Returning to the bass after 30 + years

[Oddly]

Welcome!
Plenty of good advice already, but in my opinion, whatever bass you get, please do go that bit further and have it properly set up.
Down the line, you'll most likely learn to do that yourself, but to start off with, there's nothing worse that a possibly great bass badly set up.

 

[steve66]

I say any good name bass will work with a decent set-up. You can get a MIM Fender P or Jazz for a few hundred used. You can also look into a headphone amp like Vox that cost about $40.00. Good Luck..

 

[Joebone]

If you're going fretless, the Squier vintage modified jazz is a no-brainer for minimal bucks.

 

[Love_Bass]

Squier P is the best bass for all needs..i bought one metallic red, used (like new) for $99 off guitar center used online..came with hard shell case! It needed a slight neck shim and some minor fret dressing action is super low with no buzz now...and I replaced pickups and strings and I Love it now..i play everything from country , metal, blues, rock..does it all..good luck in your choice..

 

[superiorpine]

Welcome back. As you already know, lots of great info here.

To reinforce a broken record, go into a music store or two without a preconception and just try a bunch.

Also, don't sell short the experience of playing with other musicians. There is a TON of us old dinosaurs out there doing the same thing. (I am one. Came back after 25 years.) A jam or two with a similarly interested and/or talented person in your basic demographic group can be very uplifting. Worry not, go forth and have fun!!

 

[BassUrges]

Welcome back! I took a 20 year break, but kept my first bass. I can tell you from experience the difference between a MIM Jazz in 91 and 15 is huge (and the latter is cheaper, inflation-adjusted).

It's the golden age of cheap instruments.

 

[DrummerwStrings]

Welcome!

Consider trying different basses at a GC (P, J, PJ, H) & check the TB classifieds, even put in a wanted ad - I'm sure ppl here have excellent basses that they're willing to get into a beginning player's hands for not a lot of $. I'm sure because I got one.

Check out the basses & amps mentioned above, and Yamaha (I don't think they were mentioned). Let us know what you get.

 

[Sav'nBass]

Hi everybody, first post! Been enjoying your discussions. Well now im not bothered by work, im going to give it a try again. Back as a teenager i was miserable at playing guitar, and my teacher told me so. But i really loved bass as it was what i listened to. Stanley Clarke, the Cure, Japan (especially) was me. I tried bass for a while, but i was pretty dispirited.

I have no illusions. I just want to be confident to play my favourites in the shed. Be an imaginary Mick Karn eventually. No joining bands or performing will be on my radar. This is for pure fun, not critical acclaim!

So id like some help in buying a bass. One thing i learnt back then that cheap "beginner instruments" were junk sounding and hard to play! Surely they should have been easy!! High action, heavy, fat necks. So what will be decent? I watched a European bass "shootout" on youtube the other day, and i thought the fender starcaster and gretcsh had the best sound. Do they have have nice thin necks and low actions? Any other semi acoustics i should look at? Prefer long scale 4 string, to keep it simple! I want to do this right so i keep at it!

Welcome back! You got me beat by almost double.... My break was 16 years.. You will find that inexpensive basses are made quite well these days... If was in your shoes I would consider a Sire or a Squire ... Ipretty much guarantee that your tastes will change once you start playing again....

 

[Jrussblues]

So crappy basses have gotten better but good basses have gotten way better. Go treat yourself to a legit retirement bass that the kiddos can keep or sell when you are done with it.

 

[Peter Fezza]

Wow, thanks for the genourous and encoraging welcome! Now im super keen and excited to get going. I will read all your posts again and check those links as well.

Im really pleased to hear i dont need to spend a fortune. And that things have changed so much. Of course i bought second hand back in the day, and i think ill do that, but something amoungst the new quality gear. Thanks for the amp advice too. I had a giant Kustom thing i could not fit in my car! Sold it way back of course. I hope the new stuff is a bit more compact!
I owned a Vantage fretless back then as well (do vantage still exist?) But i wont go fretless until im confident.
By the way i live near Brisbane, QLD, Australia, so the retailers you mention are different here, but there are plenty about. The prices are quite a bit dearer! Used near me is a mim j bass, and a ibanez sr300m. Both asking $200. They have amps selling too, ones an ibanez 65w, the other a kustom (here we go again!) Dont know model.
Thanks again all, ill let you know my progress!

 

[Blueinred]

Yeah, lots of good inexpensive gear these days. The Squier VM's seem to hold their value very well. The new Fender Rumble amps are great, light in weight, and come in a variety of power ratings and from less than $100 USD to $500.

What you want is a bass that you can't stand not picking up and noodling every 20 minutes or so. Good luck and welcome to the party!

 

[Peter Fezza]

Ahh, I was playing some Japan the other day (Television, great tune).

I agree with everything said, you can spend 250 and get a great player now, there is a classic vibe jazz in mint shape for sale for $260 locally. its a good time to get back into playing.

Great guitar solo by Rob Dean! Good to hear you listening to them.

 

[Peter Fezza]

As already mentioned there are many low cost basses that are far better than the cheap ones from the olden days.
If you want a semi acoustic, the Epiphone Jack Casady is really nice for the $. (and long scale)
Whatever you get will probably need to be set up for low action.

Yes i like the white one (only seen online) But over 1k here.

 

[Peter Fezza]

As mentioned above, try out a few dozen different basses...you might be surprised with the Squier CV and VM line, the Sterling SUB basses, etc. Entry-level basses have never been this good.
If this was the shootout you mean, you definitely can't go wrong with #9...the '51 Squier P bass. Listen with some good headphones. I'm still impressed with that bass.

Different shootout but same guy. I do like the 51 squire P! Thats a good choice! Second favorite is the gibson eb2 on these videos. But the squire will be at the more affordable end i think.

 

[ThePresident777]

Hi everybody, first post! Been enjoying your discussions. Well now im not bothered by work, im going to give it a try again. Back as a teenager i was miserable at playing guitar, and my teacher told me so. But i really loved bass as it was what i listened to. Stanley Clarke, the Cure, Japan (especially) was me. I tried bass for a while, but i was pretty dispirited.

I have no illusions. I just want to be confident to play my favourites in the shed. Be an imaginary Mick Karn eventually. No joining bands or performing will be on my radar. This is for pure fun, not critical acclaim!

So id like some help in buying a bass. One thing i learnt back then that cheap "beginner instruments" were junk sounding and hard to play! Surely they should have been easy!! High action, heavy, fat necks. So what will be decent? I watched a European bass "shootout" on youtube the other day, and i thought the fender starcaster and gretcsh had the best sound. Do they have have nice thin necks and low actions? Any other semi acoustics i should look at? Prefer long scale 4 string, to keep it simple! I want to do this right so i keep at it!

I think the skinniest bass necks are found on Ibanez SR series basses. But they are not semi-acoustic.

The Fender Starcaster does not have a 34" scale. It's less but I don't remember if it's 30" or 32".

If you like semi-hollow or hollow body basses then you might like as hofner or epiphone violin bass.

Epiphone Viola Bass - Vintage Sunburst
Hofner Ignition Violin Bass - Black
Hofner Ignition Club Bass - Sunburst w/Hardshell Case
Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat Artist Series - Wine Red
Ibanez Artcore Vintage Bass - Tobacco Burst Low Gloss
Ibanez Artcore Vintage Bass - Tobacco Burst
Epiphone Jack Casady Artist Series Signature Bass - Alpine White

 

[SteveCS]

Great guitar solo by Rob Dean! Good to hear you listening to them.

Another Japan fan here! Those first two albums are great, but i suspect like most I came to them after the release of Gentlemen and departure of Rob. I think Rob was as influential to the sound as Mick. Unfortunately I did not get to see them until their final tour with Masami on guitar.

Mick was my main reason for going fretless almost from day 1, so my thinking would be if you want to end up there then just jump in feet first as you already have the basics under your fingers.

The Squier VM fretless is a great bass. If you can go higher, the Ibanez Portamento is really something special - the extended fingerboard and piezo bridge really set it apart and give some unique tones that Mick would have approved of.

 

[Peter Fezza]

I think the skinniest bass necks are found on Ibanez SR series basses. But they are not semi-acoustic.

The Fender Starcaster does not have a 34" scale. It's less but I don't remember if it's 30" or 32".

If you like semi-hollow or hollow body basses then you might like as hofner or epiphone violin bass.

Epiphone Viola Bass - Vintage Sunburst
Hofner Ignition Violin Bass - Black
Hofner Ignition Club Bass - Sunburst w/Hardshell Case
Epiphone Allen Woody Rumblekat Artist Series - Wine Red
Ibanez Artcore Vintage Bass - Tobacco Burst Low Gloss
Ibanez Artcore Vintage Bass - Tobacco Burst
Epiphone Jack Casady Artist Series Signature Bass - Alpine White

Thanks so much for the list! Ill explore

 

[Peter Fezza]

Another Japan fan here! Those first two albums are great, but i suspect like most I came to them after the release of Gentlemen and departure of Rob. I think Rob was as influential to the sound as Mick. Unfortunately I did not get to see them until their final tour with Masami on guitar.

Mick was my main reason for going fretless almost from day 1, so my thinking would be if you want to end up there then just jump in feet first as you already have the basics under your fingers.

The Squier VM fretless is a great bass. If you can go higher, the Ibanez Portamento is really something special - the extended fingerboard and piezo bridge really set it apart and give some unique tones that Mick would have approved of.

Oh thats great, but i never got to see them live! I actually got their first album as an xmas present in 78 and was hooked forever. I want to get back to playing some basic stuff first, and i do love disco/funk bass too. I think if it works out ill attempt fretless again. I remember finding it tough.

 

[SteveCS]

Oh thats great, but i never got to see them live! I actually got their first album as an xmas present in 78 and was hooked forever.
...

For the uninitiated, here's Dave, Steve, Rich, Mick (with the Bean) and Rob in '78...

 

[csc2048b]

(like everyone says) welcome back! you got pretty good responses so i'll leave it at that but allow me to commend your good taste. i'm very fond of mick karn and simon gallup too (and stanley ofcourse). worth learning it all but good luck with karn - won't be easy but it'll be fun