Where to (re)start?

[caledoneus83]

rather than telling you to buy a certain type/ manufacturer/ style of bass, my recommendation would be find some free time to go to your local Guitar Center (or whatever music store is in your area) and head to the bass guitar section, pick up a variety of them and try them out, and figure out which one you like. Then you'll know what you are looking for.... There really is no cookie cutter approach (though i'm sure the P-bass with flats crowd would disagree and has already made their input... lol)

 

[JudgeSluggo]

Thank you all for your opinions. I'm out there, taking a look around at what's available to me. I stopped messing around with bass because frankly, I hadn't attained Buddha nature yet and realized bass was what I should have done from the start.

 

[gjohnson441496]

I have a jazz and p bass and although I like playing my p bass more, the jazz bass feels easier to play. By the way, I think you’ll be very satisfied with a squier. They really are great basses.

 

[Rib 13]

Good evening everyone,
I had a Squier P-bass nearly 30 years ago and quite honestly, while I loved playing bass, the instrument SUCKED. Specifically, the neck was terrible. I ended up getting rid of the bass after about a year and never got another. Now, I'm feeling the need to get back into bass. I'm feeling the low end calling. Because of the price, I'm thinking of giving Squier another try, however, I'm also thinking buying a used bass might not be a bad way to go. Further, I'm curious as to whether a Jazz bass is easier to play, since the neck is a bit narrower. Thoughts? Prayers? All-out wars on this topic?

Dude, I suggest go out and try anything and everything you can get your hands on in your budget (and a few out of your budget)...Not to get all Zen about this, but choose the one that "speaks to you" the most and that you connect with.....Otherwise, you are going to sift through a zillion answers here from a zillion players -- many of which who wont have anything in common with what you seek musically...Good luck

 

[Muddslide]

With regard to quality, I think you will find that present-day Squiers are light years better than three decades ago...

...However, the early 80s MIJ Squiers can frequently be incredible. I would rate those as higher quality than a great deal of "real" Fenders made during and since that same time.

But this poster is right--newer Squiers (particularly the CV and VF lines, even the current crop of Affinity models)-- tend to be superior to basic Squiers from the past couple decades.

Please don't just buy a headstock logo. The best advice you've gotten here is to get thee to a store and play a bunch of basses that speak to you, then pick something out that feels and sounds right and that you can afford.

These days you can get a TON of nice instruments for under $500 and an awful lot of really good stuff under $250 if you hunt.

 

[Badwater]

Good evening everyone,
I had a Squier P-bass nearly 30 years ago and quite honestly, while I loved playing bass, the instrument SUCKED. Specifically, the neck was terrible. I ended up getting rid of the bass after about a year and never got another. Now, I'm feeling the need to get back into bass. I'm feeling the low end calling. Because of the price, I'm thinking of giving Squier another try, however, I'm also thinking buying a used bass might not be a bad way to go. Further, I'm curious as to whether a Jazz bass is easier to play, since the neck is a bit narrower. Thoughts? Prayers? All-out wars on this topic?

As one who plays bass and guitar, I like a flat neck with a lot of radius, and little taper as possible. Stingrays have little taper and wide at the nut much like the taper of a Fender Strat. For me less taper is easier to move fast up and down the neck when playing octaves, double stops, and fretting the E and G strings at the same time. Especially near the 1st fret.

 

[somebrains]

As one who plays bass and guitar, I like a flat neck with a lot of radius, and little taper as possible. Stingrays have little taper and wide at the nut much like the taper of a Fender Strat. For me less taper is easier to move fast up and down the neck when playing octaves, double stops, and fretting the E and G strings at the same time. Especially near the 1st fret.

Ironically that's why I play a 5-string Jazz neck that's wide with a flat radius and medium thick.
OP is just going to have to pull the trigger on whatever best suits him in this moment, then things may change as his playing/taste evolves.

Horn is easier bs you get one and you play it.