Starter bass guitar recommendation?

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bb_wolfe

bb_wolfe

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Jan 1, 2008
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I need a starter bass guitar.

Budget is $500.

Any recommendations? Also would like to play it with a headset as not to further piss off the wife, so any amp/combo whatever that allows me to play quietly would be appreciated.

[And PLEASE, can we get rid of this dumb "wait 27 seconds because your stupid ass didn't select a post icon" bullshit?]
 


I started on a 78 fender musicmaster. Smaller scale but a good bass none the less. You can get one for under 200 if you look.
 
2 brands that are cheap/good (I used to be in a pretty serious band as a guitar player)

Dean
BC Rich

Both are very cheap and decent quality.

If you want awesome top notch quality Carvin makes awesome stuff but it may break your budget.
 
bb_wolfe said:
I need a starter bass guitar.

Budget is $500.

Any recommendations? Also would like to play it with a headset as not to further piss off the wife, so any amp/combo whatever that allows me to play quietly would be appreciated.
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With this budget you'll have to go with the Fender "Squire" series, also Ibanez, and Yamaha have entry level instruments. They're all pretty much of the same quality (made at the same plant in Korea - regardless of the brand). You need to go with the one that feels best in your hands - just like women ;)

As for headset type amp -- go with the Pedals made by "ZOOM" -- they make quality products for the price. Their pedals have headphone jacks.

You can get the 2 together for your $500.- budget.
 
go to talkbass.com and research. my suggestion as a former player would be get a used bass first. Ibanez basses have a nice thin neck, easier for beginners. Other brands to look at are Lakland, spector and Fender (try and get american made, if not find a good mexican made one). BC Rich are gimmicky and some deans are decent from my experience. Squire's are a waste of money imo. I started out on a ibanez sr-405 (new it was around 500).
 
Awesome, you guys rock, thanks!

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Just bought my wife a combo set for her birthday. Got a Yamaha combo for about $275 with free shipping at American Musical Supply.

It seemed playable for us amateurs and a real bass player friend said it was worth the money. I had to do some work on the string length, but it was simple.

The amp has a head phone jack, though I don't know how well headphones support the bass without an untimely death.

Would buy again +++.
 
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I am here to recommend to you the fine bass pictured above, the Ibanez GSR190. They usually go for only around $200 (or less with your fine negotiation skills).

Even though it's dirt cheap, it really is a great bass. It's real easy to move around on and it sounds like a $600 bass (in my opinion).

I used it in this video, and also on the actual recording of that song.

As far as amps, I'm not really sure what would be the best match. You should just plug it into every amp you find at guitar center. And turn it up to eleven.
 
Everyone learns on the Fenders- I did. But I can't recommend it. Definitely stay the hell away from Squires. Their sound is crap and their action is way too high and unforgiving. As a beginner, you need to be lulled into a certain sense of aptitude before you are actually capable else you'll be discouraged.

My recs (as a teenager in the grunge era obsessed with Les Claypool and Flea):
- Ibanez GSR200 or,
- an Epiphone Les Paul Special.

Both have good, forgiving action and are entirely playable- the Ibanez, imho, has better sound (especially with effects pedals), but the Les Paul just looks cool and I like the deeper, throatier sound from the wider placement of their humbuckers when it's clean plugged into the amp.

Both can be had @ Muscian's Friend for just under or over $300, though I think you'll get more bang from your buck buying it from disinterested teenagers on Craigslist.

Of course- these recommendations are based on the assumption you want an electric. If you want fretless or acoustic or five-string or some other nonsense, this is subject to change.
 
Fender Squier Vintage Series 62 Jazz bass , I was playing that for almost 7 years , the neck is awesome!
 
I got mine from guitar center- Love my fender squire. Great action, stays in tune no matter what, and was under $300 on one of those weekend blowout sales dealies.
Congrats on getting some bass action Nick!
 
I second Phillian's suggestion to stay away from the Squires. My first electric guitar was a Squire Tele, and while I got lucky with the one I bought (good action and sound), the quality control on those was questionable 15 years ago, so I can't imagine how bad it is now. Those above that are happy with their squires have probably been fortunate enough to have gotten some of the better ones.

I highly suggest buying used as well. I've had tons of used guitars/bass/amps... and I've never had a problem with any of them. Musical equipment is like treadmills - people buy them all the time and never/barely use them. I would think right now with the "economic downturn" that there are tons of people looking to sell off their unused gear.

I've never bought an instrument on ebay, but I have sold a few guitars (and a ukulele), and I know there are some really good deals there. If you have a Guitar Center or other stores like that in your area, I highly suggest going in and getting your hands on as many as possible. What works for one is horrible for another. Your mileage will vary depending on your hand size, finger length....

When you have chosen one to a few different models you like, then you can go to ebay/online to see what kind of deal you can get.

I played bass in a band that did lots of 80's rock covers at the end of H.S., and I agree with the poster that suggested the B.C. Rich. I borrowed one for a show once, and I was really surprised at how great it played, especially for that style of music (like G n R's It's So Easy).

I also have to give props to Phillian for her knowledge and suggestions, you can tell she knows her shit!

P.S. WF girls rock - literally!
 
I bought a Cort B4 a couple years ago.. They call it the Louisville slugger of bass guitars ;) It was around $500 when I purchased it.

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For a starter, I wouldn't recommend spending too much, at a beginner level you're not going to notice much of a difference between an awesome bass and a beginner bass. If you find you like playing the bass and know you'll stick with it for some time, then go a little more expensive.

AudioBeast Lowcost Music Loops & Tracks - all of the loops you hear there were played with the equipment in the photo above (including the cort).

EDIT: And also, just as with a standard 6 string guitar (acoustic or electric), regularly change your strings on the bass - The fresh bangy sound of new strings on a shitty bass will sound better than old strings on a high-end bass.
 
That's what I bought a while ago, great starter bass and cheap.






kingofsp said:
2la6jix.jpg


I am here to recommend to you the fine bass pictured above, the Ibanez GSR190. They usually go for only around $200 (or less with your fine negotiation skills).

Even though it's dirt cheap, it really is a great bass. It's real easy to move around on and it sounds like a $600 bass (in my opinion).

I used it in this video, and also on the actual recording of that song.

As far as amps, I'm not really sure what would be the best match. You should just plug it into every amp you find at guitar center. And turn it up to eleven.
Click to expand...
 
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