guy from the guitar side looking for bass info

[Jack FFR1846]

Hi,

I'm from over on the guitar side (points down on the index) and have 2 sons. One has experessed a little interest in a bass (12) and the other, who is much more of a guitar player...and keyboard...and drums...has expressed a LOT of interest in a bass. So much so that he's volunteered that I could even sell one of my guitars that he had cryed over when I tried to sell it in the past.

Ok, so to my question. I realize that I'm approaching this from a total newbie status....since I'm looking strictly on price. So I told myself....stop.....and ask people who know....since I've advised a number of guitar newbie friends in picking up something other than the dreaded "S" word guitar packs.

So, for an aspiring Flea who is just starting out at 7 years old, will a cheapie base do the job or should I consider something better? I won't be buying something as good as a Music Man at first, but don't want to get something that would discourage him because of the equipment. I'd likely buy off of Craigslist or used in a local music shop.

Thanks in advance.....jack

[the unrepentant]

If you like musicman gear, see if you can get a nice OLP, obviously they're not up to musicman standards but apparently they play pretty nice and have a nice sound to them, particularly the last ones to come out of the factory.

[fidooda]

or better yet find a used MM SUB.

[UniTap]

The most important thing IMO is to have a good sounding amp first. Anything below 50W will be a factor of discouragement and will not do justice to the wonderful instrument that bass is. It's all about rumble, right?

That being said, I have tried a lot of cheap basses because I like to play the ''gess the price'' game with my bassist friend. (can be a good way to buy your first bass + it's so fun ) In the cheap spectrum of prices, the brands that IMO offer the best values are Yamaha, Fender and some Peaveys. OLP is also a great value, but those basses look like stingrays and don't even sound close to musicman; it really is puzzling me...

My advice is: make ur sons try basses. It's above all a matter of preference. I personaly can't play Ibanez while a lot of people enjoy their instruments. Just be aware that, if they get to play a musicman they won't want to play anything else

[nashman]

+1 used SUB Sterling

[the unrepentant]

Yeah SUB basses are the way forward if you want the musicman sound on budget but they're a little costly for a beginner bass. As unitap said, peavey, OLP, yamaha, ibanez and even squier represent pretty good value for money beginner basses.

[Smakbass]

OLP's are pretty good for the value, There is a guy here in town who used to play in a fairly well known band (trooper) who plays a pair of OLP 5's and im impressed with the sound for the money involved. If you can pick up one of these used and get a decent amp he will be rocking.

[Jack FFR1846]

Good advice all around.


I've found a few used OLP bases at a local music store I frequent after reading this, so will take a look. I owned an OLP Banji Madden copy before buying my own 2 EBMM guitars. Sold it to a guy I work with. Best value ever!

jack

[MrMusashi]

long as you realize an olp isnt even half what a musicman is

the sub.. find one, its basically a full fledged musicman with a few finish "shortcuts"

MrM

[Jack FFR1846]

long as you realize an olp isnt even half what a musicman is

the sub.. find one, its basically a full fledged musicman with a few finish "shortcuts"

MrM

I'll keep a lookout for a Sub also. I'm assuming it's the bass version of my Sub1. Which was a twin (in looks) to my old OLP.

jack

[Russel]

Sub is the way to go. Sub and a nice, translucent amp.

It is a bit pricey for a "beginner" instrument, but then again, it's alot higher quality than a whole lot of other basses in the same price range, with good electronics and a nice, nice sound. There's that...family resemblance.