Hi, I've only just signed up to this because I want an answer more specified to my question and basically I would like to start playing bass guitar. I have never actually tried playing bass but have wanted to do it for a long time. I would like to get some advice on which bass to start out on and what the differences are between them.
Howdy from South Texas. You'll find lots of help here and a very wide variety of answers. I'll start with the inevitable. What kind of music do you enjoy, what's your budget and where do you live...
Howdy from South Texas. You'll find lots of help here and a very wide variety of answers. I'll start with the inevitable. What kind of music do you enjoy, what's your budget and where do you live...
Hi, I'm from England and I like rock and indie bands mainly e.g. royal blood, arctic monkeys, muse and nothing but thieves so I'd want to learn how to play songs like that kind and my budget for the actual bass would be around 200 as I wouldn't want to invest a lot at the start but I realise there are other things you have to invest in like the amp and speaker etc.
Your first bass needs to be the one you want to be seen playing. P bass, jazz bass, etc. and things like that in the $200 range does not make all that much difference. Any $200 bass is going to play better than you can for several years. When it no longer does what you ask of it then it's time to upgrade.
I've been playing a $350 (US) Yamaha P 4 string bass for years. It still does what I ask of it. I would start you out on a four string.
If you have a buddy that plays bass take him with you to the store and spend an afternoon trying everything in your price range out. Buy the one you like the best.
A $200 bass right out of the box may need a setup. Best $35 you will ever spend.
You will also need a 15 watt practice amp and a cable.
A strap. One of the cheap ones right now.
A guitar holder. So your bass is out waiting on you.
A music stand. To hold your instruction material.
And a good instructional book. I recommend Bass Guitar for Dummies. Plastic comb spiral bound so it lays flat on the music stand.
