Question about bass guitars.

[Evolution 2000]

Hi, I'm new to the forum & music as well.

I'm looking into buying my first bass guitar. Ive heard Fender has a well rounded beginner bass. Im using it to record simple bass, I use Acid Pro, Cool Edit Pro, FruityLoops. If you could recommend me a nice, decent priced bass guitar. Ive never played a bass in my short life before, so I need something I could learn with. I'm not setting a budget for this, but Im willing to spend $300-$500 on a decent bass. I'm into hiphop, r&b, contemporary jazz, soul, neosoul. Visit www.mp3.com/soleternity for an example of what I want soundwise.

Thanks in advance, Evo.

[Toki987]

Originally posted by Evolution 2000
Hi, I'm new to the forum & music as well.

I'm looking into buying my first bass guitar. Ive heard Fender has a well rounded beginner bass. Im using it to record simple bass, I use Acid Pro, Cool Edit Pro, FruityLoops. If you could recommend me a nice, decent priced bass guitar. Ive never played a bass in my short life before, so I need something I could learn with. I'm not setting a budget for this, but Im willing to spend $300-$500 on a decent bass. I'm into hiphop, r&b, contemporary jazz, soul, neosoul. Visit www.mp3.com/soleternity for an example of what I want soundwise.

Thanks in advance, Evo.

For entry level, I always recommend a Fender Jazz bass. New ones can be purchased at the lower end of that price range, although assembled in Mexico they are of good quality, have good tonal characteristics, 2 independant pickups with volumes, a single tone mix knob, the necks allow for almost all hand characteristics, and they are an industry standard that has been around for 40 yrs. The American made versions cost considerably more. The Fender jazz has been used for a much much broader mix of styles than those you mentioned previously.

www.musiciansfriend.com has some very good representative pricing on all the Fender models, as well as other brand choices. The Squire line is a good entry level buy as well, authorized and made to the specifications of Fender, for a little less cost.

You might also find a good deal in a pawn shop or used gear shop on a pre-owned one. I would recommend taking a friend with you that is experienced at what to look for, as far as the physical condition of the neck and body, whether the electronics are functional. And pricing...

Welcome to the realm of Bass. It's a world all its own...

[clifchamb]

Although I like the fender Jazz bass, I would recommend purchasing a bass with active electronics (requires a 9V battery in the back) they have a higher output signal with more versitility on shaping the sound. Yamaha has a line of basses (RBX series) that is in your price range that play and sound great. Also check out basses by Shceckter. I tend to favor basses with "soap bar" pickup configuration vs the old P-bass pickup or even J-bass pickups. They tend to "fart" if you finger,slap or pop the strings to hard (another reason to recommend active pickups. Hope that helps.

clif

[PFDarkside]

Try an Ibanez, Yamaha and both Jazz and P-basses. Thay all play and sound different, and I'm sure you'll find something in there you'll like.

[Bass Freak]

If you wanna be cool. Get a P-Bass lol. but really, try a bunch of different bass's, no two bass plays the same. just go with what feels good and dont listen to what any one says.

freak

[christiaan]

Originally posted by PFDarkside
Try an Ibanez, Yamaha and both Jazz and P-basses. Thay all play and sound different, and I'm sure you'll find something in there you'll like.

Yup. I own both a Yamaha and an Ibanez bass. IMO they give you a lot for your money.

[tacurtis]

I don't recommend Jazz bass for a beginner for the simple reason that if you get used to playing the thinner-width neck you'll be limited from then on in your purchasing options. (You can always go from being used to playing a wider neck to a thinner one, but making the switch the other way is difficult esp. for a biginner. Sort of like learning to drive on a stick-shift makes it easier to drive an automatic transmission than the other way around.)

I've been a dedicated lifelong Fender fanatic -- especially Precisions -- but without a doubt, the best buy you can get these days is a G&L Tribute L2000.




Active/passive electronics, dual high-ouput humbucking pickups, and onboard switching options galore. I took a chance on this "New B-stock" (blemished) Tribute L2000 from Music 123 for ~$430 and all that was wrong with it was a 2" long hairline scratch on the back that isn't even noticeable unless you look for it. It is beautifully built, excellent fit and finish -- way better than current foreign-built Fenders -- and has a monster tone. And don't forget, the G&L's are Leo Fender's last design, and in his own words, his favorite accomplishment.

[gvarko]

Originally Posted by Evolution 2000

I'm not setting a budget for this, but Im willing to spend $300-$500 on a decent bass.

I just picked up a Traben Chaos and would recommend to anyone.

http://www.trabenbass.com

I picked up mine off EBay for less than $500....

[mharr552000]

I just picked up a 2003 B.C. Rich NJ Warlock bass w/active electronics and a case on ebay for $370 shipped. BAD ASS!