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"My tutor insists on the thumb in the middle of the neck for mobility."
Your tutor is right.
at an advanced level there may be a case for using thumb over in specific situations but it's really not a habit to be building into a bassist who is learning. How you mute (with both hands) and how you move around the fretboard are all excecuted properly with the thumb at the back
Can someone check my working?
I'm after some new strings for my Mustang bass; it's a 30" short scale length measuring bridge to nut or 12th to nut x 2
However the ball end anchor points (whatever the term is) are through body, so actual string length ball to nut is more like 32, 32.25"
Do I need shortscale or medium scale strings?
It's not a case of advanced or beginner, edhornby, it's just some things are easier thumb over and there's not much point making things harder. The thumb can be used for muting or fretting if it's over the top, muting that way is very convenient when playing with a pick. Tutors who insist on one technique over another are just handicapping their students.
@theotherjonv Have a word with Bass Direct, I had a similar query and they sorted me out. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk
@theotherjonv
https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/pages/bass-scale-length
This useful resource from Stringsdirect might help...
Cheers both, I messaged SD on their webpage and someone came back later with a link to a blog on this, where by luck they'd used the Mustang as their example. It's not quite as simple as scale length then, rather to find your own actual string length but then they include that info on their string sets.
https://www.stringsdirect.co.uk/blogs/blog/fender-mustang-bass-strings
I think the blog might be a bit old because I can't find the string length filter they refer to (new website maybe?) but narrowing it down to a medium scale and then checking on a few sets from there has found a few options.
Bass strings can be quite spenny, can't they!
Yes they can! I’ve just bought some flats - forty five flippin’ quid! They do sound amazing though.
Edit. This video might help.
I was doing a clear out of old bookmarks and happened upon this. It looks like a dodgy site but I haven't had an issue other than a popup advert from time to time and the sound dropping briefly (may be my chromebook); it's an archive of a BBC doc (1/3*) that was on a few years back that I enjoyed and then when I took up bassing in lockdown, I went looking for again. Some proper low end legends on there.....
https://ihavenotv.com/on-bass-tina-weymouth-guitar-drum-and-bass
(one on drums and one on guitar as well, on the bottom of the page)
Yep. More than 10,000 sessions, never mind tracks.
Thinks of something out of the US in the 60's and chances are...... yep.
Thinks of something out of the US LA in the 60’s and chances are…… yep.
Thinks of something out of the US Motown in the 60’s and chances are…… JJ or Bob Babbit.
I though Tina did a great job of presenting and giving a good overview of the great players and the way bass playing developed. Just a very slight shame that in the bit on Paul McCartney she didn't mention how he was influenced by hearing James Jamerson - who to me seems the grandfather of great bass playing.
Prepare the brickbats......
Here's another Muse cover:
Timely thread resurrection. I've been back on it this week, playing every day after about a year off.
I've been trying to level up as well after stagnating for ages. I've been putting in the hours on some stuff that's way above my usual difficulty level. It's so satisfying when you can feel the progress coming as the speed goes up and the mistakes go down.
I wouldn't mind filming something. What are people using to record with? I know I could just use a phone or camera but it would sound crap. I'd like to record the sound from the laptop and put it to the video. I've got iMovie so I can edit when I learn how to.
I'll figure something out and post a video for your criticism.
“I know I could just use a phone or camera but it would sound crap.”
We sometimes record rehearsals on my iPhone and it works perfectly well. Tons of compression but it’s fine as a document of what you’ve been doing it. The next step up for us is using a Zoom stereo recorder and then the step above that is a Focusrite 8 channel interface and lots of mics and DI into Logic.
Also for all my songwriting I just use the voice memos app on my phone, 95% of the time with my acoustic bass guitar.
For guitar or bass videos for work we use a Canon M50 with a Rode VideoMic Pro+ and/or a large diaphragm condenser into the Focusrite into Logic - but the latter is for showcasing the sound of expensive gear with maximum honesty - it’s not necessary for other purposes.
“My tutor insists on the thumb in the middle of the neck for mobility”
I don’t teach bass but I think I have pretty good technique. Thumb on the (middle-ish) of the back of the neck is usually best for mobility but a fair bit of the time it’s harder work than a more relaxed hand position and isn’t as good for left hand muting. Muting is such a big part of playing well on bass, even if you’re not going full Rocco Prestia!
I have a Focusrite Scarlett interface.
In this instance I recorded the sound of the bass through the amps (this used two amps, one a dry signal and the other a separate channel with some Muff and a bit of drive) mic’d with a condenser mic.
The backing track is the studio recording with the bass removed using stem software. I put this into Audacity and recorded the bass with the backing track in my in ear monitors. This then gave me a bass track which could be tweaked and mixed with the backing to create the audio track you can hear.
I recorded the video with an iPhone on a tripod.
The video is then put into Videopad editor. It recorded the bass only as the backing is silent, and you can use the waveform of the bass line to visually sync it with the audio track, then delete the audio from the video. Simples.
“ It recorded the bass only as the backing is silent, and you can use the waveform of the bass line to visually sync it with the audio track, then delete the audio from the video. Simples.”
A clap - or if you’re only DIing, a slap or pop, gives you a good visual cue and a nice sharp transient to time align everything.
I've finally admitted to myself that my big gigging days are over, so am selling my rig on Basschat forum, a Glockenklang Blue Rock head and Barefaced Super Twin cab (Thanks Alex, it was perfect)
The reason I'm posting here is that some proceeds may go towards a dirt jump bike, so if you need some top bass kit, and have an unused PBJ on the garage, things can be worked out!
Dipping my toes into the murky world of pedals. Full on HX Stomp looked a bit advance for me but the new Pod Express Bass looked pretty foolproof. Just messing with everything at the moment but think I'm loving the Chorus a little too much.
I’m loving the Chorus a little too much.
Tease your hair up, lengthen your strap, and head for Crawley where you'll fit right in.
Seeing this thread resurface reminded me of my old Ricky copy - Jordan, how are you getting on?
I’ve have decided on a Fender Rumble 25 as my new practice amp, but Fender seem to do two versions: a ‘normal’ one for circa £150 or a fancy one with effects for 50-ish quid more. Does anyone have any experience of either and can help me make my mind up, or offer an alternative? Ta.
I've used the more powerful Fender modelling bass amps and a non-modelling Rumble 100. The non-modelling sound fine but the modelling ones give a lot more scope and you learn which effects suit your needs without buying lots of pedals to try.
A 25W bass amp is never going to have much volume or bass BTW. Try before you buy, small transistor bass amps are puny things.
Thanks Ed’, it’s only for ‘bedroom’ use however. I’ve got a 15 watt Laney on loan at the mo which is ok. Ideally I’d like the Rumble 40, which Josh at Bass Buzz recommends (I’ve just finished his beginners’ course) but they don’t seem to make it anymore*. Any recommendations?
Edit: *It appears they do!
I have the ordinary Rumble 25 for my home amp and it's great. I'm never able to turn it up anyway, so even though it may not be the best, it's plenty for home use. Never seen the LT25 before but just had a look at it an it looks fantastic. I'd say it's definitely worth the extra over the normal one.
I've just had a look on Thomann, they've got the Rumble 40 studio modelling version in stock and the basic 40 at a couple of weeks. Beyond that price point there's lots of choice including battery powered ones which are quite handy.
I had a regular 25, it was great for home use (rarely had the volume over about 4, and it has aux in and a headphone jack), and just about managed rehearsals with band. Look for a second hand one and then move it on if you outgrow it.
I like the look of that Studio 40 and there’s one on eBay in Brighton (no-where near me unfortunately). Maybe a secondhand 25 is the answer and move it on as wooobob suggests. Cheers all.
NBD. Well actually bought it a week or so ago but today is my actual 50th. Fender Vintera 2 60’s Jazz bass. Wanted an American built Fender and bought an Ultra 2 Jazz only to find the bridge pick up faulty. Took it back to shop who looked and said it was a dry solder joint. Fixed it only for it to fail again next day. Got a refund but was put off the American ones. Went to a different shop to look at another bass but this one just spoke to me and played lovely. Being a Mexican one it was also half the price of the Ultra 2. Now have lots of money left over to experiment with pedals. Do like the chorus on my wee multi pedal but it’s not very adjustable so have already bought a MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe. Octave mode on multi pedal only does octave up, so also looking at a Pico Pod.
6 months into my bass journey and still loving it. Stopped Fender Play lessons as the tunes you got to play were pretty crap, even though the theory was good. Now trying SBL. Started near the end of level 2 and have completed level three. Now just finishing going over the early lessons just in case it has any different views on the basics.
Just bought a Mark Bass JB to go with my Mark Bass little Ninja 102 combo 😎
Surprisingly well set up out if the box, just needed to lower the action a tad.
Comfy neck, and sounds rather nice.
It's VERY yellow!
RIP Herbie Flowers - classic bass on Lou Reed’s Walk on the Wild Side, amongst others:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjw41pp7vmo
To be strictly correct, he played both bass parts on WOTWS 😉
RIP Herbie
[edit - just read his obit on the Guardian. He's another one of those session musicians (like Carol Kaye) who played on so much - in his words "You do the job and get your arse away. You take a £12 fee; you can’t play a load of bollocks"
I also just found out from reading that, that he also co-wrote Grandad for Clive Dunn as a bet.]
RIP Herbie; what a legacy!
To be strictly correct, he played both bass parts on WOTWS
Yes we all know that. 🙂
RIP Herbie! I met him some years back at a bass player get-together - I doing a talk an amps and speakers whilst he was doing one on his career which was infinitely more interesting. What a nice chap!
I loved his anecdote about playing bass on War Of The Worlds - he had the usual bassist problem of no gaps in the playing to turn the page, and because it was all written out (not charts) there were a lot of pages. His solution was to get a swivelling chair and set up a circle of music stands around him, and then rotate as they recorded!
On another note entirely, I got a new bass for my birthday - not really a work/demo bass, a quirky thing that I’ve always been curious about. Had it a month or so and just loving it!
Do like the look of those Gretshy
Hollow or semi-hollow bodies, don't think I'll ever consume enough neat bourbon to actually own one though.
That looks flippin’ massive, but very cool.
I’m 10 months in and have succumbed to n+1. Technically it’s actually n+3 but there has also been one traded in and one returned after 5 days as the bridge pick up stopped working (twice).
Currently plucking away on a couple of Fender Vintera IIs. A 60’s Jazz and 50’s P. The jazz was bought after the faulty American Ultra was returned but I still had a hankering for a maple fingerboard and bought the P on sale in a moment of weakness. Adore the tone but my god the neck is big compared to the jazz.
Working my way through the Soul/RnB pathway on SBL at the moment. Really forcing my technique along. Gone back to some pieces from earlier courses that I struggled with and they are no problem now. Need to work on learning some pieces now. Can remember more straightforward ones but struggle to retain them after moving on to the next one.
Adore the tone but my god the neck is big compared to the jazz.
Do you mean length or girth? I have a p-bass and I would like to try the jazz, but I already find the P fretboard a little narrow, I would like to try something with a wider nut.
Wide mainly but also front to back. The p is 44.45mm at the nut while the jazz is 38.1mm.
Generally Jazz basses are about 1.5” at the nut and Precisions about 1.75” - when I started out (back in ‘96!) I had a brief moment on a borrowed P and then years on basses with narrow nut widths and my old Warwick was shallow back to front too. I liked those “fast” necks
Then I played a fives for a while and when I when I returned to fours I found my left hand (which is fairly medium-sized) was happier on wider necks. My Stingray is P width and so is the Jack Casady Signature above. Apologies for now hopping to metric (it’s just as stupid as MTBs) but I think I prefer about 18mm string to string at the bridge, which is in between the spacing on those two basses (19mm is normal/Fender wide, 16.5mm is narrow).
I like P basses a lot! Weirdly I’m really not a J bass person tonally, even though loads of my favourite bassists (Family Man, Larry Graham, John Paul Jones, Jaco) played them.
I think bigger necks force better left hand technique, which then benefits you on all necks. And they often sound better - more stiffness is good!
“ Do like the look of those Gretshy
Hollow or semi-hollow bodies, don’t think I’ll ever consume enough neat bourbon to actually own one though”
The fun thing about the JCB is that it’s a full scale (34”) fully hollowbody, with a big humbucker in the P position that has a clear and detailed yet warm and smooth sound - with the transformer switch in the 50 ohm position. If you switch it to the 500 ohm position it’s more like the usual muddy thumpy hollowbody tone you’d expect and the 250 ohm position is in between. It definitely has big guitar vibes as well as double bass vibes!
“That looks flippin’ massive, but very cool.”
It feels small compared to my even bigger 5-string acoustic bass guitar!
I am thinking of a bit of a long term project, building myself a warmoth geko wide 5 string.
Choosing the neck and body was the easy option thought, the electronics are much more confusing. I am leaning towards some aguilar soap bar pickups, with 2 volume knobs and tone knob and a blade switch. But that seems to be an uncommon arrangement for basses, well mainly the blade switch. Does anyone know any resources for working out how I would wire up that switch configuration and/or even if it would work at all?
Happy bass birthday to me!
Well I beat the odds and am still happily playing a year on. Been going back over early material recently and amazed by how much progress I’ve made. Haven’t had any face to face lessons but have settled on SBL as my favoured lesson platform.
Still have my original Rumble 25 amp, more than enough for my home needs. Sold the original Yamaha bass then treated myself to a Fender Vintera II 60’s jazz and 50’s p. Love them both but the jazz is definitely a bit easier to play. Next step is changing the p bass over to flatwounds.
Currently working through the basics of blues and soul. Just finished a Stax records modules and moved onto Motown.
Bought a few pedals but more as an experiment than for an actual purpose, so don’t really use them as much as I should. It’ll come though. Nothing else planned but have just bought a second hand Roland TR6-S for messing about with drum beats.
Flatwounds feel amazing but they have a very warm, muted sound to them that never gelled with my love of overdrive and mentally tones.
Before anyone says anything, yes I am aware Steve Harris exists thanks.
If I had the space and money for a proper 'quiver' I'd have an old school passive P with flats for reggae and chilled stuff but I'm skirting divorce with just my current 2.
i treated myself to a bass for s**ts and giggles a couple of months ago. Squier bronco that I put an eBay special pick guard on last night.
it’s pretty impressive for a £130 instrument. Just been playing through my spark go speaker or an old guitar amp but it sounds ok.
It’s definitely been interesting “hearing” the bass more on music I’ve listened to and fun having new stuff to learn!
Its also had the bonus effect of making the actual bass player in my little covers band practice more so I don’t learn new songs before him! ?
Steve Harris isn't the best example of flats because apparently he puts a fresh set of strings on every gig ! Also heavy attack and big amp
I've got a set on my cheapo bass and they feel great to play but takes time to get the sonic dialled in
I tried flats and though they were fun and smooth to play I got rid of the P Bass eventually to make way for something else. If I want the reggae style tone I shove a piece of foam under the strings of the Jazz next to the bridge and roll the tone off.
Otherwise I like the brightest zingiest stainless steel strings going. The Status came with 45-105 stainless steel hex core strings which are something like £16 a set.
I have nylon flatwounds on my fretless. So smoooooth. Love 'em
apparently he puts a fresh set of strings on every gig !
I was reading a thing about Justin Chancellor of Tool. He starts the gig on new strings and his tech hands him another bass with new strings on half way through the gig.
Saw an interview with Chris Squire some time ago, in it he said that he started to change the strings before a gig back in the 60s.
Yeah if you're after a really bright tone to give your overdrive plenty to get to grips with then fresh strings are the way forward.
That reminds me, I have some fresh Ernie Ball steelies that I need to get round to putting onto my P.
Order a set of La Bella Olinto flats. Should give the Jamerson vibes in after for the P. My Jazz is really bright, so backing the bridge pick up off will still give an almost P on rounds sound. Not good enough to play metally stuff yet anyway. Struggle to keep up with 8th notes once the tempo rises. Can always change back anyway if I don’t like them.
“Happy bass birthday to me!”
Congratulations! It’s such a great instrument and will be forever underappreciated - but we know the truth.
“ Steve Harris isn’t the best example of flats because apparently he puts a fresh set of strings on every gig ! Also heavy attack and big amp”
Fresh strings for EVERY TAKE in the studio. Super low action and super light technique (the only way you can play that fast for gigs that long for so many decades).
I’m gradually switching to coated strings because the demo basses at work don’t get played enough so end up dying from corrosion rather than normal wear, but coated strings last and last. The Coated Slinky’s are great - not quite as super bright when new which is perfect on my Stingray Special and they’re barely changing at all with use/time.
Still very much liking my Jack Casady bass - it’s reawoken my slap playing (sorry!) and I’m thinking about bringing a prototype active One10T back from work so I have an actual amp at home (been acoustic only here for years!)
“Struggle to keep up with 8th notes once the tempo rises.”
Use a metronome and gradually work up to faster tempos - don’t run before you can walk. Also try alternating between bursts of 8ths and quarters so you can get the speed happening before the stamina is there.
Use a metronome and gradually work up to faster tempos – don’t run before you can walk. Also try alternating between bursts of 8ths and quarters so you can get the speed happening before the stamina is there.
Thanks. I use a metronome at times, but prefer drum loops as they are a bit more fun to practice to. Tend to be fine when practicing but when it comes to the pressure of keeping up with a backing track it goes wonky. One missed or late note snowballs. I know it’s just practice and time. It’s quite motivating going back to early modules and being able to play them so much more effortlessly. Shows what can be achieved in as little as a year even at my late starting age.
“I use a metronome at times, but prefer drum loops as they are a bit more fun to practice to.”
I was inspired to try playing to a drum loop this evening - can’t remember the last time I did that! I normally play unaccompanied unless I’m sorting out a tempo thing or with other musicians. For my own music I’m so prone to syncopations and odd time moments that if I’m nailing down a groove I can’t use anything other than an unaccented click - and where there’s a tempo change I can’t even use that!
Whilst I reinvent my slap playing it does help to have some grooves to lock into and highlight if my timing is off, so thanks for the idea!
“Tend to be fine when practicing but when it comes to the pressure of keeping up with a backing track it goes wonky. One missed or late note snowballs.”
I’ve been trying to learn walking bass recently, so reading chord charts and improvising to jazz standards - bloody hell, it’s difficult! Top tip - the groove matters more than the notes, keep going, even if you hit a wrong note or fluff the timing, just get that next note in the pocket (even if it’s not the right one, you can get away with murder using chromatic movement on the bass!)
I’ve been trying to learn walking bass recently
Mark’s lesson this week is on that very subject, (30% off the course, etc etc etc). Worth a watch though.
Not to blow my own trumpet massively but I can already do amazing funk grooves! The walking challenge for me is to strip back to 1/4 notes and often just four notes per chord and then outlining the progression whilst playing a supportive counter-melody. As soon as I add more notes (and get less authentically jazz) it gets so much easier.
Bass back from my local music shop after a full set up and sporting it's new set of flats. Owner said that there were a few high frets and that the radius was off on a lot of them as well. Probably explains why it never felt quite as nice to play as my jazz bass, despite it being the same model. Even with my relative lack of technique the fret buzz is gone and already feels much nicer in general. Flats sound different to the original strings but maybe not as much as I expected. They are brand new and I've read they may take a while to bed in. Really notice the difference if I back off the tone knob though. Fretting hand feels amazing and slides are SO much easier. Plucking hand feels weird though, as if I've to dig in more as they are less grippy. Sure I'll get used to them quickly. Unfortunately I now want to get my jazz done as well. Not flats, but I've heard a lot of people mention coated string. Ernie Ball Super Slinky always get a mention but not sure how differently they are to the standard Fender strings?
thought about starting a new thread but might as well keep it all in one place......
mid (late) life crisis - 60 years old, music's always been my thing, and somebody asked me the other day why ive never been in a band. in fact why ive never even learned an instrument! er...... i just dont know.
i have the time to learn one now, but tbh i dont want to be in a sh1t covers band, and im probably a bit late to the party (old) to be in a 'proper' band. so is it worth learning an instrument if theres no 'end goal'. is it a worthwhile 'hobby' to just er.... *cough* 'strum away on my own' in the spare room rather than be in a band?
if the answers yes, then id fancy an instrument thats easier to learn. im told bass is easier to learn than drums, is that right? ive always admired a good drummer but i spose practicing at home, i can turn a bass amp down to not annoy the neighbours/wife, but cant really turn drums down.
TLDR: am i too old at 60 to learn an instrument? bass or drums? (yes i realise im on a bassists thread so the answer may be biased 😀 )
cheers
Never too old (unless you are falling apart and can't feel your fingers, but even then there are options).
I started bass 14 months ago, at 49 and play at least 3 times a week. Haven't missed a week since I started. No aspirations to play in a band, I just do it for fun at home. Used to play keyboard in high school, so remembered the basics about timing etc but TBH bass guitar TABs ( simplified sheet music) are really easy to follow. You don't need an amp at first, there are loads of headphone amps which plug straight into the bass. That said, second hand low powered amps are pretty cheap as everyone upgrades. Go visit a music shop and speak to someone. Most shops will have second hand stock or ex demo's which can come in cheap. Just pick up a guitar (any guitar) and have a feel. Try a few. I went in looking a a particular one and came out with something completely different.
Drums seem like a fun idea but are bulky and very noisy. Even an electric set makes noise, especially cheaper ones.
The great thing about learning bass it overlaps with the rhythmic drive of drums and the melodic aspects of guitar, and you can flex that depending on your interest and personal style.
I used to play drums when I was younger, in a band and everything. I really wanted to start playing again, so thats why I'm learning to play the bass.
Bear with me, it makes sense eventually.
I loved playing drums, the physicality, the technique, but they are unbelievably noisy. Seriously. A drumkit can make noise just sitting there with no one playing. Plus, heres a secret bit of wisdom, acoustic kits played in even acoustically treated rooms often sound awful, whether its a £500 kit or a £5000 kit. So sitting bashing away in your spare room might get old very quickly.
Like you, I had a musical itch to scratch and gave up on the idea of drums, even though I still air drum and practice on a pad sometimes. Bass seemed like the answer. My son's old one from college was still in the house, it can be virtually silent with headphones, its got a rhythmic component to it but is also a new skill and its only 4 strings and no chords, how hard can it be, right?
Turns out a lot harder than I thought, but its fun, dead accessible and its absolutely fine being a bedroom player. I have absolutely no evidence to back this up, but I bet the vast majority of people who can play an instrument only play at home.
I've said it on here before but honestly I rate Yousician very highly especially for complete beginners.
There's nothing sadder than the sound of a lone, unamplified bass guitar slowly plonking away in the hands of someone who has no idea what they're doing. When I was younger I never got past that clueless stage. Now I can play dozens of songs all the way through at a speed I never thought possible.
I started from scratch during the first lockdown and still use Yousician 4 or 5 days a week.
I'll answer any questions you've got when I get home from work if you're interested.
thanks all. ive started reading this thread from the start to see if i get a feel for it and saw yousician mentioned so had a quick look at it. for £60 or so a year it would appear to make sense if i do decide to give it a go.
my mate says he'll give me a few lessons too. he says you dont need to be able to read music to play it, which i cant. does the ability to read music help?
thanks
I've never read music once. It might be useful if you want to join an orchestra or something.
If you want to try Yousician wait until you've got an amp or a usb/iRig type thing or it won't be able to hear you playing. I wasted the free trial making that mistake.
does the ability to read music help?
Yes. It absolutely does. However, it’s not essential. Tabulature is great. It’s four lines each representing one string. The number is the fret that you need to play on that string. Makes it very easy for beginners compared to standard notation. To make good progress you will need to understand the symbols for different note lengths but is all pretty straightforward.
When I first started, I took Sharkattack’s advice and got out a Youscian subscription and also renewed it after the first year. I’m not quite as evangelical about it as he is, but it is fun and importantly, gets you playing actual music rather than just dull exercises. I don’t however think the lesson parts of it are very good. They’re just not in depth enough. For that I use Scott’s Bass Lessons, which I can’t recommend enough. In fact I now have a lifetime membership.
Pretty much every online course has a 14 day free trial. My advice would be to use YouTube vids and free lessons to get a basic idea of how to hold the bass properly and pluck/fret notes then take all the free trials you can find. 14 days go quick. Fender Play, SBL, Bass Buzz, Bass Freedom are just a few, plus Yousician. That will give a good idea of what teaching style suits. Can’t remember which one it was, but I really liked one guy’s videos but his teaching style just wasn’t for me.
thanks for the replies.
the more i read this thread and disappear down the google bass rabbithole, the more i think i want to give it a go. with that in mind, how much do you think id need to spend to get started? £500? or is that too hopeful? what would i need for a bit of bedroom twiddling?
guitar (recommendations?)
amp (decent amp or just something like an old record player just to hear the sound?)
a lead from guitar to amp
theyre the obvious, im bound to be missing something obvious.
cheers
I started a thread last year ( I can't remember how I titled it, and as the history function no longer works can't find it), I actually took up 4 instruments at 55.
I have struggled a bit, the drum kit is gone, forced by an old back injury and surgery giving me sciatica from using the bass drum pedal, which was infuriating. But I am still plodding along slowly on the guitar, bass guitar and piano.
The bass guitar was probably the easiest to feel like I was actually playing music with at an early stage, I think that doing them all has slowed down my progress on each individual instrument, but at the same time it is complimentary as well. It could be that I reduce it down to two by the end of the year, as I will probably want longer sessions on each instrument, but I couldn't choose which at the moment, and it will probably be more a case of focusing on two and just leaving the third as a background thing to pick up every now and then.
I think I was borderline depressed when I started, which meant I splashed more cash than I could afford on the whole project as a bit of retail therapy. It is a struggle, but it is also very rewarding, the feelings of achievement when I crack a tune or a "lick" is something that had faded from my life a long time ago and it feels great, has enhanced my life and I think generally made me a happier person.
So yeah do it, pick up an instrument and learn its ****ing great!
how much do you think id need to spend to get started? £500? or is that too hopeful? what would i need for a bit of bedroom twiddling?
Less.
I've got a Squier Mustang bass that i took in after a few months of ownership for a set up, and the technician said it was a cracker to play. That was a 'Classic Vibe' for about £330, they do have cheaper models sub £200.
Look also at Harley Benton - copies of the classics, not paying for names, again sub £200 will get a decent first instrument, or a starter kit for sub £300 with amp, etc
Of course the real answer is to go to a shop and pick a few up and see what feels right - that's how I ended on a short scale (actually, I had a full size before that i bought online but a shoulder injury was nagging with the long scale, hence went in to look specifically at short scale basses)
For amplification - I occasionally put mine through a small (guitar) modelling amp (Roland Cube) - I know it's not a bass amp but good enough for bedroom noodling for me, but mainly I use a headphone amp because the house doesn't need to hear Love Will Tear us Apart into the early hours.
I think my whole first set up was £400, that was all brand new. In hindsight I’d probably still get the guitar new from a physical shop, just so I knew it was right and get a second hand amp online.
My first bass was a Yamaha TRBX174. I’d also tried a Squier and a Cort, but the Yamaha felt nicer in my hands.
Only other thing you’ve not mentioned is a tuner. You can get phone apps but a clip on tuner is so easy to use and not expensive.
@sadexpunk Ampwise I'd suggest looking on ebay/reverb/FB marketplace for one. I had a 25w Fender Rumble which was excellent, think I sold it for about £100. Something like that which has headphone socket and aux in will allow you to play along with Spotify or whatever in silence, but also sound decent if you have the opportunity to turn it up a bit.
I'd also be looking second hand for the guitar. Perhaps budget for a set up if you don't buy it from a shop (most music stores should set it up for you).
Enjoy it, it's the best instrument!
If you buy on EBay it’s a cheap way to see if you like bass or not - you can always spend more on new later if you really take to it, and you can probably sell the second hand stuff for roughly what you paid for it.
I started on borrowed gear - my son's old bass and practice amp.
Once convinced I was going to keep it up, I got a cracking deal on a Squier Classic Vibe 60's precision in the Prime Day sale last spring. However, it needed a bit of setting up, which I'm sure a decent shop would do for you. I tried the basics myself, and while its probably ok, theres always that nag that it could be better.
I got myself a headphone amp and later spent a bit of money on a Fender Rumble 40, which is way more amp than I need. Sometimes when theres no one in its nice to turn it up a wee bit though.
So for good starter guitars - Squier, Cort, Harley Benton, Yamaha and Sire are all good. Sire, particularly, seem to be doing quite a lot for the money nowadays, actually.
Problem is, it seems to be a bit n+1 with bass guitars. Pragmatically, my Squier CV Precision is fine. More than fine in fact, but I really want an American Precision because, well...reasons really.
Less.
i approve of that answer.
Only other thing you’ve not mentioned is a tuner. You can get phone apps but a clip on tuner is so easy to use and not expensive.
ah right good point. any recommendations?
@sadexpunk Ampwise I’d suggest looking on ebay/reverb/FB marketplace for one. I had a 25w Fender Rumble which was excellent,
thanks, thats a good suggestion for starters. im holding off until my mate gives me a bit of info on what i might be able to beg/borrow/steal locally, but ive already looked on ebay for one of those and seem to be available for not much more than £100.
I’d also be looking second hand for the guitar.
see above 🙂
I got myself a headphone amp
is that just any amp with a headphone socket so you can practice in silence?
So for good starter guitars – Squier, Cort, Harley Benton, Yamaha and Sire are all good.
thanks for the suggestions, ill look out for those.
still havent told mrs-exp about my plans yet, i just want her to come home from work one day and find me practising. she'll love it 😀
thanks for all the tips, much appreciated.
I got myself a headphone amp
is that just any amp with a headphone socket so you can practice in silence?
It could be, but I meant eg: https://www.andertons.co.uk/vox-amplug-3-modern-bass/
https://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/ap3-mb
wow, thats tiny. i assume it doesnt actually provide any noise at all, and its just a conduit for the sound to go straight to headphones, as you cant just plug headphones into the guitar? so in effect silent playing but you can hear it in the 'phones?
Yep, that. The wonders of microelectronics, to have 2 amps, a drum machine and some effects pedals in a matchbox
thanks, interesting.
So for good starter guitars – Squier, Cort, Harley Benton, Yamaha and Sire are all good.
something like this?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267103203677
I just bought a cheap (£12-£15) tuner on Amazon that had loads of good reviews. Does the trick and is accurate according to the built in tuner of my HX Stomp effects pedal. Clip ons are good if you go down the headphone amp route as they don’t need any signal or noise. Also work with acoustic instruments.
I can also recommend the Fender Rumble 25 amp to start with. Headphone amps are good and have the benefit of being able to play anywhere without moving or setting up an amp but an actual bass amp is just so satisfying and you can use headphones with them if you really have to. If you have dedicated space where you can set one up and leave it, then that for me is the best option.
A cheap guitar stand is also useful if you have space. Think mine was £15. You’re mate probably has one you can borrow.
I managed to get a Orange crush bass 50 second hand, which is bright orange so clearly better 🙂 But it is bigger than I had anticipated, I think this is probably just a reality for bass amps, the speaker size kind of requires it.
There is a bit of a strange tactile feel to the low bass rumble with a good/adequate bass amp, you can feel the matching vibrations from your fingers as the amp is producing and it feels like the vibrations are being transmitted from your hands though your body rather than from the amp. I used a headphone amp for a few weeks, but once I hooked up to a real amp I was grinning like a Cheshire cat.