I'm over 60 and want to start learning the bass. Guitar center has two I'm interested in. A fender short scale mustang and a MIM precision bass. They both some good when the sales person played them and feel good in my hands. What would you choose for a new player?
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What bass for a new player?
- Thread starter Sparky1
- Start date
You can't ever go wrong having a P bass in your arsenal. Might as well start there. You will probably acquire more over time anyway.
If you hands feel comfortable on the P bass, I'd start there - there's a lot more 34 inch scale instruments than short scales, and while there's nothing wrong with short scales, if you're comfortable with 34 inch scale, you'll have more options if/when you decide to add basses to your collection. You'll also feel more at home if you go somewhere, and someone hands you a random bass to play. Granted, some folks move easily between scale lengths, but for some of us, it's a little more difficult, so I stick with one scale length.
MIM Precision bass and pay to have it professionally setup unless you can do it yourself. That makes A HUGE difference.
P bass is a classic instrument with a classic sound. What kind of music are you into? IMO a p bass is a great beginners bass, since there are less knobs/options to distract you and you can focus on playing.
Which Mustang are you looking at? Mustang would be a good choice if you specifically want short scale, many guitarists who double on bass choose a shorty. I played a new Fender PJ Mustang, and it was a very well made instrument. I didn’t like the 3 way pickup switch, but it may work for you.
Which Mustang are you looking at? Mustang would be a good choice if you specifically want short scale, many guitarists who double on bass choose a shorty. I played a new Fender PJ Mustang, and it was a very well made instrument. I didn’t like the 3 way pickup switch, but it may work for you.
I like old rock. Stones, Floyd, Steely Dan, Bob Marley. I also like the simplicity of the 2 knob P bass. It's a 3 way pickup switch PJ mustang bass.
I bought a Precision Bass for my first bass almost 30 years ago. That still remains one of the best decisions I've made and I cannot recommend a P enough.
A lot of Stones was done with a Mustang...
Also, a number of Mustang models come with just the one pickup. Out of all the various Mustangs, only the PJ and American Performer have two pickups, I believe (not that two pickups would hurt you or anything).
Oh, and speaking of hurt, a big bass can be rough on an older body - I find the Mustang a bit easier on various body parts than a P. That said, I play both - my two favorite basses, by far.
So, i’d say you couldn’t go too wrong with either one. The P is more standard (in fact, it is pretty much the standard traditional bass [though Jazz bass players might have something to say]), but I just wanted to put in my 2 cents for the Mustang here
Also, a number of Mustang models come with just the one pickup. Out of all the various Mustangs, only the PJ and American Performer have two pickups, I believe (not that two pickups would hurt you or anything).
Oh, and speaking of hurt, a big bass can be rough on an older body - I find the Mustang a bit easier on various body parts than a P. That said, I play both - my two favorite basses, by far.
So, i’d say you couldn’t go too wrong with either one. The P is more standard (in fact, it is pretty much the standard traditional bass [though Jazz bass players might have something to say]), but I just wanted to put in my 2 cents for the Mustang here
Hi Sparky1 
I would get the Precision.
And so is the Precision!
A huge amount of music you heard in your life was recorded with that bass.
I am pretty sure that you will like the sounds that you can get with it!
oops!You just posted this:
Get the P bass, plug in and rock the house! It' s perfect for that!
greetings
Wise(b)ass
I would get the Precision.
And so is the Precision!
A huge amount of music you heard in your life was recorded with that bass.
I am pretty sure that you will like the sounds that you can get with it!
oops!
You just posted this:Get the P bass, plug in and rock the house! It' s perfect for that!
greetings
Wise(b)ass
I love shorties but would play long if I could..maybe.
So many more options. Can buy strings locally*
I see the same 3 shorties and rarely something new. Have to order strings online. But they feel so perfect to me.
Tried full scale for years but never bonded with a bass until tried a shorty.
Main thing is to pick one that feels so good you dont want to put it down. Keeps you playing.
Buy one and start playing it. Then go back to store and try all the basses again to see if still like it. Do it a few times to be sure. I like to do this even if not interested in buying anything. Just like trying out new basses i haven't seen before.
*depends of course...
So many more options. Can buy strings locally*
I see the same 3 shorties and rarely something new. Have to order strings online. But they feel so perfect to me.
Tried full scale for years but never bonded with a bass until tried a shorty.
Main thing is to pick one that feels so good you dont want to put it down. Keeps you playing.
Buy one and start playing it. Then go back to store and try all the basses again to see if still like it. Do it a few times to be sure. I like to do this even if not interested in buying anything. Just like trying out new basses i haven't seen before.
*depends of course...
I prefer the simplicity and tone of a P bass, it’s all I play anymore.
P bass and an Ampeg BA 115 or Fender Rumble 200 and you’ve got rock n roll tone for days.
But there’s no reason you cant get that tone from a PJ Mustang also, if you prefer the short scale. Bill Wyman is known for using short scales, including a Mustang.
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skyline_01
Endorsing artist: Nordstrand Audio, Tsunami Cables
My 2 cents on that is Bill Wyman is the only significant Mustang player that I ever heard of. And to be honest, the bass mix on stuff like Exile on Main St doesn't sound good to me at all. He just had little hands so needed a little bass. All of his basses were little short scale jobs.I prefer the simplicity and tone of a P bass, it’s all I play anymore.
P bass and an Ampeg BA 115 or Fender Rumble 200 and you’ve got rock n roll tone for days.
But there’s no reason you cant get that tone from a PJ Mustang also, if you prefer the short scale. Bill Wyman is known for using short scales, including a Mustang.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of iconic songs done for the last 50 years have been done with a P bass. The sound only started to change to the Jazz sound once Joe Osborn played one and the recording engineers really wanted to hate it. But it was Joe, so they couldn't.
Then Jaco etched that sound in stone, for all time to come.
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Didn't Keith Richards record a lot of the Stones basslines? He played a Precision btw
My first bass at 13 was a cheap Pbass copy for $80. That was over 40 years ago, and I still love the Pbass tone.
Get the Pbass and be done with it, you really don’t need anything else, play it, wear it out and put all that natural mojo into it!!
