bass guitar for begginner

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mdk
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Mdk

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Hi everyone,

I'm planning on asking my parents for a bass guitar for Christmas and was wondering what any bassists would reccomend as a good neophyte bass. My price range is probably about $200.

Thanks in advance,
Matthew
 
Check out the new Squire basses, or if you can find a good deal on one, a Mexican Fender bass. Either of those should be a great beginner bass.
 
Another possibility is that both Yamaha and Ibanez have models for $200,the Yam is called the RBX260.I don't remember the model* of the Ibanez,but I do remember that it has 2 pickups.They are both decent instruments to start out on,matter of fact I have an RBX260F,which is the fretless model.
 
Well I was thinking of the fender squier p-base 5 string about $230(if I can squeeze that out of the parents :) ). Or should I stick to four string? Also, do you know anthing of 6-string basses, who makes them?

Thanks to both of you for your replies!
Matthew
 
IMHO you're better off with a 4-string bass to start. When in doubt, you'll always find a 4-string to play. While not exactly rare, 5-strings aren't as common. You never know when you'll be in a situation where you'll have to play someone else's instrument. If you get set on 5-strings, you may find it harder to play with 4. Like I said, just my opinion. Plus, if you go for a 4-string, that's more money you have to spend on the bass or the amp...

MikeDog
 
this is to anyone:

What are the pros and cons of using a frettless bass? Are'nt the used more for jazz music?

Thanks for the help,
Matthew
 
My girl friend is lerning bass right now. we have a fretless jazz, and an acoustic Takamine. having frets to land on really is helpful for in struction, and for slapoping and continued sustain.
the fretless is a little more melodic, and has that cool smooth tone.
 
My 2 cents:
Ibanez makes a really good bass in the $200/250 range.
I agree that you should start with a 4 string, and for now, by all means-Get a bass with frets!(;
And don't let anybody tell you that you are just the "Bass Player"...Learn it well & shove it in their faces.
DJ
 
The studio engineer I just worked with said he's yet to find a bass that records better than a Squire or Fender P-bass. We were using a $2700 Tobias bass, and it tracked so poorly, we went and borrowed my sister-in-law's $200 P-bass because it had better sound!!

Pete
 
I started out on a cheap Jim Deacon P-Bass copy. It was a 4 string but I have since moved onto a 5 string and am starting to contemplate getting a 6. I would recommend starting on a fretted bass and getting your technique down so that it is easier to move onto the fretless model in the future!

I would agree with a previous comment about not starting on a 5 string. Although I learned on a 4 string I find the transition back to them awkward because of the string spacing and I'm always looking for that 5th string!

Anyway glad you are learning a REAL instrument and wish you well in your bass playing!
 
All the suggestions so far were good. I bought a Yamaha bass in December that was on clearance from Guitar Center. It's a model BB G5 I think. I dunno. lol It's nice though. It plays very well and has a decent variety of sound. It was $269, on clearance. List on it was ~$600. The Fenders seem decent in that range, as do the Ibanez. If you can find something on clearance, that may be the way to go, but of course, I stumbled across that. I couldn't find anything else in that range that compared, but this bass also sold for about $400 regularly.

Good luck.
 
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