Riaan
I'm thinking of getting a bass guitar sometime in future...after some other more essential equipment purchases so it's still a long way off...but I'm watching the classifieds in the meantime. I think that I'll do better with a real bass guitar rather than a MIDI keyboard. I'm not planning on using anything more than Guitar Rig - no amps or pedals.
I often see ads for what appear to be nice bass guitars for reasonable prices but often they are five strings guitars.
What would you guys recommend for a beginner bass player: four or five strings?
What would be a good beginner bass guitar?
AlanRatcliffe
Five strings have extra low range, which is nice - but far from being essential. I tend to lean towards 4 string basses, largely as it is a second instrument for me and I don't really have the time to master a 5 string (not that I've mastered the 4 either, but let's not go there... ? ). Five or 6 string basses usually have wider necks (or occasionally a narrower string spacing), which make them a little trickier to get used to - you're already going to have to get used to a longer scale length and especially the extra control needed to get a good consistent tone from a bass without having to compress all the dynamics out of it.
Good sounding 5 or 6 string basses tend to be more expensive - the cheaper ones often have tonal issues with the low B sounding quite different, and overall the cheaper 5 string pickups are lacklustre. Obviously, five string string sets are more expensive too.
I quite like the Cort Artisan series for a less expensive bass (4 or 5 string) as they have through necks. If I had the money to burn I'd probably go for the Musicman Stingray.
Mr-M
I'd have to agree with most of what Alan says. I played bass exclusively for around 4 years, before coming back to guitar and I still do when the situation warrants it.
I tend to prefer four strings because I've never found a reasonably priced 5 that didn't sound odd on the low B. I've played some high-end ones that were really cool, but I can't generally get on with a 5. Plus I find the 4-string neck more comforatable.
Check out the Cort GB series for passive basses (the classic rock Fender bass tone) or the Artisan series for active (modern bass tones - works nicer on slap techniques IMO too).
The Ibanez Soundgear series are nice entry-level active basses too (cheaper than the Corts).
Bass playing is awesome. Easy to play initially if you can already play guitar, but much harder to sound good at it and get the right grooves going with the drummer rather than just playing the root note. Lead guitar players that play bass tend to over-elaborate as well (I did at first) which can sound crappy. It's all about the groove, man! You can be tight as a part of the rythm section while still being technical, but it takes practice and restraint IMO. Slapping and popping is serious fun too, but once again in the right spot. I know you doing studio, but this still applies IMO.
Riaan
Thanks for the advice guys! I'll be looking out for a second hand four string sometime later this year, I hope! In the meantime, I'm saving up to upgrade my PC and get Guitar Rig 3....can't wait!
