So my knowledge of this subject is somewhat limited compared to guitars/guitar amps. I have a friend who is looking to pick up the Bass.

She has never played but will be getting lessons.

Couple of criteria:

1) She makes good money and said she would be comfortable spending anywhere from $1000-$1500 on the Bass and the Amp total. Possibly more.

2) She's also a bit flaky and goes through phases more than anyone I know so it should be something with decent resale value in case it is just a phase and she stops playing after a year.

3) Must come in Cherry Red or close to it.


PoD, Bloor, Chuck D.............

It doesn't make any sense to me to spend a lot of money and research on instruments if you have no fucking idea what you're doing, resale value or not. Resale is just one guy's opinion, and 50% of the time it's wrong. She should probably start from the other end of the spectrum and try to find something used because there's more than just a few people with completed "phases". Plus if you walk into a guitar shop with little or no knowledge you're probably going to get something sold to you that you A) don't need B) paid too much for. Just sayin'.

I don't play bass, but a friend had an amp made by SWR. It was small, yet extremely loud, w/ plenty of deep, punchy bass for its size. It was heavy, tho.

As far as basses go, chicks look good w/ Ricks.

Case in point. [img][400:500]http://jarsonic.net/imagenes/art023-susanna_hoffs.jpg[/img]

I know it doesn't make sense but I'm posing the question to get a better idea and more info to arm her with. Hence the thread.

I hear you on getting the "starter" gear but if money isn't an issue why not get something nice. I mean I started on a $200 Sigma acoustic but I'd have taken a nice Martin if could've.

Dat ting der is da neatest six strang bass mes evra seen.

I don't like 'rick's' tone/lack of brightness.

I didn't know dick when I transitioned from guitar to bass. Luckily there was a nerd in my band who spent 3 months researching the bass that would eventually become mine. I used the Fender Precision Bass Special. I guess it has the same components as the American made version except it's assembled in Mexico and hence much cheaper. Nonetheless, I've played several other basses, and maybe it's just what I'm accustomed to, but I loved the tone on that guitar -- and I like the feel better than the Jazz bass. In a symbolic gesture for Straight to Your Brain's last show, I smashed the thing -- along with inadvertently cracking the casing on the bass drum. No regrets, but it was a nice instrument.

As far as amps go, my preference goes with Gallien-Krueger. I have the Gallien-Krueger 1001RB-II 700/50W Biamp. Can pretty much do whatever I want with it, but I use a Sans Amp Bass Driver DI for some extra punch and honed tone. For a cabinet, I have a GK 410 SBX. More than enough power. Haven't had to turn the volume on the amp past half to fill up a venue.

I'm an endorser of GK and Sans Amp equipment my self.

Anyway, I'm assuming this chick is pint sized so she should definitely consider a short scale bass (MiceElf should be able to weigh in on this subject). I think I might go with something like this, an Epiphone SG.

As for amps, I would go with a lower priced SWR or GK

I KNOW Phil will have tons of more exotic and more expensive choices but I'm a man of the people.

Get A BC Rich Warlock!!!!

I love Fender Jazz Basses...especially the classic reissues.

'75
[img][145:500]http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u155/dbchait/75jazz.jpg[/img]

'62
[img][148:500]http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u155/dbchait/62Jazz.jpg[/img]

And then there's this jaguar bass that came out a couple of years ago.
[img][148:500]http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u155/dbchait/fenderjagbass.jpg[/img]

Since she is just learning and not gigging, I'd say just pick up a small Squire amp (cheap Fender-made). Also, I'd recommend that she buy a bass on the smaller side because if she gets a larger one and her fingers/hand struggle on the neck and/or she is uncomfortable with the weight, then she will tire more easily and subsequently not practice as much.

I've had various ones over the years including a Hofner and a Fender Precision and have been happiest w/ my vintage Fender Mustang. Though, the Hofner was small and light and very easy to play (the particular one I had some weird thing happeninging with the polarity in the pick-ups). Anyway, all of those and even someone earlier mentioned Richs...all have such different sounds. She could go on YouTube and type in the various bass names and hear the difference (there are videos of all sorts of folks playing in front of cameras). I did this recently with a friend who is looking to buy a bass and didn't really know where to start. He has decided he really likes the sound of the Hofner so is going with a company that makes these copies (can't remember the company name but apparently they were being discussed on the Something Awful forums).

Anyway, I say cheap and light if she's not very serious or is just starting out. I'm surprised I stuck with bass at all because my first one was this really bizarre non-named heavy as shite 60s one that was really hard to play.

Yup, small scale might be the way to go. And the mexican fenders all seem to be a great deal too, if she's kosher with full-size scale. Good feel, decent action / setup, good resale (and on that note, resale of a commodity piece like a mexi P Bass is fairly easy to establish - look at ebay for what they go for in good shape).

SWR's cheaper line of amps, the Workingman's series, are nice for the money I think. But so much has changed since I used to shop for gear all the time. May be some great shit out there even cheaper.

Wednesday bump.

Philbo Baggins?

The new Fender Mustang Reissues are great, and in the $450-$600 range depending on where you look, if you need a shortscale bass. Hofner has a reiusse series called the Hofner Icon. I'm thinking about getting one and leaving my 66 Hofner at home, cause she's my baby, they're about $400-ish. Then there's regular scale basses, and extended scale basses, don't worry about the last ones unless she has to bend down to kiss you, or has major league bear paws.

For regular scale basses with resale value, i'd go with a jazz bass, an american one will net you more resale.

Always go vintage if you can. Pre-CBS Fenders (pre-1965), are more sought after and generally appreciate in value. Vintage Fender Mustangs basses haven't experienced the inflation in price of comparably aged P and J Basses, because they're short scale. Alot of them sound awesome, and look fantastic. I'd love a vintage mustang with a matching headstock and the competition stripe, and i could get one for $1500-2000, but a similar vintage J or P would put me at the $3,000 to $7,000 mark easy, and good luck trying to get a 1960 J bass (my everest for playability and tone, but also the rarest), for under $30K, and more like $45K.

Anyhow, I'd recommend playing the bass, preferably through an amp.

Which brings us to amps. I don't give a shit what other people think, they can love their shitty amps all they want. I hate G/K's stuff, i know it's popular with the punk/funk/metal crowd. It doesn't sound like bass, too sizzly, hi-fi, trebley for me. I'm not a fan of ampeg bass gear either, at all. Eden sounds good, but isn't reliable. Aguilar sounds great, but is expensive and heavy, and I'm not about to spend that much cash on something I don't want to move.

i like the SWR workingman's 12, i just recommended it to my brother, he's digging it. Lighter than the 15, loud enough, D.I. if she gigs, you can probably get into one used $350-500.

In the whole under a grand category for bass combos, there's not alot that's worth a damn, other than the SWRs. In the over a grand bass combos, i favor the mesa boogie walkabout scout. It's not big but sounds huge. about $1300, maybe $900-1,000 used

dude...as far as amps go, I like those blue ampeg combos...she'd look great with a mustang or jaguar bass (which I have to reccomend since she has to have cherry red)

Well done once again kids.

I've got something to work with here.

Also, not for nothin, but that Jaguar looks cool as shit.

I don't like those blue ampeg rocketbass combos. I'm really picky about amps, i want my bass to sound like a bass, not tinny, not muddy, not hi-fi sizzly... which as far as i'm concerned means a tube pre-amp at the bare minimum.

The SWR's have the least obnoxious solid state pre-amp except for the Ampeg Portabass line which are great but they stopped making them.

another option for short scale vintage cherry red basses... Gibson EB-2



If going with a Fender regular scale bass, i'd go with a J bass over a P bass for a beginner, it's got a slimmer neck. Jaguar has a jazz bass neck. Another cool way to get into a vintage bass that will hold value is going with a hagstrom or a framus.

[img][650:355]http://www.halkans.com/images3/772hagstrom.jpg[/img]

Also, gretsch makes a $200-300 electromatic short scale bass that sounds friggin awesome but it only comes in black.

I like their Tennessee Rose Bass. I also like their Billy Bo Jupiter Thunderbird bass, but it's not me.

or she could go completely different, get a fender bass 6 like Robert Smith played...get her a chorus pedal and some heroin and she's set!

UPDATE:

So after culling all the information from everyone's responses and doing a bit of research on my own for her we went to Guitar Center last night to check out some stuff.

I did my best to explain the different levels of quality, etc (Gibson>Epiphone / Fender>Squier) and had her hold some short scale vs regular. Once I reached my limit on knowledge we called the sales guy over to talk a bit more about them. He starts asking her what feels good, etc. and pulls down a Fender Precision bass, plugs it in and hands it to her. The first thing she does is say "can I turn it like this and play it?". She flips it around to play lefty.

*DERRIS JUMPS THROUGH THE GLASS OF THE FRONT DOOR*

After all that she failed to mention she's left handed which immediately limits everything by tons.

After much research and debate between us and the sales guy we finally settled on a Mexican Fender Jazz Bass (not short scale) left handed in Chrome Red:

[img][145:500]http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM03/Content/Fender/PR/Highway-1-J-Bass-red-lg.jpg[/img]


She got it for $475 and they threw in a strap for her as well.

She picks it up in 2 weeks because they literally had only 2 left handed basses in the whole store and both very low end. Which leads me to amps.....

Question about amps.

Is a "12 woofer enough to handle low end stuff?

The sales guy was saying the the "15 was the way to go. I realize he was upselling us but I was curious to y'all's thoughts.

They didn't carry SWR's but they did have the GK 112 that Bloor posted.

He was trying to get us to get this one:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=481777

It didn't sound bad but I'm no expert. It was only $50 more than the GK that Bloor posted. I guess I'm wondering if the difference in woofer size is all the noticeable. Especially for a girl who can't change the strings on her instrument at this point.

The ampeg is serviceable, it's heavy though. My mesa is just a 12. 2x10 is really popular among bassists, and if you think about that big ampeg refrigerator style cab. that's just 8x10. If you have a 15, it'll probably come with a tweeter.

I think she should consider portability. Does she live on the ground floor, does it have casters, can she lift it into her car?

also, check craigslist almost daily.

And i think it would have been smart to ask the teacher about the left handed thing.

1. left handed instruments are harder to come by, and can be more expensive
2. left handed people who play "right handed" instruments have an advantage because all of your dominant facility is in your fretting hand.
3. now is the time to decide that before she starts learning. Don't be afraid to exercise that 30 day return policy.
4. Left handers are doomed to the eternal of flames of hell or some shit like that.

Thanks man. Yeah she has a 1 story house and most likely this amp won't be leaving her place for a while even if she sticks with it just because she's learning. I would assume she wouldn't have to take it for lessons at a Music store worth it's salt. I think she's now wanting something for around $300-$400 that is good for practicing but also good enough to not get overpowered by a live drummer.

I think she'd like something with wheels or a handle that extend like most suitcases have.

Cool.

As for the 12 vs 15, some 12's do ok with a band, but it's pushing it. That GK 12 is an over-achiever. 2x10's or a 15 is about as portable-yet-audible as it gets, usually.


And Derris is just pissed about the leftyness because now when she quits playing he can't swoop in and "borrow" her shit.

Shut up, Phil. Seriously.

And dammit Derris, I would have let this broad use one of my basses until she figures out that this isn't for her if I had known that she was a lefty.