Finally shopping for real

[dohhhhh6]

Well unless my dad can't come tomorrow I'm going out to buy my special something, my bass. I've settled on a Fender Jazz or Squire Jazz. I need soem help on finding faults on the bass liek deadspots (what exactly do deadspots sound like) and I need to know this because I'm sure I'll have a decent choice of Fender Jazzs and I want to get the one that is the best (obviously). Also I'm getting this Crate amp package for 170 which has a amp, gig bag, tuner, etc. So please tell me what faults to look for. Thx in advance.

CHEERS

[JDL]

Well, just look for any knicks and dents and stuff like that. Getting a bass is exciting and I hope you have fun. Well, just try it out and if you think anything sounds wrong, then pick up another one and compare it. I dont know how many "faults" there could be if it is a new bass, but.........

 

JDLoftheWhos-just do it.

[The Fonz]

dead spots sound just like the name implies: a spot that is dead. if you're new to the instrument you may think you fingered the note wrong. all you'll get is a lot of nuthin, just some fret buzz and not a lot of fret noise.

 

a word of advice on dead spots: they go away with playing. it may take a while of heavy playing, but they do go away. a really bad dead spot, where all you get is fret buzz, should get you to put it back on the shelf. but if all it is is a little less sustain than you would like and you otherwise feel the instrument speaking to you in a way that makes your pants uncomfortable, ignore the spot because it will go away.

 

one other note of advice on picking an instrument: f**k brand loyalty. get the one that kicks ass.

 

wow, any more colons and this post will be totally full of stuff . but my heart's in the right place. ala faith no more, i care a lot.

[dohhhhh6]

Well sadly it looks less and less that I'm actually getting a bass . I had a talk with my dad at dinna tonight and he's saying stuff like "But if I buy a bass for then I'll spend more money than I usually do on Christmas gifts." He's full of bullstuff imo. We live in a house that costs like 600 grand. We have a big screen 53" HDTV. I mean atleast I'm not buying video games instead I'm getting an instrument. Then he brings this stuff about how he bought a keyboard as a Christmas gift 2 years ago (none of us asked for it because my brothers and me weren't really into piano really except one of my 2 brothers) and we never used it. God I mean atleast rent me a bass. Arghhh. Looks liek no bass or I'm probably going shopping tomorrow. I mean the only reason I even took guitar was because I couldn't get a bass at the time and my parents said I had to learn guitar for a long while. It has been about 3 months I've been taking lessons and I have the basics and some to play. I also for sure will keep taking this free extra guitar class at church. I mean why shouldn't I get a bass.

CHEERS or not

[Bob Gollihur]

Dead spots traditionally refer to notes that don't sustain equally to other notes. Pick up most Fender basses and walk up the G string playing a 1/2 note scale, and you'll probably notice a weakness in the Bb-B-C-Db area. It is more or less pronounced on various basses, and is not always a critical matter depending on the severity.

[Mike H.]

I wouldn't waste my time looking at Squiers. I've seen too many of them (guitars and basses) come through our store with neck problems and poor craftsmanship. Buy the Mexican Standard jazz if you can afford it. I've not had a single problem with them to date.