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Post subject: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 1:41 pm
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Hi I'm a guitar player but I'm looking to get a bass since there seems to be a higher demand for good basses than guitarists where I live. I don't want to spend a large amount of money so I'm looking into getting a squier. I was wondering what you all would recommend. I would also like to hear everyone's opinion on short scale vs. regular scale basses. I heard short scale is good for people who normally play guitar but I have rather large hands and I'm not sure if a short scale would be the best.


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 4:54 pm
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rkraken wrote:
Hi I'm a guitar player but I'm looking to get a bass since there seems to be a higher demand for good basses than guitarists where I live. I don't want to spend a large amount of money so I'm looking into getting a squier. I was wondering what you all would recommend. I would also like to hear everyone's opinion on short scale vs. regular scale basses. I heard short scale is good for people who normally play guitar but I have rather large hands and I'm not sure if a short scale would be the best.


Everyone I know who played guitar, chose to get into bass and got a short scale, regretted it once they were comfortable with truly playing bass as an art rather than just 'messing around' with a bass. They wound up feeling the small scale was most restrictive, congested and of course, the resonance factor was simply not there.

The BETTER Squiers in the line can be fine instruments in their own right and they still won't cost you a lung. Now if you want to consider a used one, it will cost you even less. Consider too that a guitar amp's speaker isn't suitable for bass frequencies and you'll blow it out on high volume so you'd have to either keep the volume down on a guitar amp (which won't sound good any way as it is 'tuned' for guitar frequencies) or consider getting some sort of bass amp as well. FWIW, the general consensus seems to be that Craigslist is a most popular site where people feel many a good deal on used gear can be had these days.

Of course, the best way to not spend anything and answer a lot of your questions is to see if you can borrow or simply play on a kit (bass and amp) and take it from there.

Good luck!

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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:47 pm
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Thank you I was actually going to see if I can borrow my friend's bass amp seeing as he will be leaving for college in august and I'm going to a local college I don't think he'll mind. Now that I know what sort of scale to get the next question is what type of bass. I'm looking for something versatile so I can play a variety of styles. Could anyone point me in a good direction?


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2011 4:54 am
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rkraken wrote:
Thank you I was actually going to see if I can borrow my friend's bass amp seeing as he will be leaving for college in august and I'm going to a local college I don't think he'll mind. Now that I know what sort of scale to get the next question is what type of bass. I'm looking for something versatile so I can play a variety of styles. Could anyone point me in a good direction?


Staying within the Squier line, a Jazz Bass would be your best bet.

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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 1:04 am
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+1 to the Jazz bass.

the neck is not as wide at the nut (compared to a Precision), which will probably feel more comfortable in your used-to-a-guitar-neck hand.. not to mention the plethora of tones available with the double pick-ups. If I were you, I'd definitely check out the VM Jazz and the CV Jazz.

you might also like the VM Jaguar, it's neck is similar to the Jazz, with a Precision split-coil pick-up in the neck position and a standard single coil in the bridge position. It also has vol/tone controls for each pick-up, so that's nice for the tone junky.


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2011 5:49 pm
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Thinking of a Squier is a good idea. They make a good bass guitar. I wouldn't go below a VM or Classic Vibe in either a Precision or Jazz. I've been hearing of issues withe the Jaguar electronics.

the only advice I will give is, play a whole bunch of them. Every bass is different and when you find the right one, you'll know.

Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 7:56 pm
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do you know what the issues have been with the Jag electronics?
I heard about some people having issues with the HB-equipped model, but I haven't heard what they were..


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2011 8:38 pm
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The HB doesn't sound good. I've played one already, along with the VM special - the P/J set up w/o the block in lays. I think the Jag has a J neck on it too. Jazz would be comfortable for you OP, the neck is nice and small. The VM 70's Jbass Squier has a nice 70s neck, very thin, like the Geddy Lee sig. Either way you can't go wrong with the VM or CV series in any of the basses - J, P, or Jag. If you go short scale, the Mustang VM is nice too, or the Jag SS. Don't make it a chore, try out all you can, go from there. Make sure you have fun doing it, you're not buying a new car, but a new music instrument.

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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:23 am
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hey OP, i don't know if you're from So Cal at all, but there's a good looking Affinity Jazz in Escondido on craigslist for $80.. not a bad start if you ask me. I personally have an Affinity Precision and experience none of the problems that others have.. pretty much all the time i spend on the internet is on used gear websites (always looking for that awesome deal!) and i thought you might like that one...


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 5:55 pm
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Hi everyone.

I am trying to get my first guitar (I'm 32 years old, but it's never too late). But I was lent a bass a few days ago and I quite liked it, too. In fact, I may like it even better than the guitar, but how can I know? I can't even play yet.

I was wondering if for an absolute beginner you'd recommend the squier affinity bass set. It seems to have everything needed at a very reasonable price. Do you recommend to get the bass set, with the provided amp, or should I buy bass, amp and other stuff separately?

Remember I can barely count the strings on the instrument. I am a complete starter. I need something of enough quality that I can actually play it (my brother bought me a 3/4 acoustic once, but the tuning pegs were not callibrated and I couldn't tune it. It was useless even for a starter, since it couldn't ever get a note right). So, I want something affordable, but actually playable. From what I've read in this forums, the squier brand seems just what I'm looking for.

Are there shortscale basses available? I have tiny hands and I feel quite uncomfortable with regular size guitars. The only thing I loved about the useless acoustic 3/4 was that it felt good in my arms and hands, comfortable to hold. Such a pity it wasn't a proper guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 7:07 am
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The Jaguar and Mustang have both been issued/reissued now by Squier in short scale models.

I am only 5'5" so I'm pretty short and love my short scales, from what I've read there are tone complaints about the Jaguars with the humbuckers but the new Squier Mustangs have pretty good reviews. At $250-$280 for a new one in black or sunburst it's a pretty good deal on a new short scale bass.


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 10:34 am
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WI KISSfan wrote:
The Jaguar and Mustang have both been issued/reissued now by Squier in short scale models.

I am only 5'5" so I'm pretty short and love my short scales, from what I've read there are tone complaints about the Jaguars with the humbuckers but the new Squier Mustangs have pretty good reviews. At $250-$280 for a new one in black or sunburst it's a pretty good deal on a new short scale bass.

Thank you very much! I was considering spending 200-300 in the bass, so that price range sounds good. I'll check out both Jaguar and Mustang with a +1 on the Mustang.


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:22 pm
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I vote for the Mustang too, IMHO.


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2011 6:02 pm
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It's a +2 on the Mustang, then ;-) Thank you!


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Post subject: Re: Help Getting My First Bass
Posted: Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:02 am
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They look really cool, if I didn't have 3 short scales already I'd definitely consider getting one of those.

Let us know what you get, photos too! 8)


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