What type of bass does a beginer need?

[blues scale090]

I'm a beginer who wants to learn how to play bass. What is the best choice when looking for one? Jazz or Precision? What's the difference? How many strings? Please post details or website links to basses you think would be suitable. Thank you.

 

[AndyK12]

Yamaha RBX170

It doesn't matter what is on the headstock - as far as brand goes.

You need something that stays in tune all the way up the fretboard, has quiet electronics so that when you plug it in it doesn't hum like crazy, is fairly easy to play (low strings/tension), and sounds OK to you.

When I first started to play I used to roll the tone all the way back, but now I prefer a more clanky tone.

My first bass, which is pretty decent all things concerned, it's got passive electronics, which I would trust at this price range more then active - as well as a good QC department. The Fender Squire basses are also fantastic - I've recorded albums with them, and everyone has been happy. Your bass amp can probably get most of the tones you want, but you may really like a Precisions which is more 'thumpy' then a jazz, but a jazz has more midrange and smoothness.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Yamaha-RBX170-Bass?sku=511081

The RBX 170 let me learn and was decent to play. I traded it off on a Yamaha BBN5A which was stolen, and now I play a Yam BBNE2 which is a fantastic guitar.

 

[blues scale090]

thanks

Thanks, I really needed some help with this one.

 

[rayc]

How big are you & your hands?
Many people get a full scale bass & just can't manage it. I started out with a short scale - I'm short with a proportional reach and WAS light so a shorty was perfect. As I developed some skill and expanded my wrist/finger strength as well as reach I moved to a full scale but kept the shorty - until it was borrowed/stolen.
It does make a diff.
Apart from that the comments by AndyK12 are spot on re electronics etc.
Money & brand don't. necessarily, do it for you.
My fav. bass is a Vantage made in about '83. Feels great, plays great and records well. Didn't cost much at all.
The AMP you select will make a difference too. DON'T play bass through your guitar amp!!!!
Then again for recording MANY, MANY people DI bass - so if you look to record you might prefer to spend in that direction.
SO many options!

 

[Anfontan]

I have an Ibanez Jazz bass copy from the mid 70's ( when their copies were so exact that Gibson & Fender sued them) and in like 30 years its never had a single problem. Its a heavy beast but absolutley solid! I highly recommend them.

 

[junplugged]

it felt weird to me for years when i played my fender bullet bass b/c the neck was so much heavier than the body and it felt unbalanced.

the pickups are a bit weak, but i have a decent 100 watt amp and it didn't matter much

however *** if i had the bass i now have, or anything close to it, i would have played a lot more - because it is like a piano, it's super solid, great neck, good bridge, hot pickups, 5-strings, but the 4 is all you need, but the neck and the setup is so important, you have to get one that is already silky smooth and playable or you just won't play it as much. my bullet was $200 back then, the schecter i have was $700 ((-20% one time guitar center letter coupon thing which was awesome and perfect timing...))

that's all i have to say about that.

 

[Unsprung]

Check out the Ibanez and Squier starter packs. My first bass was a Squier Affinity P-bass that came with a Squier BP-15 bass combo, strap, gig bag and an instructional video. I've since bought a Fender Standard Precision Bass, but will be keeping the Squier. Eventually, when I've got time to A-B 'em both, I'll be able to decide which gets flat wound strings, and which gets round wound strings.

Matt

 

[rayc]

Mine was a cream CORONET SG Copy (AUS$70 on layby for 14 weeks back in 1974 paid it off $2 a week from pocket money & the odd b'day bonus but I was give 4 free lessons).
Short scale string can be a complication - I forgot to mention that.