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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 10:49 pm
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Roadie
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Let us know what you get, regardless of brand. Any questions that you have any point along the way please ask them.

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Liam

-Candy Apple Red Precision Bass (Maple fingerboard) carrying Rotosound Steve Harris Strings
-1980-something Bentley Series 10
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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:08 pm
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Just starting out I believe you should purchase the best quality bass you can afford. I started in 1965 and got that exact advice, so I purchased a used Fender Jazz. I think that purchase contributed greatly to my love of the bass all these years. Recently, I decided to give fretless a try and purchased a used Jaco P Jazz using that same thought process, and I am really enjoying it. Good equipment leads to a better learning experience. Anyway, that is my two cents.

If I had my choice, I would buy a used Fender before a new "other". Use a reputable dealer for peace of mind.

Good Luck!

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Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:03 pm
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affprod wrote:
Just starting out I believe you should purchase the best quality bass you can afford. I started in 1965 and got that exact advice, so I purchased a used Fender Jazz. I think that purchase contributed greatly to my love of the bass all these years. Recently, I decided to give fretless a try and purchased a used Jaco P Jazz using that same thought process, and I am really enjoying it. Good equipment leads to a better learning experience. Anyway, that is my two cents.

If I had my choice, I would buy a used Fender before a new "other". Use a reputable dealer for peace of mind.

Good Luck!


Nice!!....good advice,........ & with regard to the Jaco Bass, every time I play mine, I think to myself .........what an awesome bass...... :)


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:23 am
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Bluzgirl wrote:
As much as I'd like a nice Fender, I don't really want to spend a lot of money until I really get into playing and know that I'm going to stick with it. I have just made friends with the owner of a used music shop here, so I'm going to go play a bunch and figure out what I want and have him keep an eye out for me...

Thanks all!


So how much you have to spend?


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:39 pm
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Around $300ish...


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:07 pm
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That is just about what you can score a decent USED Fender Standard Precision or Jazz Bass for around here! A friend of mine got a Standard P-Bass for $275 in the past year. It was like new and still had the plastic film on the pickguard. That was at a local music store. They took it in on trade. He lucked out and maybe you can too!

I just checked the used listings at Guitar Centers NATIONWIDE. There are five Fender Standard P-Basses listed right now for under $300.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:13 pm
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I just checked Guitar Center nationwide again and found at least used 17 Fender Standard Jazz Basses including a fretless and even 2 left handed ones for $300 or less.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:15 pm
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Rock Star
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Now I'm not suggesting you buy from Guitar Center. Just demonstrating that you can own a Fender Jazz or Precision Standard version for $300 or less.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 11:10 am
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Thanks brotherdave! It's looking like I'm not getting as much back on my taxes as I thought. I'm still considering financing. I'm going this weekend to check some out.

What do y'all think about the Squier Jaguar bass?


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 3:34 am
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To me the Squier Vintage Modified models are possibly the biggest steals on a new bass in any budget line. They are highly playable and sound much better than the price plus they look great. I do not think you will get more tone or playability in a more attractive design and quality finish for the money. They are just a little more money than an Affinity model but they are much more of an instrument.

The Ibanez GSR200 is another active bass in the same price class and the Jag blows it away in my opinion. The Squier also feels more like a Fender while the Ibanez is...well an Ibanez because it is smaller, lighter, has a thinner and more narrow neck.

I'm partial to the sunburst and crimson red basswood Jaguar Bass versions with 34 inch scale and the standard P/J pickups. That is model number 0328900500.

I played two of them after they first came out and for the money I don't think you can do better. The crimson red and sunburst ones are basswood, the black one is agathis. I prefer basswood as to me it sounds more resonant than agathis. But the wood selection's impact is largely negated in an active bass. The agathis might be slightly more durable because basswood is pretty soft and will ding easier. But any wood will ding. I'd suggest playing a black one with agathis and then one of the other colors in basswood and see if you like the tone of one more than the other. Both the Jags I played were basswood so I've not compared them side by side.

There is a short scale version and there is also a long scale version with a humbucker in place of the regular Jazz pickup. I prefer the regular Jazz pickup as it has a brighter and more traditional Jazz tone. I also personally prefer the full 34 inch scale. Others might like the short scale better. It is just preference and different people like different things.

Negatives: 1. The pickguard is really thin. 2. The weight balance on the 34" scale ones is not perfect with a bit of neck dive, but it is not unmanageable neck dive. A suede backed leather strap cures it while a slick nylon strap will make it worse. The short scale versions will have much less neck dive. 3. The hardware is not as good as on a more expensive Fender model, but it works and seems ok. However if you plan to keep it a long time you might be looking at some better tuning machines in a couple of years. Both of the ones I played stayed in tune fine. 4. It is active only so it only works with a battery and if the battery dies the bass is dead. I prefer passive basses or ones with an active/passive switch for this reason. 5. On both the ones I tried the D&G strings sounded weaker than the E&A strings when the instrument's bass was cranked up. This likely could be fixed by adjusting the pickup height but I'm not 100% sure about that. This is a fairly common issue on active basses with lots of bass boost.

Those are all fairly trivial negatives. But the value for the money is incredible. I've not found any super negative reviews on them either so I'm not the only one that likes them. They are still a relatively new model and the durability question is something only time will tell.


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 7:32 am
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I bought my new baby last night!!!

I decided on the Squier vintage modified 70's jazz bass. I really like the look and feel of it. It's going to take some getting used to as it is a much better (and bigger) bass than I had...

Thanks for all your input!!! I'm so excited about Blondie! :-)


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 8:21 am
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Congrats Bluzgirl,.........you made a good choice.. :)


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Post subject: Re: Purchasing first real bass...Need advice
Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 6:41 pm
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Congrats! I have one and like it a lot. Enjoy!


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