sullysue Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 I've considered for a long, long time taking up the electric bass. I'm starting acoustic guitar lessons with my son this summer, but I REALLY want to learn the bass. I'm looking for advise on equipment and words of wisdom on playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barney_rebel Posted April 12, 2005 Share Posted April 12, 2005 http://www.activebass.com http://www.talkbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 12, 2005 Author Share Posted April 12, 2005 Thanks. I've been to talkbass.com. I'll try out activebass.com. I'm considering buying a Farnell C-Series 4-string bass. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 I'm kinda dissapointed no one has anything to offer here. Maybe lots of guitar players and drummers? Well, any Geddy fans out there surely have SOME kind of feedback for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My_Shrimp_Cot Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Well, I probably wouldn't buy this bass. 1. It is pretty new so there isn't much information available on it. 2. It's made, in part, of plastic. they can talk about polymer science all they want (I work in the industry), but there is something special about wood. I dont care for the marketing either (evironmentally friendly) plastics are never environmentally friendly, and what better use for a tree than to make a musical instrument? I doubt many people at this forum have even seen one of these basses (they are new and they don't carry this brand at guitar center). But I could be wrong. Also, none of this means that is isn't a good bass and that you won't like it. (weight is definately a nice plus for this one) so it's just hard to give advice on something we haven't seen. Personally I would stick to something that I could read 10-20 reviews on, though. Especially if I was a beginner and didn't know what I was looking at. Hope this helps, good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 Thanks for your advise. Really. Thing is, my company is the sole distributor of the C-Series Farnell's. So.. I get one below cost. It is a beautiful bass. Curvy and sexy. Nice looking and super nice feeling instrument. I understand your feelings on the material. My main attraction to this bass (we sell many others) is that it IS so light. I want to be able to move around with it. I've messed around in my own stupid not-knowing-what-I'm-doing way, and this guitar feels awesome. The material is akin to that of a surfboard. Sounds weird and unconventional, but should I give a shit if eveyone else is playing a Fender if I'm comfortable with this bass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 BTW, Beaker rules. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 Animal, also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 I could use some feedback on what equipment I need. Is there a type of amplifier specificaly for bass guitar that I need to get? What about strings. I know they're heavier, but starting out, how heavy should they be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defrushfan01 Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Try the "Boomers" they a heavy string but friedly, Thats what i hear, as for an amp get a combo bass amp, no more that 100 watts if your just starting out, something around 30-65 watts should be good if your working with a drummer or another guitarist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 Anyone familiar with Kurley Kues strings or Knucklehead Double Wide strings? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 (edited) You can never go wrong with a Fender. They have start up packs for around $300 that include a beginner bass, amp, strap, cable, and other accessories. Squire Bass Starter Pack @ Musician's Friend Squire Bass Starter Pack 2 @ Musician's Friend These can get you started. As for strings I use Fender nickel wound, but will probably go back to stainless steel. My basses are bright already and I prefer a warmer string sound. Fenders make good strings for the price. GHS Boomers are very bright and will stay brighter longer. Geddy uses RotoSound (as did John Entwistle). They are bit more expensive and don't last as long, but they do sound good when they are fresh. I rarely trust "off brand" strings. Occasionally I will try different companies for guitar strings, but for bass strings it's best not to get too crazy because they are quite a bit more expensive. There are other topics in this forum about starting up playing bass. Do a forum search to find them. Edited April 13, 2005 by CygnusX-1Bk2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Oh, and don't wannabe... Be! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barney_rebel Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 My Yamaha RBX270 is the perfect beginner bass for me. Of course in about a year I might upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/exb4mrd.jpg this is the Farnell. I'm getting the Ultra White model, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/exb4mrd.jpg wait, this is the Farnell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 Arggg. The photo won't show up. It's nice, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Nothing like a ringing endorsement from a porn star! Because when I think of quality gear I think of porn. I would stay away from Farnell. A cheap Fender will sound way better, and probably play better as well. Plastic and resin composite bodies have been around for decades and do not & can not sound like wood. Plus EMG pickups do not sound appealing to my ear. They over emphasize the high end and scoop the mids making the intruments sound thin. Not exactly how you want a bass to sound. There is a reason more players use Fender basses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 13, 2005 Author Share Posted April 13, 2005 Well, since I asked for the advise, I should take it. I know Fender is a reliable and quality guitar. I know I can get one fairly inexpensively used. I really wanted to buy my first bass new, though. With my company being distributors, I can get the Farnell dirt cheap. However, maybe this would turn out to be a "You get what you pay for." situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaine mac Roth Posted April 13, 2005 Share Posted April 13, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted April 14, 2005 Share Posted April 14, 2005 (edited) I have a Rickenbacker 4001 and a Mexican Fender Jazz. I bought the Jazz about 9 years ago used for $200. The best $200 I ever spent on an instrument. My Ric I paid $600 for a couple years ago. It was a dear friend's and he'd had it for 15 years, except for the year I borrowed it way back. As much as I love the Ric, the Jazz is my best bass, both tonally and for playability. I had a Washburn 5 string for about a week in the late 90s, but it wasn't anywhere as good sounding as the Fender. Fender's are simple instruments and for them it's a strength. J's especially. My dad has a '58 Precision that I grew up playing. It is round and mellow but with guts. My J has a growl, some bite, and a whole lotta guts. The Ric has growl and bite, but little guts. Edited April 14, 2005 by CygnusX-1Bk2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 14, 2005 Author Share Posted April 14, 2005 You guys are really generous with your wisdom. Now, who's going to give me free lessons for life? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GhostGirl Posted April 14, 2005 Share Posted April 14, 2005 I need free lessons for life, too. Oh...wait... You meant BASS lessons. Never mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted April 14, 2005 Author Share Posted April 14, 2005 Ba ha! Silly. I don't want lessons for "life." I enjoy fumbling through with blinders on. It's quite exciting not knowing what I'm going to bump into next. I could use lifetime free bass lessons, however. (Wouldn't you know as soon as I posted the call for the free lessons, the advise ceased? Huh.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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