It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 3:22 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Recommendation for a beginner
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:37 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 341
I want to get into playing the bass and was wondering if I could get some advice from the folks here. What bass would you suggest for a beginner? I understand that I am posting this in the P-bass forum and might get a different answer in the jazz forum, but I've been reading through some of the threads here and thought I'd give it a shot.

Anyway, it seems like the simplicity of the Precision is good for a beginner. I know that is one of the reasons my favorite guitar is a Fender Telecaster. Some of my favorite bassists are Eric Wilson (Sublime, LBDA), Cliff Burton, John Antwistle, Les Claypool, and a handful of punk players. Will a P-bass get the sounds of Eric Wilson from Sublime?
Should I be looking at a Squire instead of Fender or should I stay away from them for quality reasons? I want a quality instrument, so I will pay more for higher quality.

Also, if you could recommend a good practice amp that would be great. Like the bass, I want something that is good for a beginner, but something that I'm not going to want to replace in a year. Most of my playing will be in my home office, so I don't think I need too much power. My main guitar amp I use at home is 15 watts.

Assume, for discussion purposes, that my budget is under $1,000 for both the bass and amp.

Thank you in advance for your help.

_________________
'04 Fender Telecaster (MIA)
'07 Gretsch G5120
'08 Gibson '59 VOS Reissue Les Paul Standard
'08 Fender Acoustic
'08 Fender Jazz Bass
'08 Fender Telecaster FSR (MIM)

Fender Pro Jr. (Tweed)
Vox AD50VT
Acoustic Bass Amp


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: recommindation for a beginner
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:40 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:45 pm
Posts: 1271
With what you have to spend, you should be able to get a nice bass. Go to your local music store and try out a few just to see. you may find a high end Bass that was a trade in. or check the pawn shops you never know what youll find there. what ever you do dont buy becouse something is cheep. in the long run you get what you pay for. Good Luck


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Recommendation for a beginner
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:57 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
ES11 wrote:
What bass would you suggest for a beginner? Since you are a beginner, you still need a good one to start!

Anyway, it seems like the simplicity of the Precision is good for a beginner. I know that is one of the reasons my favorite guitar is a Fender Telecaster. Some of my favorite bassists are Eric Wilson (Sublime, LBDA), Cliff Burton, John Antwistle, Les Claypool, and a handful of punk players. Will a P-bass get the sounds of Eric Wilson from Sublime?
Should I be looking at a Squire instead of Fender or should I stay away from them for quality reasons? I want a quality instrument, so I will pay more for higher quality.

Also, if you could recommend a good practice amp that would be great. Like the bass, I want something that is good for a beginner, but something that I'm not going to want to replace in a year. Most of my playing will be in my home office, so I don't think I need too much power. My main guitar amp I use at home is 15 watts.

Assume, for discussion purposes, that my budget is under $1,000 for both the bass and amp.

Thank you in advance for your help.


A bad quality bass is no fun to play or listen to either. Fender Standard are good instruments that can take you from beginner to gigging pro!

I'm not familiar with Eric Wilson's work. But between a Precision or Jazz you should find something close!

The Squier instruments lately are beloved by their owners. I've looked at them but haven't ever bought one. Some people look down on Squier, but I don't, especially not lately. They have done some gorgeous basses lately. The resale value and trade-in value on a Squier isn't as high as Fender either. But for a beginner to actually gigging they are fine.

I was a Fender snob for years then I bought my first non-Fender bass and the snob days were over for me.

As far as amps with limited space such as in a home office goes, the Line 6 Studio 110 is an awesome compact $300 amp. Very versatile, small and can get loud when you need loud for a garage rehearsal or jam. 75 watts and you can patch it into your computer too for headphone practice or even recording with the direct output.

Frankly a 15 watt bass amp won't cut anything beyond bedroom rehearsal.

If you have decent speakers with a subwoofer on your office computer you can just patch into your computer with a Tech 21 Sans Amp Bass Driver pedal for about $200 or a Behringer BDI-21 (which is similar but not quite the same at the Tech 21) for about $40 and play right through the computer.

A Fender Standard P or J with either a Line 6 Studio 110 and a direct box like the Tech 21 Bass Driver pedal will be way under a grand. These are products you won't outgrow in ten years, much less one.

If you want a little better instrument, the active Deluxe P-bass Special is a real nice bass for about $650. Add the Behringer direct box pedal and the Line 6 Studio 110 and you'll still be at under a thousand bucks. The Deluxe Active Jazz is a little more than the P-bass version.

Play them and decide!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Recommendation for a beginner
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 4:57 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Fri Mar 27, 2009 12:09 pm
Posts: 58
Location: Pécs, Hungary
brotherdave wrote:
The Squier instruments lately are beloved by their owners. I've looked at them but haven't ever bought one. Some people look down on Squier, but I don't, especially not lately. They have done some gorgeous basses lately. The resale value and trade-in value on a Squier isn't as high as Fender either. But for a beginner to actually gigging they are fine.


I had a gig last Thursday and all I can say that I love my Squier bass even more after that. Really smooth, sustained and dynamic sound, I didn't think it would sound that good to be honest. Absolutely perfect for gigging, good to explore and simply great to play in general.




brotherdave wrote:
Play them and decide!


That's the essence of the thing. Don't forget to try them out acoustically, without plugging them in. Listen to that sound and if you hear something really nice, interesting and fascinating and it's comfortable and sounds good after plugging it in, you have your bass. :) Wish you all the best and hope to see you around even if it is not a Fender or a Squier bass.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:33 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:36 am
Posts: 829
Location: Chicago, IL
Wilson was more a Jazz bass player. I'd look at the Squier VM line and decide for your self if you prefer the precission over jazz or vice versa. Plus the money you'll save will get you a nice amp.

_________________
-Classic 50's Strat.
-Std. Telecaster.
-Mike Dirnt P-bass.
-Custody of SE Strat.
-Peavey Predator/Dean Evo/Epiphone DR150/Gibson Slide (much older than me).

Rellik Productions Inc.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 6:59 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 341
Thank you everyone for your replies. Sounds like I have some homework to do. I have an opportunity to get a very nice used Fender '51 Reissue Precision Bass....What do you guys think of that bass? Anyone have one?

_________________
'04 Fender Telecaster (MIA)
'07 Gretsch G5120
'08 Gibson '59 VOS Reissue Les Paul Standard
'08 Fender Acoustic
'08 Fender Jazz Bass
'08 Fender Telecaster FSR (MIM)

Fender Pro Jr. (Tweed)
Vox AD50VT
Acoustic Bass Amp


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 10:26 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
ES11 wrote:
I have an opportunity to get a very nice used Fender '51 Reissue Precision Bass....What do you guys think of that bass? Anyone have one?

I've had one for about 15 months. They come in two colors, the butterscotch blonde and sunburst. I don't think I'll ever sell mine.

These are Japanese instruments A couple of things about them you might want to know. Great neck and fine woods with excellent fit and finish. The finish is poly. The tone is brighter than a modern P-bass and more Jazz like. Great for solos. This bass and the STING bass are very similar. Both are excellent! The STING is body contoured while the 51 is a slab bass with no contouring. I think the 51 has a little more resonance and is an ounce or two heavier because of this difference. The STING also has that signature inlay at the 12th fret.

A few things you also should know. 1. As on all Single-Coil P-basses the pickup can be damaged when the fiberboard top is popped off either by using it as a thumbrest or when a string gets caught under it during extremely overaggressive snapping of the E or G string. When the topper pops off the pickup poles fall out. The bass is then dead until the pickup is replaced. A foolproof solution to make sure this doesn't happen is to use a pickup cover. Or you can get by without one if you never use the pickup as a thumbrest and never play it in such a crazy manner that a string could get caught under the topper. DON'T loan this bass out to anyone who doesn't know about this pickup issue. I've talked to two people who let a friend play it and it came back with a broken pickup. 2. The truss rod adjustment is at the base of the neck. I've found you can remove the pickguard and get pretty good access to it. 3. This bass has vintage frets. They are smaller than the medium-jumbo frets on more modern Fender basses. The 50's Precision also has these vintage size frets. They are easy to play but more fragile than medium-jumbos. I recommend using flatwound strings on this bass because of the vintage frets. The frets will last forever with flatwounds. If you want to use rounds, I'd think of another bass to buy. 4. The tuners are vintage reverse, meaning you turn them in the opposite direction of modern tuners. This takes some getting used to if you have a modern bass too. 5. The bridge is the two saddle type which can make intonation more difficult than a 4-Saddle Bridge, but it can be accomplished. Replacement 4 saddle bridges that make intonation easier to accomplish are the Fender Deluxe Bass Bridge and the Leo Quan Badass III. Both of those give you the option of bridge-through or body-through stringing. Maybe the most innovative bridge solution is the Wilkinson Tilt-Saddle Bridge that looks a lot like the original only the saddles are adjustable so they will tilt at an angle. All three of those are drop in replacements requiring no extra holes to be drilled. I went with a Fender Deluxe Bass Bridge so I can do top-through stringing with flatwounds. Some flats don't like the severe bends of body-through stringing. 6. The electronics on the 51 and STING both use mini-pots. They work well, but replacements are more difficult to find if you ever need one. 7 All single pickup single-coil basses are more susceptible to RF interference. I love the single-coil tone, but hate the interference. You can swap out the original pickup for a split wound pickup as I did and eliminate it completely, but when you do that you lose the single coil voicing in the process. If I decide to put the original pickup back in I am going to copper tape shield the pickup cavity and control cavity.

All in all a decent player and a good looking reproduction. I think the best thing about it is the neck. I love it!


Last edited by brotherdave on Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:05 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 341
Great review of the '51 reissue! Thanks for that information. Since bass playing will be new to me, it sounds like the '51 would be a good investment to learn on. I just want to avoid buying something that I want to trade-in within a year (like I did with my first guitar).
Thanks again.

_________________
'04 Fender Telecaster (MIA)
'07 Gretsch G5120
'08 Gibson '59 VOS Reissue Les Paul Standard
'08 Fender Acoustic
'08 Fender Jazz Bass
'08 Fender Telecaster FSR (MIM)

Fender Pro Jr. (Tweed)
Vox AD50VT
Acoustic Bass Amp


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 1:19 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
ES11 wrote:
Great review of the '51 reissue! Thanks for that information. Since bass playing will be new to me, it sounds like the '51 would be a good investment to learn on. I just want to avoid buying something that I want to trade-in within a year (like I did with my first guitar).
Thanks again.


Well the '51 is going for nearly a grand new. If you've got a lead on an excellent used one for way less, say $300 to $400 USD that would be a good buy. They are going used at Guitar Center for about $500 in excellent condition.

The STING version with the contoured body is going for about the same thing. I'm going to buy one of those STING versions someday. My fat gut could use some body contouring. LOL


Last edited by brotherdave on Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:21 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:21 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Dang, one more thing I should mention, especially in your case ES11! I do not care for the sound of a '51 when played with a pick very much. Like the Jazz it sounds better when played finger style. It is a pretty bright sounding pickup. Being a guitarist you are probably used to playing with a pick. Most guitarists that play bass use a pick about 100% of the time. I've found that a VERY thick pick with the tone rolled almost all the way back is tolerable, but anything else is too clicky sounding.

If you want to play with a pick you might like the sound of about any Second Generation P-bass better. The Mike Dirnt model has the 2nd Generation split coil pickup in a 1st Generation look that resembles a Tele guitar. I came dang close to buying one of those once! I decided I could get that sound out of two other basses and didn't really need it and got the '51 instead because I always missed the brightness of my Tele Bass. The Dirnt model has some very good features like the Badass II bridge and a rosewood fretboard. It also has a modern 9.5 neck radius and medium jumbo frets making it a better bet for roundwounds. The '51 Reissue has a more dramatic and more vintage correct 7.25" radius. I'd try to play both of them if you can find a store with both. The two instruments are exactly the same price! The Dirnt's are MIM. The 51's are CIJ.

There is also a SQUIER version of BOTH instruments for much less per copy. Try them too. As of right now the Mike Dirnt P-Bass is actually Squier's top rated P-bass by owners according to reviews at Musician's Friend. The Squier version of the '51 RI is called the "50's Classic Vibe" and it is the next highest rated Squier P-bass at that site right now.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:08 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 341
Man, this forum is such a great resource! Excellent info, thank you very much everyone.

I found a Squire Vintage Modified '70s Jazz Bass used for a good price and now I am thinking this might be a good starter bass for me. Anyone ever play one of these? What are the pros and cons associated with this bass? The price is right so I might give it a shot. I'm thinking that a jazz bass might give me more of the sound I'm looking for, but not really sure.

_________________
'04 Fender Telecaster (MIA)
'07 Gretsch G5120
'08 Gibson '59 VOS Reissue Les Paul Standard
'08 Fender Acoustic
'08 Fender Jazz Bass
'08 Fender Telecaster FSR (MIM)

Fender Pro Jr. (Tweed)
Vox AD50VT
Acoustic Bass Amp


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:41 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 341
I should also add that I'm a huge fan of the maple fretboard on my Telecaster, so I'd like that on my bass. The Square VM Jazz has maple, so that would be a good thing.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:00 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
ES11 wrote:
Man, this forum is such a great resource! Excellent info, thank you very much everyone.

I found a Squire Vintage Modified '70s Jazz Bass used for a good price and now I am thinking this might be a good starter bass for me. Anyone ever play one of these? What are the pros and cons associated with this bass? The price is right so I might give it a shot. I'm thinking that a jazz bass might give me more of the sound I'm looking for, but not really sure.


Again if you are like most guitarists and want to play bass with a pick you might want to compare several basses. The second generation (modern) P-bass sounds better with a pick to me. The Jazz and the 51 RI both are pretty bright sounding, but the 51 RI has thumpy lows.

Get thee to a guitar shop with Jazz and P-basses and maybe a Mike Dirnt and play 'em!

If you play with a pick, use the thickest pick you can find. As thick as a credit card if you can find one. I love the fender Triangle tort picks but even the HEAVY one is too thin and I wish it was heavier.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 8:07 pm
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:20 am
Posts: 341
Thanks for the feedback. I went to GC tonight and test drove a few different basses...the Jazz & P were included. Based on playing them ,I am now going with a Fender Jazz. The neck just felt better and it was overall more comfortable for me. I'll let you guys know what model I end up with. I think I can start with a Mexican Jazz and that should keep me happy for a while....though I'm sure basses are like guitars - you can never have too many!
Thanks for all of your comments.

_________________
'04 Fender Telecaster (MIA)
'07 Gretsch G5120
'08 Gibson '59 VOS Reissue Les Paul Standard
'08 Fender Acoustic
'08 Fender Jazz Bass
'08 Fender Telecaster FSR (MIM)

Fender Pro Jr. (Tweed)
Vox AD50VT
Acoustic Bass Amp


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 12:46 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Well guys we lost another one to the Dark Side of the Force.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 27 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: