The most classic and versatile for your needs is a Fender Jazz bass (in my opinion).
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What should my first bass be?
- Thread starter Pippy
- Start date
I’m gonna stray from the pack just a little bit and say first and foremost, buy something you actually like the looks of. I’m not kidding. The fact that you haven’t really played means you haven’t developed bad or good habits, you don’t know what neck profiles, or scale length, or weight, or “feel” you even like yet.
If you just run out and buy a bass based on what people tell you to buy, but it doesn’t speak to you visually, you’ll be less likely to pick it up and play it. Seriously. I chose my first bass 100% on looks. Turns out I played the heck out of it because I thought it looked awesome and I wanted to master it. Once you get to that “intermediate” stage of knowing how things are supposed to feel and knowing what you like and don’t like about your first bass, you’ll be much better prepared to buy one you really think will be perfect for you (I said “think” because it’s still a crapshoot for many of us hence all the Basses for sale in the classifieds). It’s like buying your first car. If you don’t like how it looks you’ll probably be less inclined to drive it and therefore get better at driving it.
If you just run out and buy a bass based on what people tell you to buy, but it doesn’t speak to you visually, you’ll be less likely to pick it up and play it. Seriously. I chose my first bass 100% on looks. Turns out I played the heck out of it because I thought it looked awesome and I wanted to master it. Once you get to that “intermediate” stage of knowing how things are supposed to feel and knowing what you like and don’t like about your first bass, you’ll be much better prepared to buy one you really think will be perfect for you (I said “think” because it’s still a crapshoot for many of us hence all the Basses for sale in the classifieds). It’s like buying your first car. If you don’t like how it looks you’ll probably be less inclined to drive it and therefore get better at driving it.
I'm an upright player so can't recommend instruments but I do remember reading an article about female guitarists commissioning makers to build models that fit their shape more comfortably.
Found these refs for guitar. Anything like for basses?
Guitars for Women, with Review of the St. Vincent Guitar | Sweet Guitar Tones
St. Vincent’s Latest Guitar Collaboration With “Room for Breasts”
Found these refs for guitar. Anything like for basses?
Guitars for Women, with Review of the St. Vincent Guitar | Sweet Guitar Tones
St. Vincent’s Latest Guitar Collaboration With “Room for Breasts”
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Yamaha TRBX174 and a Fender Rumble 40 amp.
Everything you need to start with money left over for a couple of pizzas.
Everything you need to start with money left over for a couple of pizzas.
Ibanez sr engineering is great .
They are light weight and balance so you won't find a lot of weigh problem.
The premium series have nerdy pickups which are pro level pickups and very reliable.
The quality of the bass is very good and can handle different situation really well plus I should add that they have a 3band eq which cover all things you need.
Ibanez sr 650 FROM STANDARD
ibanez sr 1000s (1200,1300,1400 and ...) from premium.
Hey, @Pippy, welcome to TalkBass.
I was in your situation a little more than a year ago, though I had not yet found TalkBass so I didn't have quite so many suggestions to wade through. As a couple people have mentioned, The Wirecutter did a great piece a while back on the best bass for beginners, and while it's no longer up on their site, you can still find it.
I read a bunch of other stuff, too, but that was the main piece that guided me, and I ended up with an Ibanez SR200 (I have smallish hands) and a Fender Rumble25. Perfectly good starter equipment, to be sure. That was all it took for me to fall in love with bass, and now I have five different basses (here's the latest NBD! Black & tan edition, kicks ash...), about a dozen pedals, and a couple combo amps with yet another one coming in the near future. It's a wonderful, beautiful, sickness.
I won't tell you what to get because, really, nobody else knows what's right for you. You have to get what speaks to you. I will, however, reiterate a couple of the points that have been made many times here because I think they're such good points:
* If you can try things out in person, that's a big help.
While I initially picked a bass sight unseen and it worked out, it is really useful to be able to try stuff out. For instance, I will never buy a Fender Precision because I don't like the chunky neck. Have to try things to know that. However, given the pandemic, trying things out in person may be difficult. If that's the case, I would probably avoid things that are more specialized in case you don't like that specialization, for example Fender Precision and Stingray SUB. Not that those are bad, but if you can't try them it's hard to know if they'll suit you, so I'd go more middle-of-the-road.
* The inexpensive bass market is really great right now.
Even a modest outlay of $200 will get you a totally solid instrument; the Ibanez SR200 and Yamaha TRBX170 are great examples here. For another $100-200 you have a huge array of great choices available. If it has to be beautiful for you to want to pick it up, that's a reasonable guide and you have lots of great choices in that range. It's difficult to really make a mistake here in terms of quality, so you can be confident that no matter what you decide, it'll be a good choice.
* THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
When you get a bass, you absolutely must post pictures here on TalkBass. This is not negotiable in any way.
I was in your situation a little more than a year ago, though I had not yet found TalkBass so I didn't have quite so many suggestions to wade through. As a couple people have mentioned, The Wirecutter did a great piece a while back on the best bass for beginners, and while it's no longer up on their site, you can still find it.
I read a bunch of other stuff, too, but that was the main piece that guided me, and I ended up with an Ibanez SR200 (I have smallish hands) and a Fender Rumble25. Perfectly good starter equipment, to be sure. That was all it took for me to fall in love with bass, and now I have five different basses (here's the latest NBD! Black & tan edition, kicks ash...), about a dozen pedals, and a couple combo amps with yet another one coming in the near future. It's a wonderful, beautiful, sickness.
I won't tell you what to get because, really, nobody else knows what's right for you. You have to get what speaks to you. I will, however, reiterate a couple of the points that have been made many times here because I think they're such good points:
* If you can try things out in person, that's a big help.
While I initially picked a bass sight unseen and it worked out, it is really useful to be able to try stuff out. For instance, I will never buy a Fender Precision because I don't like the chunky neck. Have to try things to know that. However, given the pandemic, trying things out in person may be difficult. If that's the case, I would probably avoid things that are more specialized in case you don't like that specialization, for example Fender Precision and Stingray SUB. Not that those are bad, but if you can't try them it's hard to know if they'll suit you, so I'd go more middle-of-the-road.
* The inexpensive bass market is really great right now.
Even a modest outlay of $200 will get you a totally solid instrument; the Ibanez SR200 and Yamaha TRBX170 are great examples here. For another $100-200 you have a huge array of great choices available. If it has to be beautiful for you to want to pick it up, that's a reasonable guide and you have lots of great choices in that range. It's difficult to really make a mistake here in terms of quality, so you can be confident that no matter what you decide, it'll be a good choice.
* THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
When you get a bass, you absolutely must post pictures here on TalkBass. This is not negotiable in any way.
I started with a $279 fretless bass that i still have. i had a lot of fun on it and didn't feel the pressure that comes along with playing (and getting something out of) a more expensive instrument. eventually i outgrew it and got a fretless fender Jazz. I really lucked out, it is an absolute gem from build quality to sound. I'm very happy. so i guess what i'm saying is get a modest bass, have fun, and then after practice, decide what you really want. that way if you decide to switch to guitar (gasp) or something, you won't be out much cash..
Lot’s of great advice will, and has been given here. So just a note to OP. There is absolutely no shortage of advice or opinions here on TB. Any questions, just ask us, we know EVERYTHING. Also we have NO problem spending other people’s money, none what so ever. A fair amount of this is for the typical Bass Humor you will find here. Now about that Amp you will need.........
I’m not as smart or (bass) experienced as most of these folks, but I’d say listen to yourself. If you already know you like something, go there. I played guitar off and on from 1984 until fairly recently. My favorite guitar was an imitation 52 Telecaster. I loved the look, feel, and sound. The best thing I can say about the year I floundered around is that I knew I like Fender style basses, but I really wish I’d found my new love, a Japanese re-issue of a 51 P bass with a single coil pickup, maple fret board, and slab body, a year ago. I could have saved a lot of money and time.
OP, I was in the same place as you a month ago. Haven’t seen them mentioned yet, but don’t overlook the G&L Tribute Series basses as you scan the field.
After having them recommended by many, I ended up with an LB-100. Excellent instrument, couldn’t be happier.
Though new to bass, I’ve been playing guitar for decades, and owned instruments that cost up to $5K. The G&L is super-solid, well made, and set up to play great right out of the box.
(I wouldn’t dissuade you from picking up the SUB, though, as those have a good reputation as well and you have the benefit of having already had one in your hands and liking it.
)
Anyway, I must admit looking very much like the girl in the cartoon these past couple of weeks. Even though the LB is easily my least expensive instrument, my 6-strings are sitting nearby, neglected...I’m really enjoying how different the bass is from the guitar in terms of approach/technique. Very refreshing and stimulating.
I’m excited for you and your journey ahead!
After having them recommended by many, I ended up with an LB-100. Excellent instrument, couldn’t be happier.
Though new to bass, I’ve been playing guitar for decades, and owned instruments that cost up to $5K. The G&L is super-solid, well made, and set up to play great right out of the box.
(I wouldn’t dissuade you from picking up the SUB, though, as those have a good reputation as well and you have the benefit of having already had one in your hands and liking it.
)Anyway, I must admit looking very much like the girl in the cartoon these past couple of weeks. Even though the LB is easily my least expensive instrument, my 6-strings are sitting nearby, neglected...I’m really enjoying how different the bass is from the guitar in terms of approach/technique. Very refreshing and stimulating.
I’m excited for you and your journey ahead!
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Shop around...find a music store that has a variety of basses and play them or check out online with reputable standings...sweetwater,musicians friend,SamAshe,Bass central to name a few. Trust your intuition and and who takes their time with you.
This is sound advice (pun intended). You will eventually need to have an opinion on the Fender P bass, so either check it off your list and become one of the "I don't get why everybody uses P -bass" people, or fall in love with it forever like I did. Either way, it's a right of passage as an electric bass player.
