Bass Guitar Suggestions
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Category: Other music related lounges
Forum Name: Tech Talk
Forum Description: Discuss musical instruments, equipment, hi-fi, speakers, vinyl, gadgets,etc.
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=77025
Printed Date: November 22 2024 at 13:04
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Topic: Bass Guitar Suggestions
Posted By: Horizons
Subject: Bass Guitar Suggestions
Date Posted: March 25 2011 at 21:40
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Hi, i'm looking into buying my first bass guitar and begin to learn how to play.
Problem is i have no idea what to look for at all..
I know i want it 4-stringed and my price range is around 300$ at the maximum.
From talking to friends, they have said that Ibanez and Squier are what i should look into. Is this good advice?
Any suggestions on brand, model, amp etc would be greatly appreciated.
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Replies:
Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: March 25 2011 at 22:06
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For 300 thats probably good advice... I would however suggest saving up some and look into getting somthing a bit better ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: March 25 2011 at 22:09
How much more? I could invest alot more money, i just didnt want to spend too much on my first bass guitar. 
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Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: March 25 2011 at 22:20
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A reasonable amount to spend on a nice (not great) guitar or bass is usually about 1000... however if you are a smart shopper and search out deals (check music stores going out of buisness and big chains with "blowout" sales you might be able to find a Schecter or somthing for around 5/600) ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: Proletariat
Date Posted: March 25 2011 at 22:24
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If it does come down to Ibanez and Squire I would reccomend Ibanez. Squire is notorious for having electrical issues, ive never known a friend to be satisfied with one and Ibanez seems to be better about it, of course Ibanez has a gibson sound and Squire has a Fender sound. ------------- who hiccuped endlessly trying to giggle but wound up with a sob |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: March 25 2011 at 22:44
| Ok thanks. |
Posted By: NecronCommander
Date Posted: March 25 2011 at 22:50
 Nah, I kid. An Ibanez SR300 would definitely be your best bet for the price range you specified. They play very nicely, have good necks and good QC. You can find them at pretty much any Guitar Center or online http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ibanez-SR300-Bass-Guitar-517405-i1440401.gc" rel="nofollow - here.  If you think you can crank out a bit more money than that though I'd recommend a Schecter Stiletto entry model bass. I've seen them new for about $400, used for about $350.  -------------  
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Posted By: clarkpegasus4001
Date Posted: March 26 2011 at 08:54
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For your budget I would go for an Ibanez as well, or maybe a Cort Curbow or Cort Retro 4 they are good for the money, of course it depends on the "look" you would like as well. Good luck and congrats when you get one, let us know what you get.
------------- Tony C. |
Posted By: Epignosis
Date Posted: March 26 2011 at 09:08
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I've gone through a few basses (just sold my Spector Legend 5 a couple of days ago). I frequently play my Ibanez SR200 that I got for $199. However, there's a catch: While the music store where I got this instrument had several of these models on the wall, only this particular one played amazingly. So even a cheap instrument can sound and play great if it is set up properly. I've had to adjust the truss rod since moving from FL to NC (humidity difference), but it has a lovely punch and growl and is a breeze to play. The moral of this story is this: Go to your music store and play several inexpensive basses. Dean also makes basses starting at $125 new (such as the Zone XM and the Edge). You could also check out the Rogue LX200 B Series II for a mere $119.99. I've never played any of these, but if you're just beginning, it's not a bad idea to start cheap. For one, if you don't practice and eventually give up, you won't have lost much money. In the second place, you will still have money left over to save for a much nicer bass down the road if you really take to it. Good luck! ------------- https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays" rel="nofollow - https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays |
Posted By: irrelevant
Date Posted: March 26 2011 at 09:12
Wise words. ------------- https://gabebuller.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow - New album! http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385" rel="nofollow - http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=7385 |
Epignosis wrote:Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: March 26 2011 at 12:39
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I'll keep my eye on Ibanez. The SR300 is my favorite at the moment.
Thank you for the suggestions and input.
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Posted By: CloseToTheMoon
Date Posted: November 17 2011 at 19:25
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Get a Squier (high end). Get it set up properly and replace the tuning keys and pickups after you can tell the difference and you'll be happy. Anything over $200 for a beginner is a waste. You can trade up later. Avoid anything with active pickups, they may sound better (to some ears) but they will give a beginner a headache. ------------- It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen. |
Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: November 17 2011 at 22:30
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I think you can get Epiphone Firebirds around $400 but I'm not entirely sure. Also I do agree with getting a high end Squier for sure.
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Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 12:14
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Epiphone is good, yes, i tryed one last week at a guitar shop it have a nice attack and growls a litle,
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Posted By: CloseToTheMoon
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:49
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I have an Epiphone SG Bass and it has it's pros and cons. The neck is nice and small, the pickup is okay. But the low E has never quite reacted like the other strings. Great starter though. Anyone interested? haha ------------- It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen. |
Posted By: Icarium
Date Posted: November 18 2011 at 15:51
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what type of bass does John Wetton use that is not a Rickenbacher, he used Rick with KC but on the ASIA live album i have seen it is not that but looks like Epiphone or Warwick what is it. couse it have a nice growl, attack and deep sound.
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Posted By: Fox On The Rocks
Date Posted: November 19 2011 at 00:16
I think he also used a Fender Precision Bass. You can see it on some concert footage from 1973-1974. I don't if he used it in the studio as well though. I didn't even know he used Rickenbackers to be quite honest. Did he use them on Larks, Starless and Red? -------------
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Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: November 20 2011 at 21:09
I saw Wetton onstage during the LTIA tour, and he used his trusty Fender Precision bass. He used the same bass (or similar) for UK, and I believe for Asia's first tour. I was never aware that he used Rick basses. Just ask a Tech Geek!! http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f28/john-wettons-gear-119357/" rel="nofollow - http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f28/john-wettons-gear-119357/ .......here's the scoop on Wetton's gear for live performances during his 1972-1974 stint with King Crimson, which some here may find interesting: 1. Two different Fender Precision basses (pre-1974, a tan model, likely pre-CBS; 1974: a white model) 2. Rotosound Roundwound strings 3. HiWatt amplifiers, as noted above 4. HiWatt cabinets, pre-1974; 1974: Cerwin-Vega bass Reflex cabinet (no other information). 5. Electro-Voice speakers 6. Effects pedal: Jen Double Sound (fuzz/wah) Most of the above information comes from the horse's mouth. A friend of mine attended a KC Night Watch CD signing on my behalf in 1997. In addition to getting a signed CD for me, I asked my friend to query Wetton about his equipment in those days. Wetton graciously wrote it all out on a slip of paper, which my friend sent to me, and which I seem to have lost during one of my many moves. |
Posted By: clarkpegasus4001
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 00:23
He has used a Zon, a Gibson Victory bass and he is/was endorsing Fernandes basses. His Precision was made in 1961, a good year! (I was born that year)  I can't recall any other basses right now, i'm pretty sure he has not used a Rickenbacker  ------------- Tony C. |
Posted By: The Neck Romancer
Date Posted: November 21 2011 at 05:55
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Get a SX or a used Squier (preferably at a local store. Ignore the models with pine bodies as they're too soft and chip easily; you're going to want maple or alder). Try some basses until you find one that feels right and doesn't feel cheap and if you like it take it to a luthier for a setup. You can get a very sweet bass for less than a hundred bucks; save the rest of your money for an amp. If I needed a new bass, I'd get a used alder bodied SX Precision and mod it with a Status graphite neck, Delano pickups, brass hardware, a Hipshot Drop D-tuner and tune it as CGDA. Better than a deluxe American Fender with the specs I want for less than 600 dollars. If you need more help, try the http://talkbass.com/" rel="nofollow - Talkbass http://talkbass.com/" rel="nofollow - forum . Plenty of useful information and experienced people over there. ------------- 
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Posted By: sturoc
Date Posted: December 11 2011 at 10:38
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Well I see this is an older thread and I hope you, Horizons, have found the bass and amp. But I will post a reply anyway since it will help other new prospective bass players First Price is important But equally important is personal 'playability'. How does a particular bass feel to you ? How does it sound ? Can you get your fingers around the sometimes baseball bat radius necks or do you need a thinner low radius neck ? Does the bass have the sound your looking for ? Will the electronics last and what wood is it made out of ? You can always swap p/u's & electronics later or right away. As you can see I have not mentioned any brands and that's the way you should approach a purchase. As for the bashing of Squire: Back in the late 70s Fender licensed Japan to produce instruments for them. They turned out to be often better than Fender USA themselves. Those instruments are highly sought after these days. I owned several MIJ Jazz basses and they were beautiful all around. Squires today are made in SE Asia In owning a few of them as well, they are solid basses with great sound and play smoothly. The moral is: Don't be swayed by others opinions or 'status symbol' basses They are not the ones spending your hard earned cash and they will not play the bass for you. An famous expensive bass will not play itself for you either. Only you can play it and decide. |