Beginner buying a new bass

[DeadOhioSky]

hello peoples, im getting ready to buy a new bass... well, let me explain my situation first.

im currently learning to play bass, im getting pretty ok, but i've been using a bass i borrowed from a friend in the beginning of the year. now my bday is coming up, and i have alittle bit of cash to spend, so i wanna get my own. bare in mind i'd still have access to the 4 string soundgear(by ibanez) i borrowed. so yea, what do u guys reccommend.

first i thought maybe i'd get a fretless, but nah not yet. now im thinking about getting a 5 string. anyway, these are the ones i've been lookin at online:

ibanez 5 string: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=42/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/519580/

Omen-4 4-String:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/513122/

ibanez Semi-Hollow:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/519780/

ibanez 4-stringer:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/519487/

so what do u guys think? any recommendations? as u can see, im looking to spend around $350-400 (plus tax)

[Pudie]

I gotta bass if ya want it. $50 plus shiping. Had the thing for years , never played it.

[The Judas Cow]

First off, dont go fretless yet, too early, I wouldn't go fretless untill you can play consistanly well with out looking at your hands.

If you want to go 5 string, the Ibanez is a good one.

If you want to go 4 string, I would recomend this one:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=41/g=bass/search/detail/base_pid/511025/

The Fender P-bass is one of the worlds most popluar basses for a reason. Cheap and good. It's really the standard for rock and roll basses.

[The Judas Cow]

I gotta bass if ya want it. $50 plus shiping. Had the thing for years , never played it.

What kind is it?

[DeadOhioSky]

thanx dude. the fretless i was considering had the lines drawn in tho :hat:

[Pudie]

What kind is it?
errr...iabnez i think

[jazz]

thanx dude. the fretless i was considering had the lines drawn in tho :hat:

yeah, but you want to develop enough calluses on your hands playing on a fret bass, so you could play on anything. it's an unfortunate part of any instrument worth taking the time to learn.

[iha]

I'd get the 5 string Ibanez. I played in a band for a while and used a fender bass at first, then I switched to a Ibanez bass that was very similar to that first one you posted... and liked it much better. Really it might be a better idea to start off w/ a 4 string bass, but I guess it doesn't really matter. I play more guitar than bass, but out of the basses I've played the Ibanez have been great for their price.. and they are good for playing slap bass too if you like that style.

[DeadOhioSky]

about 4 years ago i played guitar... for like 2 years. i developed calluses pretty quickly. but now that im playing bass i havent seemed to develop any, on my left hand that is.

my right hand is getting them quickly (from the strumming). im thinking the calluses that developed 4 years ago never disappeared? idk 4 years is a long time tho

[mud_]

third time lucky:

drop D is sufficient for most songs ( the bass C in most fear factory songs is also acheivable on a 4 string)

if you do originals, do the music world a favor and try making shit in E

5 strings suck unless you are a korn or slipknot cover band

save your money for a rickenbacker 4004 cheyenne

couple it with a line 6 and you can be anyone you want to be (provided your skills are high enough)

and les claypool is the only guy that can play a fretless bass

are you les claypool?
:guitarist

[DeadOhioSky]

thanx... :hmm:

[EtchedInCold]

I gotta bass if ya want it. $50 plus shiping. Had the thing for years , never played it.
what payment method are you looking for?

[The Judas Cow]

third time lucky:

drop D is sufficient for most songs ( the bass C in most fear factory songs is also acheivable on a 4 string)

if you do originals, do the music world a favor and try making shit in E

5 strings suck unless you are a korn or slipknot cover band

save your money for a rickenbacker 4004 cheyenne

couple it with a line 6 and you can be anyone you want to be (provided your skills are high enough)

and les claypool is the only guy that can play a fretless bass

are you les claypool?
:guitarist
Whaaaaa?!?

Listen to old school Failure, "Lateralus" by Tool, or anything by Jaco, and tell me Les is the only one who can go fretless.

In other news, I'm thinking about getting a line 6 next.

[dionysusolympus]

remember to skin it down the centre...and put it on the pan while it's fresh... :what:

[spinnin'dervish]

the 5 string will be to much for beginner fingers, before you get a hollow body appreciate the norm, becuase you need to know the difference and there are alot of differences.

Ibanez guitars are perfect they keep quality in mind even if you buy the starter pack, i played my friends' one time, i couldn't believe it was a starter pack ibanez cuz the sound was good (i knew it was a cheap one though).

$400 on a first guitar is great and awsome but bare in mind it will be scratched and broken and put through hell and fire and then after 2 years you will need to upgrade. but appreciate everything about it then go maybe for a Fender bass, or a more expensive Ibanez- before you buy a 5 string try to get more dexerity in you fingers and know your way round a 4 string.

Ibanez does the best job with any guitar from neck to paint they are the best and they last if you put 'em through an acid hell !
go for the ibanez 4 string

[The Judas Cow]

I started with a 5-string, no problem.

and if you have the money, music man, or high end fenders pwn Ibanez.

[DeadOhioSky]

thanx guys.. i still have about a month before i shell out the cash, but i have a much better idea now

[kris46and2]

I after starting to play bass as well.

[The Judas Cow]

thanx guys.. i still have about a month before i shell out the cash, but i have a much better idea now

What ever you do, never buy a bass with out playing it first.

An instrument has to feel right in your hands.

[EtchedInCold]

What ever you do, never buy a bass with out playing it first.

An instrument has to feel right in your hands.
tha'ts why i :beat: guitar center

[The Judas Cow]

Guitar Center rules.

[spinnin'dervish]

I started with a 5-string, no problem.

and if you have the money, music man, or high end fenders pwn Ibanez.


how could i have forgutten about music man....???