I am looking for semi hollow bass with a standard scale to learn to play bass on as a total beginner. Want one which is versatile, as easy as possible to learn on, and will last me 10 years. Since I am a total beginner I do not have any preference except I like to looks of the semi hollow guitars and my wife will not want to hear me practice so I figure if I practice acoustically she will not mind. Thanks for any thoughts about this, I have looked at the short-scale thread and the semi-hollow thread but did not see anything on the Peerless.
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I’m not familiar with this bass, but here is a review that covers many details.
It seems like a pretty cool instrument.
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I don’t think you will find playing this (or any semi-hollow) bass without plugging in to be satisfying, nor will you be able to make the progress you want. It isn’t like an acoustic guitar. Ultimately you’ll need to invest in headphones and some kind of amp, preamp or DAI with headphone out and AUX in. Whatever you decide, good luck with your journey!
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Thanks for the link!
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David, thank you for your response, it has totally depressed me (my fault not yours). I don’t know the difference between an amp, reamp or DAI. (just being honest) Is there a section on BassBuzz to learn about the all those? I thought I would start lessons just playing unplugged and be able to hear the notes.
You can buy a practice amplifier (amp) that you can connect headphones to. A very popular and often recommended practice amp is this Fender Rumble 40-watt combo amp:
I was also going to suggest looking at the Rumble 40, which is endorsed by none other than our fearless leader @JoshFossgreen. But if you don’t want to make that investment yet, you can get by with something like this:
Or there is a preamp pedal that will work (but doesn’t have an AUX in feature)
Amazon.com: Behringer BDI21 V-Tone Bass Driver DI Box : Musical Instruments
Either of those with some headphones will at least get you started. Then you can do your research.
Good luck! You are at the start of a life-long journey – take it a step at a time.
Consider popping on the Introduce Yourself! (2024) thread so the gang can welcome you.
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Thanks for the link. I see that every place on line has the same price which makes Amazon my first choice. I am very certain that it is one piece of equipment I would never buy used since I would not have a clue as to what I was looking for.
I do like David.addis’s advice on a way to get the job done for less right now and I think I will buy the Portable Pocket Bass Headphone Amp for now since I don’t even have a bass guitar yet.
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Thank you for the advice. I am ordering the Valeton Rushead Max headphone amp. I will get it tomorrow and I will understand how it works when I read the instructions.
Your advice on it being a life-long journey is spot on. And at my age I guess I will take it one step at a time and one day at a time.
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A headphone amp is a good silent practice tool. I bought a cheap one years ago, but I quickly upgraded to a premier Bluetooth system I love. The cost difference was massive, but the corresponding difference in much improved tone quality, reliability and convenience made the price increase more than worth it for me. As a beginner, you don’t need to break the bank. Good luck.
If you haven’t signed up for the B2B course, do that! It is without doubt the very best investment I’ve made in my bass journey — it’s made me a bass player and not just a guy who owns some basses. Both @MikeC amd I are in your generation — it’s never too late to start. The most important thing to remember is that music is FUN. Sure, it’s also hard work. But perfection is not the goal. It’s just to make music and enjoy doing it. MAKING music — what could be cooler?
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I am definitely signing up when I get a bass. I think I will like the course because I need to learn more than just songs. I want to understand the neck positions and chords at some point. My hope that a year from now I will have completed the course and will start looking for local musicians to play with, knowing I have something to contribute in a jam session.
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There are lots of us on here @UncleToad who’ve started bass late in life and now play out with other people. The B2B course is a huge part of that success.
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I’ve said it before and I will say it again: A beginner bass will always be a beginner bass. You will improve with practice and enthusiasm. Your bass instrument however, will always be what it is. Put some skin in the game and buy an instrument that reflects where you want to go or barring that–what your aspirations are. It will serve you far better for way longer and be way less likely to end up as something buried in a closet or hanging on a wall.
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Hello oldjohn1951 (you young pup).
I had been thinking about this topic for a while before your response so thank you for it.
I can’t say I totally agree with you.
After I quit working I decided to learn to paint. I had my mind all set on the tools I would use and the way I would use them. After 5 years every item on that list had been replaced. I was doing things that I swore I no interest in doing when I started out.
I suspect that playing bass will have similar changes as I progress and learn and understand more.
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Buying an expensive bass right from the start is a rookie mistake and I strongly advise against it.
When you are just starting out ypu don’t even know what you like yet. There are a wide variety of instruments out there and guaranteed in a year your tastes may change dramatically.
Much wiser to buy a cheap bass to learn on, and along the way, try many instruments over time, solidifying your preferences until you really know what you want to upgrade to later.
That said there is also a quality floor you should not go below. This is why most recommend the entry level Squier, Yamaha and Ibanez instruments- they will be playable and of more than adequate quality.
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There’s a huge variety of relatively modestly priced basses that offer great value: they are well made, easily set up for easy playing, and dependable. In short, that’s all you really need in any bass, regardless of brand, model or price tag.
Many Buzzers here swear by the beginner Squier, Yamaha, Sire, etc. as being the bass upon which they learned the most.
Each of those brands can offer an affordable, beginner-friendly instrument that you could happily ride into the sunset, if you chose not to spend another dime on a bass ever again.
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Mike slipped in there with fundamentally sound advice too.
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Joe Perry of Aerosmith has an interesting story. He was hanging around with Ted Nugent and Eddie van Halen, and Ted said if he had Eddie’s setup he would sound like EVH. Eddie handed him his guitar, Ted plugged in, and sounded like…Nugent.
Get a bass that’s comfortable and makes you excited to play. At the beginning you will sound like a beginner, in time you will sound like you. It’s a journey.
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