bass for guitarist...

[rockskate4x]

hey guys... I'm primarily a guitarist who would like to learn bass, and I want a bass that suits a player with a guitarist's background to make it easier for me to transition my guitar skills to bass guitar. It's not that basses I've played aren't good enough or anything... I just need an excuse for another project.

So what nut and neck dimensions and body shapes and woods (and everything else) might you suggest for a budding bassist who's had plenty of experience in guitar territory?

 

[blue313]

What kind of sound are you after?

 

[greywolf]

I am primarily a guitar player ( 30+ years)  but have been playing bass for the past 20.  I find the J-bass neck dimensions most freindly.

Go into a music store and pick a few basses up to see what fits your hands the best .  In terms of sound , with decent active pickups/pre-amp you can cover a huge spectrum.

 

[Assumer]

I agree.  I started our on guitar and switched to bass when there was a need.  Knowing nothing about bass, I purchased a P-Bass.  When I later played a jazz, the neck felt so nice. 

 

[SkuttleFunk]

I'd highly recommend a 4-string so you can begin to learn how to play lines like a bassist and not play things that identify you as a guitarist simply playing down an octave lower. a 4-string will help you to become free from the wank-factor many guitarists suffer from - and you'll learn how to play groovy lines without living on a low B-string or getting into other instruments' voicing ranges on a high C-string

passive pickups are the way to go, and unless you have some compelling reason to do otherwise I'd also recommend you refrain from an active preamp - learn how to get the tone with your fingers instead of relying on the crutch of active electronics

most cross-over guitarists I know prefer the thinner 1-1/2" nut of a J-bass over the wider 1-5/8" nut of a P-bass. try them both - you make like something different

all the best,

R

 

[Soylent]

I played guitar for 8 years until I got my first bass, a fender deluxe jazz, and it feels great. Hit up a shop and play one.

 

[rockskate4x]

Thanks for all the feedback guys... I was thinking something like a J-bass but wasn't sure. I didn't know if I should go with a skinnier neck or just learn to deal with a wide P-bass neck because it's "good for me" or whatever...

Now about those electronics... for a first bass I'm gonna want a setup that's pretty versatile and then when I find some sounds I like out of that I will probably specialize in those with some more specifically voiced pickups or whatever. Problem is, I know nothing about bass electronics so I need suggestions.

 

[SkuttleFunk]

find a solid passive J or P bass that feels 'right' and has some mojo to it

versatility in an electric bass is different than versatility in an electric guitar - it's more important to have a solid tone that sits well in the mix than it is to have a tone that sounds incredible solo but doesn't play nice in the mix. studio engineers prefer passive electronics for a number of good/uninformed reasons, and will be happiest to see you walk-in with a passive P or J 4-string (especially if you're not a known and respected session bassist in your area)

once you learn to hear and play like a true bassist, then you'll have a better life experience to reference for any future upgrades. and ya know, you just might discover that the tonal versatility need is achieved with your fingers, string choice, a good set-up, and laying a greasy funky groove that gets all the booties moving

all the best,

R

 

[ByteFrenzy]

If you have really big hands, a P-bass neck may be comfortable but for me it definitely isn't. For a starter I'd go for a J-bass or a P-bass with a J-bass neck.

 

[rockskate4x]

If I give the bass an active pre-amp do I have to use it or can I still play passive?

Oh yeah... in case it isn't clear to you all, I want to build this bass, not buy it. From what I'm hearing so far I think that I at least want an all exotic warmoth J bass neck (four string of course).

 

[SkuttleFunk]

If I give the bass an active pre-amp do I have to use it or can I still play passive?

depends on how you wire it up. I wire all mine with either an on/bypass toggle or a push/pull pot to include/exclude the preamp. use a stereo jack and wire the ring to the battery black wire so that it will turn on the battery when you plug-in the cord

Oh yeah... in case it isn't clear to you all, I want to build this bass, not buy it. From what I'm hearing so far I think that I at least want an all exotic warmoth J bass neck (four string of course).

I'd recommend a Maple/Birdseye or Maple/Rosewood neck if you plan to do any studio work. it's what producers are visually expecting, and the tonal difference between one of these and an exotic doesn't justify the added cost IMO. if you were building a second or third bass then I consider an exotic for one of these so long as you had your first one available for studio use.

I know it doesn't make sense, but it's kinda like a guitarist showing up for a studio jazz session with an EVH and Marshall half stack. sure you can get those killer Jazz tones - but you just might not have opportunity to let them hear you play if they can't get past the visual disconnect of your first impression

all the best,

R

 

[rockskate4x]

Although sound is good, I'm not getting an exotic for its sound or its looks, though both are quite good... I'm getting it for the wonderful unfinished feel...

 

[Jorundr]

From what I'm hearing so far I think that I at least want an all exotic warmoth J bass neck (four string of course).

I think you are really onto something there :icon_biggrin: I would recomend a jazz wenge/ebony neck, with the kind of quality you get from warmoth, it is just great. play it "unfinished" and just enjoy.
aeh, and +1 to all skuttlefunk said. couldn't agree more.

 

[stubhead]

If you play because you're writing music and you need bass parts, go easy - 4-string J. If you play for expression, challenge or to keep your brain a-twitchin' faster, five-string fretless.... I was a demon bass player in high school, but when I decided to play guitar it didn't occur to me you could play both (dumb demon....) So I sold all my bass stuff to buy guitar stuff. Then watched crappy bass players make a good living supporting way too many guitar players.... :sad1: Now I play both.

 

[rockskate4x]

cool...guys...

I really like Korina so I think I'm deciding on a black korina Jazz bass or G4 body....

Does anybody else have neckwood suggestions? (raw necks only). Please tell me what you think

I also would like suggestions for a fairly versatile bass pickup setup to work to an active preamp that I may switch by switched off leaving the bass passive for recording and what not...

Is a PJ setup really versatile? do I need a humbucker in the bridge combined with a Jazz or P-bass pup in the neck... Coil tapping???

pickup suggestions please...