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Should i get a cheaper second bass or an expensive one?

#21
felis said:
Learning to play is more important. It's easy to get caught up in GAS too.
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spade2you said:
GAS for the sake of GAS is fairly pointless. Been there, done that.
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heed this ^! i've always entertained a little GAS, naturally, but hanging out on TB can turn a slightly entertaining impulsiveness into a major affliction! watch out! good luck!
 
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#22
If you don't know what you want, best save some time and your money for now. Bank your cash, and put the time saved into practice. You'll be a better bassist. And a lot happier in the long run.

When and if you finally do get a second bass, there's no worries. There will be just as much to chose from. And they will always be making more.

"So save yer bread and hit the woodshed. "

Play well! :thumbsup:
 
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#24
two fingers said:
I'm going to go with a different approach. You have no idea what you really lime yet. Right now you are finding "your sound". You need to try out several different kinds of basses. Buy an inexpensive second bass. I would go with the MIM Jazz of those two.

Just understand this. You may end up liking something different over time. That's fine too. The money I lose on buying gear and then selling it down the road I call "rent" for getting the opportunity to try out something different.

Also, you could always buy used. Craigslist is sketchy at time but can yield some deals. The people here at Talk Bass have been awesome to work with. Some never left feedback so even though I am only showing a few feedback posts I have bought and sold a lot of stuff here. Try browsing the Basses Guitars For Sale section. You will save some dough and not lose as much (or any) money if you decide you don't like a bass and want to resell it.

Good luck with your hunt.
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Thanks! I guess I will be buying in the MIM price range. Now I won't feel uncomfortable performing at school!
Also, will it be wise for me to play a 5 string bass?
 
#26
Awesomeman0524 said:
I have been learning to play bass for a bit more than 8 months and i was thinking about getting a new bass like, a month later. But i don't really know if i should get an expensive one (example, the schecter hellraiser extereme) or a cheaper one (example, an mim fender). I'm not sure if i should get a cheaper second bass or an expensive one as i don't know my preferences. Like, which kind of tone i prefer or how thin the neck should be. Of course, i will try them out at a store.
getting one means i will be sticking with these for at least a few years. so which one should i get?
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In my opinion, get a good second bass. And get one that's different from your first bass in design concept. That'll allow you to have two completely different flavors to switch between at gigs. For instance on gigs I take either my '68 Telecaster which is strung with flats (or G&L L-1000 with flats), along with my Jack Casady Epiphone, which is a semi-hollowbody and strung with rounds. Total different philosophies in design, completely different sounds, so much versatility.
 
#28
if you've only been playing for eight months, I'd recommend sticking with one. Think about it this way - right now, and you've said it yourself, you don't really know what you want. How long you should wait could vary, but it took me a good few years to really form what bass I like in my head and I think I'm happy with what I've got.

I'd also love to get a new pair of boxing gloves to upgrade from my current everlasts, but until they wear out, it's all for ego as far as I'm concerned, and ego won't make my jab any better. In the same way, while another bass is awesome to have, it won't make you better.
 
#30
Awesomeman0524 said:
I'm not sure if i should get a cheaper second bass or an expensive one as i don't know my preferences. Like, which kind of tone i prefer or how thin the neck should be. Of course, i will try them out at a store.
getting one means i will be sticking with these for at least a few years. so which one should i get?
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Neither. Go to music stores and spend hours in there playing different basses. Different scales, string spacing, neck size, pickup config.

You're not going to figure out what you like by only playing one or two.
 
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#31
I would recommend getting a second bass that you actually like to play. Don't buy a "cheaper" that you will only use as a backup because you'll most likely end up never playing it. But a bass that you would play because you like playing it, regardless of price.
 
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#32
Awesomeman0524 said:
getting one means i will be sticking with these for at least a few years.
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Famous last words. :laugh:

Seriously, I've only once thought of a backup for inexpensive purposes, and that was because I needed one that very day, like NOW. And it turned out to be a pretty good primary. If you're going for a second bass, just go for one you like and can fit the role of a primary. Every single one I've owned (other than that one, initially) was purchased because "oooooooh, I gotta have that one!" And I was happier for it.
 
#34
Agreed, unless your first bass is a real POS, id save my money until I developed my skills and taste/style.
Me personally, I would spend the money burning a hole in my pocket on a decent amp. That will help you
a lot more when you start to play with others because you need to be heard over drum kits, which can be rather loud.
 
#37
That's just GAS to be honest.

Thank goodness I'm too broke for GAS :D got a Schecter Omen Extreme-4 when it was on sale for $399 and it's my only bass. Wheneve I feel a GAS attack coming on I just go to GC or other local music store and pluck away at the basses til I'm satisfied. My own bass still feels better.

If you really want to spend any money, just upgrade your pickups or get some new strings you've always wanted to try.
 
#38
Awesomeman0524 said:
I have been learning to play bass for a bit more than 8 months and i was thinking about getting a new bass like, a month later. But i don't really know if i should get an expensive one (example, the schecter hellraiser extereme) or a cheaper one (example, an mim fender). I'm not sure if i should get a cheaper second bass or an expensive one as i don't know my preferences. Like, which kind of tone i prefer or how thin the neck should be. Of course, i will try them out at a store.
getting one means i will be sticking with these for at least a few years. so which one should i get?
Click to expand...

If the bass you currently own does not play well enough to allow you to learn, you need to upgrade. If it plays fine but is "boring", then I suggest you save your money and keep practicing for another six months and THEN revisit this decision. You are a beginner, and so you really don't know good from great from bad - have your teacher (you DO have a teacher, right?) play your bass and offer his/her input. I used to be very honest with my students about their instruments - I'd sometimes set them up for them, show them how to change strings, etc. If a student had a really *bad* bass, I'd tell them and try to help them find an affordable bass the played decently. But at your tenure as a player, you should be focusing on learning, not gear.
 
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