Purchasing a Bass Guitar: Suggestions for a Beginner?

[folkeye]

Anybody have any suggestions on a decent beginner bass guitar? I've been looking at Ibenez, Yamaha, or Fender Squire so far (I think the lowest end I saw was a Dean and that just had a volume knob from what I could tell).

I'm a long time beginner in general and don't know what to look for aside from 'it feels good to hold'.

Any suggestions? My only string experience is with my 13 year old cheap Telecaster so anything might actually be an improvement. LOL. Thanks.

[Manbreasts]

strings?? nononon button!

[Flawless]

General forum.

Also you're better off posting this on a legitimate site for this type of thing like a guitar-centric site. You'll get way better and more in-depth responses there. I did a lot of research on a beginner guitar on outside sites and had fantastic insight and help.

Good luck on the real thing!

[folkeye]

General forum.

Also you're better off posting this on a legitimate site for this type of thing like a guitar-centric site. You'll get way better and more in-depth responses there. I did a lot of research on a beginner guitar on outside sites and had fantastic insight and help.

Good luck on the real thing!

Eh, it was worth a shot :) Lots O' smart folks around here.

[Doc_SoCal]

I am a Fender fan so I will say.... Fender.

:)

Here is a thread on buying a bass for a beginner being talked about by some Rockband folks. (http://docsrockbandmods.netforums.us/advice-for-buying-a-beginners-bass-vt1167.html)

Here is the highlight.


I split this off into it's own topic because it's deserving of one. That said, here are some tips for buying your first bass!

Even if you plan to buy an instrument on eBay or through an online vendor, try to find the same instrument in a guitar shop first and test it out.

Fretless basses, acoustic basses, and five-string or six-string basses each have their own unique sounds and advantages, but it is easiest to learn on a four-string electric bass. This is especially true if you plan to learn using online resources or "teach yourself" type books, which are usually written for folks playing a four-string fretted electric bass.

Squier, Epiphone, and Ibanez are three major producers of affordable, good quality instruments.

Remember, you will typically get what you pay for. If you buy a $100 bass, it will sound like a $100 bass. Be wary, though, of some very expensive basses. With some, you just buy the paint job and/or age, instead of its sound and playability.

Look for someone that bought an instrument and realized he/she has no talent. If the guitar or bass is just taking up space, maybe they will let it go for cheap. I've bolded this one because it's a huge insider secret when it comes to buying musical instruments that most people just don't even think about. Ebay and Craigslist and pawn shops are PERFECT for this.

ALWAYS take your time. Study the guitars.

http://www.rondomusic.com/ is an online retailer of Chinese-made bass guitars that will suit the needs of the beginner just fine. SX, Douglas, and Brice brands are well built for the money, and you're paying for the bass, not the advertising expenses.

Buy your first bass and amp with your personal money, no more than $500 total, and don't worry about gear again until you're making money as a musician. Then you can use your gig money to buy better stuff...you can get really decent stuff for under $500, and it will sound fine.

Most pro musicians got their first axe used or from a pawn shop, it's not where you start, it's where you finish!

Set aside enough to buy a combo amp with at least 100w and a 15 inch speaker, your bass will realize its full sound potential. Don't go cheap on a little 8 inch practice amp, you won't be satisfied, spend for the 15".

[Flawless]

I'll will echo what Doc_SoCal said.

I was going to spend about $400 on a well researched Ibanez/Vyper 15 guitar/combo... but I ended up getting a PERFECT condition Fender Squier kit (I know kits are bad, I did the research.) for $140.

Now if I end up digging it a lot, easy upgrade to make is the amp since the guitar is fine. And go from there. I saved $260.

[oogabooha]

I started out with a cheap Ibanez starter pack, and am thinking of upgrading soon. Its great, and something great to start out with.

[folkeye]

I started out with a cheap Ibanez starter pack, and am thinking of upgrading soon. Its great, and something great to start out with.

Yeah that was one of the things I was looking at :) that, and the Squire Package which ran close to $300.00 I think for everything.

[folkeye]

I am a Fender fan so I will say.... Fender.

:)

Here is a thread on buying a bass for a beginner being talked about by some Rockband folks. (http://docsrockbandmods.netforums.us/advice-for-buying-a-beginners-bass-vt1167.html)

Here is the highlight.

Thank you :)

[koolwank]

I have this one and I love it. I think you should be able to get a better price than listed here though.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Squier-By-Fender-Affinity-Precision-Bass-Pack-104383286-i1177840.gc

[folkeye]

I have this one and I love it. I think you should be able to get a better price than listed here though.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Squier-By-Fender-Affinity-Precision-Bass-Pack-104383286-i1177840.gc

I think that was the one I might have been looking at and that was the price. Hmmm... maybe somebody can beat somebody elses price. It was that price at Best Buy (Sam Ash had the Ibanez Package). Haven't gone to Guitar Center for shopping yet.

[mantras]

good luck finding the best starter bass for you.

i'm actually going to guitar center today to play around with some guitars myself. :)

bring in a can for 10% off this month or there are some coupons posted at similar savings but more limited to what they can be used on.

[davidshek]

I think that was the one I might have been looking at and that was the price. Hmmm... maybe somebody can beat somebody elses price. It was that price at Best Buy (Sam Ash had the Ibanez Package). Haven't gone to Guitar Center for shopping yet.

Please do yourself a favor and don't buy a musical instrument from a big box electronics store (like Best Buy). Go to a real music store and talk to the guys in the guitar/bass department there about what you want, how much you've got available to spend, what kind of music you want to learn, etc.

Once you've decided on a specific bass, THEN you go looking around online for a better deal or on Craigslist for a used one. But don't do your shopping online first, that's the wrong way to do it.

[16BitAlex]

The more expensive "brands" (Agile guitars and Brice basses) from Rondo Music's website are made in Korea, to a higher standard. The very cheap SX brand is hit-or-miss, and experienced modders take advantage of that.

[veng]

Moved.

[folkeye]

Please do yourself a favor and don't buy a musical instrument from a big box electronics store (like Best Buy). Go to a real music store and talk to the guys in the guitar/bass department there about what you want, how much you've got available to spend, what kind of music you want to learn, etc.

Once you've decided on a specific bass, THEN you go looking around online for a better deal or on Craigslist for a used one. But don't do your shopping online first, that's the wrong way to do it.

I haven't even looked online yet at all :) I've been to Best Buy and Sam Ash. Next stop would be Guitar Center I guess. The other big music store around here is best for sheet music, not electric guitars/bass.

[Kevhouse]

If possible.... look on ebay/craigslist locally, and check ads in your newspaper. you'd be amazed at how much you can buy a gently used bass guitar at. Bought mine about a year ago from a fellow on eBay (we met locally), it's an older Peavey model, easily worth $800 at the time he bought it. Bought it off him for $80, with a free case (worth $80 alone). After a while, these things take up space, and people are willing to unload them for next to nothing.

If you *must* buy it new, I'd say go with a fender.

[bermuddy]

i started out with a squier p-bass and i still love it.

[hawkofva]

i started out with a squier p-bass and i still love it.
Me too, I received that pack that was linked to earlier for Christmas last year. Love it.

[bermuddy]

i forgot to mention ive had it for about 10 years.

[hawkofva]

It's a classic.

[Bonez]

The P-Bass is a great beginner bass. My brother has a P-Bass and a Dean Metal Man, and the tone is better on the Dean, but the P-Bass is a lot easier to play.

His P-Bass has had the soldering holding the wiring in place fall apart twice though.

[bermuddy]

p-basses are the 2nd sexiest bass you can buy right after an ernie ball stingray, but what i have is the squier version :(

[killer_roach]

Were it not for running into some extra expenses this fall (PS3 repairs, getting a suit for interviews, the GRE), I was going to get a Schecter Omen-4 bass. Between the bass, amp, and tuner, it's going to cost me about $500, so I'm probably going to pick one up sometime after Christmas now.

[Joey-Z]

Were it not for running into some extra expenses this fall (PS3 repairs, getting a suit for interviews, the GRE), I was going to get a Schecter Omen-4 bass. Between the bass, amp, and tuner, it's going to cost me about $500, so I'm probably going to pick one up sometime after Christmas now.

I dream of owning a Schecter some day. I love the Bloodmoon, one of my favourite guitars. (Just behind the Ibanez Fireman)