A PJ-bass of course. From Yamaha. Get a used BB or RBX. Good looking. Good sounding. Good handling. Good pricing.
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What should my first bass be?
- Thread starter Pippy
- Start date
i started playing 3 years ago. I bought a used Yamaha RBX170 PJ style like above. I still use it regularly even though I have bought 6 more others too "try".
I'm a noob currently playing a Yamaha RBX260. It's very well made. I've also owned a Squier PJ Special, which was a nice instrument. As many others have posted, with CAD/CAM manufacturing these days, the quality is amazing.
I'd press the seller (if it's a store) to do a basic set up for you, if they have someone that knows what they are doing. You'll likely learn how to do this yourself, in time.
The advice to consider weight is important. Personally, my (older) wrists bother me if I play seated for long, so I end up standing mostly. Then the weight becomes important.
If you're limited on budget, you can forgo the amp for now and get a decent headphone amp that will mix you with music from your phone (or whatever). This is also handy if you do not live alone or are in a small apartment. Vox Amplug is well reviewed.
If you struggle with the 34" scale at first, which some do, you can buy a capo and place it on the 2nd fret. You'll have to detune the strings down 1 whole step. This changes the bass to a 30" scale. Then after awhile, drop the capo or move it to the first fret for awhile. This really helped me until my left hand built up some strength.
Have fun! It's a great instrument.
I'd press the seller (if it's a store) to do a basic set up for you, if they have someone that knows what they are doing. You'll likely learn how to do this yourself, in time.
The advice to consider weight is important. Personally, my (older) wrists bother me if I play seated for long, so I end up standing mostly. Then the weight becomes important.
If you're limited on budget, you can forgo the amp for now and get a decent headphone amp that will mix you with music from your phone (or whatever). This is also handy if you do not live alone or are in a small apartment. Vox Amplug is well reviewed.
If you struggle with the 34" scale at first, which some do, you can buy a capo and place it on the 2nd fret. You'll have to detune the strings down 1 whole step. This changes the bass to a 30" scale. Then after awhile, drop the capo or move it to the first fret for awhile. This really helped me until my left hand built up some strength.
Have fun! It's a great instrument.
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I definitely am feeling indecisive at this point so I will take a step back and try the ones I like
I agree! That was what I was thinking!
For a first bass I'd pick one that feels good to play. I learned that the hard way. After a couple decades of playing I realized that playing comfort is everything and for the last 20 years that has been my priority. Any decent bass will sound right but if it doesn't feel right I won't bother with it.
If I were starting today I'd get a Squier Jaguar shortscale bass. Their necks just feel right to me. They balance well, sound very good and aren't too heavy. They're no longer made but can be found used. My current #1 solidbody is a Squier Jaguar SS.
If I were starting today I'd get a Squier Jaguar shortscale bass. Their necks just feel right to me. They balance well, sound very good and aren't too heavy. They're no longer made but can be found used. My current #1 solidbody is a Squier Jaguar SS.
Thank you!I went through this with my daughter as a teenager. She had the luxury of playing/trying my collection (Ps, Js, Warwicks, headless, 4s, 5s, 6s, too many to list). This was like the Goldilocks storytoo big, too heavy, not cool... you get the idea
Then her brother and I took her shopping and she fell in love with an Ibanez SR300 (Orange). The thin neck, the smaller size, weight and great balance all were considerations. Also sounded amazing when plugged in.
Good luck with your search, it’s a fun problem to have!
oh and welcome to Talkbass!
If you can find one of these, you will be very pleased! (Squier Classic Vibe 70s P bass). I have small hands and short fingers and this bass plays (and sounds) dreamy!!! What a great neck and feel! You could probably find one for around $300, used. Not sure if they're still in production. I think they are. They also come in black (I've seen way more available in black). Cannot beat these basses for the price alone! I have an $800 Fender Jazz bass that doesn't get played nearly as
much as this one. Good luck and please post a pic of what you end up with.
There is no safe. Get any bass that you like. You should see some of the basses many of us (who are old as dirt) started out on. Mine was a "Kimberly" purchased at Lafayette Electronics. Even cheap basses are pretty well made today and are upgradable.
Just for the sake of credit where credit is due, the artist is Mikiko Ponczeck.
Here's the original source of the bass comic:
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and here's the artist's home page:
Mikiko
Welcome to TB! You have a lot of good advice in this thread. My 2 cents:
Buy used unless you really want a new bass. You'll get more bass for your money.
Try as many basses as you can. When you find the right one, you'll know.
Make sure you include a Precision, a Jazz, and a MusicMan among the ones you try.
Consider Squier. The quality of cheap basses has never been higher than it is now.
Try active and passive basses.
Try 34" scale basses and shorter ones.
I'd suggest sticking with 4 strings to start out with, unless the music you want to play requires five.
Come back and show off your new bass!
Buy used unless you really want a new bass. You'll get more bass for your money.
Try as many basses as you can. When you find the right one, you'll know.
Make sure you include a Precision, a Jazz, and a MusicMan among the ones you try.
Consider Squier. The quality of cheap basses has never been higher than it is now.
Try active and passive basses.
Try 34" scale basses and shorter ones.
I'd suggest sticking with 4 strings to start out with, unless the music you want to play requires five.
Come back and show off your new bass!
I thought there were rules against misleading newbies ... never sell that first bass! (lifelong regret if you do!)
Agree with the views about buying new entry level Yamaha-Ibanez-Squire (mostly made by Cort in Indonesia.) Talman 30 and Jaguar SS get a lot of TB love.
While a new bass will hold a place in your heart, it's unlikely to hold its value for long as something special to play.
If you do like the look and feel of a Musicman Bass, maybe scratch around for an early 2000s USA-made S.U.B. which were replicas of the original 70s Stingrays: a joy to play and some bonus mojo!
One day, however, you will play a Ric (Rickenbacker) and wonder why you didn't just start by saving for one of those
Aaah, Ric.
(Now welcome @Pippy to the best part of TB ... Ric love & hate! Sit back & enjoy ... Best of all, it's *mostly* all true!)
Find a friend who already knows bass guitars, and get them to go with you to a Guitar Center, or some such big box music store. Once there try several different basses. As stated, try some long scale basses, short scale, Fender styles, Gibson, Ernie Ball, etc. I play both long and short scale, but right now I’m into my shorties! Ask questions of your friend you brought for support. I have a Mexican made Fender Mustang ina seafoam green withe the mint pick guard, that is the cats pajamas. Plays like butter, sounds like a dream, and is very easy to learn and play on. That would be my suggestion. It should be priced affordably at about 649.00. If you find one with a good neck and does not have any problems, and your friend says its cool, and you are impatient to get started, you can buy it there, but I really don’t mind waiting a few days, and getting one from Sweetwater. They will definitely send you a good one, and perhaps, if you talk to them right, they will throw in some extra goodies! Such as a hard case for a deep discount, or whatever. My two cents. Heres a pic of mine.
Good luck, and welcome to the low end!
Koy
^^^THIS^^^...and as illustrated, makes you never want to put it down. GREAT advice.
Wow, I bet the op is pretty confused and overwhelmed at all the well intentioned suggestions. Is price an issue with him? Best advise in a normal non-covid environment would be to narrow down the ones you're most interested in and play them in a store to see what "fits" best. Keep in mind though that some of the basses you try may not be set up very well. Having said that, a lot of music has been made with just precision or jazz style basses. Their versatility in a wide range of styles is well documented.
