Re: Just Learning Bass. Jazz Bass Or P-Bass ?
Jazz necks are ideal for beginners IMO. When I first started playing bass 15 years ago I bought a Squier II P-bass. It was pretty good besides being a pawn shop purchase that had already been pretty beat up. That neck was a bit big for my then teenage hands but I still managed to play. My next bass was a P-Bass Deluxe (the early 2000's passive electronics ones) but not American, I believe it was Mexican. It was great, it featured the slimmer Jazz neck and also had the P/J pickup configuration. That is a really nice and versatile combination. I even threw a Hot Seymour Duncan Stack Jazz neck pickup in my current Warmoth J bass to bring me back to these kind of tones. They can do rock, reggae, metal, funk, jazz, slap, punk, classic rock, country, and even polka!
My next suggestion would be a Music Man SUB bass, they have one that mimics the Sting Ray and you can find them for about $500-$600 if you are looking for active bass tones with a big, thick, hip-hop like bottom end or if you need to mimic a rhythm guitar in a 3 piece band at times. Active also does articulation very well if you are aiming to be a fusion player one day or need to sometimes cut through a metal mix. They are harder for beginners to get comfortable (because they pick up every little noise) with but when played through an amp help you develop a lighter touch faster if you work on it thanks to the clicking of the frets that is picked up by the pre-amp of the bass.
I'm a GK man when it comes to amps. I'll die a GK man when it comes to amps. Gallien-Krueger makes a fine and very versatile amp suitable for all styles and all players.
