Learning to play bass, good idea?

[bbqbob]

I am a recreational player and when I go to parties or another place where there is a jam session it seems that there are an overabundance of guitarists. It seems kind of crowded sometimes and in a lot of situations there is no one to play bass. I was jamming with some buddies last night, 3 guitarists and 1 drummer, it suddenly occurred to me that if one of us could at least fake it on a bass guitar the jam would have been a bit more interesting.

I am considering getting a halfway decent bass guitar such as a Mexican made P-bass or maybe a Squire Bass. I am looking at the Squires and am wondering if they can be a decent option. Hell, they even have a Squire P-Bass package with an amp, headphones, and instructional video for $299.

Has anyone had experience with Squires, in particular the package? I would really hate to go with the Squire and in a month really want to upgrade. Of course I would love to buy an American Precision or Jazz Bass and a kick ass Amp but I'm not rich! Any opinions? Thanks!

[Scott Fraser]

A client of mine has a Squier Precision & it records well & sounds really good. He's not a pro bass player, he's a guitarist, but it does what he needs & it sounds really good in the mix. I know he paid around $200 for it. Good deal.

[Dannyalcatraz]

1) nothing wrong with learning bass

 

2) it may be easier for you to fill in on the low end by using an alternative tuning, a baritone guitar, a baritone guitar with an alternative tuning or an 8 string.

[Billster]

Yes, learn bass. There always seems to be a chronic shortage, and if you get some chops together you will always have a gig if you want it.

[Perkunas]

Grab a bass and go for it. As you already play guitar you would be able to feel your way around the neck and know whether it feels comfortable. I would go as far to say that the cheaper basses have far less issues than the cheaper guitars, so a Squier or MIM would be OK.

Bass is also fun to play.

[picker]

Playing bass is good for your guitar playing. You can gain a lot of feel for the rhythm of a song, and about working closely with a drummer. I think guitar players would gain a lot by learning to play bass.

 

There are Squiers and there are Squiers. The lower priced models may or may not be okay, so be sure to test the one you want thoroughly before you buy. But you would be better off going with one of the Vintage Modified series, or even better with an MIM Fender. I prefer P Basses myself.

[whitefang]

I think guitar players would gain a lot by learning to play bass.

And Vice-versa, in my experience...

Whitefang

[Delta]

Ibanez puts out some good cheap bass guitars.

[p90jr]

As everyone has said bass is great for guitarists to learn, and you already know it, basically... it's just a matter of concentrating on rhythmic things (the accents of bass playing fall in a different place than what comes naturally on guitar). Next, buy a drum kit... (ha)

 

I've probably still had more gigs on bass (due to the shortage every one has cited) than guitar at this point. Plus, being one of the few people who could sing and play bass at the same time in my area (without disrupting either) when I was in college made me in demand for cover gigs.

 

I loved the old Ibanez Roadstar series basses, no matter how inexpensive... I personally don't dig the newer cheap ones, but to each their own...

 

Anything shaped like P-bass is usually pretty serviceable.

 

I keep hearing good things about AXL Badwater guitar and basses, which seem to be around used for VERY cheap.

 

 

[J. Dan]

You'll find that the bass lines are seemingly easy to pick out and play compared to guitar parts, but the real work comes down to timing and technique. Also, those guitar string callouses are different than the ones you'll get playing bass, so be prepared. But by all means, do it! I really enjoy playing bass.

 

Do you have any kind of active PA speaker or monitor? If so, instead of an amp, consider the SansAmp Bass Driver DI. You can get a really good sound out of that, but you still need to run it through something. A cheap bass amp may not give you adequate tone and/or volume when jamming.

[p90jr]

there's no shortage in my area of good used bass rigs for nothing... I'm tempted to go pick up a Hartke rig (350 watt head, 1 x 15" + 4 x 10" Transporter series cabs) that I don't need just because it's $250 for the entire rig at the moment. Don't know why that's the case around here, but it is pretty constantly. I think the bassists here tend to be trendy and update their gear with the newest stuff every few years just to keep up. Right now everybody has Mark Bass gear or Aguilar or TC Electronic. 2 years ago it was Ashdown and SWR stuff... The Hartke and Galien Kruger stuff from the 80s/early 90s is abundant and almost disposable it turns up for so cheap. The solid state Ampeg heads are had for below $200 all the time, too.

[wraub]

As a bass player, just let me say this...

 

That's a really terrible idea. Don't do it.

 

 

 

Seriously, give it a try. It's fun and would likely get you more gig time.

 

Be prepared to be the one driving the music, knowing all the parts, locking in with the drummer, keeping the guitarist(s)and keys in line, and not getting noticed.

 

Just, please, don't be that guitar player who thinks playing bass is easier, somehow. It's as challenging as you make it.

 

Kinda like guitar.

 

(ducks for cover...)

 

Peace,

 

wraub

 

p.s. all in good fun.

 

 

[bbqbob]

Wow, you guys are great (but I knew that already) with all kinds of good advice! I had heard that some Squire guitars and basses can be really quite good so that is why am am considering them. It does give me lots to think about before I make a final decision but I think I just might make the leap. Thanks for the input!

[Sharkman]

Jimmy Page used to play bass for the Yardbirds. Ronnie Wood used to play bass with Jeff Beck. Edward Van Halen played bass on one of Sammy Hagar's solo albums. Keith Richards played bass while John Lennon sang and played rhythm guitar, Eric Clapton played lead guitar, and Mitch Mitchell played the drums during a jam session for the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Jimmy, Ronnie, Edward, and Keith didn't seem to suffer from their time on the bass.

[Bottom End]

If so, instead of an amp, consider the SansAmp Bass Driver DI.

+1, it's the best investment I've made for my bass ever. You can run it into an amp and into the PA as well, it allows you to get a seriously great range of tones.

 

The Squier Jaguar is very nice, sounds great, and comes in short or long scale. Otherwise the new Squier P-bass or J-Basses are really good, sound great, and are inexpensive as well, and provide the classic rock sound. Alternately, I think Epiphone is still making a EB-3 that has a killer bottom end. The G&L L-2000 Tribute is about $600 MSRP, and is an all-around versatile bass, it replaced my Fender J Bass as my go-to instrument.

[Dannyalcatraz]

Jimmy Page used to play bass for the Yardbirds. Ronnie Wood used to play bass with Jeff Beck. Edward Van Halen played bass on one of Sammy Hagar's solo albums. Keith Richards played bass while John Lennon sang and played rhythm guitar, Eric Clapton played lead guitar, and Mitch Mitchell played the drums during a jam session for the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus. Jimmy, Ronnie, Edward, and Keith didn't seem to suffer from their time on the bass.

 

As I recall, YJM played bass on more than one of his solo releases.

[Guitarzan]

If so, instead of an amp, consider the SansAmp Bass Driver DI.

+1, it's the best investment I've made for my bass ever. You can run it into an amp and into the PA as well, it allows you to get a seriously great range of tones.

 

The Squier Jaguar is very nice, sounds great, and comes in short or long scale. Otherwise the new Squier P-bass or J-Basses are really good, sound great, and are inexpensive as well, and provide the classic rock sound. Alternately, I think Epiphone is still making a EB-3 that has a killer bottom end. The G&L L-2000 Tribute is about $600 MSRP, and is an all-around versatile bass, it replaced my Fender J Bass as my go-to instrument.

 

i bought my son a Squier Jaguar short scale bas and i must say it is impressive. it was 150 after the rebate last fall.

this bass sounds great and plays like butter.

[Larryz]

bbgbob: don't give up on guitar while learning the bass, throw in a little keyboard too as you can do some good bass runs on the keys while chopping a few chords...it's all fun...I have a Fender Jazz bass that comes out of the closet once in a blue moon and I just have fun playing it by myslef or with a CD...you can turn the bass down on any CD and start learning some of your favorite songs by playing along with them...

[Ross Brown]

Just don't play it like a guitar....

[pinkjimiphoton]

don't buy the kit....the low end squiers have fret ends that will literally rip your hands to shreds. you get what you pay for.

 

if ya buy a step up, like the standard squier p or j bass tho, it's a completely different world. alot of guys i've known will tour with them things...they put on good hardware and pickups, and it's a great guitar and they don't have to worry if it gets stolen or damaged.

 

my suggestion is to go thru ALOT of them, and find one that "feels" right....their QC can be all over the place.

 

then, get a decent amp. if you want to be clean and clear enough to play with a band, shoot for 200-300 watts. you NEED the power for clean headroom.

 

that said, if ya like a little dirt to it(i do) 100 watts is ok.

 

there's a couple tips to playing bass...one, learn to walk (easier than it sounds) two, learn to lock in with the kick drum. us guitar players like to ride the backbeat, but bass playing's different. third, KISS and you're there.

 

props on learning a new axe. playing bass is ALL about balls, man. it's a lot of fun.

[Caevan O’Shite]

As a bass player, just let me say this...

 

That's a really terrible idea. Don't do it.

 

 

 

Seriously, give it a try. It's fun and would likely get you more gig time.

 

Be prepared to be the one driving the music, knowing all the parts, locking in with the drummer, keeping the guitarist(s)and keys in line, and not getting noticed.

 

Just, please, don't be that guitar player who thinks playing bass is easier, somehow. It's as challenging as you make it.

 

Kinda like guitar.

 

(ducks for cover...)

 

Peace,

 

wraub

 

p.s. all in good fun.

 

 

Much agreed!!