new bass..which one should i buy?

[ckoy]

i am going to buy my first bass guitar. what is a good model? i heard
the fender precision bass is pretty good. what are some other options?

[SotR]

Dude, check out Carvin. Killer instruments. Factory direct so you save a
bundle.

www.carvin.com

SotR

[Jim Carr]

"ckoy" <rssllcr07@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1178086337.431752.261900@h2g2000hsg.googlegro ups.com...
>i am going to buy my first bass guitar. what is a good model? i heard
> the fender precision bass is pretty good. what are some other options?

Here are my extended thoughts on the subject:

http://www.azwebpages.com/bass/BuyingBasses.htm

[The Wuffler]

> And even the cheaper Fenders like the Mexican and Korean ones are
> pretty darn good. If you're looking for a first bass and you're on a
> real tight budget, check out the new Squier Vintage Jazz. They're
> like $250 and they're excellent.
>
> And don't let any of these silly Fender haters in here talk you out of
> getting one. They're all just jealous that we Fender lovers don't
> have to spend $4000 on them to get a good one. Get a good Jazz and
> it'll never let you down.
> --
I`m not a Fender Hater!
I had a Precision and it was a great bass.
Then I discovered Warwick (loads more tonal variety)
Then I discovered Warwick Rockbass.
If you are on tight budget, a Rockbass offers the same electronics as the
full priced Warwicks with a build quality that is equal to if not better
than Fender.
To find out more, check the Rockbass Forum.


http://www.warwick.de/forum/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=15&sid=07427bea98769be55cd295b7e4997432
Cheers
Pete

[Todd H.]

JMiller <info@bigassbroadcast.com> writes:

> On 1 May 2007 23:12:17 -0700, ckoy <rssllcr07@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >i am going to buy my first bass guitar. what is a good model? i heard
> >the fender precision bass is pretty good. what are some other options?
>
> I always tell people if you can only own one bass, make it a Fender
> Jazz. I love Precisions and have a couple, but Jazz Basses are the
> most versatile basses on the planet, and you can use them in every
> single musical situation in the universe that requires electric
> bass.

Except ones where you need or want hum free electronics.

> And don't let any of these silly Fender haters in here talk you out of
> getting one. They're all just jealous that we Fender lovers don't
> have to spend $4000 on them to get a good one. Get a good Jazz and
> it'll never let you down.

Actually I feel that way about my Peavey basses. And none of them
have the annoying hum problems I've found in the Fender Jazz basses.

while it's hard to go "wrong" with a Fender Jazz, you can certainly do
better for the money and not give up any versatility.

Have a look at Peavey Millenium 4AC series or the neck-thru Zodiac
series. Both have their active VFL active electronics and active EQ
and will be worlds less noisy than standard Jazz basses.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/navigation/peavey-amps-pa-systems-mixers-bass-guitars-speakers-4-string-electric-bass-guitar?N=100001+306313+202641&page=1

Though I would look for a local Peavey dealer to get your hands on
em.


--
/"\ ASCII Ribbon Campaign | Todd H
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[ptooner]

"The Wuffler" <wuffler@peteandsue.force9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:46387135$0$8731$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>> And even the cheaper Fenders like the Mexican and Korean ones are
>> pretty darn good. If you're looking for a first bass and you're on a
>> real tight budget, check out the new Squier Vintage Jazz. They're
>> like $250 and they're excellent.
>>
>> And don't let any of these silly Fender haters in here talk you out of
>> getting one. They're all just jealous that we Fender lovers don't
>> have to spend $4000 on them to get a good one. Get a good Jazz and
>> it'll never let you down.
>> --
> I`m not a Fender Hater!
> I had a Precision and it was a great bass.
> Then I discovered Warwick (loads more tonal variety)
> Then I discovered Warwick Rockbass.
> If you are on tight budget, a Rockbass offers the same electronics as the
> full priced Warwicks with a build quality that is equal to if not better
> than Fender.
> To find out more, check the Rockbass Forum.
>
>
> http://www.warwick.de/forum/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=15&sid=07427bea98769be55cd295b7e4997432
> Cheers
> Pete
>

I might agree if you can find one with a decent neck setup. EVERY rock bass
I've seen had a neck like a bow. Perhaps it could be setup, but that's how
they displayed them and I'm not going to "pay my money and take my chances."
YMMV
Gerry

[Les Cargill]

ckoy wrote:

> i am going to buy my first bass guitar. what is a good model? i heard
> the fender precision bass is pretty good. what are some other options?
>


The Yamaha and Ibanez entry-level bases are easy on the wallet,
play well and are comfortable.

But the PBass is the standard for electric bass.

--
Les Cargill

[The Wuffler]

>>
>
> I might agree if you can find one with a decent neck setup. EVERY rock
> bass I've seen had a neck like a bow. Perhaps it could be setup, but
> that's how they displayed them and I'm not going to "pay my money and take
> my chances." YMMV
> Gerry
>
Maybe something to do with the shop - I bought my Fortress Rockbass from the
Bass Centre in London by mail order and when it arrived, it was set up
perfectly (and in tune amazingly enough)!

Cheers
Pete

[ptooner]

"The Wuffler" <wuffler@peteandsue.force9.co.uk> wrote in message
news:4639bd8b$0$8724$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
>
>
>>>
>>
>> I might agree if you can find one with a decent neck setup. EVERY rock
>> bass I've seen had a neck like a bow. Perhaps it could be setup, but
>> that's how they displayed them and I'm not going to "pay my money and
>> take my chances." YMMV
>> Gerry
>>
> Maybe something to do with the shop - I bought my Fortress Rockbass from
> the Bass Centre in London by mail order and when it arrived, it was set up
> perfectly (and in tune amazingly enough)!
>
> Cheers
> Pete
>

You're probably right, the only place who carries them near me is George's
Music - a semi big box store. OTOH, I find it astounding that they would be
sent from the factory like that. The big box stores don't really do any
setup to speak of, but their other basses are not habitually way out of
adjustment. I'm talking close to 1/2" clearance at the 12th fret or
possibly a bit more. That's enough that I'm not confident it can be fixed.
I looked at three of them yesterday and they were all like that.

Gerry

[The Wuffler]

>
> You're probably right, the only place who carries them near me is George's
> Music - a semi big box store. OTOH, I find it astounding that they would
> be sent from the factory like that. The big box stores don't really do
> any setup to speak of, but their other basses are not habitually way out
> of adjustment. I'm talking close to 1/2" clearance at the 12th fret or
> possibly a bit more. That's enough that I'm not confident it can be
> fixed. I looked at three of them yesterday and they were all like that.
>
> Gerry
>
Yikes - 1/2" - that sounds as though the things definitely need setting up!
One thing to bear in mind also is that if some moron has been let loose with
a hex key, they may have been puzzled by the two-way truss rod (had me a bit
baffled at the start) ;-)
Funnily enough, now I come to remember, my Rockbass came with a QC ticket
with the string heights noted but I changed string gauges.

Cheers
Pete

[Mike Fleming]

In article <46392ae1$0$4899$4c368faf@roadrunner.com>, Les Cargill
<lcargill@cfl.rr.com> writes:

> The Yamaha and Ibanez entry-level bases are easy on the wallet,
> play well and are comfortable.
>
> But the PBass is the standard for electric bass.

I think "yardstick" might be a better term than "standard" - there are
plenty of basses out there which are considerably better than the
PBass, and plenty out there which are worse. And opinions on which are
better and which worse will vary wildly too.

In the context of the original question, the best bet is to decide on
a budget and then go and play as many as you can that fall inside that
budget. Don't be afraid to try out the very cheap as well as those
that are close tou your budget.

--
Mike Fleming

[Jim Carr]

"Mike Fleming" <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk> wrote in message
news:efep335h7i16bvrb3f05s37cqe49f0g5sp@4ax.com...

> In the context of the original question, the best bet is to decide on
> a budget and then go and play as many as you can that fall inside that
> budget. Don't be afraid to try out the very cheap as well as those
> that are close tou your budget.

Play everything, even if it's way too expensive. Learn what you like and
don't like in terms of feel and playability.

[Mike Rieves]

"Jim Carr" <newsgroups@azwebpages.com> wrote in message
news:gs5%h.20378$ZD3.16343@newsfe01.lga...
> "Mike Fleming" <{mike}@tauzero.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:efep335h7i16bvrb3f05s37cqe49f0g5sp@4ax.com...

>
> Play everything, even if it's way too expensive. Learn what you like and
> don't like in terms of feel and playability.
That's a good idea because if you don't know what a really, really good
playing bass feels like, you won't have anything to compare to..

[Benj]

ptooner wrote:

> You're probably right, the only place who carries them near me is George's
> Music - a semi big box store. OTOH, I find it astounding that they would be
> sent from the factory like that. The big box stores don't really do any
> setup to speak of, but their other basses are not habitually way out of
> adjustment. I'm talking close to 1/2" clearance at the 12th fret or
> possibly a bit more. That's enough that I'm not confident it can be fixed.
> I looked at three of them yesterday and they were all like that.

I wouldn't be confident of fixing it either. When I was out looking
for Fender basses I encountered a couple like that. If you looked very
carefully at them you found he saddles were already down as low as
they go! This can only mean a manufacturing defect that would take
considerable skilled wood work (like neck re-setting) or major
component replacement (like a new neck) to fix. Note that the neck did
NOT have a huge bow in it!. I just politely said "no thank you"! I
have better things to do with money than fix major defects that should
never have been there in the first place.

Benj

[ptooner]

Speaking of string height, I was browsing yesterday and noticed a new URB
that had string height of at least 1/2 inch. What is normal for these
things, and how does one adjust it?
Gerry

"Benj" <bjacoby@iwaynet.net> wrote in message
news:1178433808.285807.40920@e65g2000hsc.googlegro ups.com...
>
> ptooner wrote:
>
>> You're probably right, the only place who carries them near me is
>> George's
>> Music - a semi big box store. OTOH, I find it astounding that they would
>> be
>> sent from the factory like that. The big box stores don't really do any
>> setup to speak of, but their other basses are not habitually way out of
>> adjustment. I'm talking close to 1/2" clearance at the 12th fret or
>> possibly a bit more. That's enough that I'm not confident it can be
>> fixed.
>> I looked at three of them yesterday and they were all like that.
>
> I wouldn't be confident of fixing it either. When I was out looking
> for Fender basses I encountered a couple like that. If you looked very
> carefully at them you found he saddles were already down as low as
> they go! This can only mean a manufacturing defect that would take
> considerable skilled wood work (like neck re-setting) or major
> component replacement (like a new neck) to fix. Note that the neck did
> NOT have a huge bow in it!. I just politely said "no thank you"! I
> have better things to do with money than fix major defects that should
> never have been there in the first place.
>
> Benj
>

[Derek Tearne]

ptooner <someguy@onthe.net> wrote:

> Speaking of string height, I was browsing yesterday and noticed a new URB
> that had string height of at least 1/2 inch. What is normal for these
> things, and how does one adjust it?

Depending on the instrument, style of music, type of strings and context
this could be perfectly fine. The variation in action that different
musicians require is quite large and this is in part why new URBs always
require a professional setup before use.

You normally adjust the action with extreme care...

Either you destructively sand/plane down the top of the bridge, or
install a bridge with height adjusters.

If you are learning (and will likely start out with a very low action,
increasing it as your fingers get stronger), or live in a part of the
world with temperature/humidity changes throughout the year, an
adjustable bridge is a really good idea - so factor this into your
budget when considering buying an upright bass.

--- Derek

--
Derek Tearne - derek@url.co.nz
Many Hands - Trans Cultural Music from Aotearoa/New Zealand
http://www.manyhands.co.nz/

[Derek Tearne]

JMiller <info@bigassbroadcast.com> wrote:

> Of course, most people consider this kind of string height bordering
> on the psychotic.

Exactly - 1/2" is the normal action for the style called
'psychobilly'...

--- Derek

--
Derek Tearne - derek@url.co.nz
Many Hands - Trans Cultural Music from Aotearoa/New Zealand
http://www.manyhands.co.nz/