nOOb wrote: Hi Guys,

I have always wanted to play the bass, and I have finally decided to buy myself one.

Now I need your help/advise as I know nothing about the bass.

I have always loved the look of a semi/hollow-body guitars.
Would one be okay for a beginner, or would a solid-body be better?

I am more into punk and ska-core, so I would most likely be learning and trying to play songs from those genres.

Any advice on which brands to avoid would be appreciated.

In-fact any advice would be appreciated.

Danie

Semi hollow basses are majestic! Most people will tell you to start on a solid but I don't believe that... I started on a 5 string even! But a hollow may be too warm or mellow for punk and ska... I'd suggest maybe a p bass or a PJ bass? Or maybe something with a bass humbucker for thicker tone. Cort and ibanez make affordable options with all of these pickup combos.
If you have more of a budget, I'd also check out an Epi thunderbird (my favourite bass)

But definitely you have to go out and check some basses out yourself and also plug them into an amp similar to the one you have or are planning on buying so you know more or less how it would sound

As for that stuff about which brands to avoid? Nah... Try them all and choose the one you like regardless of name...

Welcome to the forum, Danie.

Chocklit_Thunda wrote: But definitely you have to go out and check some basses out yourself and also plug them into an amp similar to the one you have or are planning on buying so you know more or less how it would sound

This is a great tip. I also suggest (if it's possible) that you take a friend who plays bass (or perhaps a guitarist) with you when you check out any basses. They'll provide an extra set of eyes and ears and may be able to better judge the playability of any instrument you see.
If you have a teacher lined up already, they would be the ideal person to go with you.

Make sure you feel comfortable with your bass as well: my first bass was a Starfire P-bass clone. It probably weighed more than I did and I could barely reach the tuning peg for the first (G) string. I was just too desperate to get my first bass and start a band with my friends to really consider this.

But definitely you have to go out and check some basses out yourself and also plug them into an amp similar to the one you have or are planning on buying so you know more or less how it would sound

Thanks, I made this mistake when I bought my first acoustic.
I have been to look at a few basses still need to make a decision.

You mentioned humbucker pickups...
Which pick-ups do what?
I have seen a few with active/passive pick-ups, but its all greek to me.

that you take a friend who plays bass (or perhaps a guitarist) with you when you check out any basses

That my problem. I don't have any friends who play bass or the guitar.
I used to play acoustic, but its been years since I've touched a guitar. And I am completely out of my depth when it comes to anything that's electric.

Think I'll have to get a teacher and get them to come along.

Thanks guys.

That my problem. I don't have any friends who play bass or the guitar.

Well where about are you located in JHB?
Surely a forum member near you/the shop would be willing to help out (myself included)

Humbucker pickups are usually dual coil like the Musicman style bass pickup or a soapbar humbucker (You also get single coil soapbars... It gets confusing)
the P-bass pickup can also be considered dual coil but it is actually just a split single coil. Both of these alone cancel out the hum associated with single coil pickups whereas a J-Bass uses two pickups on at the same time to achieve this.
Each of the three types sound different from one another and also basses come with a mixed variety of the pickup configurations (P, PJ, 50's P, J, JM, S, SS, SM, JS etc...)

Active requires a battery to work due to an on board preamp which boosts the signal.
Passive is just the raw pickup running into the amp.

Some come with a Push/Pull volume or tone knob that acts as an active bypass meaning you can switch an active pickup to passive (Like my GB35A bass before someone screwed up the wiring...)

It's all up to you though... Neither is better or worse, it's just about what you prefer... Like I said, I own an active bass with a Musicman style pickup in the bridge and a J bass single coil in the mid/neck position but my favourite bass sound is the middle position thump of an Epiphone Thunderbird bass followed by a PJ-bass middle position... It's all about what you dig the most...

Okay, so this is the semi-hollow body that caught my eye:

http://www.gumtree.co.za/cp-musical-instruments-in-west-rand/bass-guitar-472155145

I have arranged for a meet to have a look at it.

Hmmm... for R2300 you can get a much better 2nd hand bass (though it might not have the looks you prefer). I would keep looking ?

Edit: Cort does better quality beginner basses (thought they range in quality as well). You might even get a decent Squire Jazz or P for that price.

I say buy the cheapest thing you can find. I paid R1000 for a ritmuller bass and amp at cash converters and learned on that till I knew I really wanted to play bass and then got something decent.

Depends how much money you have I guess...

macdool wrote: I say buy the cheapest thing you can find. I paid R1000 for a ritmuller bass and amp at cash converters and learned on that till I knew I really wanted to play bass and then got something decent.

Depends how much money you have I guess...

I would give very much the opposite advice.
My experience is that if you buy the cheapest, nastiest instrument you can, with a view to seeing if you enjoy it before investing properly, that you'll most likely have an ugly guitar that is uncomfortable to play, and you wont enjoy it enough to continue.
A comfortably guitar that is easy to play is an essential when starting out, in my mind.

I say invest as much as you reasonably can in a second hand bass of your choosing. Unless you get taken for a proper ride by the original seller, you should be able to move it on without much loss should you really not enjoy the instrument.
I would also stay well away from any shop that has the word "cash" in the name. The guitars they sell new are not worth owning, and there are better deals to have privately on the second hand goods...

That said, every now and then and absolute gem comes in through these stores...so dont completely ignore them.