One thing I will add is we’re in a golden age of quality instruments. There’s a lot of good options which makes for seemingly conflicting suggestions.
If I were doing it over, I would keep it simple. It would be a passive bass with volume and tone control, possibly a blend. I would avoid EQs.
Sire D5, P5, V5, is there an M5? 5 series good value for the dollar. U5 is short scale
I say avoid EQs for two reasons. one is dialing in a sound can be like chasing rabbits. You can always add a pedal. Second is passive basses imo have more character. Low end EQs are kinda bland.
My very first bass was a Schecter CV 4, with knobs and switches. I was forever fiddling with them. I did much better when I picked up a Jazz, with just volume and tone, and just focused on my playing
You see @raphael, until you start ignoring advice and try them yourself, you’re just going to get a lot of random basses thrown at you, which can be overwhelming, and really isn’t helpful for your own situation anyway
Budget not being an issue both helps and hurts you here. It helps because if you try one that fits you can just buy it. It hurts because it really widens the door for possibilities.
But seriously, go out and try them in stores and you’ll find the right one. Everything else is pictures of what worked for strangers.
Hell, yes! I have a Sire M5 and it’s great. Modern, fast neck, and more pup splitting and EQ options than a human should be allowed to have. Plus, of course, you can bypass the EQ and play passive.
Agreed, but for me (for example) the initial matter of my zingy-clangy finger whisper on the roundwounds of my new Ibanez Mezzo was so sloppy sounding and really discouraging, so I replaced them with flats (D’ad Chromes). This got me past a frustrating early hurdle, and now that my hands & ears have acclimated somewhat to what the instrument entails, I’m happy to have a second bass with rounds. I’d advocate for “Go with whatever you need to make being a beginner more palatable”, be it a better bass, Different Strings, unconventional methods, etc.
Agreed @Jerry_the_Cowboy but flats won’t fix poor muting technique. But yes to flats (I’m a huge fan) as they make everything a lot quieter.
I started off on short scale and moved to 34”. I was advised to try a full scale bass because of one simple reason. Choice. If you want more choice in buying basses then 34” is where it’s at.
You somewhat limit your options by going short scale. It’s not bad, there are lots of fantastic short scale options; but just something to be aware of.
String scrape is a fact of life with stringed instruments. If you look up ‘isolated bass’ on you tube, even the best players have some. Usually, it disappears in the mix with other instruments.
Muting is a lifelong pursuit. Since muting is going to be different on every song.
Like others have said, you can use flatwound strings to mitigate string scrape and you can use ‘floating thumb’ technique and/or a fret wrap to make muting easier.
As for a bass, it’s hard to go wrong with a Fender Precision Bass. It may not be the sound you want but it is, generally, the sound everybody else expects.
Try before you buy is the only advice I can offer. I was convinced I needed a short scale and the JMJ Mustang looked like something I should buy as one came up for a good price on Marketplace. Before sending the seller a message I went to my local store and tried one. Absolutely did not like it at all. Felt very cramped, the fret spacings although something I could get used to, just weren’t my cup of tea.
I’ve been at this now for 14 months and the one thing I know for certain is that my Fender P is the right bass for me. The neck, the thump, the 2 knobs (well 3 if you include the knob playing it ). Everything about my bass I love and is the reason I bought another over the weekend!!
So as others have mentioned, get out and try as many as possible. Good luck with your search.
I have 5 basses, from fairly cheap to not so cheap, 4 string, 5 string, fretless… and the one I play the most is always the easiest to play. Unless you have an extremely poor bass with a bad setup, your right hand and left hand technique, especially your muting are the most important to sounding good; recording yourself and listening through headphones is one of the best ways to find your weak areas and improve on them.
This. It’s not a matter of buying a bass that’s easy to play; with practice and experience whatever bass you buy will become easy to play.
Don’t over think this. This will almost certainly not be the last bass you will ever buy. As your skills develop your preferences and taste will also evolve. You will likely own several basses.
Especially if you keep hanging around this forum.
All that being said, you can’t go wrong with a Fender P bass.
Fyi., i find neck depth more important then nut width. If you are looking short scale, the gretsch junior jet is a blast to play and a good value despite humbuckergate.
It does have a very shallow neck. The body is very small, too, like an electric guitar. I liked the tone and funk of the one I bought, but I returned it during the 30-day trial period. It was beautiful, but just not for me. Other players love them, though.
). Everything about my bass I love and is the reason I bought another over the weekend!!
