Help me justify a bass guitar.

Left_Hand_Strat

Left_Hand_Strat

New member
I am really GASing for one.

I suppose I have reason because I like to record my own stuff and a bass guitar to record basslines with would be a great tool.

I'm just worried that the bass will take over my guitar playing.... idk

I also have no flippin clue what bass to buy. I have a total budget of £210 at the moment. I would need a bass amp too, as I would kill the HT-5 with it (otherwise I would do the 60's thing and do bass with a guitar amp)

I have tried a few copies out, I tend to prefer Jazz bass type versions as I like the thinner neck width.

I would buy a squier bass but some of them are getting expensive these days, considering they are 'budget'
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

If you just need it for recording demos, skip the amp and get a bass POD or some other DI. It'll sound better and cost less while being less trouble to record.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

Gotta have one man. Will change your guitar playing for the better as well. Will make your six string feel like butter. I've never had a bass amp, I just go direct.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

Yeah, if you have the money I'd do it man. I highly doubt it will take you away from your guitar. If anything it'll improve your guitar playing and give you a fresh perspective on guitar writing/playing. Being able to record your own bass tracks is a HUGE plus, but as that dude said above--I'd skip the amp and buy somekind of POD or computer app w/ amp models and such, if you have that ability--kinda assumed you did if you were talking about recording.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

I love bass guitars! Their sounds are so expressive, a lot of sounds and feelings you can't convey on normal guitars!
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

Get a Squier Bronco on the used market. Best $100 bass ever. Even when new, at $150, they are a great bang for the buck.

Admittedly, I got mine simply to convert it into a Bass VI style instrument, but that doesn't mean it's a bad bass. I haven't done the conversion yet, but I've played it at several gigs. It holds its own.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

When I decided I wanted a bass for my recordings and to jam with small, local bands as bassist for a change for fun, I got a four string Hohner. Not too bad, still have it to this day with modifications since. I got proper bass lessons and got good at playing bass properly instead of playing it as a guitar. As a matter of fact, instead of detracting from my guitar playing, it has made me an even better guitar player.

You'll learn so much about the importance of bass in the sound of music, especially when you know how it's meant to feel. Then your guitar tone will improve when you see how much low end on records is actually coming from the bass guitar and adjusting your hands from a wide scale length with thick strings down to the smaller guitar will keep your dexterity in good shape.

You'll find that bass is quite singular, in the fact that you can play basically any style of music with the one bass sound which is a lot of fun when you don't need to change any channels/patches/pedals It's even more in the fingers than guitar is in some ways.

Since, I scored a USA G&L L2500 5 string for only $1000AU and it's my favourite bass. It can get literally every sound for every style of music and it feels and sounds amazing. I don't think I'll ever buy another bass now.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

Wasn't it your Birthday last week?

Good a reason as any........and hope you had a great one mate!
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

I played one of those newer squiers that had a pbass pickup and a J bass pickup also. Sounded and played ridiculously good. I think it was only 250 USD. I'm gonna buy one for sure when I get GASing again. Luckily, for now, I've got it under control.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

The budget Yamaha basses are pretty good value IMO. I'm not sure of model names or anything, but they tend to have slightly more compact bodies than a Fender clone which can make them a bit easier and more comfortable to play.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

I had a cheapie Yamaha RBX 270 bass with 1 P pickup and 1 J pickup and it was a really good bass for the money (£130 or so).

If you're only recording the bass at home I'd forego the amp and just use a bass amp sim on a POD or something.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

Having a bass for recording / writing is essential!

I wouldn't be without my old Tokai Jazz.

Don't have a bass amp anymore - I just use amp sims when recording.

You should be able to find a cheap J-bass or P-bass copy if you look around.
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

dystrust said:
If you just need it for recording demos, skip the amp and get a bass POD or some other DI. It'll sound better and cost less while being less trouble to record.
Click to expand...

+eleventybillion here... Get a Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI, and call it done. Set it for dry, or just a little grit, and do the rest in the box.

For basses, I've had remarkably good success buying loaded Squier bodies and Might Mite necks off eBay, and rolling my own. Swap out the bridge while you're at it, and go. There's a PBass pic thread on here somewhere showing the results of just such an assembly (the fun part of which is that you can put a J neck on a P body).
 
Re: Help me justify a bass guitar.

If you don't have a bass, that's your reason to get one.

Bass is a great instrument because when you play one, it gives an outline of the chord progression AND the rhythm, and makes it easy to flesh it out into a full song. You can sing and accompany yourself on bass more successfully than with a guitar and it's easy for other players to play along because the bass is already outlining everything for them.

Besides which, they're just great fun and you find some great grooves without even trying.
 
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