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Second Bass?

jesse housman

jesse housman

May 11, 2022
9
7
SW Fl
#1
I’m still new to the Bass. When I figured out I was loving this instrument after 6 months of lessons I got a Fender American P Bass. Ampeg 200 watt amp.
Playing on a high quality instrument gave me the chills. Doubling my interest in playing. Starting to make the sounds and tones from my favorite music of the past.

I am no prodigy, but I am having a ton of fun.
Now I am thinking about a second Bass. lots of fun looking and lurking thru the classified section here.

Not at all sure what I am looking for.
Other than a 4 string.

Now I am messing around with easy rock tunes and taking lessons. I’m hoping to find some peeps to play with. Not looking to make any money. Just want to have fun
And learn.

I’m semi retired now. 60 years young.

I enjoy putting on some psychedelic music
And playing along.
What would you other Bassmen recommend for a second Guitar?
 
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#4
Oddly said:
This will be unpopular advice especially on here, but I'd suggest you stick with what you have...unless you're planning on playing stuff that a P bass can't handle...and I'd struggle to find that.
Click to expand...
This is my feeling. I make the most progress when I dedicate my time to one instrument and remove the micro adjustments of tone and technique.

The case could be made to get something other than a fretted 4 to expand horizons; fretless, double bass, 5 string…

But what matters is you’re exited to pick up a bass and play. I’d say just go to stores and see if anything gets you fired up. Welcome to the rabbit hole! :D
 
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#5
Oddly said:
This will be unpopular advice especially on here, but I'd suggest you stick with what you have...unless you're planning on playing stuff that a P bass can't handle...and I'd struggle to find that.
Click to expand...
That is one thing on my mind for sure.
I have been known to be a bit of a collector.
Lots of knives from my chef days. Dozens of tropical fish, multiple Tortoise
Perhaps I have a fun problem
 
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#6
I'm never one to endorse buying something just to buy something. I went through an exploratory phase when I first started, but all my "next" basses were for the purpose of exploring something specific (5 string, fretless, P, 6 string, PJ, etc).

I would normally suggest that you give a 5 string a few spins, but you said 4 strings only.

It really depends on where you think you want to go from here. If you're looking for more tone options, a J or PJ would be a good choice. If you're at all interested exploring slap, some form of J would be beneficial.

If you think jazz may be in your future, a fretless would definitely be a good choice. getting proficient on fretless will likely make you a better player regardless of the genre you prefer.

Since you are exploring, find a good used bass. If you decide it's not for your, you can usually turn it around for at least close to what you paid for it - and then try something else. New instruments are a lot like new cars - they lose a lot of resale value once you get it off the lot.
 
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#9
jesse housman said:
I’m still new to the Bass. When I figured out I was loving this instrument after 6 months of lessons I got a Fender American P Bass. Ampeg 200 watt amp.
Playing on a high quality instrument gave me the chills. Doubling my interest in playing. Starting to make the sounds and tones from my favorite music of the past.

I am no prodigy, but I am having a ton of fun.
Now I am thinking about a second Bass. lots of fun looking and lurking thru the classified section here.

Not at all sure what I am looking for.
Other than a 4 string.

Now I am messing around with easy rock tunes and taking lessons. I’m hoping to find some peeps to play with. Not looking to make any money. Just want to have fun
And learn.

I’m semi retired now. 60 years young.

I enjoy putting on some psychedelic music
And playing along.
What would you other Bassmen recommend for a second Guitar?
Click to expand...

Honestly - there is absolutely zero way to give any meaningful advice here. If you needed a second bass as a backup for gigging, I'd say get what works for the gigs you're playing. If there was something you felt you were lacking in your P bass, I'd suggest something that might not be lacking in that respect. If you wanted to branch out into five or six strings, there would be that to talk about. There used to be a standard advice for working bassists that you needed one passive four-string and one active five-string to cover any gig, but that's not what you're talking about (and my own 5s are not active, so I break the rule myself).

As it is, you just want to get something else for the fun of getting something else. Nothing wrong with that, just no way for me to tell what you'll like. So I'd just say keep surfing the classifieds and stuff until you see something that makes you drool enough that you can't help but pull the trigger.
 
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#10
The more I think about it, the more I look.
But I really don’t know enough to really make a great choice.

I had a real lesson in Boston last week.
On a long morning walk about the city
I found myself in the Guitar Center across the street from Berk Collage of Music.
I saw a couple students really putting some Basses to task. Very nice people. Very friendly. Quite eye opening.
I think I am a long way from getting bored
With what I have. Really wet my appetite to play and learn more.

will I get another bass? Probably not any time soon. At some point I will.

time to go check out some threads and look into some of these excellent suggestions

Thanks everyone!
 
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#13
Nebadon2000 said:
EBMM Stingray [not SBMM] If you hang out here to much... soon you will have a few pedals, a Tube preamp a few more amps and more than 2 basses:) Oh yea and spending a lot of time changing strings to find the prefect one's for your unique Bass[es]
Click to expand...
I have begun my pedal collection.
But no tube pre amp yet.

phase 90
Agular Chorusaurus
Fox gear Knee Trembler

a cheap Boss distortion pedal
a cheap Boss Over drive


on order
MALEKKO CHARLIE FOXTROT
 
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