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Post subject: Which way do I go?
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:56 am
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Hi guys, I'm looking for some direction here. I've decided that I want to buy a bass guitar but am completely lost as to what I should be looking for. About all I know about basses, is that the strings are fatter than those on my guitar, they come in 4, 5 or 6 string configuration, you can get a bolt-on, set-in or neck-thru neck. I know that the styles are divided up into P-Bass, Jazz and Hybrid (?). Could someone point me in the right direction to a sticky or web site, so I can learn about what I should be looking for.

Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Which way do I go?
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:05 pm
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Silverbursted wrote:
Hi guys, I'm looking for some direction here. I've decided that I want to buy a bass guitar but am completely lost as to what I should be looking for. About all I know about basses, is that the strings are fatter than those on my guitar, they come in 4, 5 or 6 string configuration, you can get a bolt-on, set-in or neck-thru neck. I know that the styles are divided up into P-Bass, Jazz and Hybrid (?). Could someone point me in the right direction to a sticky or web site, so I can learn about what I should be looking for.

Thanks

Well, first off, what kind of music are you looking to play? Any particular bands/bassists you like?


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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:39 pm
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Even though this is a Fender forum or because it is I would suggest a Fender bass either a Precision or a Jazz. I started on a Squire bullet bass 21years ago and had several more basses since (all in the Leo Fender design family EBMM and G&L) and have recently come back to the Fender Family with the purchase of my very loved Fender Highway One Precision bass and I will be hard pressed to play anything else. The Fender famliy of basses is the Alpha and Omega of basses. Leo got it right the first time out what more can I really say. If you want a little more mid range growl and a slimmer neck then go with the Jazz bass (I have a Squire VM Jazz which I love) otherwise you really don't need to go any further then the P-bass. I was chasing a sound for over a decade and then I tried my current bass and couldn't believe what I had been missing. The only other piece I need is a better amp otherwise I have found tone heaven.


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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:14 pm
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I would agree. Even though on the face of it, the Precision is a simple bass (one pickup, two controls) I've found it to be one of the most versatile basses available. I've seen one in just about every kind of band you can think of, playing any kind of music you can think of. A good basic Standard (American or Mexican made, depending on your budget) Precision would stand you in good stead for just about any style of music you might want to play. Of course, a Jazz would be an excellent choice, too, especially with the thinner nek if you have smaller hands, and not too much more expensive (maybe a couple hundred at most). If you can, as has been said before, go to a music store and try them out, and try as many different models of each until you find one that sounds and feels right to you..


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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 2:27 am
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Hey Silverbursted - go to brotherdaves website. (Find it at the bottom of one of his posts here on the P Bass board http://www.brotherdave.com/.) He doesn't know it, but I lurk around there a lot. And I mean a lot! He has gathered a tremendous amount of information in one place. I completely blame him, and him alone, for me picking up a P Bass several months ago, strictly because he has so much info in one place it made it easy for me to get started.

He has information on gear, lessons, history, etc. Everything you need to get started is there on his website. Thanks brotherdave!

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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 3:09 am
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Fender Precision is the way to go if you're much of a pick player and more rock oriented.. otherwise go for jazz when it comes to slap style playing..

but for me jazz would always be my first choice but I'd like a p-bass with flats to when i need that boomy rock and blues tone..

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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 8:44 am
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Thanks for the feedback and link guys. I should have specified the type of music I play. First off, I'm primarily a jam playing guitarist, who is trying to expand my horizon and and mix it up a little with a bass. I play classic rock/metal, mostly 80's stuff (Metallica, Judist Priest, Iron Maiden, Led Zep). Thanks again, hope this help with your advise.

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Post subject: which way do i go
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:49 pm
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Go to your local music store and tell the sales rep your story. than try out a few basses to see what feels good to you. and try them through a amp. good luck and best wishes.


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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:16 pm
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Definately check out the Squier Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe basses. A great, solid bass for under $350 new.


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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:17 pm
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Fender MIM Precision. Maple neck. Cuts real nice.


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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:50 pm
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RickyD wrote:
Hey Silverbursted - go to brotherdaves website. (Find it at the bottom of one of his posts here on the P Bass board http://www.brotherdave.com/.) He doesn't know it, but I lurk around there a lot. And I mean a lot! He has gathered a tremendous amount of information in one place. I completely blame him, and him alone, for me picking up a P Bass several months ago, strictly because he has so much info in one place it made it easy for me to get started.

He has information on gear, lessons, history, etc. Everything you need to get started is there on his website. Thanks brotherdave!


This suggestion^^, I've made more than a few times to the noobies! Great advice right here.

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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:54 pm
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PowerJazzBass wrote:
RickyD wrote:
Hey Silverbursted - go to brotherdaves website. (Find it at the bottom of one of his posts here on the P Bass board http://www.brotherdave.com/.) He doesn't know it, but I lurk around there a lot. And I mean a lot! He has gathered a tremendous amount of information in one place. I completely blame him, and him alone, for me picking up a P Bass several months ago, strictly because he has so much info in one place it made it easy for me to get started.

He has information on gear, lessons, history, etc. Everything you need to get started is there on his website. Thanks brotherdave!


This suggestion^^, I've made more than a few times to the noobies! Great advice right here.

+1.
And get a P-bass, less knobs to twiddle with.


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Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 3:52 pm
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zod wrote:
Definately check out the Squier Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe basses. A great, solid bass for under $350 new.


Excellent advice!


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Post subject: Re: which way do i go
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:52 pm
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wilburcook wrote:
Go to your local music store and tell the sales rep your story. than try out a few basses to see what feels good to you. and try them through a amp. good luck and best wishes.


BEST advice posted on this thread right there!

Take a strap with you too. I go to try out a bass and they are hard to hold sitting down and you can't really tell if it is well balanced or not without a strap on it. I run into that time and time again. So I have just taken a junky strap and put it in the glove box of my car! LOL. Now I'm prepared.

Many guitar players looking for a bass will find the narrower neck of the Jazz more comfortable. However guitar players who double on bass or switch completely to bass tend to play more with a pick and the Precision sounds better with a pick to me. So that brings us to this...be sure to try a Precision Bass Special which has a P-bass pickup, J-Pickup and the narrower JAZZ neck. I think the Precision Bass Special is one of Fender's best values right now if you like the narrower Jazz neck. I had an active "Cowpoke" P-bass Special and I liked everything about it but the Jazz neck profile. It had a really nice see-through blonde finish. I kind of miss the active Cowpoke sometimes because it just looked so kooky but sounded amazing. I replaced it with an active Ibanez SRX700. I might look for another Cowpoke and put a P-bass neck on it! That would be a super cool gig bass for me.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:50 pm
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RickyD wrote:
.......Everything you need to get started is there on his website. Thanks brotherdave!


You're welcome and thank you for your kind words about my money pit of a website. The sole reason I did it was to help up and comers in an effort to pay back some of the heavy duty help I've gotten from from several incredible people when I was just starting out. These people I owe include Ralph Raper (deceased) and Carol Kaye who each helped me directly in their own way, plus as a tribute to the people who inspired me in the first place, Duck Dunn, James Jamerson, Noel Redding, Jack Bruce and Ray Brown.

Sometimes I wonder if the expense of the site is worth it or if it is really helping anyone because I get little feedback from site visitors. Thanks again. Based on your post RickyD, I just renewed the hosting and domain name contract a few minutes ago, so it will be online until at least November 2010. I knew it was a money pit when I started it last November. So, I'm not complaining really, but you'd think someone could take 15 seconds to fire off an email now and then just to let you know they found something they needed. I guess they are LURKING.

One guy who came to the site emailed me and via email I helped him rework a 2x15 Fender Bassman '68 cab so it would handle a 1000 Watt modern head and come in at 4 ohms. That was very rewarding to me. This was a pretty major overhaul and we got it done via email. He was happy and I was elated that I got to help him use this vintage cab with his new modern high power head. Bet it looks great on stage too. The cab was very clean. AND yes, he saved the original speakers so he can restore it to original configuration. He said it sounded amazing. It should be a great gigging cab for a decade or two or three more. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for 15 inch speakers.


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