Going Bass
 

I've played acoustic for 30 years and just recently added an electric guitar. I need to add bass now for some home recording and occasionally filling in for a worship band. I plan to spend $250-$350. I'll use a small practice amp at home and the house amp at worship.

Two questions:

4 string or 5 string?

Any suggestions for good basses in that range.

fender or yamaha. i'm partial to 5's myself

Hi arie,

Thanks for responding.

What is it that you like about 5 vs 4?

If that's all you can afford, don't waste adding a 5th string just find a reasonable 4 string bass. Used to maximize the money. Yamaha would be a good brand to look into.

I am not joking. Kala Ubass

You're already a guitar player and I would recommend 5 string for the low B and would seriously look for a used G&L Tribute 5 string. Whether you go for a 4 or 5, the Tributes are an extremely good value. -- Darwin

I took up bass in the late-70's and, if this is your first experience, I'd not only recommend the traditional four-string but short scale (30-31") to boot; coming directly from acoustic guitar, you'll probably find the transition easier than with a long-scale (34" or more) instrument, and save a good few pounds of weight in the process. Long criticized for their supposedly "inferior" tone, short-scale basses have been a studio players' secret weapon since their '60s heyday, and are presently enjoying a long-overdue resurgence in popularity; with advances in string-making technology - and a good setup - there's nothing a short-scale bass can't do. Since you're planning on recording with acoustic guitar IME a short-scale instrument, with its naturally softer attack, just sits better in the pocket than a 34-incher and doesn't get in the way of your guitar's lower end when you start moving up the G string...

As far as instruments in your price range there's more variety to choose from than there has been in nearly fifty years, from ultra-traditional models that would have looked right at home in the hands of the Mersey groups back in 1964, to scaled-down (pun intended) renditions of contemporary long-scale favorites; if you really want to eliminate the learning curve Squier makes an excellent version of the old Fender Bass VI, tuned an octave below a regular guitar and featured on a number of the Beatles' post-Sgt. Pepper cuts as well as the first Cream album. My advice is to do a little online research - prices, specs, reviews - get out there and do some hands-on, and when the right one comes along you'll know it... :guitar:

this is the talkbass forum. you may want to check it out as well as eventually their classified area.

http://www.talkbass.com/

i have a 1996 fender standard jbass that i changed the stock pickups to bartolini and it sounds great. i think i paid $200 for it about 5 years ago.

play music!

Going Bass
 

Doesn't get better than a Squier classic vibe jazz bass for the money.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I'm looking forward to getting started.

I've been playing Bass with a church band for 2 years now. I was a guitar player on and off while working construction for about 20 some yrs. I actually love the Bass now and wish I would have started many years ago! It just fits me better since I've also liked to noodle around on Drums since I was 11.

At Church I use a Lakland Skyline (import) Jazz 5 string with an Audere preamp. I have too many basses now, USA and others but this one sounds excellent live with the current "rig" I'm using.

That being said I rarely use the Low B string other than a couple of weird keyed songs. And then its only a few notes between the 5th fret and maybe the 14th fret. The thicker string really doesn't sound that natural as the other's. I even use a little piece of foam under that string at the saddle to soften the volume a bit to get a more balanced tone.

Just saying a 5 string is NOT as useful as we may think. Most times just jamming around on a 4 string is all a player needs. Btw I don't play slap style or use a pick. Finger style and technique = more versatile pure tone

The B string takes a lot of additional thought. Natural sounding low B strings are indeed possible, but it's more that some basses just don't have it, especially in the budget range. The trick is 35" scale and/or a very rigid neck. Most of the flop sound is from the neck flexing and the string clanking against the frets. A lot of the off-the-rack companies simply make their 5 and 6 string basses with the same overall design as their 4 strings. Doesn't always work.

Not to mention most Bass cabinet's are not capable of producing that low of frequencies (30 hz) efficiently. A bass with a 35" scale could help but don't stop there.

Cheap/small ones, sure. I have an Ampeg SVT4Pro bi-amped to a 4x10 and a 15. Thunderous lows. I also have a Phil Jones Super Flightcase as my small practice amp. Both amps are good because I often have a low B string and/or I use tape wound piezo fretless basses by Rob Allen. The Rob Allens require some serious low end power.

Scale length isn't the end all with the low B string. A super rigid neck can sound just as good as longer scale lengths. I have a 34" scale Cliff Bordwell and a 32" scale Cliff Bordwell that both sound great. The 32" scale has a way better B string than most store brand 34" and 35" scale basses.

Dang! You win this round :)

I always wanted to test drive a Phil Jones with those crazy 5" speakers. Are they all that?