which bass?

[SLicata]

whats up everyone.

im primarily a guitar player. im looking to up my arsenal of axes with a bass guitar. i know my gear, but i never research basses, only guitars. anyway im looking for a bassist's advice. im debating on 4 or 5 strings. i like 4 for a more traditional approach, but 5 for more versatility, and 5 would give me the real low end the music im playing requires. the 2 brands ive been looking at are mainly ibanez and fender...round about 500 bones. if anyone could make a suggestion that would be great. maybe what to stay away from or what to veer towards. any help wouyld be greatly appreciated. and so you know i wont be gigging with this or playing through a true bass amp, probably just recording and possibly teaching with it, but i dont want a cheapo. thanks

-steve

 

[rayc]

SLicata,
Now you've done a little research go & play some basses. & don't forget to play some not on your research list. Names don't always mean everything, especially with the el cheapohs that brands are now putting out. On the other hand, & as a bassist I can say this with my hand over my cardiod muscle, I have 2 basses, neither are BIG brand names & both do their allotted task BEAUTIFULLY.
As for 5 string do you want the low B or a top or something else? There's a thread in here somewhere in the last week from a dude who plays 9 & 11 string.
As a guitarist you'll be constantly tempted to play a lead line on the bass as much as a keyboard player using a violin sample doesn't usually play within the range & natural scope of a violin - good for creating new things - bad if the arrangement is intended to be as if for the natural instrument.
If you go with a 4 the limitations may focus you on the trad role as well as working within/against the limitations.
That said - just play some & IF you're not going to use a bass amp trial them through whatever you intend to use, sans amp, DI, Vamp, POD etc.
Also think about the string types you'll employ, FLAT, ROUND, 1/2 ROUND, COATED etc as these have significant effects on the sound & cost.
The notes are easy - the feel isn't - (that was a self serving little profundity wasn't it?).
Cheers
rayC

 

[RezN8]

I'd say if the music you play calls for the low notes, you should go for the 5 string. Although it will seem awkward at first, it doesn't take long to get used to it.

Although I can "hold my own" on bass, I'm also very fortunate to be surrounded by several incredible bass players. One thing I've noticed is that each of these pro kats has an "inexpensive" back up. We're talking about guys with basses in the $4-6K range, who have back up basses worth $200-$500.

I was impressed too. Production has come a long way and the market is ripe with good deals. Brands like Fender Squier, Ibanez, Peavey, Schecter, Yamaha, etc. are coming out with great gear.

The trick is you have to sift through a bunch of them to find the keeper - the one that really suits your taste and playing style.

Good luck, Rez

 

[Toki987]

play a few with your eyes closed. You can feel and hear 'em better. In most cases the gloss, glam, and glitter are sales devices. The decoration can cloud your judgement.

 

[IronFlippy]

....and so you know i wont be gigging with this or playing through a true bass amp....

I really hope you're not going to try and play it through a guitar amp. The speakers aren't meant to handle that range and they'll blow even at low volumes.

You can't go wrong with Fender, and from what I hear, Yamaha makes some good basses. As everyone else is saying, go play them. You probably want to avoid names you haven't heard, because companies making cheap instruments usually have terrible QC. Fender, Yamaha, Ibanez, Schecter, Gibson (pretty much all the same companies as guitars) are usually a good go. Rickenbacker makes some excellent basses, but they aren't cheap either.

 

[jeffree]

SL, try the search function. Many recent threads deal with your question. Here's just one:

http://www.homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=184210&highlight=yamaha+170

Best,
J.

 

[ermghoti]

I really hope you're not going to try and play it through a guitar amp. The speakers aren't meant to handle that range and they'll blow even at low volumes.

I have put my Marshall 1960B through many hours of quiet playing, and a good amount of the loud stuff, with a 5-string. No ill effects at all. My understanding was that speakers blow from overheating, trying to create overly high frequencies, far more often than from over-excursion from going too low or too loud.

It does not make a decent bass cab, BTW.

 

[ggunn]

whats up everyone.

im primarily a guitar player. im looking to up my arsenal of axes with a bass guitar. i know my gear, but i never research basses, only guitars. anyway im looking for a bassist's advice. im debating on 4 or 5 strings. i like 4 for a more traditional approach, but 5 for more versatility, and 5 would give me the real low end the music im playing requires. the 2 brands ive been looking at are mainly ibanez and fender...round about 500 bones. if anyone could make a suggestion that would be great. maybe what to stay away from or what to veer towards. any help wouyld be greatly appreciated. and so you know i wont be gigging with this or playing through a true bass amp, probably just recording and possibly teaching with it, but i dont want a cheapo. thanks

-steve

A tip on 5 strings from another, um, "enhanced" guitar player. When you aren't actually playing on that low B string, rest the thumb of your plucking hand on it, Otherwise it will start ringing with harmonics from the other strings and dump a bunch of mud into your sound.

 

[guttapercha]

whats up everyone.

im primarily a guitar player. im looking to up my arsenal of axes with a bass guitar. i know my gear, but i never research basses, only guitars. anyway im looking for a bassist's advice. im debating on 4 or 5 strings. i like 4 for a more traditional approach, but 5 for more versatility, and 5 would give me the real low end the music im playing requires. the 2 brands ive been looking at are mainly ibanez and fender...round about 500 bones. if anyone could make a suggestion that would be great. maybe what to stay away from or what to veer towards. any help wouyld be greatly appreciated. and so you know i wont be gigging with this or playing through a true bass amp, probably just recording and possibly teaching with it, but i dont want a cheapo. thanks

-steve

Definitely check out the Yamahas. They have always made good-sounding, good-playing, well-made (geez that's a lot of hyphens) basses for reasonable $.

 

[lbanks]

I'd also recommend:
G&L Tribute L2500
Spector Q5
Conklin GT5

 

[SLicata]

Thanks a lot guys...

I'm pretty much set on a 5 stringer. Maybe and Ibanez Soundgear, but of course I'm going to sit and play whatever is around (Guitar Center probably ). I'm not biased towards any brands, in fact, I'm quite aware of what names are widely considered quality, in the same breath that doesn't mean that they are what I want, nor what I need. And as much as it's about sound and feel, money is always an issue . As far as the amp situation, I don't plan on using it with any amplification, and NO not a guitar amp. I'll probably purchase a Sans Amp or DI to aid the tone along during the direct recording process. And yes, as a guitar player I'm well aware of the "static string harmonic pickup" that occurs. I actually got a few pointers from a co-worker/bassist whos influences are in the Wooten/Jaco vein, he set my technique straight....Thanks again guys...

-Steve