Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

[chcjunior]

The family is kicking in to pick up a starter bass and amp for my nephew so I hit Guitar Center today and picked one out.

For $179 I got him a Yamaha RBX Bass. Now, I realize it's not top of the line, but for the money, this bass is pretty outstanding. Great playability and fret access....and nice tonal capabilities since it has both bridge and neck pups. It comes equipped with two volumes and a tone. I did have to set the intonation on one string and the neck needed a little relief....but that's standard tweaking once you get the new gear home.

It's shocking the quality they're putting out on the lower end equipment now.
Leaps and bounds past the quality of the "starter" equipment you would get 15 years ago.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

There should be a 'donate a bass' program, where guitar players give young kids basses, just so there will someday be a proper supply of bassists! LOL

That's one of tha hardest people to find for your band. I think it's important to discourage bad young guitarists, and put them on the path to a fruitful music career,
as a bassist. They'll soon be in high demand. OK, I'll duck now, while all the bassists throw stuff. ROFL Ha Ha.

 

[chcjunior]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

There should be a 'donate a bass' program, where guitar players give young kids basses, just so there will someday be a proper supply of bassists! LOL

I didn't realize how scarce bass players could be until recently. My best friend picked up the bass about 3 months after I started playing guitar. Once he heard actual songs coming from my amp, he ran out and picked up a four string.

Once I moved to Philly, I discovered bass players (we're not even bringing in the fact as whether or not they're any good) are few and far between.

 

[Chi3f]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

i thought i was the only one who thought bassist were hard to find... that and good singers but i think the bassist is even harder then the singer.

edit- GearJoneser when are you gonna sell me your bogner half stack :32:

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

Yamahas are completely underrated. I tried out an RBX774 and I was blown away by how well it played and sounded for such a low amount of money. I would recommend them to pretty much anyone. Great basses, especially for the cost.

As for the lack of bass players, I play guitar AND bass and any time I'm in a jamming situation, I wind up playing bass... simply because every guy and his mother has a six string. It works out for me, though. In a live situation, I would rather play bass any day of the week.

I'm one of the few people I know who actually PREFERS playing bass. I love staying in the pocket and minding the groove.... it makes or breaks the song, you know. There's something really rewarding about having that much impact on the song, whether you're "noticed" as a player or not. The important thing is that your music is noticed and bass (in a live setting anyway) owns the stage. I love making the walls shake. Bass is a really physical instrument and when I do play guitar, I miss that feeling of getting punched in the chest.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

As for the lack of bass players, I play guitar AND bass and any time I'm in a jamming situation, I wind up playing bass... simply because every guy and his mother has a six string. It works out for me, though. In a live situation, I would rather play bass any day of the week.

Same here ... although I prefer to play guitar live

But I've been playing Yamaha guitars for oh ... 7-8 years and I feel that they seem to have the best quality out of anything in their price range

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

Not many youngsters like/learn to play bass because all their heroes are guitar players and so it does not get the same sort of recognition. But it is a good idea to learn to play bass as it increases your own music knowledge and ability and understanding of theory.

Some people think playing bass is easy but the key is to play it simple - remember you are the anchor and foundation of everything that is in the band so you do have to be able to keep it going and have a good sense of timing and rhythm. Sting and Paul McCartney are two very good examples.

BTW good score on the yamaha bass sounds as though you might have something like one of the jazz bass type basses. Very nice and easy to get on with. I personally would have got one of the active basses as that would be a little easier to play and you would get some nice tones

 

[y2stevo]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

Yamahas are completely underrated. I tried out an RBX774 and I was blown away by how well it played and sounded for such a low amount of money. I would recommend them to pretty much anyone. Great basses, especially for the cost.

As for the lack of bass players, I play guitar AND bass and any time I'm in a jamming situation, I wind up playing bass... simply because every guy and his mother has a six string. It works out for me, though. In a live situation, I would rather play bass any day of the week.

I'm one of the few people I know who actually PREFERS playing bass. I love staying in the pocket and minding the groove.... it makes or breaks the song, you know. There's something really rewarding about having that much impact on the song, whether you're "noticed" as a player or not. The important thing is that your music is noticed and bass (in a live setting anyway) owns the stage. I love making the walls shake. Bass is a really physical instrument and when I do play guitar, I miss that feeling of getting punched in the chest.

Thats one thing i think is so cool about bass,
your in the back keeping the groove and basically driving the song (not our bassist though, complete and utter crap he is), if it werent for my small profile id probobly be playing bass in some kinda band only basses look weird on me cos there like twice my size...

 

[Davey]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

those young players need a 20 hour brain wash with steve harris.. after you see the man do the gallop at 200 miles an hour you're willingly going to play bass LOL

i've been a stand in for a bassist once and it was fun =)

 

[Chi3f]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

les claypool is the only reason anybody would ever need for playing bass....

when i play bass which is rarely because i am alot better at guitar i play slap style because les is my hero and nobody comes close to his skills. Also proves you don't have to be "background" when you play bass

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

les claypool is the only reason anybody would ever need for playing bass....

when i play bass which is rarely because i am alot better at guitar i play slap style because les is my hero and nobody comes close to his skills. Also proves you don't have to be "background" when you play bass

Being "background" may or may not be a bad thing, though. Staying in the pocket and owning the groove has more power and influence on the song than some people realize. Just because said power isn't ostensible doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

 

[chcjunior]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

those young players need a 20 hour brain wash with steve harris.. after you see the man do the gallop at 200 miles an hour you're willingly going to play bass LOL

That's how my best friend learned how to play bass. He spent two years with the Iron Maiden collection from Killers to PowerSlave in the tape deck playing along. To this day we still love to break out on the The Trooper...classic Maiden gallop.

 

[kill your scene]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

Harry is an awesome player. And I use his pickups!

 

[Byakhee00]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

Bass rules. I play bass becuase i can't count any higher than 4 though . The one thing i have noticed, especially with "converted guitarists" is the tendancy of some bass players to go way overkill in superflous fills, and at some parts, it almost sounds like they're trying to do some bass solo under the music, and it ruins the groove and feel of the music. Keep it simple, and leave the solo for the guitarists.

Dystrust's little brother used "the trooper" for a school project to demonstrate various guitar and bass techniques. It was cool; and by cool, I mean totally sweet!

 

[italic zero]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

http://www.gonzalosilva.com/busker/03.htm

The only reason anyone needs to play bass.

 

[korinastratkyle]

Re: Bought a Yamaha Bass for my nephew

I'd have to say there's less drummers than bassists around here.