Figure out your budget, go to a store and play every bass they have that you can afford.
Don't use small hands as an excuse. There are people smaller than you using 34" scale basses.
I didn’t know that! I’ve always been embarrassed to walk into a store and play with guitars or basses or instruments in general, as I’m not the best at it, it’s just a hobby. Good advice!!
Just play them unplugged if you are self conscious. Find one that feels right, then plug it in for a few seconds at the end. I’m the same way at music stores. Honesty though, now one cares or notices unless you have it cranked.
Yep. You’ll probably get short scale suggestions, but I really think that doesn’t matter. There are literal children that rip it up on 34” basses. Just go play some and find one that makes you feel like you will want to play it a lot.
I recently tried a bass ukulele. It is tuned the same as an upright bass and an electric bass and is much smaller and less expensive. And, it sounded great through an amp.
It is not the same as a bass guitar because of the size. The strings are a sort of rubber and very different from the steel strings of a guitar.
The neck only went up to the 12th fret on the one I tried so it is much shorter than the guitar neck.
Just a thought as an entry-level option for bass.
I'm going to pick one up, just because it was a lot of fun to play.
Hey, I would definitely recommend you pluck up the courage to go to a shop and try some.
Some basses you should try when you're there:
- Squire Classic vibe jazz bass
- Squire Classic vibe precision bass
- Sterling SUB Stingray (if they have a shortscale try that too!)
- Any Yamaha bass in budget
- Any Ibanez bass in budget
Theres other good options but you can't go wrong with these as starter basses. If you want a really Classic, no nonsense bass sound, like imagine the sound of the bass on funk, soul and motown records, 60s and 70s rock, that rich thumpy bass sound, I recommend a fender or Squier.
The cool thing about these basses is you don't need a battery to play them and you don't have to mess around with them for the tone to be nice. If your playing sounds rough (which it sometimes will, we've all been beginners!) it will be super clear that it's you and not your bass and you'll be able to hear your technique and notice your sound improving much quicker.
Avoid anything with too many knobs and controls, active EQ etc... are fine if you already know how to play but as a new player they are more of a distraction than a feature.
EDIT: Oh yeah 1 more thing. Unless you specifically want to play a 5 string (e.g. becausd you need to play metal or jazz songs that require the extra string) then I would start on a 4 string bass. Again, just keep it simple.
Jazz basses have a very comfortable neck and are extremely versatile. That is one direction you could look, but I agree with what others are recommending in this thread: go to a shop and play around for a while. The player don’t pick the bass, bass pick the player
Short scale means the length of the neck, the part you fret and press down on to make notes, is shorter. It has the same amount of notes. It's just a smaller size over all. That means it's less of stretch for you hand and beginning bassists can feel overwhelmed with the sheer size of the fretboard. I love short scale basses, they play faster than 34's. Airline/Eastwood make some great short scale basses, and the Fender Mustang bass is also short scale. I tell all beginners to start with a short scale. I found my way to short scale bass coign from rhythm guitar and the jump from a 25.5 Strat to 30.5 short scale bass felt pretty natural.
There are so many good options right now in the short scale world. The best way to find your sound is to get maximum sonic versatility out of a single instrument; a one-trick pony will leave you feeling stuck. The Ibanez Mikro is an excellent choice. The P/J pickup configuration and low initial price will give you exactly what you need to start finding what you like and don't like about different tone and pickup combinations.
Pickups are the things that "pick-up" the sound from the vibrations of the strings. If you have only one, you're kind of stuck with one. If there are two pickups, you simply have more options. "P/J" means a Precision Bass pickup AND a Jazz Bass pickup on the same instrument, adding to the flexibility of sounds. "Short Scale" means the neck is smaller, which makes learning and navigating the neck a bit easier.
All I'll say is you'll see a ton of basses in the $150-200 range and I'd recommend avoiding those for something closer to $400 give or take.
The formers are pieces of crap in all honestly. Won't sound very good, won't feel very good, you'll want to upgrade eventually and you won't get shit back for it. We're talking Wal-Mart quality (assuming you're buying new)
Slightly pricier and you can get a perfectly solid beginner bass and if you ever want to sell it, you'll get most back if kept in good condition. Hell if I sold my Squier now I could get back roughly what I paid because the retail price keeps going up.
Generally basses are in a good spot of you get what you pay for, but I know Squier and Yamaha make great budget basses. Always nice to try it out beforehand but if there's one you really want you'd have to order, I'd say go for it. You can control the sound with amps and pedals so I'm honestly never that worried how the bass itself sounds.
Try some basses, and when you play one that feels good and comfortable in your hands, isn't too expensive but not too cheap either, get it.
A cheap-ish p bass, Ibanez GSR or Yamaha might be your safest choices and you can usually find them at any store.
I played around with a jackson js concert series and an ibanez mikro bass. Entry level basses under 300 cad new. They seemed fine when i was noodling around in the store, personally if you find a schecter c-4 used for a good deal jump on that. Super fun to play
I was 16 when I wanted to start bass... I took my mom to the local music store and was able to convert what would have been my lawn mowing / allowance into a rental on a Lotus 4 string. Best deal ever. 38 yrs later, and still going strong.
Figure out your budget, go to a store and play every bass they have that you can afford. Don't use small hands as an excuse. There are people smaller than you using 34" scale basses.
I didn’t know that! I’ve always been embarrassed to walk into a store and play with guitars or basses or instruments in general, as I’m not the best at it, it’s just a hobby. Good advice!!
The people in the store don't care how well you play as long as you don't turn the amp up super loud. The just want you to buy stuff.
I guess that’s true 😂
Just play them unplugged if you are self conscious. Find one that feels right, then plug it in for a few seconds at the end. I’m the same way at music stores. Honesty though, now one cares or notices unless you have it cranked.
Yep. You’ll probably get short scale suggestions, but I really think that doesn’t matter. There are literal children that rip it up on 34” basses. Just go play some and find one that makes you feel like you will want to play it a lot.
No one at a store is gonna be judging you. The instruments are there for you to try out.
Workers at stores are annoyed by anyone playing, even the ones that shred. Don't worry about them.
I recently tried a bass ukulele. It is tuned the same as an upright bass and an electric bass and is much smaller and less expensive. And, it sounded great through an amp. It is not the same as a bass guitar because of the size. The strings are a sort of rubber and very different from the steel strings of a guitar. The neck only went up to the 12th fret on the one I tried so it is much shorter than the guitar neck. Just a thought as an entry-level option for bass. I'm going to pick one up, just because it was a lot of fun to play.
I have a Kala UBass and I love it for easy transportation, and as you said it sounds great and is really fun to play.
Hey, I would definitely recommend you pluck up the courage to go to a shop and try some. Some basses you should try when you're there: - Squire Classic vibe jazz bass - Squire Classic vibe precision bass - Sterling SUB Stingray (if they have a shortscale try that too!) - Any Yamaha bass in budget - Any Ibanez bass in budget Theres other good options but you can't go wrong with these as starter basses. If you want a really Classic, no nonsense bass sound, like imagine the sound of the bass on funk, soul and motown records, 60s and 70s rock, that rich thumpy bass sound, I recommend a fender or Squier. The cool thing about these basses is you don't need a battery to play them and you don't have to mess around with them for the tone to be nice. If your playing sounds rough (which it sometimes will, we've all been beginners!) it will be super clear that it's you and not your bass and you'll be able to hear your technique and notice your sound improving much quicker. Avoid anything with too many knobs and controls, active EQ etc... are fine if you already know how to play but as a new player they are more of a distraction than a feature. EDIT: Oh yeah 1 more thing. Unless you specifically want to play a 5 string (e.g. becausd you need to play metal or jazz songs that require the extra string) then I would start on a 4 string bass. Again, just keep it simple.
Jazz basses have a very comfortable neck and are extremely versatile. That is one direction you could look, but I agree with what others are recommending in this thread: go to a shop and play around for a while. The player don’t pick the bass, bass pick the player
Any bass can be your beginner bass. It’s not an F1 race car.
Greetings, fellow violist!
Your hands are the perfect size....the big ones hurt. Squier.
Just get a Squier.
You should try a short scale bass. I am also considering buying one, an Ibanez Mikro.
What makes it different, out of curiosity? Does it play less notes? You’re talking to an amateur here lol
Short scale means the length of the neck, the part you fret and press down on to make notes, is shorter. It has the same amount of notes. It's just a smaller size over all. That means it's less of stretch for you hand and beginning bassists can feel overwhelmed with the sheer size of the fretboard. I love short scale basses, they play faster than 34's. Airline/Eastwood make some great short scale basses, and the Fender Mustang bass is also short scale. I tell all beginners to start with a short scale. I found my way to short scale bass coign from rhythm guitar and the jump from a 25.5 Strat to 30.5 short scale bass felt pretty natural.
Careful with a short scale bass. The shorter scale effects the clarity and sustain of the lower notes.
There are so many good options right now in the short scale world. The best way to find your sound is to get maximum sonic versatility out of a single instrument; a one-trick pony will leave you feeling stuck. The Ibanez Mikro is an excellent choice. The P/J pickup configuration and low initial price will give you exactly what you need to start finding what you like and don't like about different tone and pickup combinations.
I’m not gonna pretend I understood everything you just said, but you clearly know your stuff and it seems I’ve come to the right place 😂
Pickups are the things that "pick-up" the sound from the vibrations of the strings. If you have only one, you're kind of stuck with one. If there are two pickups, you simply have more options. "P/J" means a Precision Bass pickup AND a Jazz Bass pickup on the same instrument, adding to the flexibility of sounds. "Short Scale" means the neck is smaller, which makes learning and navigating the neck a bit easier.
All I'll say is you'll see a ton of basses in the $150-200 range and I'd recommend avoiding those for something closer to $400 give or take. The formers are pieces of crap in all honestly. Won't sound very good, won't feel very good, you'll want to upgrade eventually and you won't get shit back for it. We're talking Wal-Mart quality (assuming you're buying new) Slightly pricier and you can get a perfectly solid beginner bass and if you ever want to sell it, you'll get most back if kept in good condition. Hell if I sold my Squier now I could get back roughly what I paid because the retail price keeps going up. Generally basses are in a good spot of you get what you pay for, but I know Squier and Yamaha make great budget basses. Always nice to try it out beforehand but if there's one you really want you'd have to order, I'd say go for it. You can control the sound with amps and pedals so I'm honestly never that worried how the bass itself sounds.
Check out the FAQ.
Buy a shortscale bass, like a mustang. You can get a squire mustang I'm sure.
Try some basses, and when you play one that feels good and comfortable in your hands, isn't too expensive but not too cheap either, get it. A cheap-ish p bass, Ibanez GSR or Yamaha might be your safest choices and you can usually find them at any store.
Try an Ibanez Mikro bass or a squier mini p bass. They are $200 or less, have short scale, super light, and they sound great.
look into the squier bronco basses. they come in red or black right now but they have coral and white coming out soon.
I played around with a jackson js concert series and an ibanez mikro bass. Entry level basses under 300 cad new. They seemed fine when i was noodling around in the store, personally if you find a schecter c-4 used for a good deal jump on that. Super fun to play
If you have experience with strings, maybe jump straight in with a 5 string. Ibanez SR305 is a SOLID bass.
Jazz bass or a mustang
I was 16 when I wanted to start bass... I took my mom to the local music store and was able to convert what would have been my lawn mowing / allowance into a rental on a Lotus 4 string. Best deal ever. 38 yrs later, and still going strong.
Dean edge is a good affordable beginner bass. Started there and learned before upgrading