Bass Guitar - Lesson One - The Equipment

How much to spend

Don't spend your life savings on your first bass. There is no "Perfect" bass, it is all opinion and as such even if you buy the Best bass according to 1000 people it doesn't mean that it is the best bass for you! You will not know that until you have been playing bass long enough to "Feel" the difference and hear the difference when you play and instrument yourself. In general I would say try to save up to £200 ($400) if possible (but there are plenty available below that).

Which Make

Although I would hesitate from recommending a specific bass I cannot resist highlighting Ibanez bass. I was recommended them when I began (and bought one) and now I know why. They are well built and excel in the budget bass world. I would also recommend Yamaha they have a lot in their RBX bass range with small price steps meaning you can get the best bass for your available money.
Both of these makes do a reasonable price on 5 string versions but read the warning below.
Makes to avoid. Try not to go for the cheap copies. There are a lot of basses out there which try to look like the famous ones (mainly fender copies) and in my experience they are not as good as the basses which are simply good value basses in their own right. You want as much bass as you can for your money so get a good budget model from a known manufacturer rather than an average bass from an unknown company just cos it looks like your hero's bass.I promise it will not sound like your hero's bass.

How many strings?

In general I would recommend a beginner get a 4 string bass to start with. This is especially true if you are on a tight budget since the extended range bass below £200 ($400) and generally not that good quality. However if you are convinced that you really want to play a 5/6.. string bass then by all means go for it...it'll save you "re-learning" then extended range techniques when you move up to an extended range bass.

Fretless/Fretted

You may know from my other lens's that I'm a fretless bass fan. And I have always said that if you want to learn fretless bass then start on fretless bass since that transfer is significant. However a word of warning: As with Extended Range Basses, a cheap fretless bass may not be as good quality simply because the demand is less and there for manufacturing is lower scale and therefore more expensive.

Try before You Buy

The most important thing is to try as many bass as possible since its often a matter of taste. If you've been playing a while then this is easy but what if you've never played?
Get the Sales assistant to play the basses for you so you can hear the tonal differences. (This is a good idea for anyone since you hear a bass better when you're not the one playing it and you not sat on the amp). Also pick them up (if you don't know how to hold it then ask). Ask you self:
Does is feel comfy?
Can my fingers reach all the frets?
Is the neck to big/small?
Is the bass too heavy/light?
Also insist on having it played through an amp. It is called electric bass for a reason...is might look and feel amazing but crackly electronics will ruin it!

Where to buy

As said above, always go to the guitar shops to try the instruments but don't necessarily buy from them. You may get a good deal (including leads/amp/strap), but look in your local classified first.
Think of it this way. Everyone starts who starts playing bass goes one of two ways:
1. They carry on playing%u2026this usually results in upgrading and selling their first bass to raise as much fund as possible for their dream bass.
2. They give up%u2026this usually results in them selling the bass too.
This results in a large number of basses being available. Try your local ad's paper first (always trying a bass before buying). And keep an eye on eBay%u2026as always be careful on eBay although I have bought a couple of very nice basses on eBay with top success. Remember if you can't get to the bass easily before buying it then find a local shop with the same bass in and try it there. Or at least a bass of the same make and similar price range.
A Finally check out your local swap shops, second hand shops and pawn brokers. Here in England we have "cash converters" which often have budget basses (unfortunately usually the cheap copies rather than value basses in their own right). But they are a good place to look.

Things to consider when buying a bass amp:

• Size
• Speakers (how many?/what size?)
• Portability
• Power
• Combo vs Head/Cab

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