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Should I get this Fender?

#41
Hi combee.

I see that you are getting a lot of conflicting advice here. Its not a matter of who is right or who is wrong - people are just sharing varying experiences that they have had. I can make arguments for and against getting a Fender as a first bass.

My experience is that my $400US 2006 Schecter Elite 4 (made in South Korea) sounds and looks better than my 1979 Fender Jazz Bass (MIA [made in America]), which cost me $600 new in 1979 and is now worth at least triple that much.
IMHO, Fender's current lineup of guitars, including basses, are overpriced when compared to Yamaha, Ibanez, Schecter, Aria, ESP/LTD, etc... That's why Fender came out with the Squier line.

The important thing is to get to a store and try out some of these basses. They sound and feel different. See if you can try a medium scale (32 or 33 inches) and/or a short scale (under 32") for comparison to a normal 34" scale. As you have no experience with bass guitars, I recommend that you do not buy online or used unless you have played that model in a store or something.

Also, if you intend to eventually play in a club band you should pay attention to how much weight you want on your shoulder for 3 to 5 hours a night. A single pound can make a big difference. Most basses vary in weight from about 10 lbs. to 8 lbs. The Ibanez Mikro has a 30" scale, 1.5" nut (same as a J Bass) and supoposedly wighs under 7 lbs. And, its like $200US or less.

You are going to need an amp to hear a solid body electric bass guitar . There are plenty of small, inexpensive ($50 to $100US) amps to choose from. So, you should add the cost of an amp into your budget.

You might want to get some advice from somenone who has been where you are, both geographicaly and musically: log on to Tal Wilkenfeld's myspace.com page and send her a message. I bet she will answer you.

BTW, I'm glad to hear that some young people are into heavy metal - its seems like all music these days is radio friendly-video driven pop/rock or country/pop or rap/pop, etc... I've been playing metal since 1969.
 
#42
I'm jumping in a bit late, but I'll give my recommendation:
Go for the Fender Standard Jazz Bass.
Fender is the "default" bass. The perfect STARTING place.
I have an SX Precision Bass. The guy who set it up (he's one of the finest luthiers/repair guys in the United States... I've been patronizing him for 25 years) told me that it's a great bass, but that I got "very lucky." He's seen other SXs with necks that can simply be thrown away. Garbage. So-- SXs are inconsistent. Yes, Fenders are inconsistent, too, but in nearly 40 years of playing I've almost never run across a Fender that was simply unworkable.
If you're just starting out, keep it simple and go with a Mexican Fender. And yes, Jazzes are easier to wrap your hand around than a Precision, and are a bit more versatile, tonally.
Oh, I almost forgot... the recent Squiers are getting good reviews, too. But they won't have the resale value of any Fender.
 
#43
Hi combee... it's always worth checking out the bay... I got a super MIM P bass for £250, all my other basses were/are active and I wanted a default bass so it had to be either a Jazz or Precision.

Turned out to be a smashing bass... one of my best.

I'm going to post a piccy as the thread seems a bit bare without... sorry chaps... same old, same old...

Link Removed
 
#44
Again, thanks for all the advice. I do appreciate it all.

I'm looking on eBay - although I have the money to buy brand new, I'd prefer to save a little of course.

Is there any reason why this Squier is special? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320447866182

Another couple I'm looking at:
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160377868846
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140360298997
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200406213184

Opinions welcome :)
 
#45
MIM Jazz, 3 nice sounds
MIM Precision, 1 nice sound...I know I personally like some versatility!

If you find the RIGHT mexican bass, you don't need to go much further really in terms of buying more instruments (unless you want other sounds obviously...)

Oh yeah - GO FOR THE FIRST ONE ON THAT LIST! That first one is an old Japanese model before they became the "first/starter instrument" brand they are today...they're known for being better-made than the american Fenders of the time!
 
#47
OK well, not sure if I mentioned this, but I did duck into Allan's Music in Sydney City last week, one to have an actual feel of some basses, and to grab some music mags to find a bass tutor. Allan's is a very general store so they had some lower price range stuff like Ashton (Australian brand I think) and Yamaha, up to MIA Fenders. It was nice to see a broad range, but I wanted some experts (besides you guys of course ;)) so today I ducked into Link Removed.

The Bass People were absolutely wonderful! It was a bit quiet since it's the middle of a weekday, but the dudes there were really nice and explained everything to me since I told them I was a newbie. I gave them the genres I like, my price range (about AU$1000-1500 for the bass, plus amp, cables and other peripherals) and they showed me a few and let me play them. Just going by feel and sound (though I'm not great with sound yet, I'm sure I'll get better with time), I really dug the Sterling by Music Man SB14. It just felt really right to me. Nice and lightweight, slender neck, and a good variety of sounds when I played with the pick-ups. I also wanted to look at some Ibanez ATKs or MIM Fenders, but they weren't in stock.

They also recommended the Invalid Link Removed for an amp, as I will be starting from scratch. I will definitely get a tutor, and I told them that, but they said it's good to play with at home.

So what do you guys think? A quick search of the forums shows that people seem to dig the SB14. As for the amp, it is a bit pricey and I don't think I need anything that fancy yet, especially if I am getting a tutor.
 
#48
Used MIM Jazz or MIM P Bass. Converting what I paid to your currency w/ tax, my Precision was less than 240 AUD (Used) this Summer, and the 'new' Jazz was less than $460 AUD, this week. The jazz was last years model/NOS. Of course the prices are higher there, and the quantities much lower from North America. Scour the ads, stores, etc. and find it! Sydney is a big place - that should help alot...
 
#50
The Sterling basses are quite nice, Combee, although they seem to be somewhat pricey for a "first" bass. The size would be ideal for a woman, good range of tones, but I would imagine the expense to be closer to 700 on a SB14? My advice: be prudent, but at the same time you should narrow things down and not have too many options, or else you'll never be satisfied.
 
#51
Hi Combee,

Unless you want the "teaching" loops, you can get better value in a small amp than the Fender B-DEC. IMHO, all Fender amps are overpriced becaue of their "name". Its like paying more for a BMW when you could buy an equallly good Acura: the Acura is a better value, but some folks want a BMW for reasons of ego.

My recommendations for a first amp while you are learning (prices are from Guitar Center):

> $100 - Peavey MAX 158: 15 watts x 8" woofer. I have one and love it for at-home practice and playing along to CDs.
> $160 - Peavey Max 110: 20w x 10".
> $200 - Marshall MB30: 30w x 10". This is a steal!

Warwick, Accoustic and Ibanez are also good values. Its like I said about the bass guitar, I can't see spending a lot of money on the very first one. But, if you have the $$$ - go with Gallien-Krueger or SWR. If you are a millionaire - get the Markbass Mini: 300w x 12 for only $900. :bassist:
 
#55
There are big advantages in starting with a used Fender. There are plenty of them about, so you can get an idea of what's a reasonable price locally. You'll be able to find some in a local shop to get some idea of what they are like. You'll know what "Fender" is like even if you move on to some other instrument later on. And you'll be able to sell it if/when you want something else.
 
#57
Ok so today I went back into Allan's Music before work, to compare MIM and MIA Fenders and check out their range. One of the shop assistants played some MIA jazz and precision Fenders. Personally I wasn't feeling it with the Fenders, but I can definitely hear a difference between jazz and precision, and between Fender and Ibanez.

What the shop assistant also said was that Fenders had a more punchy sound and stood their ground in bands, and Ibanezes tended to be more subtle and got drowned out in band situations. I could hear what he was talking about. That said, I got to have a bit of a play with an Ibanez ATK310 and I think I liked that too, though not as much as the Sterling from yesterday. So I think that kinda cemented things for me with the Sterling, though I'd definitely like to try a couple more ATKs just see how they sound.
 
#58
OK- NOT meaning to rubbish ALL muso shop assistants by ANY means, but THAT info re Fenders Being heard in the 'mix' & Ibanez's NOT is UTTER B.S.!!!!!!!!!! A good Ibanez is as good as - if not BETTER than most basses in a similar price bracket!! MAN - what a silly thing to say- tho- perhaps not- he WOULD make more selling you a Fender :hiding:

The Ibanez ATK's are Great basses IMO- & are basically Ibanez' version of Ernie Ball Music Man Stingrays- of course at Ibanez' terrific $$ tho. They DO have pretty chunky necks- & therefore U MAY find it hard to get around the neck IF u have smallish hands. IMO Ibanez' are generally GREAT value for money & most of them are darn good basses. They- like Fender & most other co's make custom( read very Expensive), high end-not quite as $$$, middle priced & cheap/beginner basses- like Fender with Their Custom Shop, Deluxe USA, USA standard, Japanese made(MIJ), MIM & Squier- so ALL price brackets are covered.
Bottom line is- 1. how much $$ You wanna/have to- spend. 2. Which of the basses in YOUR price range "speaks to you"- which one YOU like best & feels best to YOU.
If YOU like the Sterling (I've not tried them- but from what I've heard, they're good value) try it out as much as poss. Of course try as MANY basses as U can out as much as poss. & get which YOU like & sounds best to YOU. Oh & if poss. remember to try each bass out with the SAME amp & same settings on the amp- so the AMP isn't coloring your opinion
Good luck.
 

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