Now I get it, in the first statement, he's telling his parents he wants a bass for being a good student, but, he's also asking if he can have a bass.

1. I'm going to ask my Parents for a Bass, what kind would you suggest? (This implies no reward for the request and is respectful)

2. I'm telling my Parents to buy me a bass, what kind would you suggest? (Now we think your dis-respectful - But, we didn't know it's a gift in exchange for good grades)

I wish I had parents like that, when I was growing up. My parents just bought, hoping it would help my grades, but it's better for a child to learn, it's an exchange for a good behavior.

In the end, maybe you won't be living with your parents but, gaining good employment, to return care for them, when they become older.

You have good parents.

 

My son started with a starter Bass kit, after taking lessons with a starter electric guitar kit. He bought his own practice amp to use. He just built a Bass from a kit and it's on his bands first CD release, available on iTunes and Amazon as well as other sources. So a starter kit is not a waste of time or money.

 

All this talk, makes me want to pickup my Guitar. Haven't played in 2 weeks.

 

No offence, but I did not understand what you meant- I mean can you write it in a simpler way?

Sorry, I did not considered that you could not know what I was talking about.

Thanks Bill for explaining it.

 

My son started with a starter Bass kit, after taking lessons with a starter electric guitar kit. He bought his own practice amp to use. He just built a Bass from a kit and it's on his bands first CD release, available on iTunes and Amazon as well as other sources. So a starter kit is not a waste of time or money.

More thoughts on starter kits...

When I learned to play bass, about 4 decades ago, I worked at a music store. Most of the starter kits for guitar and bass guitar we saw came with an instrument that was basically unplayable.

A bass guitar must be properly adjusted (set-up) for easy playability. A good quality instrument can be adjusted properly, poor quality instruments sometimes cannot be. The sad fact is that many beginners get immediately discouraged because the instrument they are learning on would be almost impossible for a professional to play.

But, recently, I've seen a starter kit with a bass which was well set-up and easy to play. If you must order something, look for good reviews on the kit.

But, if possible, visit a music store, 2nd hand store or pawn shop, to check out different instruments. Do you have any musician friends to take with you ?

You will need an amplifier eventually, but I think the most important part is to get a bass guitar that is easily playable.

And, I applaud you for asking for an instrument. I think learning to play an instrument is a lot of fun, very rewarding, and great exercise for your mind!

 

I always wanted to learn to play bass so I waited until I could afford one.

I did exactly that, took a bass player friend with me to a music store with the intention of buying a cheap new or used bass. My friend (thank goodness) advised me not to do that. He said you will end up with a piece of junk and will be discouraged from playing.

Fortunately for me the store had a very nice used bass, but more than twice the price that I had set out to spend.

My first and last bass is a Fender Jazz Bass (Made in USA). So glad I listened to my friend!

 

I had a Fender Jazz, Precision, Gibson, all other brands, for several years, cannot go wrong there.
I finally bought a brand new Rickenbacker 4001 several years ago, and it's the last Bass you'll ever need/want. I tried a few Ric copies over the years, but their pickups sucked, nothing compared to the Ric.

Nothing better than playing on a gigantic stage using the Ric stereo, through 2 or 4 (8X10), monster cabinets. Then, run that through the House PA......

 

Guitar players get the glory, but bass players are the groove!

 

Guitar players get the glory, but bass players are the groove!

Precisely, we create the Balls in the band.

 

I repaired a garage sale bass, copy of a Fender P bass. It turned out pretty well, especially considering the price was $50. Still, the pickups were horrible about picking up 60Hz hum. It really needed some humbuckers to go with my mechanical repairs.

I must agree that a POS guitar will stop most beginners. I once tried a Martin D12-20 and it was so good that other customers were staring at me. I said, "It's not me, it's the guitar!"

 

Guitar players get the glory, but bass players are the groove!

Pink Floyd.

 

I repaired a garage sale bass, copy of a Fender P bass. It turned out pretty well, especially considering the price was $50. Still, the pickups were horrible about picking up 60Hz hum. It really needed some humbuckers to go with my mechanical repairs.

I must agree that a POS guitar will stop most beginners. I once tried a Martin D12-20 and it was so good that other customers were staring at me. I said, "It's not me, it's the guitar!"

Your freaking funny, they must have just went, whaa? So, do you think I could play like that if I bought that Guitar?

Would have be fun being there, didn't know there were so many Guitar players on AAC.

Alternately, it's ironic, I've listened to some, shitty Guitars, but if it can hold a tune, if being played by a Pro you just sit back and enjoy.

If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! How can you have any pudding! If you don't eat your meat, come here laddie!

 

I was so used to playing cruddy guitars that the Martin actually scared me! I had no idea I could be that good with a proper guitar in my hands. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy it. $750 was a lot of money in 1969.

 

I was so used to playing cruddy guitars that the Martin actually scared me! I had no idea I could be that good with a proper guitar in my hands. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy it. $750 was a lot of money in 1969.

When I play my "Taylor" it's like that, you play up to the Guitars ability.

The weird part is a feeling that is so indescribable, while you play you realize the potential of the instrument.

I call it Feel, Found, Felt.

I get it.

 

Imagine: You are used to playing with your fingers right next to the frets to keep the strings from buzzing. You are used to pressing hard because you don't know anything about adjusting the neck. You work until your fingers are sore and it still sounds like mud. Then, one day, you pick up a good guitar. It's so easy to press the strings down that you're afraid that if you owned this one, you would lose your callouses. The neck is so forgiving that you can land anywhere between the frets and it doesn't buzz. Besides that, the intonation is perfect. The sound is not only the right pitch, it has overtones!

No wonder those "professional musicians" sound so good. They can afford a guitar that costs as much as a down payment for a house.

No kidding. Two years later, I bought a house, and the down payment was exactly the price of a Martin D12-20.

 

The neck is so forgiving that you can land anywhere between the frets and it doesn't buzz. Besides that, the intonation is perfect. The sound is not only the right pitch, it has overtones!

No wonder those "professional musicians" sound so good. They can afford a guitar that costs as much as a down payment for a house.

I know.

My Taylor 210ce Dreadnought cutaway, will hurt people, they can't hold the strings down, if I stop playing it, it puts me through so much pain, lack of callus and keeping finger strength.

Plus, I use strings that are bright, when I play Pink Floyd "Wish you were hear" (I know boring) but, the open lead, sounds exactly like the album. Well the guitar does anyway

It's not to expensive $700+ but, your fingers are sore in 2 min. I don't know why they call it a Dreadnought, cause it can make you Dread if your not into it.

 

Sounds like you have put too heavy a string gauge on it? That will bend the neck and make the action too high, and kill your fingers.

Do you know what gauge of strings it was properly set up for when they did the action and truss rod?

 

Sounds like you have put too heavy a string gauge on it? That will bend the neck and make the action too high, and kill your fingers.

Do you know what gauge of strings it was properly set up for when they did the action and truss rod?

You know what, I went to pick up some strings for a starter guitar for my Granddaughter, it's a smaller version of a regular guitar.

I had to do more research because I wanted a lighter action for her, that's when I learned about sizing. I had no idea, 30yrs? I'll look into it, the guy I talked with about her strings, also repairs guitars.

Right now, I play elixirs, helps when sliding, because Taylor acoustic Guitars are louder than most Guitars, you can here everything, if you have good callus built up and slide it's really bad, especially going electric.

Thanks, RB.