picking up bass guitar

[shakerlax222225]

ive been thinking about playing bass for a while but i dont know what kind to get. also should i but a "beginner's package" or buy the amp, bass, and everything else seperately? Any insight(sp?) would be appreciated

[AttackMan17]

For just starting...I'd go with soemthing like
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-EB0-Gig-Rig-Bass-Player-Pack?sku=517236

or

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-Artcore-Ser-Hollowbody-without-Tremolo?sku=519527

I started with the ibanez i posted...But, Epiphones are good to start with as well.

[hockeyandlax]

Hella get a Schecter.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-Stiletto-Deluxe4-Bass?sku=513047

Or

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Warwick-PNut-II-Signature-Bass?sku=511789

:thumbsup: for ^...but a bit out of the price range :nahya:

[Jugthug42]

Id suggest learning to play guitar.

A good guitarist can play bass.

A good bassist, cant necessarilly play guitar.

Besides, guitar is more of a social instrument. (You'll get more chicks by playing guitar for em rather than bass)

But hey, if you still wanna play bass...Know that cheap basses wont stay in tune well, feel and also will sound cheap.

I play guitar, so there might be some bias in my previous statements. ;)

[meestagoaliemon]

Sorry jug thug, not necessarily true. Most of my friends and I started off on the bass and are now amazing at guitar. plus, you can get plenty of attention from the ladies if you are good enough, one you learn how to play all of the fun things that go into the bass.

Anyways, my man, wanting to play bass. I suggest that you buy everything seperately simply because you will have more of a variety with choices, and once you get good enough, and you need to upgrade, those basses won't be able to match your skill level. I would suggest buying a Squier. They're on the cheap side, but they still produce excellent sound quality. I still have my squier bass from when I got started about 3 years ago and I use it for basically everthing I play. It will satisfy your skill for years to come.

Also, I'm a guitarist as well, and let me just say that even though chicks like the guitar better(in general) I found that the bass was more enjoyable to play than the guitar. Once you learn how to do fun things such as slap bass and bass solo-ing, you will have so much fun playing that youn won't be able to stop, trust me. Hope this helps a little bit, and good luck

[AttackMan17]

Also, I'm a guitarist as well, and let me just say that even though chicks like the guitar better(in general) I found that the bass was more enjoyable to play than the guitar. Once you learn how to do fun things such as slap bass and bass solo-ing, you will have so much fun playing that youn won't be able to stop, trust me. Hope this helps a little bit, and good luck

I'm the same way. Started on the bass, learned guitar.
And chicks do like the guitar...

But...They also seem to like a drummer. :thumbsup:

[sidewinder19]

Fender squiers are very good. Id suggest something with a double humbug pick-up. My fender jazz bass(older one,shes a beauty)has that and i love it. Ibanezes are solid as well as Austins. Id suggest buying a nice amp to start off because your gonna want better than those cheap ones quick. Start off with something around a 50-70 watt amp.

[meestagoaliemon]

What I was saying before about having fun while playing the bass, I saw this one thing on youtube of Stu Hamm live in San Francisco. He's very melodic with the sllow stuff and really amazing with the slap and pop and tap. Go check it out.

[Warrior]

I also started off on bass, and i got myself the cheapest one i could find [i was like 13 and didn't have a job at the time] So i got a rogue 4 string off of musicians friend for like $80 or something like that...

I followed RHCP and Rancid [two of my favorite bass players are in those bands, if you wanna know why rancid, listen to "Maxwell Murder"] and tried to get as good as i could by trying to learn random songs of theirs by tabs. Eventually i upgraded to a fender precision bass and got a nice amp, then bought a knock-off electric guitar, got good, upgraded and have kept learning since then. Now i play guitar, and bass, and i love both.

[meestagoaliemon]

I also started off on bass, and i got myself the cheapest one i could find [i was like 13 and didn't have a job at the time] So i got a rogue 4 string off of musicians friend for like $80 or something like that...

I followed RHCP and Rancid [two of my favorite bass players are in those bands, if you wanna know why rancid, listen to "Maxwell Murder"] and tried to get as good as i could by trying to learn random songs of theirs by tabs. Eventually i upgraded to a fender precision bass and got a nice amp, then bought a knock-off electric guitar, got good, upgraded and have kept learning since then. Now i play guitar, and bass, and i love both.

yup. That's basically my life story

[rhcp32291]

first of wat jug thug has created is all lies
ignore him
i suggest buy the squire p-bass package with the bass and amp,

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Bass-Pak-with-Rumble-15-Amp?sku=519634

thats how i started n i cant even describe how amazing it is to play in a band, just do it its like a drug, forget all this crazy kids tellin u about stuu hamm n stuff start off playin with some simple beginner books, dnt try to play like flea or anything until u develope ur skills but always listen to them as an influence, find bands with good bassists n see wat its all about n then listen to some solo artists

some bands:
red hot chili peppers-flea
rage against the machine/audioslave-tim commerford
incubus-dirk lance (not ben kenney so any albums before a crow left of the murder)
rancid-if you like punk
tool-if you like metal
rush-geddy lee
311-peanut
mudvayne


some solo artists
jaco pastorious
stanley clarke
victor wooten
marcus miller
steve bailey
stuu hamm

dnt conform to the hardcore/emo scene

some other words of advice:

funk is good



it would be nice to kno how much ur willing to spend as well as wat ur musical interests are

[elementsk8r070]

If you think you are going to stick with it, then I would get something better. I started a few months ago and bought a fender P-bass. My amp and bass cost me around 640 including shipping.

[shakerlax222225]

here were some basses i was looking at based on reviews on musiciansfriend.com, i only can spend about $200ish dollars on everything

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Washburn-T14QT-BassAccessory-Pack?sku=515438

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-Edge-09-4String-Electric-Bass-Guitar?sku=519941

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-Affinity-Series-J-Bass?sku=519631

any input on these?

[meestagoaliemon]

I personally would go with the third one with personal expierence in Squier basses. What I would do in your case is, if it's possible, go to the nearest guitar shop, see if they have those three guitars in stock(theey will definetely have the third one), play them and see which ones you like the most. It may be difficult because you really don't know about what you would really want, but go for what feels comfortable and what gets good sound. I have used the first one that you have listed and it really wasn't that graet of a bass. The second listed I haven't seen before, so I have no input on that one.

[E-Crosse]

dont get a dean, please, for your own sake. I've been playing for 6 or 7 years, i can't remember lol, and i play everything. I AM SPONSERED so i know whats goin on. Really you basicly HAVE to go to a music store and pick up what you think you are gonna buy before you buy it. The #1 rule is always try before you buy. Many bassists start with fenders because of the price and versitility. They are nice basses but make sure you get an American made, not a Mexican import. As for the washburn, i have never played one but i've heard good things. I personally play a higher end Ibenez because the neck is small and quicker. But really, try not to get fixed on one brand or style cause someone says they are good. Play every bass in the store (thats what i did) until you get your feel. Good luck and happy hunting!

[E-Crosse]

Id suggest learning to play guitar.

A good guitarist can play bass.

A good bassist, cant necessarilly play guitar.

Besides, guitar is more of a social instrument. (You'll get more chicks by playing guitar for em rather than bass)

But hey, if you still wanna play bass...Know that cheap basses wont stay in tune well, feel and also will sound cheap.

I play guitar, so there might be some bias in my previous statements. ;)

i disagree with this statement 100%. A bassist has a subtle cool to them. They are mostly layed back and cool. Whille guitarists tend to make asses out of themselvs, like the previous poster, bassists sit in the back with the ladies :naughty:. I play both bass and guitar, PM me with any questions you have, ill be happy to help. (Check out my post down further, it helps a lot)