Advice on getting a "first bass" guitar?

[TheDescent]

Don't use Bass with a guitar amp. You can use guitar on a bass amp (see Fender Bassman) but not vice-versa.

The speaker cone will just break with heavy low-tone notes. A friend of mine busted a mesa-boogie 40W amp cause he was goofin' around with a bass.

[randomas]

AAaaaargh not a mesa-boogie, you just made me cry ... But no wasn't planning to, just into the pc and out the headphones ...

[randomas]

Ok so I stopped by a pro bass store (gosh that sounded like fishing equipment) and got some advice.

For that price range get what you like, they all suck anyway. All guitars made in Indonesia come from the same 3 factories, one works exclusively for ibanez, while the other 2 work for everyone else and are under the same ownership. So build quality is the same all round.

So choice has to revolve around price, components and personal taste. I don't like the aesthetics of the yamahas, but they are cheaper. In the end I'm about settled for the ibanez now I have to choose which one.

I heard the gsr200 through a fender rumble 50 and it didn't sound half bad. The only thing is that the active electronics are more of a gimmick than anything usefull, it sounds like a general flat amp and it sends the signal through the roof and out of headroom, just ugly really. So if I go new I'm probably going after a passive setup like the gsr190 save the cash to splash out on an amp later.

As far as amps go, I don't give a toss about power for home use, just generally feel that more powerful amps, being more expensive, work and sound better. The guys in the store told me that basically the fender rumble 15 sounds way better than other (even more powerful) more expensive budget practice amps, by the likes of laney, orange and hartke (he actually eally disliked the orange, sound is overcompressed).

Ok now to see if I still ahve any money in the bank to go and get the gear.

[TheDescent]

I don't like active pickups, but that's just me. My bass' sound is powerful despite being passive. I guess it's just a matter of personal taste rather than a technical aspect.

I know for sure that active pickups on cheap basses aren't good at all. The batteries keep losing power too fast, and you can find yourself with a mute bass too many times.

[randomas]

I've just been doing some more digging. It turns out Cort is building for everyone from fender to ibanez and everyone in between...
I've just eyed the cort action a 4 bass that comes in a j-p passive config with a walnut natural look. I really like the looks, it's the right config, build quality is the same as everyone else's and it's dirt cheap.

Any opinions?

[TheDescent]

In terms of wood and electronics the value is the same, but the fretboard isn't awesome, and the mechanics have a really low quality.

I admit I've never tried a Cort myself, but I have some friends that keep tuning the strings 'cause their mechanics aren't tight enough (yes, even after using a torque wrench)

[TheDescent]

Another little thing: Like with cars and girls, you have to be lucky when you buy an instrument (any kind of instrument, not only basses). I got a Yamaha EP112 for 100 bucks and it worked very good (I sold it a year ago even if I didn't really want to) and a Fender stratocaster studio that kept de-tuning itself without a reason (and I was really happy when I sold it). With my Ibanez SZ 520 QM I never had any problem, and I've been playing it since 2003. Sure, some maintenance is necessary, but I believe that's really a matter of luck after all.

[killer_roach]

I don't like active pickups, but that's just me. My bass' sound is powerful despite being passive. I guess it's just a matter of personal taste rather than a technical aspect.

I know for sure that active pickups on cheap basses aren't good at all. The batteries keep losing power too fast, and you can find yourself with a mute bass too many times.

Still have to be careful with active pickups even on more expensive basses... I've just gotten into the habit of removing the battery from my Schecter after playing, because otherwise it might kill the battery in 3-4 weeks just by idling.

[randomas]

Right ... Now I've gone and overdone it ... Too much info ... Went to a music shop close to work and the really nice guy there really though I should go yamaha because they have better quality control which results in better fingerboards.

AAAAAaaaaaargh.

With cheap instruments it's pot luck indeed ... At this point the difference is so small I'm seriously thinking of taking a gamble with the cort anyway cause I like it more.

Decisions decisions ...

[jawillroy]

You might be able to get something better quality in a used bass at that price range, rather than something brand new. When I got my first bass as a kid, it made sense to get a new one, because back then I needed a short-scale, and I couldn't really get a good one used where I was living.

Really, for something that cheap, anything new is going to be a beater.