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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:40 am
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I worked at GC few a few months, years ago. I can tell you that Ibanez are upsold BIG time. Even though they make decent stuff, and they aren't all that expensive, the price they sell them for is a big mark up for what they pay for them, so they make more selling ibanez that many other brands.

The opposite is true as well. Some brands aren't upsold much at all, and stores don't make much selling them.

I'm sure your guy knew he's make more commission if he sold an ibanez than a fender.


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Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:41 am
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I worked at GC few a few months, years ago. I can tell you that Ibanez are upsold BIG time. Even though they make decent stuff, and they aren't all that expensive, the price they sell them for is a big mark up for what they pay for them, so they make more selling ibanez that many other brands.

The opposite is true as well. Some brands aren't upsold much at all, and stores don't make much selling them.

I'm sure your guy knew he's make more commission if he sold an ibanez than a fender. For instance, he might make $30 if he sold you the fender, but $95 if he sold you the ibanez.


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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:46 am
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well, all this changed again fairly quickly. Dealer claims fender is going up on it's pricing of MIM standard J basses. The model I wanted (the upgraded for 2009 lake placid blue maple neck) would cost me $627!!! Just a year ago they were $399....is this just the economy we're living in? are we paying for how bad gas was last year?

If this is the case, looks like i'll soon be the proud owner of either nothing or a squier from ebay and take my chances!


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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:24 am
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Do not forget about pawn shops. The majority of my guitars came from pawn shops. There are good deals to be had if you don't mind looking for them.


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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:29 am
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ITL15 wrote:
Do not forget about pawn shops. The majority of my guitars came from pawn shops. There are good deals to be had if you don't mind looking for them.


Thanks, i've been combing them in my area here but they have some really beaten up stock with huge price tags on them (they had an agave blue MIM P bass for $399 that had a separated skunk stripe up half the back of the neck, dirty with a few normal dents and refused to make any deal with me at all. I was offering cash money in hand!! crazy!)

I give up on those people! I'd rather take my chances on ebay.

Thanks for the suggestion tho. In other areas I'm sure you have good pawn shops with decent stock.


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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:49 am
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An MIM Jazz Bass with frets will last you for ever and make you smile big.

And a cheapoid / tiny / used bass amp will let you play long enough to save up $$$ for a bass amp. Personally, have happily used a Line 6 LD150 bass amp for 127 Masses / services thus far.


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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 10:56 am
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Bummer about your local pawn shops. I've gotten guitars off ebay too. So far I've had no problems with them. Just remeber to check the seller's feedback.

Make sure you look at the feedback as a seller. Once had a deal go bad with a guy that had good feedback, but it turned out that all his feedback was as a buyer.


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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:00 pm
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Location: los angeles, california
bass first


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Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 9:42 pm
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well, thanks to you all. I have learned a lot. I spent some time at my local shop today and then went to the local guitar center (as much as I hate going there). They had a bit more to choose from and I had a 10% off coupon.

After all this, I finally decided that I'd really just like to get started playing bass now, instead of blowing all my money on just the guitar itself, then fighting to get the amp, etc.

I actually ended up buying one of the fender squier start up packages with the squier affinity jazz bass, the rumble 15 amp. The amp is a little on the meek side but I'm actually quite impressed with the bass. the pickups suck but after I did the neck, action and intonation work. this thing really plays...actually better than the clearance MIM standard pbass i played today, the next is actually nicer, has the larger worm gear type tuners, clean frets, no buzzing and it's quiet, loud, and balanced after I worked the pickups a little. All for $270, I think it helps me get going for now.

Trust me, all the advice here won't go to waste. If playing bass is anything like my playing guitar, i'll have 5 basses soon enough too! I've already started talking to my instructor about some initial start up lessons, just to get me up to speed on the basic bass technique, but I can see myself working with a band sooner than later! At that time, i'll upgrade and give this set up to a needy kid/charity or one of my cousins (which truthfully aren't that needy and i'll make them pay for it, ha ha)

Thanks again for all the help! Can't wait to move on up to my USA J bass someday!


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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:16 am
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Get the bass first. You will never progress on a bass that is poorly made.

Having said that, have you looked at the new Squire Classic Vibe basses. I was reading reviews on how well made and good they were, and I just could not believe it. So I went down to the music store and played the Jazz, P-Bass, and 50's P-bass. Unbelievable. If They had not said Squire on them, I would have thought for sure they had the big Fender logo on them. Nice and solid, great finish, smooth playing. I was absolutely amazed and I would not have any reservation buying one as a starter and beyond for my daughters. You could use these basses well past intermediate level.

These are every bit a Fender and you will have a lot of money left to start looking at a good amp.


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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 7:22 am
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Dig it. I hope you enjoy.

A lot of people are surprised what a little tweaking to the right Squier can do.


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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:11 am
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I played the squier classic vibe pbass at GC yesterday and was duly impressed about it, the price, build, sound, etc. save one thing. I wish they didn't gloss varnish the neck, i like satin necks and I also think you get better sound from a satin neck on a bass. It was a smooth character tho and well worth every penny. I didn't particularly care for the white finish on this one and they did not have any other models for me to check out.

After working on the affinity, i'm getting good enough sound to start, the amp is really the achilles heal for fender on this low end. Looking back, I probably should have bought the affinity separate and just gotten the peavey in the same price range, it sounded better. Oh well. 15w is just too small, so it's inevitable that i'd need to upgrade anyway.

I have no doubt this will not be my last fender (and other brands) bass either!


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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:43 am
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You already know how to play guitar and understand basic (or advanced) theory.

The best, fastest way to get that jump into bass playing is to plan a gig playing bass, soon - like a month from now. Play some gig, all on bass, with a set date that you HAVE to get it done by. This will help push you a little more and have a deadline where you need to be a "bass player", even if it's just simple classic rock stuff. The challenge will be good, fun and will help you tons.


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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:49 am
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dgonz wrote:
You already know how to play guitar and understand basic (or advanced) theory.

The best, fastest way to get that jump into bass playing is to plan a gig playing bass, soon - like a month from now. Play some gig, all on bass, with a set date that you HAVE to get it done by. This will help push you a little more and have a deadline where you need to be a "bass player", even if it's just simple classic rock stuff. The challenge will be good, fun and will help you tons.


nice segway to the next phase of doing this. thanks. I guess the hardest part is my head is full of guitar songs and I need to go figure out what someone would want me to know how to play, standards if you will, on bass. The place I take guitar lessons does weekly jam sessions that I might attend as a bassist instead of guitarist next time!


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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:59 am
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pontmercy wrote:
... I guess the hardest part is my head is full of guitar songs and I need to go figure out what someone would want me to know how to play, standards if you will, on bass. The place I take guitar lessons does weekly jam sessions that I might attend as a bassist instead of guitarist next time!


Yep. You're so used to listening to just the guitar and don't really care about the "simple one-note bass parts". When you start to really listen to the bass, you'll notice some very cool things, depending on the songs, and hear things you never heard before. It will help your overall rhythm as well. Most guitars players are used to be a "lead" type instrument, even when you play rhythm. Having to keep the main beat of the song, VERY accurately or the whole band goes off, is a much different (and fun) thing to do. It will help your guitar playing a lot, and you'll find yourself really loving both instruments.

The point where you move past the "guitar player that's playing bass" to being a good bass player is a great accomplishment. Being able to sit in as a guitar player OR bass player with pretty much any band, and do it well, is a great feeling.

After that, you can be SUPER cool and learn the accordian. Run that through a Mesa stack and you're ROCKIN!


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