A guitar players first bass?

[Iversen]

I like soul, funk, r'n'b, jazz, blues stuff. Been playing guitar for 20+ years. I need a good bass now.

Should I be getting a Jazz Bass, a Stingray or a G&L L2000?

[Tedecaster]

My main bass is an old Stingray, full & thick but punchy. It's not a slap machine like the newer ones & that suits me fine. I have flats on it now and like the old school sound. I also have a MIM Jazz (strung with roundwounds) that is more "hi-fi", open & defined. Even though I prefer the Musicman, I'd say that the Jazz is probably more versatile. Also, the necks are quite different. Definitely learn to play with your fingers if you don't already. Good luck!

[Tim Armstrong]

Much like picking which model guitar to play, the thing to do is to go out and play a bunch of them. I personally think the Telecaster of the bass world is the noble Precision Bass. Simple, funky, powerful, versatile.

Cheers, Tim

[Iversen]

I don't need a slap machine as I'm just too damn lazy to put in the time to get that stuff down. I've always used my fingers though, so at least something is right from the get-go.

I've always been partial to the sound of the Stingray, but I really need to check it all out before I lay down the money.

[franchelB]

Originally Posted by Iversen

...
I've always been partial to the sound of the Stingray...

Seems like you've already answered your question.

[4mal]

It's the neck ... always the neck. Everything else will follow if the neck is comfy ...

[Scott V]

I'm a guitar player who just bought my first bass last weekend, stumbled into a deal on a 2000 MIM Jazz bass in a local pawn shop ($150 out the door with a Behringer Thunderbird practice amp, the guitar was missing the pickguard), I know very little about basses, but I really like the feel of this Jazz, very sleek and comfortable, I'd think with a decent replacement bridge and pickups it should do everything I'd ask of it. As with most things, as you gain experience your direction on equipment will change, I figure start with something cheap, build the chops and go from there.

['caster oil]

What's your budget? Hard to go wrong with the MIM Fenders, or the least expensive Ibanez... you won't believe how good the Ibanez feels and sounds for less than $150.

[Vince a]

Just went through the same thing about 6 months now . . . guitar player for about 45 years . . . wanted to learn to play a bass.

I agree it's all in the neck, and since I play Teles and Strats, I stuck with Fender, and the Jazz Bass felt perfect in my left hand. I went for the Am/Se sunburst w/rosewood fingerboard, but just as easily could have purchased a MIM - they are also an excellent bass.

I'm kinda hooked on bass these days, and about to buy a Precision or a Warwick Corvette Double Buck $$ . . . just trying to figure out if I'm ready for 5 strings.

[4mal]

There's a couple of Reverened 5's ging on EBay at the moment. They don;t seem to be pulling much. These are seriously fine basses very much in the Fender tradition. Mine has a neck profile quite similar to the 62 RI J. It's a very comfy instrument. Tonally it kick's butt. Very vintage Fender vibe but with a little 'air' around it. Totally a keeper and very easy to flip if you don't agree ...

[BritishBluesBoy]

Have a look at this... a few dings... but WAY cheap... sounds like a winner to me...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Precision...QQcmdZViewItem

[Rob DiStefano]

I played bass in bar bands during the mid 60's and a Hagstrom P-Bass style through an Ampeg B15N did yeoman service ... so, I don't think ya can go wrong with a P-Bass style, and the Squier family is just fine for me. Having said that, I just picked up a Dean Edge 09 from MF for $119 delivered - dang, that's a goodie, and all I changed were the strings. IMHO, there are lotsa really good, pro basses (and guitars) available these dayze for cheap. YMMV.

[Veitchy]

My brother has a friend who got a Cort Precision-style bass for christmas. There not to pricey and are built real well. Highly reccomend.

[Tedecaster]

I bought this SX about a month ago. It's fretless (didn't have one) and played nice, so I thought I could change the PU out to an Fender PU I had & have an OK bass for low $$'s. But other than change the PG (black now) I haven't done a thing. Haven't even changed the strings (came with D'addario flats, I think)! It hangs right in there with my '76 Stingray & MIM Jazz. I play it alot and it set me back $117 w/tax!

[Steve McGinnis]

I love mine. It's a Stingray with a guitar players neck (smaller thinner). Sounds great, lighter than a Stingray but sounds the same with more sounds (switch and a mid knob). The neck makes going back and forth (bass to guitar) much easier.

[guitarzan13]

Hi! I am a bass player who doubles as a guitarist.... IMHO...As far as bang for the buck and resale if you choose to sell it later.... get a MIM P-Bass or a Squire Affinity P-Bass. I bought my son a Squire. It is very playable even for him. He is 10 and has been playing it for almost 3 years! It actually sounds a lot like my 79 P-Bass.... I mean very close.

[guit145]

Don't overlook the G&L, I love my L2500, so I'm biased. If I ever got another bass it would be a 5 string Jazz, but I don't think I'll need to with the G&L.

[telepicker52]

Been playing guitar for 40 yrs. and took up bass about 10 yrs. ago. Picked up a 1982 Westone Thunder 1 last year for $200. Nice comfy neck with great tone from split humbucker PU. Thay are getting a bit rare, but grab one if ya can!!

[Iversen]

Thanks for all the info guys.

Squier has just made a new Vintage Modified Series from which I tried the Fretless '62 Jazz bass. It's dirt cheap, it comes with a lined Ebonol (artificial ebony) fingerboard, a three piece body made from Agathis, roundwounds and Duncan Designed pups. The pups sound good although with a low output. Still, I compared it to a fretless MIM Fender Jazz with flatwounds, rosewood fingerboard and whatever pups they come with. The Squier won hands down.

And just this morning I found this: http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?...torycode=16157

You may want to check one out yourselves.