Author Topic: Buying a Bass guitar? (Read 10425 times)

Philly Q · « **Reply #15 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:44:27 PM »

It's a very different experience from playing guitar - the frets are so far apart and the strings are so heavy, you can't just transfer your guitar technique across. Unless, I suppose, your hands are huge and extremely strong.

The good thing is, when you go back to the guitar the neck feels really small and friendly and the strings are like rubber bands!

deg0ey · « **Reply #16 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:47:31 PM »

My hands are fairly huge :P

My theory is that even if I don't play, I can at least tell her the sort of things to watch out for - Neck Relief, Fret Heights, Dead Spots, Playability, Sound, all that sort of stuff that might get overlooked bearing in mind that it's her first purchase...

And I have played a bass before (I can play "Another One Bites the Dust" but only 'cause it's the same as the guitar part :lol: )

downfader · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2006, 10:47:57 PM »

Plus your fingertips are like iron 8)

PhilKing · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:12:31 PM »

I have played both bass and guitar in bands and you have to get into a different mindset to play each. I user to play with a mate in 2 bands, one was rock where I was playing lead and doing the vocals and he was bass, and the other was a covers band in working mens clubs where I played bass and he was rhythm and vocals.

Sorry mr 38th but I like 5 string basses, I have a Modulus Graphite and I am having one built by Will Scott. However they do take a bit of getting used to, but I used to be in a band where a lot of the songs were written in D, and a 5 string is great for keeping more bottom end. I do have 4 strings too and when I was back in London for a couple of years I picked up a Bass Collection Jazz bass for about 100 quid. With a pickup change it was a really nice bass for the money.

CaffeineJunkie · « **Reply #19 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:14:06 PM »

i thought the 5th string was another top string????

38thBeatle · « **Reply #20 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:18:13 PM »

no it is lower than the E- tuned to B.Horses for courses but my preference is for 4 and if someone was starting out, I'd suggest a 4.

gingataff · « **Reply #21 on:** August 22, 2006, 01:49:44 AM »

Much like someone buying their first guitar would probably buy a 6 string rather than a 7 string.

froglord · « **Reply #22 on:** August 22, 2006, 08:25:50 AM »

Muso,
I'm about to sell my Yamaha RBX760A second hand. 4 string, active, twin soapbar pickups, a real looker, plays well. Let me know if you're interested.

Muso · « **Reply #23 on:** August 22, 2006, 12:59:04 PM »

Froglord if you could post some pics that would be greatly appreciated!

froglord · « **Reply #24 on:** August 22, 2006, 08:56:57 PM »

Rather than use up BKP's bandwidth, use the following link:

http://www.salsbury.f2s.com/bass.jpg

Let me know if you want more pics.

Muso · « **Reply #25 on:** August 22, 2006, 11:39:29 PM »

Cool it looks pretty nice, whats the crack with active pickups tho? I've only ever used passive ones.
Can you vouch for the action as this is my most important feature, cheers.

froglord · « **Reply #26 on:** August 23, 2006, 10:12:31 AM »

I think active pickups give more punch and an extended frequency range to a bass. Some modern active basses sound a bit too trebly for my tastes, but the Yamaha has a nice balance.

The action is pretty good. You need a little bit of air between the strings and the board to get the "thunk", but it certainly isn't a difficult bass to play. It's got height-adjustable saddles and a truss rod, so the action can be adjusted to taste anyway.

It's also a good instrument for a guitarist - not too huge, as some basses can be, and everything falls nicely to hand. Mind you, I mostly play the guitar fingerstyle, so I think my transition to bass was a bit easier, but once you get the hand of the "walking fingers" (alternating forefinger and middle finger) you're away.

Muso · « **Reply #27 on:** August 23, 2006, 10:52:11 AM »

Cool, it sounds decent how about the price? also with active pickups they have to get power from somewhere right, is there a battery in the guitar or something?
I've played a fair bit of bass already and Ive got 6 years classical guitar playing under my belt so my fingerstyle is half decent. How about a case/carry bag?

Sifu Ben · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2006, 02:42:06 PM »

Quote from: gingataff

Much like someone buying their first guitar would probably buy a 6 string rather than a 7 string.

Except that probably half the songs you'll want to play will require a 5 string, and 5 string basses make a lot of sense in a musical context.
Whenever people ask me for advice on getting a bass I always say to get a 5 string, on the grounds that if they don't then within a year they'll be wanting one badly, so it's cheaper to get one straight off.
The Dean Edge basses are nice, as are the Vendetta ones, Yamaha make excellent entry level basses, and some of the Ibanez ones are decent as well. Vintage, Peavey and Cort also make some nice budget basses.

Kilby · « **Reply #29 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:13:59 PM »

The OLP Tony Levin gets good reviews (it's an active 5 string) which apparently totally outclasses the rest of the basses in the OLP line.

Rob...