noob looking for some bass advise

K

kevinnem

May 4, 2019
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1
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#1
Hey all I want to learn to play some bass. I have a musical history, playied low brass for many years, concert band, and jazz. Did a bunch of pro audio stuff as well. Now looking to play some bass.

looking to do some funk type stuff slap stuff like that. I was watching a ton of youtubes, and so far the ones that I seem to like the sound of the most are the yamaha trbx. I think the trbx 305 would be almost ideal "on paper". Looking for other options.

I am looking for a 5 string bass, and other then the tone, my only really big concern is I don't want to wide of a neck on it. hoping to pick up something on the used market, anyone have any suggestions of other models to consider?
 
#5
kevinnem said:
Hey all I want to learn to play some bass. I have a musical history, playied low brass for many years, concert band, and jazz. Did a bunch of pro audio stuff as well. Now looking to play some bass.

looking to do some funk type stuff slap stuff like that. I was watching a ton of youtubes, and so far the ones that I seem to like the sound of the most are the yamaha trbx. I think the trbx 305 would be almost ideal "on paper". Looking for other options.

I am looking for a 5 string bass, and other then the tone, my only really big concern is I don't want to wide of a neck on it. hoping to pick up something on the used market, anyone have any suggestions of other models to consider?
Click to expand...
I suggest playing some basses to check out neck width to determine what the max is and still be comfortable for you.
 
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#6
You should definitely play some basses 1st. 5-strings vary in string spacing typically from as tight as 16mm to a wide as 20mm. Some prefer the wider space for slap, some don't (narrow doesn't bother me). There are tons of options. Ibanez SR basses are known for slim necks but also are usually narrow spaced. Music Man sterling's and SUB basses are affordable and tend to be well made. Gotta get one in your hands to really know if it feels right.
 
#8
kevinnem said:
Hey all I want to learn to play some bass. I have a musical history, playied low brass for many years, concert band, and jazz. Did a bunch of pro audio stuff as well. Now looking to play some bass.

looking to do some funk type stuff slap stuff like that. I was watching a ton of youtubes, and so far the ones that I seem to like the sound of the most are the yamaha trbx. I think the trbx 305 would be almost ideal "on paper". Looking for other options.

I am looking for a 5 string bass, and other then the tone, my only really big concern is I don't want to wide of a neck on it. hoping to pick up something on the used market, anyone have any suggestions of other models to consider?
Click to expand...
You won’t find any answers here.
Invest some dollars and spend some time with the instrument. Only then will you be able to get an idea of what makes your clock tick.
 
#10
Absolutely agree with the posts here - go to the store and try some. I can give you some of my personal experience as I used to own a TRBX305 and am a funk player - to be honest, it didn't do it for me and found the tone too muddy and not as defined as I wanted it to be so I ended up trading it- wasn't into the stock pickups. Yamaha does make some good basses, but I'd probably look at their BB line. Don't take my word for it of course, try it for yourself.
If you're looking for a slim neck some of the Ibanez SR basses may be worth looking into but I would go with an SR500 or above. Of course there's the Fender Jazz bass, P bass, the Stingray basses these are awesome funk basses, probably the best known and have great history with the music- it really depends on your budget. Other basses off the top of my head, the G&L Tribute L2500, the Sire V series - both of these are active and passive ,have great versatility and terrific for funk.
My personal favorite bass for funk is a Tune bass - I play a four string, but the neck is slim back to front and you can get the action super low on these.
 
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#12
quite honestly, although the advices on neck are good, a beginner usually can't tell the difference in neck width.

Personally the thickness mattered more to me than width when I first picked it up. Even that was just because of my horrible technique. Technique can cover a lot of differences in the instrument.

If nothing makes sense, just get the one that looks best to you. In a year or so, you'll end up with gas and you'll know what tone you like better. You'll end up with something like a Sadowsky Metro if slap a lot.
 
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#13
Another vote for trying as many basses as you can first. Go to a guitar center or similar store, try as many as you can before they kick you out :) maybe even make notes so you can remember your impressions of each one. Most likely, you’ll start learning what feels right in your hands.
 
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#15
The yamaha trbx is thick and meaty. Finger style fink it's okay though it's not really the first bass i'd choose for that style. I have a 505 and I don't love the slap tone... something with mm/j pickup config is likely to have a nasty slap tone. I do find narrower string spacing to make slapping tough. Then again I don't slap a lot.
 
#16
Schecter's usually have a nice neck. I have a Riot Session that I picked up a few years ago specifically because of it's narrower string spacing. Traded in an otherwise wonderful Ibanez BTB. Both played nice, have 35" scale length (which helps the B string sound better), & both have solid electronics & hardware.. It may seem like I traded for the same thing, but nope, the string spacing is different. If you can find both, try both.

You might like the BTB better for slapping, though. I don't slap women or basses, but if I played slap style, I never would have given up the BTB. Great instrument.
 
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#17
I'm going to echo what many others are telling you, and the advice is always give to new players: Always always always play a bunch of basses and buy the one that feels best to you.

That said, I do slap, and I have played 4's, 5's, and 6's. Since slapping seems to be one your primary stated goals, I strongly recommend starting out on a 4 string, not a 5. Set yourself up for success. Even on a 4, you have many, many months (perhaps longer) in front of you learning how to properly master the technique, and key aspects like string muting will be much easier. You can always move to a 5 later, but learning on a 4 will be faster, and you'll find there's very little you can't do with it. (You will also find it much easier to work by sight with guitar players showing you a line, etc, without having to account for the string offset of a B.)
 
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#18
Buy a used four string. There’s so many nice bargains in the TB classifieds. Peavey basses are seriously undervalued on the used market.

For slap, it needs to be able to take a low set up, with very little relief. Light strings.

You might look at “Slap It” by Tony Oppenhiem. A great technique study book with audio support.

I’d suggest something like a Zoom B3 and headphones to go with your computer for keeping the endless hours of practice entertaining. Drum machine really helps with slowing the tempos until the muscle memory sets in. The compressor models are good enough. Reverb and delay as well. All in one inexpensive pedal.

Your low brass, bass clef reading is going to make life easier. Have fun!
 
#20
Of course try some out like others have said.

Consider at sterling by musicman SUB. They’re affordable, great for slap because of tone and pickup placement, and have a narrower neck than some 5 strings.
 
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