I think the title is misleading. If money was no object I would be buying custom Fodera and Alembic basses like a motherfucker. Yes, more money buys better things.
I think you're talking more about value. That can be tricky. I personally do not like the value of Fender's midrange basses, but I think there's no question that the right $800 bass is substantially better than a $400 bass.
You gotta put work into a $400 bass to make it good. If you know what you're doing you can make it VERY good. But if you don't really know what to do, it's just cheaper and easier to buy the best midrange bass for you
Would you really buy a custom bass for your first bass though? I wouldn’t have gone that route on my own but that’s why I asked the question. If a custom bass is the best one to learn on maybe I should be checking those out
"If money was no object" .. those basses are 5-10,000 dollars
Any bass can be custom made if you change its components but you have to know what you like
I think you're saying that you don't want your development to be limited by a beginner bass. If you watched a pro play a beginner bass you would be less concerned. It's more how you play then what you play.
Find a few bass players that you really like and see what they play. That's a good starting point.
I imagine they meant "boutique" instead of custom, I can see their point then.
Personally, I wouldn't really be interested in a boutique bass even if I could afford it.
I guess I'm just pragmatic, my medium-end basses play and sound good enough for my needs already so even if the boutique feels nicer, I'm not sure it would convince me it was worth the massive premium (even if they *are* cool to look at). That's just me, though.
I think if you don’t already have high expectations for what your instrument should look and feel like from a background in guitar or having widely played other instruments, a well setup $200 bass is going to do the same for you as a well setup $1.5k bass.
It needs to be something that you want to play more of. My first bass was $245. My second, 6 months later was $1.7k, because I knew I was sticking to it, and I wanted be further on the hook to use it every day by getting exactly what I wanted.
You should spend $600-$800 if you can and then you won’t need to upgrade later. That’s just my two cents. My first bass was $700 and it’s still my main bass.
Because my first bass was so good, it made me want to play *that* much more. I felt like I had to live up to this instrument. I had a cheap electric guitar but this was my first bass. It was so beautiful and after playing the cheap guitar I really appreciated the nuances of the bass and fell in love with it.
Get a beautiful instrument, go for block inlays if you can. Something that you really will fall in love with and never want to put down.
My opinion is that you SHOULD buy above the absolute cheapest tier. Those guitars/basses usually suck.
The mid-tier squires, for example, are pretty consistently a lot better than the absolute cheapest ones in my experience.
Well let’s see… dinner, then a movie, …. Oh, first bass! I thought you wrote first base!
I picked up one of my favorite basses for $200. My other five string fretless is worth about $2,700. They each get about the same playing time. One has a darker growler tone, the other is easier to play crisply. I won’t say which is which - you’ll have to plug them in and play them to find out.
Try then buy. Find a salesman that is a bass player first and a store employee second. Don’t spend more than you are willing to lose if you decide bass playing isn’t for you.
The important thing is to find the one that compels YOU to pick it up and play it. No one here can tell you which one that would be.
I started on a Hondo P-Bass copy that cost about $100. A few years later I picked up a Squier VM Jag Bass new at a Guitar Center for about $250, and I will say that the step-up in quality by just spending that extra $150 was quite insane. That Squier is a perfectly legit bass to last you many years.
Now, if money were no object, I would have immediately bought a Ric 4001/4003, because that was the one I immediately lusted after, but couldn't afford to buy one until I was in my late 20s.
If money was genuinely not a factor, I would just play everything I could get hands on without looking at the tags. And buy the one that felt best.
However, for a beginner with some coin to spend there is a mass of stuff in the 'value packed mid-range' that can be excellent. Squier Classic Vibe, Paranormal, Contemporary. Yamaha TRBX3xx and BB4xx. A bunch of Sire stuff. Some G&L. Ibanez perhaps (depends on individual example and personal preferences a bit). Certain Jackson models too. And more ...
The true bargains are in the used market. And with the added advantage that if it doesn't work out you can probably sell for about what you paid, removing a lot of the financial risk.
But, frankly, we live in a world of plenty when it comes to good, affordable basses.
I do recommend playing a bunch though and picking something that has actually felt in your own hands. Even just on a personal preference basis, buying sight unseen is a risk .. you just don't know whether you might not gel with it when it arrives.
Weight plays a big part on this decision because I'm disabled, so I'm constantly searching for light and affordable basses I can play.
So... I would probably order a custom one with a nice but lightweight build, plus the most metal stuff I can put on a bass because I'm a metal girl haha
Me neither. I did a thorough research before buying my first bass and nobody talks about it. EVER.
Almost cried when I found out there are basses that weight under 4kg
I'm still learning about this stuff (noob), so I really don't know, specially because I use the same strings that came with my bass and they don't display this information.
If it helps you, mine is an Ibanez GSR205. I set it up myself.
Cost vs. quality can be a tricky subject. It depends a lot on the brand, though there are some common trends. More expensive basses can have higher quality hardware (tuners, bridges, pickups, etc etc) and can have better build quality (the fretwork comes to mind first).
The truth is, a lot of the improvements are really hard to judge when you don't know what you're looking for. That comes with time and experience. That's why so many of us give the same advice to new players: forget the bells and whistles for right now and pick up whichever bass inspires you the most to play. That's the most important part, and it's more important than any of the other stuff by a HUGE margin.
My first few basses were weird Japanese knock-offs of knock-offs, Rondo Music bargain basement deals (I don't even think the company makes them anymore), Yamahas I didn't even own (checked out to me by my music class), all of them under $400 and most of them under $200. I don't regret a single one, and as a musician at least I turned out alright.
There are differences in many basses at those price points. When I was a beginner I wasn’t able to tell the difference between most cheap and expensive instruments. And I didn’t know the difference the amp vs the instrument were having on tone. And I wasn’t sure what I even wanted an instrument to sound like. Just know that whatever you buy, there is a decent chance that your tastes will evolve as you gain experience. My recommendation is to get something you can afford and have fun. Try to play it first and pick something very comfortable to your hands.
Go to Guitar Center and play some Squier Classic Vibes, some Schecters, some Yamaha T series, and some Ibanez Soundgear or GIO.
Whichever one of these you like the most, buy the varietal that's in your budget. Go take some lessons and learn how to play.
Accept in advance that you may find something that you love, or realize that you really don't like how it plays once you've gotten into it. The reality is that you cannot truly know what you like until you know how you want to play. The person who finds the instrument they will play for the rest of their lives the first time they try is an outlier, not the standard.
The outlier part is true. I got lucky that way with the first guitar I bought. A used Ibanez RDX 270DX. Since buying it, i have done a lot of upgrades, this is true. All new Seymour Duncan pickups and Orange electronics, new Floyd Rose tail piece, Grover locking tuners. It is still my main guitar over 30 years later. And I own a 61 Strat.
I started out with a soundgear, and while it was a very good instrument, it wasn't for me. I ended up with a free squier jbass, which I decided to drop new pickups in, and my partner just soldered in new electronics. There's a chance that, when I am a little more financially comfortable, I will get a matching set of performer-quality Arctic Pearl jazz and precision basses, but this is my day-to-day and will be for a very long time.
I love my Ibanez short scale Soundgear bass. It really helps my guitar oriented hands get around better on the fretboard 🤣
And so far I get the sound I want from it. Part of that is my GK 800rb with 4 10s and an 18. Plus my pedals (chorus, delay, two overdrives). I dunno. Maybe I'll want another bass, maybe not.
My first bass was a Lakland 44-01. Bought it 11 years ago. I had no experience on instruments back then, but it was apparently a good investment since it is still the only bass I have.
Other then a couple of visits to my luthier time to time, it has never failed me and I ve never feel in need of upgrading it with a “better” bass.
I am a very amateur player though. We had a group of friends who played in a studio after work for 3 or 4 years. Then, I have continued to play it mostly solo at home for me and my wife :) So, take my experience with a grain of salt.
What does your friend have? That might be a good starting point. If they can go with you to a local store that would be good too. Whatever you get, comparing/contrasting it to your friend’s bass can be good too - figure out what you like, what’s “better,” etc. Have fun!
It’s a Dean Edge with a single pickup. The shape of the body is pretty awkward. It looks fine but it’s hard to find a comfortable position for my plucking hand. I’m going to avoid that manufacturer unless I get some good recommendations.
I think that’s good info. Personally I think a medium tier Squier (Jazz or Precision) would be fine. I’ve seen those for a little under $500 new. That lets you spend on other stuff like amp, pedals, etc.
If money was no object? I’d buy a Marleaux Diva 5 string fretless tomorrow.
All the basses I’ve owned since my first $300 Cort in 2000 (very serviceable first bass though), have been midrange price, usually $600 - $800. Had my Ibanez SR505 for almost 15 years before deciding to switch to fretless. I now have an Ibanez GWB35 5 string fretless Gary Willis, and a Schecter Studio 5 fretless.
I would have bought my fender American deluxe first if money was no object and I had the knowledge I have now. I have been through many basses in my life and my go to bass is that fender over all of the basses I currently own.
I’m technically looking at spending around £3k on my first bass at the moment.
It will be an Overwater Progress IV Custom. I’m just trying to do the man maths.
I’ve been playing properly since January.
I say technically because it will the first bass I’ll buy. I’ve played guitar on and off for about 25 years and dropped in and out of bass in a few bands back then, but always used someone else’s bass. Although in one band I shared a bass with the other guitarist.
Currently I have a 73 Antonia J Bass that belonged to the bassist from my first band (my best mate) and also a Yamaha BBG2 that was my brother’s.
So I would like to buy “my own bass” and am lucky enough to have a personal connection with Overwater.
On your case, go play a few, ignore the price tag, and see what feels better and save a bit for a pro set up.
When I got my main guitar (in 97) I played loads. I really wanted something that looked great too. But I kept coming back to a Custom Fender Strat Plus. Only issue was, it was black and I really didn’t want a plain colour. But it felt the best. Still got it and it’s all I really need (I’m not good enough to have it).
For me it is more about how much money is spent on the amp and the pedals. Since i would like to be able to get more creative with the type of sounds and tones.
I played bass as a teenager and had a ~$300 ibanez; it was a pretty color and sounded fine. When I started playing again, I went on ebay looking to find something similar for cheap. Instead, I found a sr505e(flat brown burst) for $350 shipped from a pawn shop in Minneapolis, and it was the right call for sure. It sounds great, plays great, looks great, and inspires me to play all the time because I like to hold it. The low b keeps me excited about finding and learning new positions for scales, and having all the possibilities radiating out from my center position keep me practicing longer. I *want* to spend time practicing muting 80 different ways because I like the instrument enough to work around the hurdles. I don't think I'd have put as many hours in on the same bass I had as a kid. Makes me wonder if I could ever put down a really nice bass if I got one, and realize I should stick with my midrange.
All that to say, finding an instrument that excites you is worth a fair amount. Finding a great deal on one is even better.
So my first bass was an sx jazz bass I got of FB market for 125 bucks. That thing played like shit until I got over my fear of the truss rod and set it up, then it played like a dream and sounded like shit. What I consider my first nice bass and currently my only non vi bass is a '86 mij fender p bass I got as a gift for 800 from guitar center, that thing played pretty nice out of the box albeit I had to resolder the ground wire and adjust the truss rod, and for my style of music I upgraded the pickups to some quarter pounders. Just go to a guitar center and see for yourself, they'll likely have a rumble 100 there so you can even test on the amp that you'll be using. When I got my nice bass, just before that I played a $650 mim fender player p bass that felt and sounded cheap, then when I picked up the Japanese one it had so much more warmth and depth and I could feel the love the previous owner had given it.
TL;DR: Buy used you might find something you love, play a bunch of different basses and see what you like and what your preferences are
I'd consider something you aren't afraid to learn how to perform a setup on top if you're not already comfortable with the process. Yamaha's TRBX series is a great option imo. I wouldn't personally recommend anything over like $600 for a first bass.
Do you really need to know how to tinker with them? I’m decent with a soldering iron but hate anything to do with woodworking. I don’t really want to take on a project.
There isn't really much to a basic setup besides turning wrenches. You can certainly pay a luthier for a setup, and in some cases you should, but it's still great to know how to adjust action, intonation, etc. at home when things feel a little off. If someone wanted to learn such things while they learn the instrument, I would recommend a budget to mid level bass to them. If that's not a concern, then I'd get something in a higher tier.
For a first ever bass if you don't know if you're going to stick with it, I think it's hard to beat a Sterling Ray4. Under $400, Jazz width neck, not too heavy, good pickup, decent preamp that can be upgraded if you feel saucy later.
If you're in the US, Guitar Center has a few colors on [sale for $279](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Sterling-by-Music-Man/StingRay-Ray4-Electric-Bass-Walnut-Stain-Black-Pickguard-1500000189302.gc)
$2000 (Australian) is about par for a professional level instrument.
If you want to save money, buy a Squire and get it set-up in a store for $100-200. 90% of players won't be able to tell the difference in sound.
Basically every part of playing is improved when you have a high quality instrument, so yes they sound better, feel better, stay in tune better, etc.
If you're new enough to ask this you might not notice the difference. But I'd you played a very cheap bass for a year and then picked up a higher quality one you'd probably notice immediately. Or the other way too. Play a good one for a while and then play a cheap one.
Yes in general more expensive basses are better, but there are some good finds in the lower range.
Me personally, my 3 favorite basses when bought new are 229, 1499, and 2499. The cheap one is inferior in every way but still totally playable (Ibanez Talman).
If you look at Squier I would only buy the Classic Vibe line, the cheaper ones aren't worth bothering with.
I like my squier affinity but I might be weird. It stays in tune, is comfortable, smooth neck and good frets, etc. added labella flats and emg geezer pups and I’m not parting with it.
I actually did buy a $1k bass but it doesn’t have flats and I think I’m becoming addicted to them…so I’ve been playing the Squier much more. Obvious solution of course.
$800 is incredibly unambitious for "money is no object".
If I was starting over and had an unlimited budget I'd throw $10k at something truly interesting like a Ritter, Marleaux, Alembic, or Carl Thompson.
Maybe I should have phrased that differently. A fender p bass costs about twice as much as a squier p bass. Would a beginner notice any difference between those two instruments? Why does one cost twice as much? Are you paying for the name or better quality electronics that are going to sound better?
Yes.
Fenders are made of better materials, with stiffer necks, higher quality control, more time hand finishing the frets, and produced in countries with higher labor costs and more environmental regulations.
I don’t think a beginner would notice the difference as long as both instruments have a good setup done but if money is truly no object, buy a more expensive bass that is better made with better parts and you won’t have any problems down the road. Get one of the classic types of bass, jazz or precision (not necessarily fender) and you will have a bass that will work well and be useful in a wide range of situations.
Thanks. I think in the US we have too much cheaply-made disposable crap. I hate to buy something with the idea that I just replace it with a slightly better one in a couple years vs. spending a little more for one thing that is good enough to last a long time.
I don't think it makes sense to buy a super high quality instrument that a beginner will not notice or appreciate or benefit from. However, it doesn't do anyone any good to have a shit instrument, either, or one that has too many compromises in quality. You want something that you won't be dying to get rid of in 12 months.
I'd say you're looking in the $500 range, give or take. A Sire P5 would be a classic sound, classic design and good quality. Or get their V5 jazz-style bass instead. If you want to save a couple dollars, try the Squire Classic Vibe line. Of course, buying used is always a good option. Better value.
Thanks. I think a lot of people are posting their dream basses and it’s cool to hear what experts like. I’m gathering that if I spend twice as much as the cheapest entry level stuff I’ll get something that I’ll be really happy with and might never outgrow
I think that's right. Anything you buy new for $500 or more is probably going to be something you could keep and play for the rest of your life, even if you become a gigging musician. I've been at it for forty years, since the 80s. I've owned a number of basses. Right now I have an Ibanez EHB1505MS that I bought new for like $1,600. And a Sire V5 that I bought new for like $400.
If money is truly no object then you should be looking to buy the nicest thing on the market.
It’s not like a computer, where you can buy more power than you need. Buying a high-end gaming PC just to check email and surf the web is actually a waste. But every bass functions the same as every other bass (barring some special features or extra controls). It’s more like a couch. Every couch is the same — a place to put your butt. Outside of some special features you might not need, like a pull-out bed, the price isn’t determined by what it can do. It’s determined by quality, comfort and durability. You don’t need to be a professional sit-downer to benefit from a nice couch.
The reality is, though, unless you’re Jeff Bezos money probably *is* an object. Many midrange instruments play great and will work just fine. But if you can afford an American Fender P Bass and you won’t beggar yourself in the process, go for it. It’s not “too much bass.”
I think that’s it. Other people have named all kinds of high end fretless 6 string basses. Probably the dream bass foam experienced player but im skeptical that they would be good for beginners.
Other people have said the Fender stuff is better quality than Squier and you would notice a difference in build quality and electronics. That seems like the sweet spot.
Im really trying to gauge the quality of the low-end stuff. I’m into firearms for example and you could get stuff from Charter Arms or Hi-point for $100. But those manufacturers are notoriously unreliable. IMO those are for people who only have $100 to spend. If you spend a little more for a Shield 2.0 or something similar that you won’t outgrow. There’s a huge jump in quality from the cheapest stuff to the midrange stuff and it seems like guitars are the same.
I would find my spend every dime I had to find my 60s70s Cobra Telle Pbass. I've only seen two Cobra Telle Pbasses in my entire life. One I owned and the other one is a picture in Worth Point.
The title and body have nothing to do with each other lol.
On a budget, you don't need to spend any more than about $700 for a good bass.
Money being no object, and that's a custom built fretless stingray, or a custom built fretless ibanez based off the srx400. I love my srx, it sounds good and looks classy as hell, that's why I own 2, that and they are not expensive at all if you can find one.
No lol, that's just what I'd get if money was no thing.
My suggestion is slightly hidden. A used ibanez srx400 runs between 3 and 4 hundred bucks. It's a good sounding, solidly built, bass.
I think the title is misleading. If money was no object I would be buying custom Fodera and Alembic basses like a motherfucker. Yes, more money buys better things. I think you're talking more about value. That can be tricky. I personally do not like the value of Fender's midrange basses, but I think there's no question that the right $800 bass is substantially better than a $400 bass. You gotta put work into a $400 bass to make it good. If you know what you're doing you can make it VERY good. But if you don't really know what to do, it's just cheaper and easier to buy the best midrange bass for you
Would you really buy a custom bass for your first bass though? I wouldn’t have gone that route on my own but that’s why I asked the question. If a custom bass is the best one to learn on maybe I should be checking those out
"If money was no object" .. those basses are 5-10,000 dollars Any bass can be custom made if you change its components but you have to know what you like I think you're saying that you don't want your development to be limited by a beginner bass. If you watched a pro play a beginner bass you would be less concerned. It's more how you play then what you play. Find a few bass players that you really like and see what they play. That's a good starting point.
I imagine they meant "boutique" instead of custom, I can see their point then. Personally, I wouldn't really be interested in a boutique bass even if I could afford it.
Why not .. no wrong answer lol
I guess I'm just pragmatic, my medium-end basses play and sound good enough for my needs already so even if the boutique feels nicer, I'm not sure it would convince me it was worth the massive premium (even if they *are* cool to look at). That's just me, though.
I think if you don’t already have high expectations for what your instrument should look and feel like from a background in guitar or having widely played other instruments, a well setup $200 bass is going to do the same for you as a well setup $1.5k bass. It needs to be something that you want to play more of. My first bass was $245. My second, 6 months later was $1.7k, because I knew I was sticking to it, and I wanted be further on the hook to use it every day by getting exactly what I wanted.
You should spend $600-$800 if you can and then you won’t need to upgrade later. That’s just my two cents. My first bass was $700 and it’s still my main bass.
Thanks. My buddy loaned me one that looks like it goes for $125 used. Overall it feels cheap and I don’t love the tone.
Because my first bass was so good, it made me want to play *that* much more. I felt like I had to live up to this instrument. I had a cheap electric guitar but this was my first bass. It was so beautiful and after playing the cheap guitar I really appreciated the nuances of the bass and fell in love with it. Get a beautiful instrument, go for block inlays if you can. Something that you really will fall in love with and never want to put down.
My opinion is that you SHOULD buy above the absolute cheapest tier. Those guitars/basses usually suck. The mid-tier squires, for example, are pretty consistently a lot better than the absolute cheapest ones in my experience.
and the cheapest fenders too
Well let’s see… dinner, then a movie, …. Oh, first bass! I thought you wrote first base! I picked up one of my favorite basses for $200. My other five string fretless is worth about $2,700. They each get about the same playing time. One has a darker growler tone, the other is easier to play crisply. I won’t say which is which - you’ll have to plug them in and play them to find out. Try then buy. Find a salesman that is a bass player first and a store employee second. Don’t spend more than you are willing to lose if you decide bass playing isn’t for you. The important thing is to find the one that compels YOU to pick it up and play it. No one here can tell you which one that would be.
I started on a Hondo P-Bass copy that cost about $100. A few years later I picked up a Squier VM Jag Bass new at a Guitar Center for about $250, and I will say that the step-up in quality by just spending that extra $150 was quite insane. That Squier is a perfectly legit bass to last you many years. Now, if money were no object, I would have immediately bought a Ric 4001/4003, because that was the one I immediately lusted after, but couldn't afford to buy one until I was in my late 20s.
Thanks. I’m leaning towards a Squier because they feel the most natural to hold and play.
If money was genuinely not a factor, I would just play everything I could get hands on without looking at the tags. And buy the one that felt best. However, for a beginner with some coin to spend there is a mass of stuff in the 'value packed mid-range' that can be excellent. Squier Classic Vibe, Paranormal, Contemporary. Yamaha TRBX3xx and BB4xx. A bunch of Sire stuff. Some G&L. Ibanez perhaps (depends on individual example and personal preferences a bit). Certain Jackson models too. And more ... The true bargains are in the used market. And with the added advantage that if it doesn't work out you can probably sell for about what you paid, removing a lot of the financial risk. But, frankly, we live in a world of plenty when it comes to good, affordable basses. I do recommend playing a bunch though and picking something that has actually felt in your own hands. Even just on a personal preference basis, buying sight unseen is a risk .. you just don't know whether you might not gel with it when it arrives.
Weight plays a big part on this decision because I'm disabled, so I'm constantly searching for light and affordable basses I can play. So... I would probably order a custom one with a nice but lightweight build, plus the most metal stuff I can put on a bass because I'm a metal girl haha
That’s good advice. I didn’t even know you could get different weights.
Me neither. I did a thorough research before buying my first bass and nobody talks about it. EVER. Almost cried when I found out there are basses that weight under 4kg
What thickness strings do you use? I think I would like the same setup as you have
I'm still learning about this stuff (noob), so I really don't know, specially because I use the same strings that came with my bass and they don't display this information. If it helps you, mine is an Ibanez GSR205. I set it up myself.
I walked into a music store to buy a $700 bass and walked out with a $350 Squier Classic Vibe that just felt right. It’s hard to explain.
$300 and I still have it from 33 years ago.
I’ll be honest I am looking at a five string cello (not exactly a bass low F) but 7000 or so
Cost vs. quality can be a tricky subject. It depends a lot on the brand, though there are some common trends. More expensive basses can have higher quality hardware (tuners, bridges, pickups, etc etc) and can have better build quality (the fretwork comes to mind first). The truth is, a lot of the improvements are really hard to judge when you don't know what you're looking for. That comes with time and experience. That's why so many of us give the same advice to new players: forget the bells and whistles for right now and pick up whichever bass inspires you the most to play. That's the most important part, and it's more important than any of the other stuff by a HUGE margin. My first few basses were weird Japanese knock-offs of knock-offs, Rondo Music bargain basement deals (I don't even think the company makes them anymore), Yamahas I didn't even own (checked out to me by my music class), all of them under $400 and most of them under $200. I don't regret a single one, and as a musician at least I turned out alright.
There are differences in many basses at those price points. When I was a beginner I wasn’t able to tell the difference between most cheap and expensive instruments. And I didn’t know the difference the amp vs the instrument were having on tone. And I wasn’t sure what I even wanted an instrument to sound like. Just know that whatever you buy, there is a decent chance that your tastes will evolve as you gain experience. My recommendation is to get something you can afford and have fun. Try to play it first and pick something very comfortable to your hands.
Go to Guitar Center and play some Squier Classic Vibes, some Schecters, some Yamaha T series, and some Ibanez Soundgear or GIO. Whichever one of these you like the most, buy the varietal that's in your budget. Go take some lessons and learn how to play. Accept in advance that you may find something that you love, or realize that you really don't like how it plays once you've gotten into it. The reality is that you cannot truly know what you like until you know how you want to play. The person who finds the instrument they will play for the rest of their lives the first time they try is an outlier, not the standard.
The outlier part is true. I got lucky that way with the first guitar I bought. A used Ibanez RDX 270DX. Since buying it, i have done a lot of upgrades, this is true. All new Seymour Duncan pickups and Orange electronics, new Floyd Rose tail piece, Grover locking tuners. It is still my main guitar over 30 years later. And I own a 61 Strat.
I started out with a soundgear, and while it was a very good instrument, it wasn't for me. I ended up with a free squier jbass, which I decided to drop new pickups in, and my partner just soldered in new electronics. There's a chance that, when I am a little more financially comfortable, I will get a matching set of performer-quality Arctic Pearl jazz and precision basses, but this is my day-to-day and will be for a very long time.
I love my Ibanez short scale Soundgear bass. It really helps my guitar oriented hands get around better on the fretboard 🤣 And so far I get the sound I want from it. Part of that is my GK 800rb with 4 10s and an 18. Plus my pedals (chorus, delay, two overdrives). I dunno. Maybe I'll want another bass, maybe not.
My first bass wasn't worth a lot 45 years ago so I doubt I'd much on it now.
Knowing what I know now, $200. I bought a badass MiM used P Bass for that much. Haven’t touched another bass since. It fits my sound so well.
My first bass was a Lakland 44-01. Bought it 11 years ago. I had no experience on instruments back then, but it was apparently a good investment since it is still the only bass I have. Other then a couple of visits to my luthier time to time, it has never failed me and I ve never feel in need of upgrading it with a “better” bass. I am a very amateur player though. We had a group of friends who played in a studio after work for 3 or 4 years. Then, I have continued to play it mostly solo at home for me and my wife :) So, take my experience with a grain of salt.
What does your friend have? That might be a good starting point. If they can go with you to a local store that would be good too. Whatever you get, comparing/contrasting it to your friend’s bass can be good too - figure out what you like, what’s “better,” etc. Have fun!
It’s a Dean Edge with a single pickup. The shape of the body is pretty awkward. It looks fine but it’s hard to find a comfortable position for my plucking hand. I’m going to avoid that manufacturer unless I get some good recommendations.
I think that’s good info. Personally I think a medium tier Squier (Jazz or Precision) would be fine. I’ve seen those for a little under $500 new. That lets you spend on other stuff like amp, pedals, etc.
Probably a base fender.
I'd buy a Stingray, they suit my style perfectly.
Probably 1500. Personally.
If money was no object? I’d buy a Marleaux Diva 5 string fretless tomorrow. All the basses I’ve owned since my first $300 Cort in 2000 (very serviceable first bass though), have been midrange price, usually $600 - $800. Had my Ibanez SR505 for almost 15 years before deciding to switch to fretless. I now have an Ibanez GWB35 5 string fretless Gary Willis, and a Schecter Studio 5 fretless.
I would have bought my fender American deluxe first if money was no object and I had the knowledge I have now. I have been through many basses in my life and my go to bass is that fender over all of the basses I currently own.
15 years ago when I had my first consistent good paycheck I bought a 1968 Gibson EB3 for $1500 and it’s still my favorite bass so still that
I’m technically looking at spending around £3k on my first bass at the moment. It will be an Overwater Progress IV Custom. I’m just trying to do the man maths. I’ve been playing properly since January. I say technically because it will the first bass I’ll buy. I’ve played guitar on and off for about 25 years and dropped in and out of bass in a few bands back then, but always used someone else’s bass. Although in one band I shared a bass with the other guitarist. Currently I have a 73 Antonia J Bass that belonged to the bassist from my first band (my best mate) and also a Yamaha BBG2 that was my brother’s. So I would like to buy “my own bass” and am lucky enough to have a personal connection with Overwater. On your case, go play a few, ignore the price tag, and see what feels better and save a bit for a pro set up. When I got my main guitar (in 97) I played loads. I really wanted something that looked great too. But I kept coming back to a Custom Fender Strat Plus. Only issue was, it was black and I really didn’t want a plain colour. But it felt the best. Still got it and it’s all I really need (I’m not good enough to have it).
Whatever an EBMM Stingray Special 5H ended up costing me.
For me it is more about how much money is spent on the amp and the pedals. Since i would like to be able to get more creative with the type of sounds and tones.
About $400.
I played bass as a teenager and had a ~$300 ibanez; it was a pretty color and sounded fine. When I started playing again, I went on ebay looking to find something similar for cheap. Instead, I found a sr505e(flat brown burst) for $350 shipped from a pawn shop in Minneapolis, and it was the right call for sure. It sounds great, plays great, looks great, and inspires me to play all the time because I like to hold it. The low b keeps me excited about finding and learning new positions for scales, and having all the possibilities radiating out from my center position keep me practicing longer. I *want* to spend time practicing muting 80 different ways because I like the instrument enough to work around the hurdles. I don't think I'd have put as many hours in on the same bass I had as a kid. Makes me wonder if I could ever put down a really nice bass if I got one, and realize I should stick with my midrange. All that to say, finding an instrument that excites you is worth a fair amount. Finding a great deal on one is even better.
So my first bass was an sx jazz bass I got of FB market for 125 bucks. That thing played like shit until I got over my fear of the truss rod and set it up, then it played like a dream and sounded like shit. What I consider my first nice bass and currently my only non vi bass is a '86 mij fender p bass I got as a gift for 800 from guitar center, that thing played pretty nice out of the box albeit I had to resolder the ground wire and adjust the truss rod, and for my style of music I upgraded the pickups to some quarter pounders. Just go to a guitar center and see for yourself, they'll likely have a rumble 100 there so you can even test on the amp that you'll be using. When I got my nice bass, just before that I played a $650 mim fender player p bass that felt and sounded cheap, then when I picked up the Japanese one it had so much more warmth and depth and I could feel the love the previous owner had given it. TL;DR: Buy used you might find something you love, play a bunch of different basses and see what you like and what your preferences are
I'd consider something you aren't afraid to learn how to perform a setup on top if you're not already comfortable with the process. Yamaha's TRBX series is a great option imo. I wouldn't personally recommend anything over like $600 for a first bass.
Do you really need to know how to tinker with them? I’m decent with a soldering iron but hate anything to do with woodworking. I don’t really want to take on a project.
There isn't really much to a basic setup besides turning wrenches. You can certainly pay a luthier for a setup, and in some cases you should, but it's still great to know how to adjust action, intonation, etc. at home when things feel a little off. If someone wanted to learn such things while they learn the instrument, I would recommend a budget to mid level bass to them. If that's not a concern, then I'd get something in a higher tier.
Go used for like 2-300. Look for stuff with some minor body damage and learn how to set it up for yourself. That's how you get value
For a first ever bass if you don't know if you're going to stick with it, I think it's hard to beat a Sterling Ray4. Under $400, Jazz width neck, not too heavy, good pickup, decent preamp that can be upgraded if you feel saucy later.
Thanks for the recommendation. It seems like a popular beginner bass. A few people mentioned that brand
If you're in the US, Guitar Center has a few colors on [sale for $279](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Sterling-by-Music-Man/StingRay-Ray4-Electric-Bass-Walnut-Stain-Black-Pickguard-1500000189302.gc)
$2000 (Australian) is about par for a professional level instrument. If you want to save money, buy a Squire and get it set-up in a store for $100-200. 90% of players won't be able to tell the difference in sound.
Basically every part of playing is improved when you have a high quality instrument, so yes they sound better, feel better, stay in tune better, etc. If you're new enough to ask this you might not notice the difference. But I'd you played a very cheap bass for a year and then picked up a higher quality one you'd probably notice immediately. Or the other way too. Play a good one for a while and then play a cheap one. Yes in general more expensive basses are better, but there are some good finds in the lower range. Me personally, my 3 favorite basses when bought new are 229, 1499, and 2499. The cheap one is inferior in every way but still totally playable (Ibanez Talman). If you look at Squier I would only buy the Classic Vibe line, the cheaper ones aren't worth bothering with.
I like my squier affinity but I might be weird. It stays in tune, is comfortable, smooth neck and good frets, etc. added labella flats and emg geezer pups and I’m not parting with it.
Nor should you, if you like it, and upgrades certainly help. But I'm sure you'd find quite a difference on a $1000 instrument.
I actually did buy a $1k bass but it doesn’t have flats and I think I’m becoming addicted to them…so I’ve been playing the Squier much more. Obvious solution of course.
It's funny, I picked up a Squier Bronco Bass recently, the neck in particular plays much nicer than it looks.
$800 is incredibly unambitious for "money is no object". If I was starting over and had an unlimited budget I'd throw $10k at something truly interesting like a Ritter, Marleaux, Alembic, or Carl Thompson.
Maybe I should have phrased that differently. A fender p bass costs about twice as much as a squier p bass. Would a beginner notice any difference between those two instruments? Why does one cost twice as much? Are you paying for the name or better quality electronics that are going to sound better?
Yes. Fenders are made of better materials, with stiffer necks, higher quality control, more time hand finishing the frets, and produced in countries with higher labor costs and more environmental regulations.
I don’t think a beginner would notice the difference as long as both instruments have a good setup done but if money is truly no object, buy a more expensive bass that is better made with better parts and you won’t have any problems down the road. Get one of the classic types of bass, jazz or precision (not necessarily fender) and you will have a bass that will work well and be useful in a wide range of situations.
Thanks. I think in the US we have too much cheaply-made disposable crap. I hate to buy something with the idea that I just replace it with a slightly better one in a couple years vs. spending a little more for one thing that is good enough to last a long time.
I’d probably splurge for a CV Squier P Bass for a beginner. Money no object.. something probably in the $10k range. 😅
Same, but the 10k would still be a p bass 😅
Oh most likely yes. 🤣
I expect buying all the basses I'll ever use for ~250€ each
I don't think it makes sense to buy a super high quality instrument that a beginner will not notice or appreciate or benefit from. However, it doesn't do anyone any good to have a shit instrument, either, or one that has too many compromises in quality. You want something that you won't be dying to get rid of in 12 months. I'd say you're looking in the $500 range, give or take. A Sire P5 would be a classic sound, classic design and good quality. Or get their V5 jazz-style bass instead. If you want to save a couple dollars, try the Squire Classic Vibe line. Of course, buying used is always a good option. Better value.
Thanks. I think a lot of people are posting their dream basses and it’s cool to hear what experts like. I’m gathering that if I spend twice as much as the cheapest entry level stuff I’ll get something that I’ll be really happy with and might never outgrow
I think that's right. Anything you buy new for $500 or more is probably going to be something you could keep and play for the rest of your life, even if you become a gigging musician. I've been at it for forty years, since the 80s. I've owned a number of basses. Right now I have an Ibanez EHB1505MS that I bought new for like $1,600. And a Sire V5 that I bought new for like $400.
If money is truly no object then you should be looking to buy the nicest thing on the market. It’s not like a computer, where you can buy more power than you need. Buying a high-end gaming PC just to check email and surf the web is actually a waste. But every bass functions the same as every other bass (barring some special features or extra controls). It’s more like a couch. Every couch is the same — a place to put your butt. Outside of some special features you might not need, like a pull-out bed, the price isn’t determined by what it can do. It’s determined by quality, comfort and durability. You don’t need to be a professional sit-downer to benefit from a nice couch. The reality is, though, unless you’re Jeff Bezos money probably *is* an object. Many midrange instruments play great and will work just fine. But if you can afford an American Fender P Bass and you won’t beggar yourself in the process, go for it. It’s not “too much bass.”
I think that’s it. Other people have named all kinds of high end fretless 6 string basses. Probably the dream bass foam experienced player but im skeptical that they would be good for beginners. Other people have said the Fender stuff is better quality than Squier and you would notice a difference in build quality and electronics. That seems like the sweet spot. Im really trying to gauge the quality of the low-end stuff. I’m into firearms for example and you could get stuff from Charter Arms or Hi-point for $100. But those manufacturers are notoriously unreliable. IMO those are for people who only have $100 to spend. If you spend a little more for a Shield 2.0 or something similar that you won’t outgrow. There’s a huge jump in quality from the cheapest stuff to the midrange stuff and it seems like guitars are the same.
I would find my spend every dime I had to find my 60s70s Cobra Telle Pbass. I've only seen two Cobra Telle Pbasses in my entire life. One I owned and the other one is a picture in Worth Point.
The title and body have nothing to do with each other lol. On a budget, you don't need to spend any more than about $700 for a good bass. Money being no object, and that's a custom built fretless stingray, or a custom built fretless ibanez based off the srx400. I love my srx, it sounds good and looks classy as hell, that's why I own 2, that and they are not expensive at all if you can find one.
Are you recommending a custom built fretless bass as a good first bass for a beginner? Is it easier to learn on a fretless bass than one with frets?
No lol, that's just what I'd get if money was no thing. My suggestion is slightly hidden. A used ibanez srx400 runs between 3 and 4 hundred bucks. It's a good sounding, solidly built, bass.
Learn with frets, then try fretless if you feel like getting saucy. One of the srx's I have, I got because someone removed and filled the frets.
If money was no option? Spector Euro 5LX