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Raymond · August 27th, 2003, 04:31 PM

Ok, it's been decided, I'm gonna learn how to play bass. I'm tired of looking for bass players...I'd be the bassist myself!!!!
I'm as broke as California, so could you please recommend a cheap bass? I'm looking for something cheap but good enough to learn...

Lance · August 27th, 2003, 11:43 PM

new Squire P Bass. I'll tell ya....it's VERY nice. He only paid a couple of hundred for it but used it'll be even less. Highly recommended.

Bob Rogers · August 28th, 2003, 07:46 AM

If you are broke, I'll second the Squire P. It may be the best cheap musical instrument on the market. Buy the right set of strings for the type of music. If particular, switch to flats if you are playing blues or R&B.

4mal · August 28th, 2003, 08:34 AM

Check out the Essex Jazz and P or PJ copies from Rondo Music. Seem to be highly regarded over at the Dudepit. These are a bit less than the Squires last time I looked and maybe a bit more instrument. One thing with any Squire - you may have to play a bunch of them before you find *the one*. They do let a good one go now and then, but you may have to sift through a bunch to find it!

Raymond · August 28th, 2003, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Rogers

If particular, switch to flats if you are playing blues or R&B.

Bob, what are flats? I apoligize for the ignorance...

4mal, you're right. Like guitars, I guess I'd have to try a bunch until I find something playable...the problem, I don't know how to play bass!!!
I'd figure it out, I guess...

Thanks a lot for the advice.

Dennis_UK · August 28th, 2003, 04:39 PM

But do check out the MIM Precisions if you can raise that much. They're really good. I don't recommend Jazzes, but that's only because I think they are,IMHO of course, and apart from the versatility of two pickups, a backward step from a P-bass. But of course, you can mix-and-match. Want a Pbass with a Jazz neck? Get a Squier P-bass Special (and get two pickups to boot). Want a Jazz body with a Pbass neck? Get the Mark Hoppus signature. Plenty of not-too-expensive choice, particularly if you can find used kit. I would not recommend shorter scale basses unless the 34-inchers really do not agree with you, although others will doubtless disagree. That long scale and high string tension is what makes a great bass sound.
As with all things, this is my 2p's worth, and YMMV!

Oh, and flats? Flat or tapewound strings, entirely smooth to the touch. Much warmer, less twangy that, say, Rotosound RS66s or Fender 8250s, examples of normally wound strings.

Bob Rogers · August 28th, 2003, 04:56 PM

Sorry, flats are flat-wound strings. Most new basses are strung with roundwounds. Much brighter, but bright isn't the point of bass playing in many styles. In R&B you're supposed to feel the bass in your belly not hear it with your ears. Flats have a good strong fundamental with a good attack and a shorter decay.

Raymond · August 28th, 2003, 05:12 PM

Dennis, I love the Tele in your avatar...what a color, and that binding....oh man...
Back to the basses here, Ray! So far I've got:
1. Squire P bass
2. 34'' scale
3. Flatwounds

Man, this bass thing is fun and I haven't even started!

4mal · August 28th, 2003, 08:49 PM

J or P - let your hand decide. I used to be 'P' guy, but switched to the J due to the neck profile. I switch back and forth a lot while writing and recording, the J neck is quite a lot smaller than the P and it is easier to go back to a guitar neck after playing the J. The P is 'thumpier' but a J can get down right nasty if setup right so IMHO it's a bit of a toss up. Your amp makes a huge difference. The PJ (Squire Special) is a nice compromise between the two pickup styles.

Pick your sound and strings

Duck Dunn, Jamerson, Rocco - think Flatwounds

Flea, Entwhistle, Chris Squire, Geddy - think round wounds

If you really get into this - you're gonna end up with more basses than you can imagine! Mostly based on the string choice! Get out and play a few. See what your hands tell you. They'll give you good advice!

brock29609 · September 2nd, 2003, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4mal

Check out the Essex Jazz and P or PJ copies from Rondo Music.

Good advise. Pleople swear that these $100 basses compete our even surpass the $385 Mexican Fenders.

RTod · October 25th, 2003, 01:01 PM

Any opinions on Ibanez as far as cheap basses go? Where do you find Rondo ?

brock29609 · October 27th, 2003, 03:56 PM

http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/ca...l?UCIDs=940496

Oster · November 1st, 2003, 01:38 AM

Some later Squiers have plywood bodies. The only way to tell would be to take the neck off and see if there's obvious 'ply lines' in the neck well. My own choice for best value is the Godin Freeway 4, which has a solid Maple body, PJ Pup config. and a Maple w/ Rosewood neck that owes a lot to a Jazz. Bought mine new (in Canada) for under $600-. As for strings, Rounds can be plenty deep but tend to squeak during your quieter passages. The payoff is their bolder prescence.

Tim Armstrong · November 1st, 2003, 10:40 AM

You've gotten a lot of good suggestions already! Here are a few more ideas:

Danelectro - I saw one at a local store last summer, used, for around $150, and it was really quite good! A friend of mine was looking for a bass, and I told him about it, but he hemmed and hawed just long enough to miss out...

Tokai - My P-Bass started out as a Tokai '57 P-Bass (I've changed both the pickups and the neck), bought from our own Tom Grossheider for $250. Stock, it was a fine bass. I just enjoy doing upgrades!

Peavey - They seem like really good basses for the money, to me, and are often quite inexpensive.

OLP - Original Licenced Product, the offshore Asian-built versions of Ernie Ball/Musicman basses. Haven't played one myself, but have read good things about them.

Oh, and while it's true that MIK Squier basses probably have plywood bodies, that isn't necessarily a deal-killer. I had a Tele like that that was a surprisingly fine guitar. You just gotta play them and see if they sound good...

Cheers, Tim

bluesy · November 2nd, 2003, 05:55 PM

I recently purchased a new Yamaha BB 404 that I really like. It has 2 humbucking Jazz style pickups, a solid alder body ("Nathan East" design, smaller profile, think P bass lite), tight neck pocket, with a great neck that's kind of a cross between a P & a Jazz dimension wise and excellent fretwork! I believe MF sells em for $299 (sans case).

RickC · November 2nd, 2003, 10:46 PM

More kudos for the Squire P-bass Special. They're something like $230 at Guitar Center; great neck, versatile electronics, classic styling and feel. Totally usable as is, and easy to make significant improvements via pickups and hardware upgrades. Whenever someone asks me for a recommendation for a beginner bass, this is my far and away first choice.

/rick

August 27th, 2003, 04:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Raymond Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Herndon, VA Posts: 2,417 3 Photos	Please recommend a bass to a rookie... Ok, it's been decided, I'm gonna learn how to play bass. I'm tired of looking for bass players...I'd be the bassist myself!!!! I'm as broke as California, so could you please recommend a cheap bass? I'm looking for something cheap but good enough to learn... __________________ "That's a hard pill to swallow, buddy; when you find out what the blues is all about"

August 27th, 2003, 11:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lance Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 2,335	My buddies son has a new Squire P Bass. I'll tell ya....it's VERY nice. He only paid a couple of hundred for it but used it'll be even less. Highly recommended. __________________ Lance "not very good...but I make up for it by playing loud"

August 28th, 2003, 04:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Dennis_UK Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calstock, Cornwall, UK Age: 56 Posts: 715	Agree with all the above! But do check out the MIM Precisions if you can raise that much. They're really good. I don't recommend Jazzes, but that's only because I think they are,IMHO of course, and apart from the versatility of two pickups, a backward step from a P-bass. But of course, you can mix-and-match. Want a Pbass with a Jazz neck? Get a Squier P-bass Special (and get two pickups to boot). Want a Jazz body with a Pbass neck? Get the Mark Hoppus signature. Plenty of not-too-expensive choice, particularly if you can find used kit. I would not recommend shorter scale basses unless the 34-inchers really do not agree with you, although others will doubtless disagree. That long scale and high string tension is what makes a great bass sound. As with all things, this is my 2p's worth, and YMMV! Oh, and flats? Flat or tapewound strings, entirely smooth to the touch. Much warmer, less twangy that, say, Rotosound RS66s or Fender 8250s, examples of normally wound strings. __________________ Fender MIM Precision, all black, 2004. Fender MIJ Precision, '51 RI, Butterscotch, 1996. Squier VM Precision TB, 3TS, 2007 Markbass CMD121H 1x12 combo plus 1x12 ext cab My band: The Rock'nRoll Outlaws

August 28th, 2003, 05:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Raymond Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Herndon, VA Posts: 2,417 3 Photos	Thanks a lot guys Dennis, I love the Tele in your avatar...what a color, and that binding....oh man... Back to the basses here, Ray! So far I've got: 1. Squire P bass 2. 34'' scale 3. Flatwounds Man, this bass thing is fun and I haven't even started! __________________ "That's a hard pill to swallow, buddy; when you find out what the blues is all about"

October 25th, 2003, 01:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
RTod Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 177	What about Ibanez? Any opinions on Ibanez as far as cheap basses go? Where do you find Rondo ?

August 28th, 2003, 07:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bob Rogers Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,710	If you are broke, I'll second the Squire P. It may be the best cheap musical instrument on the market. Buy the right set of strings for the type of music. If particular, switch to flats if you are playing blues or R&B.

August 28th, 2003, 08:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
4mal Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 2,510	Check out the Essex Jazz and P or PJ copies from Rondo Music. Seem to be highly regarded over at the Dudepit. These are a bit less than the Squires last time I looked and maybe a bit more instrument. One thing with any Squire - you may have to play a bunch of them before you find the one. They do let a good one go now and then, but you may have to sift through a bunch to find it!

August 28th, 2003, 04:56 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bob Rogers Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,710	Sorry, flats are flat-wound strings. Most new basses are strung with roundwounds. Much brighter, but bright isn't the point of bass playing in many styles. In R&B you're supposed to feel the bass in your belly not hear it with your ears. Flats have a good strong fundamental with a good attack and a shorter decay.

August 28th, 2003, 08:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
4mal Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: The Gorge Posts: 2,510	J or P - let your hand decide. I used to be 'P' guy, but switched to the J due to the neck profile. I switch back and forth a lot while writing and recording, the J neck is quite a lot smaller than the P and it is easier to go back to a guitar neck after playing the J. The P is 'thumpier' but a J can get down right nasty if setup right so IMHO it's a bit of a toss up. Your amp makes a huge difference. The PJ (Squire Special) is a nice compromise between the two pickup styles. Pick your sound and strings Duck Dunn, Jamerson, Rocco - think Flatwounds Flea, Entwhistle, Chris Squire, Geddy - think round wounds If you really get into this - you're gonna end up with more basses than you can imagine! Mostly based on the string choice! Get out and play a few. See what your hands tell you. They'll give you good advice!

October 27th, 2003, 03:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
brock29609 Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 106	here... http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/ca...l?UCIDs=940496

November 1st, 2003, 01:38 AM	#13 (permalink)
Oster Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Latveria Age: 40 Posts: 2,855	Careful with Squier Some later Squiers have plywood bodies. The only way to tell would be to take the neck off and see if there's obvious 'ply lines' in the neck well. My own choice for best value is the Godin Freeway 4, which has a solid Maple body, PJ Pup config. and a Maple w/ Rosewood neck that owes a lot to a Jazz. Bought mine new (in Canada) for under $600-. As for strings, Rounds can be plenty deep but tend to squeak during your quieter passages. The payoff is their bolder prescence. __________________ Cassowary!

November 1st, 2003, 10:40 AM	#14 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ocean Pines, Maryland, USA Age: 50 Posts: 13,148	lotsa good, cheap options! You've gotten a lot of good suggestions already! Here are a few more ideas: Danelectro - I saw one at a local store last summer, used, for around $150, and it was really quite good! A friend of mine was looking for a bass, and I told him about it, but he hemmed and hawed just long enough to miss out... Tokai - My P-Bass started out as a Tokai '57 P-Bass (I've changed both the pickups and the neck), bought from our own Tom Grossheider for $250. Stock, it was a fine bass. I just enjoy doing upgrades! Peavey - They seem like really good basses for the money, to me, and are often quite inexpensive. OLP - Original Licenced Product, the offshore Asian-built versions of Ernie Ball/Musicman basses. Haven't played one myself, but have read good things about them. Oh, and while it's true that MIK Squier basses probably have plywood bodies, that isn't necessarily a deal-killer. I had a Tele like that that was a surprisingly fine guitar. You just gotta play them and see if they sound good... Cheers, Tim

November 2nd, 2003, 05:55 PM	#15 (permalink)
bluesy Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Minnesota Age: 49 Posts: 577	I recently purchased a new Yamaha BB 404 that I really like. It has 2 humbucking Jazz style pickups, a solid alder body ("Nathan East" design, smaller profile, think P bass lite), tight neck pocket, with a great neck that's kind of a cross between a P & a Jazz dimension wise and excellent fretwork! I believe MF sells em for $299 (sans case). __________________ "You don't get down off an elephant, you get down off a duck."

November 2nd, 2003, 10:46 PM	#16 (permalink)
RickC Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 189	More kudos for the Squire P-bass Special. They're something like $230 at Guitar Center; great neck, versatile electronics, classic styling and feel. Totally usable as is, and easy to make significant improvements via pickups and hardware upgrades. Whenever someone asks me for a recommendation for a beginner bass, this is my far and away first choice. /rick __________________ "shot with nitro"

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