Need help choosing first guitar

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Hello there. I don’t know much but I really want to play bass in metal genre. My favorite bassist is Hara (I wish I could include link but you can find the video by searching “Nemophila Rollin Rolling live” in YouTube) so I’d like the sound to be the closest to that.

I want exactly not used 5 string passive bass. I’ve heard 5 string might be hard but I have an acoustic guitar I play everyday so I think it’s not gonna be that bad.

I’ve also read that HH can be turned into JJ with some wire manipulation but I’ll 100% mess that up.

I guess closest to Hara sound would be J-J so if anyone could suggest guitar (<360$) or maybe not that good guitar but upgradable to that level, I’d be really happy. Thank you in advance :]

Also if there is no good guitar in such price tag (<360$) then I’d also like to know better options cause I really want it to sound nice for me to want to play it. (and please don’t write something like “Try them out in the shop.”, I’m here cause I can’t).

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You want a new 5 string passive bass for less than $360 HH pickup config to spit the coil to Jazz pickup tone?

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Preferably JJ cause it sounds better in my opinion. And, as I wrote, if there is no nice beginner guitar at that price, you can suggest something more expensive too.

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You will find some Nemophilia fans around here. :slight_smile:

On the bass, since you are starting… I’d probably tell you this:

Squier JJ Config

Ibanez: (Over your price, but 2025 model) PJ Config (5 string option available)

There’s also always the Trustworthy Yamaha TRBX HH Config. (5 string linked here)

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I second @Megatronpt on the Yamaha 305. I had one and I liked that a lot. you are not in the US so where are you? how is the used market in your area. It would be too easy here in SoCal there are so many options.

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I like the Squier Affinity Jazz suggestion but I have two more questions:

  1. What about Squier Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass V. Is that worth that price difference?
  2. What about YAMAHA BB235? I was considering it but I don’t know if PJ sounds as good as JJ.
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Yes the Classic Vibe is really worth the difference.

As for PJ and JJ, don’t worry about it. It would even be more of a plus to you doing Metal genres. You’d favored more to the bridge pickup anyways.

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I see. Thank you very much. I will do final research between those two on my own now. I really like Yamaha cause my acoustic guitar from them too but I also really like JJ configuration cause of Hara playing on them xd.

Thank you both very much again. You helped a ton. Have a nice day :]

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If you must have HH and JJ you can do that by getting one of this
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GSR205PCTMU--ibanez-gio-gsr205pc-5-string-bass-guitar-transparent-marine-burst

Then upgrade the pickup later with the dual coil EMG 40, I think that’s the size. you can have both HH and JJ or combination, but I doubt that you’d need it.

If you can up the budget a bit you can get Sire 5 strings. That’s an awesome value for what you get.

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Coil split humbuckers, 3-band EQ, active/passive, $349

Fiver is slightly more:

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That’s interesting but it sounds overwhelming as I said I don’t really understand much in this field yet. And I don’t really like the sound of HH when compared to JJ. But if the sound of EMG 40 in JJ would be better then options I picked then I’m all for it.

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I don’t really get it. Aren’t those just HH? And I have no idea what are 3-band EQ…
I just want to sound like Hara so if it’s possible with that guitar, that would be nice to know.

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It’s an HH that is coil-splittable. Meaning you can turn off half of the pickup and just use a single coil. You can switch back and forth.

It has an active EQ on-board, 3-band means you can adjust bass, treble, and mid frequencies. It also has an active/passive switch, so you can just play passively without the EQ.

So yes, you can get an HH sound and shape the tone with the EQ, or you can get a single-coil sound and play passively, or any combo of the above. It’s flexible that way.

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Ahh, I see. So if I would to never use active mode (I hate the idea of managing batteries I’m sorry), I still could just switch between HH and JJ without any wiring manipulation stuff?

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Yep, pretty much. Split coils don’t sound exactly like a J pickup, but possibly close enough.

This review describes the pickups and controls, and has a ton of sound samples using the various configurations.

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Thank you, will look into it :]

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I would or worry about pickups right now. If you want a 5 string you can get a 5 string in any pickup configuration as long as it’s in your budget , you like the look, and (if you can play it before you buy) it feels good to you.

Lucky for you the tone won’t be your problem for a good while.

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Haraguchi-san is a favorite of mine. You have some good advice. Good luck and let us know what you choose

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I’m confused. So why are you looking for an HH? It sounds like you want a J-bass.

Also keep in mind that this is going to be your FIRST bass - it almost certainly won’t be your last.

You’ve set a very good budget to find a solid passive J-bass that you like. I’d start with that, learn the instrument, and get a better sense of what you like and want. Then when you upgrade to a second bass, you can get one with all the features and everything you desire and feel confident in spending more money.

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I am curious if, at this early stage, you can really tell the difference :slight_smile:

Usually a JJ will be thinner, more responsive, and more nasal sounding than a HH, with a bit of a scoop. The HH will be richer and more full, more mids-saturated, but less dynamic. Both have their place, neither is superior to the other, and we all have preferences :slight_smile:

You can also alter each tone quite a bit with EQ.

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