Please Recommend Cheap Bass and Quick Tips

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Alexrkstr

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Hey guys,

I don't know anything about Basses and will have to experiment for an upcomming event where we are 3 guitar players and nobody wants to play bass....

Any suggestions as to:
1. What Cheap bass I can buy under $200 for this?
2. Any special technic other than plucking the bass note and the chord notes for the song?


Thanks a lot guys!

Alex
 
1. Ibanez Soundgear. Cheap and decent.
2. Yeah, about a billion. That's what separates bass players from guitarists who own a bass. Since I'm in the latter category, however, I'll say this as a basic: just stick with the chord progression, and make sure you fire off a note every time the kick drum hits.
 
Alexrkstr said:
I don't know anything about Basses and will have to experiment for an upcomming event where we are 3 guitar players and nobody wants to play bass....
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Yeah, that sounds about right. :D

1. What Cheap bass I can buy under $200 for this?
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That Ibanez that Purge mentioned (GSR 200 is around $199) will probably work. I just bought a Squire Standard series (stay away from the Affinity series) bass and personally liked it better than the Ibanez, but it's kind of heavy for live use.

2. Any special technic other than plucking the bass note and the chord notes for the song?
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If you're just starting out, stick to the root note of the chord and, like Purge says, get into a good groove with the kick drum. As you get more comfortable, you can throw in some 3rds, 5ths, and such.
 
Take it from me (bass player for almost 30 years now): Get yourself one of those finger exercise things and work the fingers on your picking hand. You will need strength in your index and middle finger (unless you decide to play with a pick, but IMO, you will sound like a guitarist playing bass if you do). Work on it for 20 minutes a day. Actually, when you start out, just do it until you are fatigued. Don't do it until it hurts, you'll be doing yourself harm.
Stick to the root, and be mindful of the drummer. As a bassist, you should be tightest with him and not worry about the other two egos in the band. If the bass and drums are tight, they can do pretty much as they please and won't fuck the song up too much.
Any scales you know on the guitar will work on the bass, if you play a 4-string. I wouldn't worry about doing too much improv at first. It's going to take you some time to get used to a fatter neck, wider string spacing and being able to pull off 16 or so measures of 8th notes cleanly at first.
 
Thanks guys.....

I will look into it. now, we wont have a drummer, like I said... 3 guitarrist... I will jum in the keyboard once in a while and the bass here and there... but these are really good starting pointers.

Thanks a lot!
 
Alexrkstr said:
Thanks guys.....

I will look into it. now, we wont have a drummer, like I said... 3 guitarrist... I will jum in the keyboard once in a while and the bass here and there... but these are really good starting pointers.

Thanks a lot!
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I'd look into getting a metronone or a small drum machine then. You need to keep the groove tight as a bassist. Can't do that if you are sloppy!
 
Rokket brought up some excellent points about finger excercises. Playing the bass is a workout, to say the least. I've been playing guitar for about 16 years now, and I can handle a good several-hour-long shred session; as soon as I grab a bass though, I'm about ready to amputate my hand after one song...

As far as bass playing goes, there's so much tone and feel that goes into the pressure you put on the strings with your fret hand. It's really easy to injure yourself, so warm up.
 
Purge said:
Rokket brought up some excellent points about finger excercises. Playing the bass is a workout, to say the least. I've been playing guitar for about 16 years now, and I can handle a good several-hour-long shred session; as soon as I grab a bass though, I'm about ready to amputate my hand after one song...

As far as bass playing goes, there's so much tone and feel that goes into the pressure you put on the strings with your fret hand. It's really easy to injure yourself, so warm up.
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Keep that in mind the next song you do, Tom! ;)
I live to play, and I can play the bass for hours on end.



It takes time to build up to that though. Don't go out and play all day the first time you pick it up. Your fret hand is going to ache, and it does take more pressure to properly sound the notes than on a guitar, like he said.

Good luck with it!+
 
I second or third that!

Purge said:
Rokket brought up some excellent points about finger excercises. Playing the bass is a workout, to say the least. I've been playing guitar for about 16 years now, and I can handle a good several-hour-long shred session; as soon as I grab a bass though, I'm about ready to amputate my hand after one song...

As far as bass playing goes, there's so much tone and feel that goes into the pressure you put on the strings with your fret hand. It's really easy to injure yourself, so warm up.
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Rokket's tottaly right to about the pic to; you'll sound like a guitar player playing bass BUT do you have time to do anything else? I'm working on using my fingers but it takes TIME. It's not starting over but it is humbling.

I have a new found respect for bass players since I got a bass. I mean, I've always appreciated good bass playing but man, THAT shit is WORK!
 
Any Ibanez or Yamaha in that price range tend to be better than other makes at the same price. Just do a search at a few music stores and see which one you find most comfortable.

And starting out playing? all scales and no tunes makes bassist a dull boy... but it will give him a hell of a head start.

And something that many people overlook but is probably the most important thing when practicing... make sure your room's tidy. Cluttered home, cluttered mind. If your mind's cluttered then you wont be getting as much from your practice even if you think it's not affecting you.
 
There are a number of well-regarded bass players who use a pick. Chris Squire of Yes comes to mind, as does uber-session player Carol Kaye, who played on any number of Motown, Beach Boys, Ray Charles, etc. hits. Roll off your treble if you use a pick and get some of the flesh of your thumb onto the string when you pick and you'll sound okay.

If you're lucky enough to have a drummer, hang back where you can watch the drummer's right foot on the kick drum for clues as to where to put the rhythmic accents. I do that whenever I've got a gig playing bass OR rhythm guitar.

By all means, avoid the "Guitarist With A Bass" Syndrome - don't try to shoehorn your lead guitar licks into a song - bass players who are effective always remember they're the foundation the house is built on, not the gingerbread trim. Above all, don't tell your guitar friends that bass is a lot more fun to play or that bass players secretly rule the world - we don't want to dilute the species.

Gettin' a low-frequency buzz in Austin,

Tio Ed
 
Unlike guitar, it's OK for a bassist's fret hand fingers to touch the other strings. So don't arch your fingers to fret, do more of a barre. It's a lot easier.
 
Hey whattaguy

Would you say the color is the same as the photo, or lighter or darker?
 
whattaguy said:
I just purchased an SX Bass at rondomusic.net

http://www.rondomusic.net/bassguitars4.html

I have the SX SJB-62MG

It feels pretty nice to me, but I'm not a bassist. However, another bassist acquaintance of mine likes it better than his Ibanez SR100(?the cheapest one).
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Essex basses, guitars too, have been getting lots of good feedback. I've been thinking about one of these(the solid natural ash one). Here's some comments(160 pages!!!) on Essex basses from the talkbass forum: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57599
 
Yeah, I've been thinking about that one too

but I don't like that neck. I've emailed Rondo to see if the necks they sell will fit it.
 
I have an SX Jazz Bass 5-string knock-off and its good for the money. Where else can you get a 5-string for $150? It could use new tuners and a new bridge, but the pickups are pretty darn good for such a cheapie.

Although the low B string is pretty floppy so you have to be ginger with it.
 
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