MissouriPicker Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Last night I played bass on a couple songs during a friend's gig. I had a blast. Don't really know the bass at all, but I do know the scales. I was able to go back-and-forth-up-and-down on a couple strings and it sounded good. I enjoyed it. Now, I think I want to get a bass, just to play around with. Maybe record a bass track for my own stuff, jam with friends. I'm not a bass player. Would not dare pretend that I am, but I still want to play it. Any ideas on a cheap acoustic-electric? And I've always kind of wondered if the necks hold-up well with all that tension.......Not looking to spend more than 200-300. Just something to have some fun with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Not sure about acosutic... But for the Electric you cant go wrong with a Squire P Bass.. I also like to dabble and have one of them.. Pretty decent for the price you pay.. They play and balance well and sound ok (not amazing).. But I changed the pups on mine for some good Seymour Duncan ones and now it totally thumps My best advice for a bass is make sure you try it standing up. I had an Epi EB3 SG bass a while back, and even though I loved the sound look and feel.. Man did that neck dive like a goodun... So yeah watch for neck heavy basses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brad1 Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Ibanez also makes some great inexpensive bases. They have smooth, thin necks, and are very light and well balanced. They are for sale all over ebay. I recently found a great Ibanez Flamed Maple GSR 200. It has a mahogany body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard. It's lighter than most of my guitars and sounds really nice. I got it for $50, with a HSC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 I tend to like J and P basses (and I'm not a bassist either). You can certainly buy a Squier® Precision or Jazz bass for less than $300. And you may be able to get a Mexi Fender used in that range as well (which would be my choice). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FirstMeasure Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 Bass is not only fun, it's a good idea. Learning any other instrument can only improve your abilities on your first instrument, particularly the Bass and Guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrNylon Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 You didn't mention what type of bass you played, that you liked playing. If you like that particular type, start there for the inexpensive models of it. There are a lot of basses on the market to choose from. Look around, and play some until you find the one that fits the bill. Ask around too. Used basses are a good way to get into sometimes, a better bass than you thought about getting into, for a decent price. Have fun with your search. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I'm a bass virgin too, and play much more acoustic than electric guitar, but also am beginning to shop for an inexpensive (acoustic/electric or solid bod) model to record with and improve my general understanding of music. Questions; are there any decent acoustic/electric models, and do I need an amp, besides my old Fender Princeton and new Blues Junior, to handle it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
69tele Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 the squier CV range are very good value for money my review below http://www.gear-review.co.uk/reviews/squier_cv_jazz_bass/index.html you can use a guitar amp at low volume for practice but will need a proper bass amp for gigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxom Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Squier or MIM P Bass, preferably in this legendary color combination. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Well you did better than I did MP. I have found bass really difficult,to play well anyway. I was better with a short scale bass though! They are easier to play and record better, just an idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrNylon Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Epi has some nice shorties, and the price is right on them. One draw back to the short scale bass, String options. The string companies don't go out of their way to give a player of a short scale bass a big selection of gauges to choose from. The 34" long scale is the basic industry standard scale length. My SG Std. is 30.5" Short Scale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Questions; are there any decent acoustic/electric models, and do I need an amp, besides my old Fender Princeton and new Blues Junior, to handle it? As was said, low volume is OK. Play too loudly and the low frequencies will wreck your speaker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EVOL! Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 The thing to watch out for with cheaper basses are the pickups. You will find pretty quickly that different strings have different levels of loudness. I imagine you could upgrade the pickups on a Squier for under 100 USD. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 All your tips are appreciated. I'll hunt all weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I've played bass off and on when needed since the early '70s. I think in ways the question almost is more one of scale than brand - and that the acoustic bass isn't IMHO as versatile as a solidbody. I like short scale. Epi has some. There are some short scale Squires - one that looks quite nice is the SS Jaguar bass. There are good reviews on it. For around $200 a bass and gig bag? Not sure if there's a short scale AE bass. Hmmmm. Ever look at a Guitaron Mexicano? It's huge and fretless and pretty loud for all-acoustic. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted August 17, 2012 Author Share Posted August 17, 2012 Thanks for all the good info. I'm going to look at a few more this weekend, maybe get one this next week. Not sure what brand, but I know GC has a large number of bass guitars (both acoutic and electric). I'll likely try several of both styles. The fun just goes on and on with this music stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Larry... Dambetcha about the music continuing to go round and round. I hope the "kids" here are listening... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 It's great to have a bass around. I had a little rig and I sold it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketman Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I had a Squire jazz bass and I liked it a lot. I'd change the pickups though. I got the Geddy Lee Signature bass only because it was $200 off the lowest price I ever saw (had to do it!). Still the Squire bass is a very good one for the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I ended up picking this Gretsch cheapo Korean built to get myself going. Anybody out there with experience or comments about this model, especially the pickups? I'd like to hear any info or opinion...good or bad. Thanks. http://www.ebay.com/itm/300761395825?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrNylon Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Congrats on the new bass. Wait to see what your sound is like. The pups look to be a Humbucking style. The strings will be your multitude of choices for sounds on a bass. Watch the fit of the strings, as for the cut of the nut to the gauge sizes. If the string is to loose in the nut, you may get a warble sound. To large of a gauge can break the nut. If it's a 34" scale length, string availability is great. The bridge looks to be a solid one also. It appears to be a good bass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markini Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I like to record tracks in my little amateur studio and I didn't know any bass players. So Mother of Invention being what she is, I just started doing my own bass tracks a couple of years ago. I use a 1988 Fender Precision (Day glo Pink!). Color is weird but the price and sound were worth it. I agree with the posters, playing bass and or other instruments expands your horizons . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonzoboy Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 If I were to buy a low priced bass now,my choice would be the Squier Jazz Bass.They have a 1 1/2" wide nut so they are quite easy for a guitarist to adapt to rather than the 2" nut of the P-basses.The Squier Jaguar bass is probably the most versatile bass made as it's wired like the Jaguar guitar which gives it all kinds of tonal variations.The Jag bass also has the same super-slim neck of the Jazz Bass but costs considerably more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrNylon Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 The P Bass is only a 1.625 inch nut. The older P Bass necks were 1.75 inch nut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedzep Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 Congrats on the new bass. Wait to see what your sound is like. The pups look to be a Humbucking style. The strings will be your multitude of choices for sounds on a bass. Watch the fit of the strings, as for the cut of the nut to the gauge sizes. If the string is to loose in the nut, you may get a warble sound. To large of a gauge can break the nut. If it's a 34" scale length, string availability is great. The bridge looks to be a solid one also. It appears to be a good bass. Thanks for tips on the strings and nut. Never had looked before but now I notice that bass strings can be pricey. Any favorite you might have I'd love to hear suggestions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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