So You're Buying Your First Bass Guitar!
A Few Tips and Pieces of Advice for Curious Musicians In Training
Jan 5, 2009
Taking the plunge and deciding to become a musician is a common decision, but those who choose the electric bass guitar as their instrument are surely lovers of rhythm, rumble, and live musical atmosphere.
The bass guitar, alongside the drums, form the rhythm section of the band and so it will be important to develop a good sense of timing and beat. Above all else, however, be absolutely sure that you are dedicated to practicing, patience, and persistence in becoming an accomplished bassist. The most expensive bass in the world will not help a fairweather commitment to a very difficult task.
Understanding Quality and Investing in the Same
A common mistake many beginning bass students will make is to buy a cheap, secondhand guitar with the intent of learning to play off and on, casually. In most cases, this leads to disinterest and eventually the bass ends up collecting dust or being resold within a year.
Not only do cheap instruments tend to have poor sound quality, poor setups with unreasonably high action, or perhaps simply do not hold tune correctly whatsoever – they are simply not conducive to learning properly and do not compel the beginning bassist to practice frequently enough to make progress.
Purchasing a quality bass as a first instrument is key to the eventual success of the musician.
Those who are not prepared to invest the money for quality instruments and amplifiers, are probably not prepared to undertake the commitment of becoming a serious bassist. Learning music is decidedly difficult and requires diligence, years of practice, and the ability to overcome frustration and failure to reach new heights and accomplishment.
This is not to say that curious rockers-to-be must buy a bass costing thousands of dollars, but ~$500 is an excellent ballpark figure to keep in mind when visiting the local music store.
A Few Common Brand Names and Choices
The most common manufacturers for electric bass guitars in North America are the big two, Fender and Gibson – alongside other popular though less common manufacturers such as Rickenbacker, Music Man, and Yamaha. Fender also produces Squier products, a more financially accessibly subsidiary – as does Gibson with their Epiphone line of products. If finances are a concern, outlets such as Music Stop offer extremely reasonable and accessible financing options with very low interest rates.
For many beginners, the Fender Precision Bass (commonly referred to as the P-Bass) is an excellent choice as it affords recognizable style, easy to find parts and accessories, as well as an excellent tone for many styles of music.
For those looking to play funk, jazz, or blues bass guitar, Fender also produces a Jazz bass as well. Both of these products are readily available in any reputable music store and come in Squier varieties as well. Fender, and by extension Squier, are industry standards and the P or J Bass are always welcome on stage at any venue.
Bassists with rock in mind, or who have a metal edge, might do well to consider the Epiphone, or Gibson, Thunderbird. With soapbar pickups, an extremely attractive reverse body styling, and an extremely deep and resonant tone – the Thunderbird is a large bass with a great deal of punch. The Epiphone version of this guitar comes highly recommended from many bassists and music review sites – and at ~$400 it is an excellent bargain for rockstars in training.
One thing to consider, in closing, is to ensure that you purchase a hardshell case for your new instrument for storage, transport, and to protect it from damage. By placing your guitar in a fitted hardshell case when you are not playing you will keep the instrument in tip top shape while also showing respect for your instrument and hobby.
Becoming a musician is not easy – despite what Rock Band and Guitar Hero might seem to imply from the booming popularity of both music rhythm games for consoles and and real instruments themselves – and requires tenacity and passion. Provided you work hard, you will see results, and one day it might even be you up stage – a real rock star at last!
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