It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 9:40 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 31 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Author Message
Post subject: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:22 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:45 pm
Posts: 1
Hello everyone,
I need help in selecting a new bass guitar for our church, I have no working knowledge of bass guitars whatsoever and came to the forum for advice. I have been told that the Fender Precision bass is about the best that you can buy, but I am unsure as to what is considered the best of the precision basses. Is there a certain year? Is made in American to be desired over Mexico or Asia? I am just trying to make sure I am buying the best 4 string Fender Bass guitar in the Precision line.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Mon Jan 17, 2011 3:34 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
The Precision Bass is a great instrument, you came to a place where we're all big fans. There are a lot of choices, you mentioned a certain year. If you start looking you'll find older basses are collectors items, bringing big prices. The Asian and Mexican basses are considered inferior to the American basses. I own a Mexican and am very happy with it. I've played Asian basses that were good and bad. I also own a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass. Great bass.

You didn't mention a budget, so, I'd recommend an American Standard for $1200.00, brand new. It comes with a sturdy case and will be a great addition to your church.

Any bass players coming in will enjoy the opportunity to play it.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 2:51 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:23 am
Posts: 833
An important consideration is what kind of budget you have. With that info, we can give you a better idea of what is a good bass in that price range. You can get a good Fender or Squier for anywhere between $300 to around $1200 new. You can get good used ones cheaper, but you will need to either have someone knowledgeable about used basses to help you, or educate yourself by reading as much about this stuff as possible. I recommend "The Fender Bass Handbook" by Paul Balmer as a good guide for buying and maintaining Fender basses.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 7:39 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 9:06 pm
Posts: 1
I have a Fender Precison Bass that is made in America. It is about five years old. I have a Deluxe Fender Precison Bass made in America that is on order. If you have enough money I recommend the Deluxe American P-Bass. It is hard to go wrong with the best and after a little bit you don't even think about the money you spent. Also, the active controls will make whoever starts playing your bass even more interested.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 8:00 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:05 am
Posts: 21
i would recomend the mim deluxe actib P-bass i have one and its a great guitar


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 6:33 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 11, 2009 6:23 am
Posts: 833
Actually considering that this will be a "house bass" for the fellow's church, I would recommend he keep it simple and not deal with any kind of active basses. Just a regular old passive P or J - bass that anybody can use without lot of knob-twiddling should be just fine. Keep it simple.
Note: this is not a criticism of active basses, it's just I don't think it would be approppriate for this kind of situation. If the budget is there, I also would recommend an American Standard P-bass.

_________________
'08 Fender Am. Std. Jazz bass, maple fretboard, charcoal frost metallic finish
'10 Squier VM Jazz bass, maple fretboard, natural finish
Ampeg BA115
'09 MIM standard Strat, maple fretboard, sunburst finish
Fender Super Champ XD


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 7:31 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Amen, Brother Bats!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:11 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
fasjb wrote:
I also agree with the MIM Bass doing well. Recently purchased a MIM J Bass. Stood up to any MIA Bass in the store. A lot of the work is done in Mexico and sent to Corona for completion. $550.00 for the MIM P Bass and about $140.00 for the same case the MIA comes in. $560.00 less for really the same the same thing. Some differences between the two types but I don't think enough to warrant that much. The MIM necks I've seen look great. I can live without the different neck adjustment rod.


Fender Made In Mexico (MIM) basses are completed start to finish in Ensenada, Baja Mexico. They are not "sent to Corona for completion."

There have been TWO Fender series labeled "MADE IN USA" that consisted of Corona fabricated bodies and necks that have been trucked down Highway 1 and across the border to Ensenada for the finish prep and finish application including paint, stain and sealer. After finish application these bodies and necks are trucked back to Corona for final assembly including hardware and electronics installation. These two series are the current Highway One Series and it's predecessor called the California Series. The California Series was produced only in 1997 through 1998. These are the only joint production projects between the two plants other than strings, which are made in Ensenada and used on all Fenders including the Japanese ones.

To the best of my knowledge there has not been any Fender instrument started in Mexico, completed in the USA and then marked "Made in Mexico."

There are MANY differences between American, Mexican and Japanese instruments all branded FENDER and even between SQUIERS made in various countries. Your budget will dictate certain limitations. To say that the MIM and the USA instruments are no different is very misleading. The MIM's do represent an outstanding value in a highly playable, durable and decent sounding instrument. But the USA instruments have much better wood for just one thing that makes a huge difference. The current production USA instruments have a much better truss rod system in the neck and usually better hardware also. The pickups are usually much more advanced in the USA instruments too. Granted the MIM instruments have come a long way in fit, finish and hardware but there are many significant advantages to buying a USA Fender if you can afford it.

With a Fender you get what you pay for as a rule. A USA made Fender costs more because you are getting better quality components all around. Fender USA, MIM and CIJ instruments all have differences.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 3:21 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
papahender wrote:
Hello everyone,
I need help in selecting a new bass guitar for our church, I have no working knowledge of bass guitars whatsoever and came to the forum for advice. I have been told that the Fender Precision bass is about the best that you can buy, but I am unsure as to what is considered the best of the precision basses. Is there a certain year? Is made in American to be desired over Mexico or Asia? I am just trying to make sure I am buying the best 4 string Fender Bass guitar in the Precision line.


So far as selection goes, an instrument is usually a very personal choice. A player used to playing a Fender Jazz won't like a Fender Precision as well. It also works the other way around.

As Bathead stated, keep it simple. Any passive (no battery required) bass would be preferable over an active model. The Precision is simpler, only two knobs. The Jazz has a brighter and more up front tone, but also costs a little more.

I do not know why a church needs a house bass, other than for convenience or in the event a guitarist wants to double or switch to bass but can't afford one of their own. Most bassists good enough to play in public will own an instrument and will 99% of the time highly prefer playing their personal bass since they are used to it. I can see having a good amp at the ready as I am not as picky about the amp, so long as it sounds really swell.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 5:56 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
From experience playing in churches, it's hard to maintain a group of musicians that are committed to what it takes to play for services. There are more churches than not that have "church basses". Why? It's hard to say, seems that it's the hardest chair to fill.

Everybody is a critic, when most of the people listening only listen to their music with the bass off, they don't like the low end.

Usually the acoustics suck and hearing oneself is a pain. When accomplished players come in, the first one's that get frustrated are the bass players.

Like I said earlier, I speak from my own experience and that of a few other bassists.

Papahender, if you are the Pastor or someone in leadership, go back and re-read this. I'm not just being critical, I'm giving you some observations that will make your life easier.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2011 10:31 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
I've given this more thought. The solution is to buy TWO. Buy a Standard P-Bass and a Standard J-Bass which would be about 1100 to 1200 total for both. Then whoever shows up to play will be reasonably at home.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:50 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Have you made a decision?


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 12:36 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Fri Aug 14, 2009 8:34 am
Posts: 53
As oxfan states and I agree playing bass for a church it can be very hard to hear yourself over the mix which makes it less enjoyable to Play and Worship alltogether. Please ensure you keep the bass and lets not forget the drummer happy they are the rythym section setting the groundwork. Ensure you have a great frontman or woman worship leader a great lead guitarand your off. I believe anyone serious about playing in a praise band will show up with there own gear.OOPs an electric drumkit should be provided by the church.

lowdownbass24


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 5:37 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:33 am
Posts: 4583
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Drummers aren't hard to please, promise them cookies after the service and they're yours.

Now, seriously. There must be a reason for asking about buying a bass for the church. As i mentioned earlier, all the churches I've playerd at had a "church bass". I hadn't thought about it until I read the first post, I had it in my head that all churches had a bass. :lol:

Electric drum kit is a great suggestion.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Selecting a bass
Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:32 pm
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 12:52 pm
Posts: 2588
Location: Out there on the road
Sell the church and buy a new church that has a bass.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 31 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2, 3  Next
Go to page 1, 2, 3  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: