Hi, I’m doing the course on my son’s Schechter bass. I’m converting from my Fender acoustic guitar to bass. Been doing some research on what bass I’d like to purchase and debating P, P-J, J varieties such as Fender Squire Jazz or Yamaha BB234, but still wondering the best course to go with. Don’t want to spend a ton of $, but really enjoying bass and like 70’s-90’s rock. Any suggestions for a good quality bass I’ll enjoy for years?
9 Likes
@phfinman welcome to the forum 
its going to be very hard to give honest advice on this question, cos we all diffrent and like diffrent things, my favorite bass is a fender jazz, but I figured that out by going to the local music store and testing stuff out after I had some skills and feel
so I recomend, you look in local area for a shop, and go there to and get the basses in your hands and test em out, what is important for you ? neck shape ? balance ? sound ?
hope this helps, and that you enjoy the bass journey as much as I do
18 Likes
This^^^
Always the best answer. Just go out and try as many basses as you can. It’s time well spent, and you will most likely run across the one that feels best to you, which is what you need.
13 Likes
Don’t sweat it too much. It is highly unlikely that your first bass will be your “forever” bass. It’s a learning experience, which includes trying several (many) different basses before you better understand what you like and what works for you. Until then, be prepared to buy used and re-sell occasionally.
Testing basses at the store is a good idea, but often it takes much longer than a few minutes to truly like (or dislike) certain makes and models.
Accept it as part of your learning journey 
16 Likes
The one that fits your budget, that looks cool and makes you excited to play, and that feels good in your hands, and sounds nice when plugged in. ← In that order of priority.
I think Yamaha and Sire offer the best value of quality for the $$$ at the moment. Ibanez are nice, but their necks are especially thin and don’t fit in my hands well.
9 Likes
This is the common experience of essentially every player.
Personally, I ordered all of mine sight unseen, except for photos. Over a couple of years, I returned two for being incompatible but I kept the rest.
Patience and research are your friends. Read up on brands/models that look good to you. Ask questions here about feel and playability. Watch demo videos of various basses that interest you.
Buzzers are diverse in their faves, with some basses preferred over others. But it’s all good as long as thumping ensues.
Lastly, FYI, I can vouch for the great build quality and materials of Sire basses, regardless of price point.
9 Likes
Thank you for all your input. I’ve heard good things about Yamaha’s and Sires and their build quality. Any suggestions on passive versus active basses? My son’s Schechter is active, so I have to unplug after each lesson, but I don’t know the advantage of active over passive in my bass guitar shopping.
4 Likes
It’s not a big deal to worry about at this time. Do not feel you should be steered towards or away from a bass because of which one it is. Which one you end up preferring is personal. I prefer passive.
At lower price points, you may need to be careful on active with some brands. There are cheap preamps that do not sound as good. But the preamp on a budget Yamaha or Sterling are perfectly good.
6 Likes
As others have suggested, go get hands on with things and see what you like.
I would suggest checking out some of the Marcus Miller series basses from Sire. I own a V7 reissue and have played a couple others and overall their sound and build quality is outstanding for the price point. I’d have expected the V7 to cost 300-500 or so more, if I had to guess a price.
5 Likes
You got the two most important pieces of advice already so I will just quote them. It’s this:
and this:
For brands, both Yamaha and Sire are very high quality for a reasonable price. Modern Squier are fine too. Don’t sweat it too much, as you’ll eventually be trading it up. At this stage the two most important things are how it feels and if you think it looks cool.
7 Likes
All the advices above are awesome. I’ll just like to add that both P basses and Jazz basses will be great for playing 70’s-90’s rock. You should try both and see which neck feels more comfortable. If you are older, or have arthritis, smaller hands or other issues, you might possibly find that the narrower neck of jazz basses feel more comfortable to play. It is something you have to test yourself.
Have fun!
9 Likes
There’s already so much good advice here, but I have to echo the sentiment to go out and try out a bunch until you find one you like. Could be the influence Harry Potter’s had on me but, as with all my instruments or tools, I like to think “The instrument chooses you”.
Play a bunch until you find one you fall in love with and just “works” with you. That being said, the Yamahas and Sires I’ve tried all felt good, but the BB434 I got just felt “right”. The BB434 is passive, which I like since I don’t need to worry about batteries haha.
7 Likes
That’s something that I’ve been looking at, I have small hands, old injuries, and arthritis. I’ve been trying out different neck profiles to see if one is more comfortable that another.
3 Likes
There is seemingly infinite variety in bass. I play short scale due to infirmities that come from age. I used to play long scale, but had to make the switch. Mustang is one of my favorites, as is the Sterling Rayss4 shortscale.
Looking for a bass, neck comfort counts for a lot. Tone can be fixed, comfort is hard to. So play one if you can and see what fits you. this is completely subjective, only you knows which bass is most comfortable to you.
Passive versus active - I would advise a passive to start on. My first bass had a preamp and switches, and I was forever fiddling with them chasing the tone ghost. Get a P bass with a thin neck, something like a Squier CV 60s. Two knobs, volume and tone. Leave the tone at 70%, and play and learn. Learn how to change the tone using your fingers. A lot less distractions on a P.
If I had a do over that’s how I would go. Actually, I would do it on a Joe Dart III (which are only on the used market). One knob, volume. Bare essentials.
Which is what you need to learn. Just my opinion
3 Likes
I agree with the sentiments above, your first bass isn’t going to be your ‘forever’ bass, what ever that is…! And try lots!
My route to the try lots has been the second hand market. I bought my first bass on eBay, sight unseen. I had no real idea what I was buying (it was an Epiphone Tobias Toby) but it was fine and got me going. My second was on Facebook Marketplace, I actually met the guy in a pub car park midway between where we both lived, my third was again eBay….the list goes on. I’ve actually bought, probably 15? bases and sold most of them, as I have hunted for ‘the one’. The great thing about second hand is that you can generally sell the bass on for what you bought it for, so net-net, its cost you nothing.
Oh, also have a work colleague that plays bass, so we have lunchtime bass sessions, him playing mine, me playing his.
On my journey, I have discovered that I don’t particularly like Spector basses, Sire basses and Rickenbacker basses…but I do like Dingwall basses, my early 90s Hohner and Ibanez basses.
4 Likes
Best answer…go to a few stores and try out as many basses as possible.
Some will look good, some will feel good, and some will sound good.
Try enough basses and you’ll find one that does all three.
(I’ve seen quite a few bassists give up in frustration because someone recommended the wrong bass…nothing is more important than finding a bass you can really bond with.)
You might want to start with something simple like this that still gets the job done.
Squier Sonic Precision bass.
5 Likes
The good news is your son also plays. What would be his pick?
Depending on your first bass choice you could ended up buying and selling the same model a few times, 
If your son can help you with used bass selection it would be the best deal in general. You mention playing Fender acoustic guitar, if you own more than one, then you are probably familiar with the hunt on the used market. I’d stick with big brands like Fender, Squier, Yamaha, Ibanez and Sire.
3 Likes
Both of my sons have bass guitars. My youngest has a higher end Schechter model and my eldest has an Ibanez I’m borrowing. As some mentioned, neither of the basses are “choosing me” and I like playing the Ibanez, but don’t see that as my goal for a first owned bass. I don’t mind borrowing gear to test out, but something about purchasing gear makes one appreciate it and gives more purpose to practicing and playing, imho.
After several other posters gave great advise, I’m going to head to my local Guitar Center to try some in my hands and see if one calls to me. I’m really enjoying the Beginner to Badass course - love Josh’ lessons and am amazed at how far I’ve come in such a short amount of time.
6 Likes
I think this is the creed that @Al1885 lives by as well.
5 Likes
No, @Al1885’s bass creed is “ ‘Two’ is one, one is none.” *
.
.
.
*Except substitute “an infinite amount” in place of “two.”
7 Likes