Jump to content

Need a beginner bass guitar, suggestions please???


scrltbgnia9

Recommended Posts

  • Members

Hey guys,

I'm looking to purchase a bass guitar just to have around, mess around with. I've played guitar for years now and really love the bass and just don't have a lot of money to spend immediately but I really can't go any longer without one. The kind of styles I like to play would be mostly funk, jazz, rock, metal, I dunno I kind of have a wide spectrum so I'm looking for something that will meet that range. I don't really want to spend more than $250 tops, I've found some things I like on ebay but there isn't a lot of info on the manufactures, the ones I'm specifically talking about are Stagg, Gillmore, others of that sort. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.:thu:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

This is so simple: go and feel a lot of basses and listen to them and buy the one that looks and feels and sounds good to you. That's it.

 

There is no "wrong" bass to buy unless it's got a bad neck, a missing tuner, etc.

 

Get this, too: no one is going to ride your ass if you go out, buy a bass and post photos of your brand new, Squire, Mustang, MusicMan, SX, OLP, or whatever you can get for the money you plan to spend. (I know MusicMan is way more expensive than $250 but if you come across someone who just wants to get rid of one, take it. Still, no one is going to ride your ass about it.)

 

You've just got to jump into this and then determine what you want. There are so many things that help determine the basses we like. It took 5 yrs for me to realize that I don't like gloss finish necks. And after 4 basses, my 5th is a shortscale and I'm in love with it! I'm hunting for my 6th bass and it's gonna be shortscale.

 

There's no way for you to expect to get the perfect bass your 1st time around. Get one, live with it, play other people's basses and maybe you'll like your own even more or you'll come to hate it. But it's not like you're about to sink $30,000 into a car loan.

 

To summarize my advice:

1. Stop pussyfooting around.

2. Go buy a bass.

3. Come back & post photos of it.

4. Join us and get on about the business of playing bass.

 

Warning: If you come back with a Thunderbird, I will most definitely ride your ass about having purchased the ugliest bass on the planet. But hey, who am I other than some 5'4" bassist who thinks Thunderbirds just ought not be?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

He needs our help to stop stalling and go buy a bass.

 

 

As a recent noob, I understand the theory behind just buying a bass and getting on with it. There are so many options, that "analysis paralysis" can easily set in. But if he buys one and starts learning, he'll pick up the skills he needs. Looking in shop windows doesn't help your playing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Hey guys,


I'm looking to purchase a bass guitar just to have around, mess around with. I've played guitar for years now and really love the bass and just don't have a lot of money to spend immediately but I really can't go any longer without one. The kind of styles I like to play would be mostly funk, jazz, rock, metal, I dunno I kind of have a wide spectrum so I'm looking for something that will meet that range. I don't really want to spend more than $250 tops, I've found some things I like on ebay but there isn't a lot of info on the manufactures, the ones I'm specifically talking about are Stagg, Gillmore, others of that sort. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.
:thu:



I would suggest looking used. Basses you can normally buy new for $4-700 can be found in the $250 price range if you pick one up used. If you aren't sure about a specific bass, post it on here, and you'll get some feedback:

As for the couple brands you've listed, they are both budget brands, and so they offer clones of more expensive brand instruments. That is not to say that they are bad (by all means go test them out and see if you like them), but I tend to think "there ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby." :thu:

Happy testing!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

This is so simple: go and feel a lot of basses and listen to them and buy the one that looks and feels and sounds good to you. That's it.


You've just got to jump into this and then determine what you want. There are so many things that help determine the basses we like. It took 5 yrs for me to realize that I don't like gloss finish necks.
And after 4 basses, my 5th is a shortscale and I'm in love with it! I'm hunting for my 6th bass and it's gonna be shortscale.

 

 

Just a note to Brother Mango regarding shortscale. I like them too, although my main bass now is a Fender American P.

 

You might be interested in this website if you've never heard of it before.

(CORTOBASS = Custom made shortscale basses by "Birdsong"

They're pretty pricey, but what the heck, it's an interesting website if you

are into shortscale basses.

http://www.birdsongguitars.com/cortobass.htm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...