easy for you to play.

But even if I went out right now and spent 3 grand on a bass, it would not be too good for my skill level. It would certainly be a bass that did not hinder or hamper my playing in any way. As has been said, good bass = you have the cash to buy it.
 
#64
When I first started out playing bass I purchased a Ric 4001. Beautiful instrument and sounded great. At the time I know it was a better bass than my skill level, but needless to say it really got me into playing the bass guitar knowing that I had such a quality instrument. I kept that bass for the next 5 years and played it till it literally fell apart.

My take is this, if it gives you that feeling that you love playing the bass guitar then all the more power to ya. Get that super nice bass and eventually your talent level will catch up with the quality of the instrument.:smug:
 
#65
I don't think there's a bass "too good" for anybody. If you want your first bass to be a Stingray, Fodera, whatever, then rock n roll, man.

However, If this is your first bass

git.php



Then you might want to think about scaling back a bit for now. :D


edit: lol. Even the guy who owns the bass looks a little scared.
 
#66
Realistically, if you want a good bass to start off on (and you think you're going to be serious about bass), DON'T get a Fodera (or anything upwards of 2000), but don't feel limited to the beginner Squiers, and the like.

Personally, I would feel a little guilty for spending a lot of money on a bass when I don't "deserve it".

Practice, practice practice! :)
 
#68
I'd go for a new amp. I would keep it combo because they're simpler, but i would certainly want more than 100W if I were to seriously assess the true tone of one of my basses, especially if said bass is on the block. You may realize that, after an adequate setup and a little $$ spent in the amplification section, you don't need a new bass at all.
 
#74
Nahhh. im only on my first bass and i got a freakin Stingray! ive played guitar for around 2 years before so why start on something low end when i have the cash for a nicer bass that i already was absolutely in love with the tone? and it turns out it was the best decision ever. i absolutely love the tone this bass has, the way the neck feels, and just everything about it inspires me to play it so much every day! :D:bassist:
 
#75
It was this question that lead me to start this "basses for newbies" project:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=627147

Basically, it's everything I WISH I had when I first started out. And, I wish someone would have pushed one of those instruments on me from the get-go when I didn't know what I needed yet. The setup makes all the difference in the world regardless of player skill level and also regardless of the instrument's price.

I think the general formula is sound. Buy an inexpensive ~$150-$250 bass with good mechanical properties and then spend the same amount or more on fret work and setup by a known, competent luthier or tech. The good players know who these people are and can point you to them. The right combination there could yield an instrument that you may never outgrow and can keep with you throughout your career.

Certainly if maintained properly, the instrument can last your lifetime and beyond.

I started out with a cheap p-bass (epiphone). As I was more skilled at craftsmanship than musician, I built my 2nd and 3rd bass (in shop in high school and then college) which I played for more than 10 years straight without even thinking about another instrument because it is set up proper. A good friend and professional bass player directed me to his luthier who taught me TONS about bass making and setup as well as walked me through all of the questions I had in the build process. It was a 6 string and way beyond me. . . I only need 3, but it inspired me to learn and play up to it. Now, when I finally got to the point where I really needed a "traditional" sounding instrument for the studio, a trusted friend of mine suggested I try these $100 SX instruments from Rondo Music. I tried it. . . I couldn't believe how good it could be made to sound after a good and extensive repair/setup. . . I would NEVER give one of these straight out of the box to a beginner, but I am now a firm believer in the properly set-up cheap bass.
 
#79
I say no. Reason being, if I had a really nice Fender or something even nicer and more professionally setup, I think I would have become a better player at the time I started playing. I started out on a POS Univox Badazz short scale with high action and wasn't even aware there were better basses out there until I played a friends Fender Jazz! What a difference in playability! Literally played itself! I played that Univox all the way until the late 80's pretty much because I was always broke.
 

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