Bass Guitar Recommendations?

[Guest P!NK.]

I'm thinking about picking up a bass guitar. I've played regular guitar for a couple of years now, but I don't even know which brand to start considering for a purchase. Anybody have any recommendations?

[haws bah gawd 0]

I've been playing an Ibanez bass for a little over a year. It's been working pretty well.

[k thx 0]

I've got a bog standard Warwick, which works pretty well for me. I suggest one of those or an Ibanez as known but credible brands with good designs.

 

Don't neccesarily get a Fender, Yamaha or Gibson. They look crap and don't carry the same coolness as the others. Although they sound good and can be found cheaper.

[Red Baron 0]

I'd go with a Warick, Ibanez (a bit higher up model though) and Fender basses, but if you find an Ernie Ball bass for a reasonable price, pick one up. Those things are beautiful to play.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

I'm currently playing one of these, and would highly recommend others to do so. I got mine for $450, and it's LIGHTYEARS ahead of any Fender or Gibson cheap line, or any import Ibanez or Jacksons in the starter price range. I think buying a very cheap bass or one of those miserable Epiphone starter rigs like I learned on is a horrible mistake, unless you're not really sure you even want to play an instrument. You already play a guitar, so you should want to get a good instrument at a decent value, rather than a cheap bass at a cheap price, right?

 

Look at it this way-

 

Scenario 1: You spend about 500 dollars on a very decent instrument that holds up for years and years and sounds good. All is well.

 

Scenario 2: You buy a beater bass that goes to pot in about 3 years of regular use and basic maintenance for 150 dollars. You then realize that your bass is a piece of crap and how it'd be great to have something better, then you spend 500 dollars on the bass you should've bought in the first place. That's just ripping yourself off. That's what the cheap bass people want you to do.

[Guest P!NK.]

Thanks for the recommendations, guys.

 

I'm definitely more concerned with sound quality and overall shelf life. After all, I can just slap a bunch of pornographic decals on a guitar if the design is shit. I'll probably lean more towards a middle-tier option, like the Peavey that Agent recommended or the aforementioned Ernie Ball model.

 

Any other advice as far as strings or amplifiers?

[k thx 0]

So far as amps, and indeed guitars, try before you buy. Always. If possible, when you're in the market look in magazines of the intraweb to check how users of a particular make is seen.

 

Bear in mind, this will be probably the last guitar and amp you ever buy (unless you go pro, in which it'll be down to what you buy now) so make sure yu're confident that the purchase you make is the right one.

 

For the record I've got Warwick streamer bass, Ashdown Elictric Blue 180 amp and light Ernie Ball Strings and that suits me down to the ground for gigging playing pretty loud music. I also have a furry leopard skin strap

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Thanks for the recommendations, guys.

 

I'm definitely more concerned with sound quality and overall shelf life. After all, I can just slap a bunch of pornographic decals on a guitar if the design is shit. I'll probably lean more towards a middle-tier option, like the Peavey that Agent recommended or the aforementioned Ernie Ball model.

 

Any other advice as far as strings or amplifiers?

I was all over the Ernie Ball bandwagon for a while, but I think they're a little overpriced. You won't find a new one for less than a grand, probably. They're fine instruments, don't get me wrong, but I think one can get more for their money.

 

Here's my future baby: Excelsior.

 

The P-series fretless model. Gold plated hardware, stacked humbuckers, inlaid fret lines only on the fingerboard, maple neck w/rosewood fingerboard and swamp ash body, with antique brown stain over a quilted maple top. This thing is so sexy I could fuck it for days. $1370.99

 

That's a godlike price for a gorgeous instrument that will take months to build by hand.

 

Right now, all of Carvin's custom options are half off..all kinds of sick deals. The Carvin instruments I've played have been very nice, but a bass built to my specifications at a price like that? That's nigh-unbeatable.

 

Their amplification kills as well. I'm playing through their 1000w PA power amp and a 2 15" 2 8" cabinet. With my good preamp, it screams.

 

Stings..buy whatever, but don't get swindled. Bass strings are a racket. I personally hate GHS bass boomers but some swear by them. I use Dean Markley Blue Steels or Elixirs if I have the money (although elixir guitar strings are garbage, oddly enough.)

[B. Brian Brunzell 0]

My uncle had a Guild bass here for awhile and the model escapes me, but it was iBEAUTIFUL. Perfect tone, perfect playability, and it sounded great on every setting on his pedal bpard. I'm sure it's probably pretty expensive though, due to it being a Guild. But DAMN what a bass.

[Guest P!NK.]

Awesome.

 

Thanks, everybody.