Help with buying a bass guitar...

oldschool

oldschool

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Is this Fender Jazz Bass any good? (Pic Inside...)

I'm looking to buy a bass guitar. I've checked out for pricing and I've found the following brands within my price limit: Fender, ESP, and Ibanez. Could anyone tell me which of the 3 listed in the best to play with? Or any other suggestions would help. Thanks a lot. :confused:

EDIT: I've been looking through the online Buy/Sell site, and I happened across a Fender Jazz Bass Special. It's going for $475 at a local pawn shop.

fender.jpg


Do any of you think it's worth $475 CND? It comes with a case but no amp. It looks to be in good condition (from what the picture shows), but maybe I'll phone up the store and check up more on it. Any opinions? Thanks! :rolleyes:
 
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genjiglove

genjiglove

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I'm by no means an expert, but I always found Fenders to be the best playing. Haven't had any experience with ESP basses, but I don't care for Ibanez instruments at all really.
 
R

ResO

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Have you ever considered going vintage? You can get more unique sound and styling that way, not to mention way more options. I would recomend old cheap Sears or Montgomery Ward guitars such as Airline/Supro/Silvertone/Danelectro etc. I personally have never found a guitar I like better than my old Montgomery Ward Airline. I would also recomend older Gretsch and Rickenbacher Bass'.


If you are only looking for a newer bass, i'd guess you should go with a standard Fender precision bass................If you are only looking for new....


Guitars are much like fine wine, they grow better with age. As the pickups in the guitar slowly degauss over the years they give a much warmer and twangy sound.



I guess i'll recomend what I tell all my friends, Go through all your CDs (not just because you like one band more than another) and try to detect a bass player that has a really cool sound. Simply do a little research on what kind of instrument he played (always trust pictures of live shows more than some forum claiming that he/she plays this or that). What can you lose? If you can't afford the instrument that person plays, you are just back at square one.
 
Jedah Doma

Jedah Doma

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Well, I've played bass for about 10 years. My father has played for about 30 or so. Right now I have a Ernie Ball Musicman 5-string, before that I had a G&L, then before that I had a Fender Jazz special. I would say out of the three, Fender would be the best and most recognized. Also, make sure to look where the bass was made. Fenders are made in Japan, Mexico, and the U.S.A. The US models are of course the best quality and sound the best, then you've got the Mexican basses, then the Japanese basses are the lowest in quality. So don't be suckered by a "low price" Fender because most of the time it's on not made in the U.S. If you are just begginning, then I'd go for a Fender Jazz bass. There is the Precision bass, but I've found the jazz is more versitile and has a little more mid to low punch when needed and will help you if gigging or jamming. Ibanez and ESP are alright, but they are not up to par with the Fender name mainly. If you need any more help, PM me or post back here. Good luck.
 
oldschool

oldschool

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Thanks for all of the thoughts. I am new to the bass but I have been playing the guitar for about 7 years now. I just want to get into something new, I guess. It would never hurt to learn something new if I ever wanted to be in a band later on. Locally, it seems as though bass players are more sought after anyways.

I've tried local buying/selling papers and the like but have run dry nearly every time. Granted, I'd love to own an older Rickerbacker (I love the style that Paul McCartney plays) but it seems as if for now I have very limited options. I was thinking of going for a Fender Jazz Bass as I've heard previously that they are very well built and play great. I will stop by my local music store and just browse for a little while. I also have a shop that carries very nice vintage guitars so maybe they'll have a bass in store that would be worth looking into.

One more question for the moment. I currently own 2 amps which I use for guitar playing. Is it really neccessary to buy a bass-specific amp?

Thanks again. :buttrock:
 
shirt

shirt

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ResOGlas said:
Have you ever considered going vintage? You can get more unique sound and styling that way, not to mention way more options. I would recomend old cheap Sears or Montgomery Ward guitars such as Airline/Supro/Silvertone/Danelectro etc. I personally have never found a guitar I like better than my old Montgomery Ward Airline. I would also recomend older Gretsch and Rickenbacher Bass'.


If you are only looking for a newer bass, i'd guess you should go with a standard Fender precision bass................If you are only looking for new....


Guitars are much like fine wine, they grow better with age. As the pickups in the guitar slowly degauss over the years they give a much warmer and twangy sound.



I guess i'll recomend what I tell all my friends, Go through all your CDs (not just because you like one band more than another) and try to detect a bass player that has a really cool sound. Simply do a little research on what kind of instrument he played (always trust pictures of live shows more than some forum claiming that he/she plays this or that). What can you lose? If you can't afford the instrument that person plays, you are just back at square one.
Click to expand...


Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet's (Reid Diamond) bass is a sound that is hypnotic and loved by all. I challenge ANYBODY to state otherwise. Pick up a vintage bass as listed above and some Firebird pickups. Unfortunately I forgot the site that sells them, ResOGlas, chime in now. In any case, it will not be expensive in the end, most likely within your range.
 
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SpotlightSinner

SpotlightSinner

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I use a Fender USA J- Bass.

Best bass I have ever used. Ibanez's are not that great.

Look at my sig and check out the band "The Spotlight Syndicate". That band has amazing bass. It' s just Bass, Keyboards and Drums.

Get the USA J-Bass.
 
R

ResO

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oldschool said:
One more question for the moment. I currently own 2 amps which I use for guitar playing. Is it really neccessary to buy a bass-specific amp?

Thanks again. :buttrock:
Click to expand...


You absolutely need to purchase a bass amp. You will blow your guitar amp within the first few days. As for vintage bass' and amps, ebay always has great prices (as long as you aren't looking for the Trendy brands), and swap meets/fleamarkets.

Remember, crappy old amps give a really cool crappy sound.
 
Jedah Doma

Jedah Doma

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Yes indeed, a new amp would be good. More wattage is needed to power the bass. Get the Fender Jazz bass (although if you had the money, I'd tell you to get a Music Man, very sweet basses) :D
 
oldschool

oldschool

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I checked out the site where I can pick up some new basses for a decent price. All I see on the site in regards to Fender basses is the P-Bass. I take it those aren't any good? I'll check out the vintage shop next week and see what turns up. :)
 
oldschool

oldschool

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BUMP! I've added a pic of the new Jazz Bass I'm looking into picking up. Any more opinions would be nice! Thanks. :buttrock:
 
oldschool

oldschool

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ResOGlas said:
Best sounding bass in the entire world.


I'm really not joking. Plus this old American bass has more soul than any new Fender pumped out of an Indonesian factory.
Click to expand...
I understand there are much better basses available (I really want that Buzzard Bass with built in LEDs lol) but will that Fender do me for now if I picked it up and was in nice shape/played well? That's really all that's available for me right at the moment. :(
 
R

ResO

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oldschool said:
I understand there are much better basses available (I really want that Buzzard Bass with built in LEDs lol) but will that Fender do me for now if I picked it up and was in nice shape/played well? That's really all that's available for me right at the moment. :(
Click to expand...


I'm probably more of a guitar enthusiest than I am a Neo enthusiest, and take my word on it, there is no better bass in the world.

Anyway, if you have your heart set on a certain bass, just go for it. Check how she feels, plays, and sounds. If it is the bass for you, you will know. ;)
 
K

kc

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IMO the american made guitars/bass sound and fell more better. I got a ICX120 while the sound and everything ran like a dream my friends 1979 IC sounds and feels more better. Or it might just be me.... ;)
 
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