Recommendation for first bass guitar.

[NLAlston]

I am not a bass player - in fact, I have never played bass before. But I am into home recording, on a SIAB which has Hi-Z input, and I need a bass for recording purposes only. Is there a good, inexpensive "ax" that would serve recording purposes well for me?

Blessings,

Nate.

 

[Gidge]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...4019467590/search/g=home/detail/base_id/59172

 

[clifchamb]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7...4019467590/search/g=home/detail/base_id/59172

good call, I'd have to agree. Yamaha rules.


clif

 

[NLAlston]

Gidge & Clif - thanks.

I had hoped that I could get into something decent (for recording) for about $200, or less, and I will be ordering this Yammie Bass very soon. What will follow will be learning how to play the thing. I should be able to put some 'bottoms' down before too long, though, because my music is in the easy listening/contemporary Christian (mainly on the slower side) genre, which doesn't really require rapid fingering. As I stated earlier, I never played bass before, but I had fooled around with an acoustic guitar for a few years, which is to say that I would know (for the most part) where to navigate my fingers to get where I would want to go - on the bass. Practice, however, will enable me to eventually do so in a much quicker - and grander fashion.

Once again, thanks to you both - and may God Bless.

Nate.

 

[Roker1]

NLAIston,
I'm looking for the same thing. I don't play bass, but I wanna have it in the studio just for the ideas...i hate midi , so I figured I'll get the reall bass.However, I was looking at RBX270 which is the next step up from the one Gidge linked to. It's not much more expensive and it's got closed pick-ups, metal tuning machines (170's got plastic) and it does feel a bit "tighter" than the RBX170....I tested one (how, you ask ) I just held it in my hands and played the "Hey joe" bass line ....
Nah but seriously, if you can do with open pickups (I just hate to see them rust), go for 170....I think I'll grab the 270 as soon as funds permit....
good luck

 

[mocharock]

I play an old Fender Squire. They are inexpensive and I think that they have a really clean sound as well. I do hear that a lot of Bass players like the Yamaha as well. I personally recommend the Fender Squire.

 

[Disco_Dave]

Though I am a fan of yamaha Basses I usually advise my prospective students that a Squire bass will serve their needs as adequately as anything. In my experience they are more forgiving and when it comes to guessing about an instrument, which is what you are doing when you buy one before you learn to play I would put shorter odds on the Squire suiting a new player.

 

[clifchamb]

The squires are forgiving but IMHO, for studio use tone wise, A yamaha will delliver a better tone than a squire. I would try both out at a local store to see if there is a difference. Plus the Yamaha has a J bass pickup as well whereas the squire you get only a P bass pickup. more tone options if you ask me.


clif

 

[LI_Slim]

I checked them both out and I vote for the Squire. I got one for my daughter and I've course I've borrowed it ; worked very well on a recording.

 

[Gidge]

I have a Squire myself, but i think the Yamaha is a tad more versatile tonally with the P and J style pickups....I would have gotten the Yamaha myself but I got a deal on the Squire ($129 out the door at GC) and im a cheapskate....

 

[LI_Slim]

$129 is an awesome price for that bass...

Gidge you must reply right away so I can see you hit 7500 posts

 

[NLAlston]

My outing, earlier today, brought me near the Guitar Center and - like Roker1 - I paid a visit for the purpose of being able to get a good look-see at the Yamaha RBX170. I picked it up, fooled around with it for a few minutes, and liked it. But then I toyed around with the RBX270, and the Fender Squire. Maybe it was just me, but they both felt meatier, and seemed to be more substantial than the above mentioned. I knew absolutely nothing as to the difference in pickups, until after perusing a few of the posts, here, but - if finances permit - I will more than likely try to swing for the RBX270. One thing that concerned me was of hearing as to how the lower-end basses tended to suffer from frequent string slippage, and I want to get something that would be good enough to stand above this condition. I haven't, however, read that any owners have offered complaints about this on any of the above mentioned basses - so I will rest on the assumption that this concern won't be an issue.

Oh well, it's just a matter, now, of waiting for the funds to come through. Then it will be all about much practicing, sore fingertips (for a while, anyway) and growing within the talent of becoming a 'bassman'. Thanks much to each & every one of you.

May God Bless you, your families, and your talent.

Nate

 

[Disco_Dave]

Play scales and arpeggios till your sick of the sound of them. Start of playing slowly, and as you improve speed up until you start playing notes wrong then slow down again. You will thank me in 6 months. Playing along with records is good, but do some basic practice as well.