Getting my first bass

[Ghost Hip]

Play the Thunderbird first. I had mine set up and modded by McSpunckle here, and I love mine.

Curious, what were the mods?

Just two switches for tone bypass and a pick up selector. The selector comes in handy if you're a guitarist and hate twisting the pick up volume knobs individually like me. Also if you turn the volume down on one pick up and not the other it makes for a good kill switch.

[unownunown]

mainly a different function sort of thing. you kind of have to think a different way a different way while you're playing. i don't think i really think in guitar yet, honestly. i dunno though. if you played trumpet, would you still get a teacher for trombone?

but i think if you can get lessons you always should in any situation. i loved my bass teacher. then again, i started on bass.

Guitar and bass are more similar than trombone is to trumpet. Trumpet to euphonium would be a more apt comparison. Trumpet is a valved instrument whereas trombone is played with a slide. Two totally different things, although they are both Bb transposed instruments and use similar intervals when it comes to embouchure. Guitar and bass are both fretted instruments with strings at the same pitches, just different octaves. I used to play trombone, so yeah...

When people say you can play bass if you play guitar, they are referring to the fact that they have the same notes in the same places, so you'll already be familiar with the fretboard. When people say you can't play bass if you only play guitar, they are referring to the totally different functions and styles of playing between the two instruments. Both are right; they just choose to be stubborn about it.

The question is: What are you expecting to get out of a teacher? If you're thinking it's someone to tell you the basic mechanics of the instrument and scales and whatnot, you're best off going on your own. If you're looking for someone to teach you about the style, more in-depth techniques/theory and the general idiom of playing bass, then a good teacher would be a really helpful thing. Or you can just listen to Bootsy: Make sure you play the root a the beginning of each phrase, then you can play whatever you want in between.

Also, I like the Epi Thunderbirds. I almost bought one, but realized it wouldn't leave me enough budget for a decent amp. I only played two, but they both felt and sounded excellent compared to any other bass in that price range. Then again, the rest of ILF tends to be pickier than I am so

haha, i was going to say euphonium but i figured they didn't really make a good parallel... but, what about valve trombone, or slide trumpet then, mister nitpicky the point i was making is it's two brass instruments that are similar, but still very different... i think you still got my point.

[one bad monkey]

haha, i was going to say euphonium but i figured they didn't really make a good parallel... but, what about valve trombone, or slide trumpet then, mister nitpicky the point i was making is it's two brass instruments that are similar, but still very different... i think you still got my point.

Funny, I was going to bring up the fact that a trombone is a C instrument (instead of it being a Bb, like snipelfritz mentioned) but thought that was being nitpicky.

[cheesecats]

If budget isn't an issue, try a Ric. There's nothing like them. They look cool, play like butter, and have a unique combination of simultaneous deep tone and treble growl, especially if you use a pick. And it's the best sounding bass I've heard in the upper register. It's all over the White Album (especially the incredible mono mix):

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MlQbNagwVI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc4eJWzTFQQ[/youtube]

And it defined the Yes sound:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTjbWL6XYoU[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPOTg-7pV64[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NklCIaYiiEQ[/youtube]

And other groups:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znsYQB5ruDI[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8CDERzun4k[/youtube]

And a jam I did--I used a boss SD-1 on this:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1f_1Do12rI[/youtube]

[smile_man]

And here I was worried that Fender comment might spark a discussion ...

FOGGOT, GET THE FUCK OUT

I don't really like T-Birds...

[futuresailors]

Random Japanese/eastern european vintage things.
I've got a Jolana Galaxis that I adore.

is that what jemaine plays?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2spK1MBOvOk[/youtube]

Might be actually...
Big-ass pickups, ashtray cover, and the headstock shape looks about right

[snipelfritz]

haha, i was going to say euphonium but i figured they didn't really make a good parallel... but, what about valve trombone, or slide trumpet then, mister nitpicky the point i was making is it's two brass instruments that are similar, but still very different... i think you still got my point.

Funny, I was going to bring up the fact that a trombone is a C instrument (instead of it being a Bb, like snipelfritz mentioned) but thought that was being nitpicky.

Yeah, I don't really know the difference between transposition and just playing the first note in an open position.

I consider myself bested, good sir.

[Achtane]

Random Japanese/eastern european vintage things.
I've got a Jolana Galaxis that I adore.

is that what jemaine plays?
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2spK1MBOvOk[/youtube]

Might be actually...
Big-ass pickups, ashtray cover, and the headstock shape looks about right

He plays a "Kavkaz"
http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/bas_kavkaz.html

Weird Eastern European and Asian guitars are some of my favorites! I love all the unusual features, like Teiscos with their billion pickups and switches.

[dubkitty]

there's a new Epiphone Thunderbird with neck-through-body construction and active electronics that looks very interesting. http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=305&CollectionID=12

epiphone-thunderbird-pro.jpg (45.43 KiB) Viewed 980 times

[Trifarce]

In what ways? Lemmy holds it down pretty solidly.

The way he plays the bass to me seems more like a rhythm guitar than a bass

[moose23]

Just picked up the Squier Classic Vibe as a second/spare bass but it's so good that I think it'll be used equally with my American Jazz. Highly recommend it if you're looking in that price range..

[metalmariachi]

The best thing you can do is go into a music store, more than one if possible and play every bass you can get your hands on.
When you find the one that feels right, and sounds right you’ll know.

MM

[SmallEQ]

If budget isn't an issue, try a Ric. There's nothing like them. They look cool, play like butter, and have a unique combination of simultaneous deep tone and treble growl, especially if you use a pick. And it's the best sounding bass I've heard in the upper register. It's all over the White Album (especially the incredible mono mix):

While I think Rics are cool, there are a great many people that would disagree with your "play like butter" comment. I find the necks on most 4003's to be comically uncomfortable and I'm not alone. Play one before you jump in there.

[MaxMaps]

If budget isn't an issue, try a Ric. There's nothing like them. They look cool, play like butter, and have a unique combination of simultaneous deep tone and treble growl, especially if you use a pick. And it's the best sounding bass I've heard in the upper register. It's all over the White Album (especially the incredible mono mix):

While I think Rics are cool, there are a great many people that would disagree with your "play like butter" comment. I find the necks on most 4003's to be comically uncomfortable and I'm not alone. Play one before you jump in there.

+1 Definitely not the bass for me anyhow.