Bass Players: Beginner bass setup?

[Ns1]

So yeah, might try to learn how to play bass. Recommendations? <500 preferred. Have some experience playing geetar...

Musical Influences: RHCP, Tool, Pink Floyd

 

[Platypus]

lol I saw the title and then read the subtitle when I entered the thread


Anyway, you cannot go wrong with a mexican made Fender Jazz Bass. The J pickups will give you more of a solid tonal range for any type of music you want. I would avoid 'p-style' pickups as that will give you a punk, rough, bright treble sound and not the soft complex undertones you want for music like mentioned. Granted Tool has some bass lines that are in that style, as does RHCP, you can get more of that sound and them some with a j bass pickup. They are great for slap as well, if you're into that sort of think. Also remember you can shape the controls with the independent tone controls for each pickup.

My advice, go play a Fender jazz bass and a p-bass and get it out of your system. I would recommend the jazz bass 100x to one, but that's just me. For that price range you really cannot do better than Fender.

It's times like this I miss bass I've been so dedicated to guitar recently that I've not touched my jazz bass in months.

 

[Mrvile]

I think Pearl Jam has a lot of great bass lines.

 

[Ns1]

Thanks CR, reliable as always

 

[kogase]

Well, at least the lack of talent you are about to inject into the collective history of western music should at least be somewhat counteracted by the money you are foolishly about to inject into the economy.

 

[Phoenix15]

Originally posted by: kogase
Well, at least the lack of talent you are about to inject into the collective history of western music should at least be somewhat counteracted by the money you are foolishly about to inject into the economy.

Kinda like how your father foolishly injected into your mother? Giving us you!!

 

[kogase]

Originally posted by: Phoenix15

Originally posted by: kogase
Well, at least the lack of talent you are about to inject into the collective history of western music should at least be somewhat counteracted by the money you are foolishly about to inject into the economy.

Kinda like how your father foolishly injected into your mother? Giving us you!!

But where is the collateral benefit to humanity? I seem to just be a little bundle of shite for you guys.

 

[cjgallen]

Fender Jazz bass. Great for beginners, and tons of the pros use them as well :thumbsup: I got one myself.

As far as amps . . . eh, all low power practice amps suck IMO, most aren't even good enough for real band practice, but if you're just starting out, eh, doesn't really matter. I recently downsized my rig from a 2x10+1x15 and 400W head, down to a Carvin 100W 10" amp, got great reviews on Harmony Central, it really cranks for a 1x10. Snagged it for $150 on ebay (I payed more for my 25W Ibanez amp when I was a beginner!!!).

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: cjgallen
Fender Jazz bass. Great for beginners, and tons of the pros use them as well :thumbsup: I got one myself.

As far as amps . . . eh, all low power practice amps suck IMO, most aren't even good enough for real band practice, but if you're just starting out, eh, doesn't really matter. I recently downsized my rig from a 2x10+1x15 and 400W head, down to a Carvin 100W 10" amp, got great reviews on Harmony Central, it really cranks for a 1x10. Snagged it for $150 on ebay (I payed more for my 25W Ibanez amp when I was a beginner!!!).

I have a Roland Minicube to practice for my guitar, is there something similar for bass? Ideally id' like to practice w/o pissing off housemates...

For you haters, I also had a Fender 53 Champ so fvck j00 =P

 

[Mrvile]

Oh you already play guitar? Then bass should be quite easy to learn.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Oh you already play guitar? Then bass should be quite easy to learn.

I play it, but I'm not that good on it =P

 

[kogase]

Bass is not really easy to learn simply because you played guitar. It may be a little easier to play if you have retained strength in your fingers, but the nature of bass ends up requiring a completely different approach and technique.

 

[Platypus]

Let me put it this way, I had a ridiculously nice custom Fender Jazz Bass with active controls, special tuners, everything was custom and I also had a mexican Fender Jazz Bass. I felt more comfortable gigging with the mexican one and I ended up selling the nice one to get back into guitar. I still use that Jazz Bass. It's been dropped, been through a flood, kicked around, drinks poured on it, etc and it still cranks out heavy ass tone like a pro. You won't be disappointed.

Word to the wise, take it to a shop that has someone who knows what they're doing and have the action fixed on it, 50% of the ones I pull off the wall at those guitar shops are buzzy as hell because they don't take care of them.

 

[Platypus]

Originally posted by: kogase
Bass is not really easy to learn simply because you played guitar. It may be a little easier to play if you have retained strength in your fingers, but the nature of bass ends up requiring a completely different approach and technique.

While this is true, I think in the broad picture if you understand how music works and you know the chord structures, it's relatively simple to learn. I taught myself guitar when I was 12, played for a few years, taught myself bass and had a MUCH easier time... now I went back to guitar as of two years ago and I'm a much better guitar player.

 

[Mrvile]

Well, I guess it's a lot easier to read the music if you play the guitar. I tried bass at a friend's house and I had a real hard time playing it, the frets were so far apart and the strings were so huge, it felt so clumsy in my hands. I'll just stick with guitar.

 

[kogase]

Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation

Originally posted by: kogase
Bass is not really easy to learn simply because you played guitar. It may be a little easier to play if you have retained strength in your fingers, but the nature of bass ends up requiring a completely different approach and technique.

While this is true, I think in the broad picture if you understand how music works and you know the chord structures, it's relatively simple to learn. I taught myself guitar when I was 12, played for a few years, taught myself bass and had a MUCH easier time... now I went back to guitar as of two years ago and I'm a much better guitar player.

That is true, but in the end I think that applies to all instruments rather than to guitar and bass specifically. I taught myself to play guitar at probably the same age, but I started moving more towards piano once I could afford a keyboard. I would play each instrument exclusively for stretches of time (usually 1 month on one), and I found that I would return to the piano/guitar with a fresh approach, and I certainly found myself becoming a better pianist after playing the guitar again for a while.

If you look at most of the baroque/classical masters, you'll find that most of them played many intruments competently, and specialized in one. For example, Bach specialized on the organ, but he was a good violinist and harpsichordist as well. I think the best approach to becoming a good musician involves familiarizing yourself with many different instruments.

Ahem... carry on.

 

[cjgallen]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
Well, I guess it's a lot easier to read the music if you play the guitar. I tried bass at a friend's house and I had a real hard time playing it, the frets were so far apart and the strings were so huge, it felt so clumsy in my hands. I'll just stick with guitar.

I went from bass --> guitar, and I am one sloppy guitar player I think it might have been easier going the other direction.

 

[Ns1]

anybody else?