How to Buy a Bass Guitar: The Guide to Choosing the Right Electric Bass For You, Part 2

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Continued from Part 1 of this article...

Different Price Levels

The bigger name bass manufacturers produce basses of different quality levels. They produce different models and series' that span the price range. This way a company can produce high quality instruments as well as highly affordable ones. Plus everything in between. Fender, for instance, uses several factories around the world - and each factory is set up to produce instruments at a different quality level and price point. The quality of the instrument depends on how good the construction materials are and how well a builder can (or how much time and care they take to) cut, cast, glue, solder, install, assemble, paint, file, finish, and whatever else you do to build a bass.

The biggest question is the wood used for the body, neck and fretboard. The body of a bass is usually something dense and heavy like ash or alder which gives you more resonance and sustain. The neck is usually made from maple or something similar, and the fretboard is typically either maple or rosewood. Other than that, a lot of times, the hardware - such as the bridge, electronics, fret wire, and tuning keys are the same from series to series - but not always. In my opinion, you pretty much get what you pay for from the trusted big name manufacturers, so it's safe enough to just go with the price range you can afford.

Starter Basses

Over the past several years, many very affordable "starter" basses have become available. They aren't as elaborately finished as more expensive basses, but many of these are very playable and get the job done. For players uncertain of their talent or sustained interest, these lower-cost instruments let them give bass a try without a big investment. If you are know that your interest will be long term, it might be better to go a little higher in price and quality. You won't outgrow the instrument too quickly, and an intermediate bass can also make the learning process a little easier.

There're some different types of basses out there. Here's a quick rundown:

Fretted vs. Fretless? If you're buying your first bass, get a fretted bass - not a fretless (my personal advice). Learning to play in tune on a bass with no frets is a whole other ball game, and you need to have fairly well developed ears to even know the exact pitches you're going for. If you've played other instruments for a while, it's one thing, but in general it'll be quicker to learn to play on a fretted bass, get used to being in tune, and then start practicing on a fretless bass [http://buybassguitar.amazonwebstore.com/Fretless-Standard-Jazz-Bass/A/B0002KZV8E.htm] (if you wanted to).

Short scale bass? A short scale is a type of bass that usually has a neck length of only 30"-32" (as opposed to about 34"-36" for a long scale). Could be more comfortable for a petit female or young kid.

Acoustic bass guitar? Yeah, nowadays lots of different companies make them. The "you get what you pay for" rule very much applies here. They use bronze strings instead of the normal nickel wound or stainless steel strings and don't ever seem to be all that loud acoustically. You'll probably want it to have some sort of pickup. With a pickup installed, acoustic bass guitars can be very versatile.

4, 5, or 6 string? Five string basses have the "normal" four strings (E,A,D,G) plus a low B string. Six string basses have the low B and a high C string. If it's your first bass, or if you're still learning to play, get a four string bass. They're cheaper - so you can get more bang for the buck - also, the fundamental role of the bass has never changed. You don't absolutely need a low B string. Four strings are great! Then add a five or a six to your arsenal from there (again -just my personal advice).

Please read Part 3 of this article for much more info on buying a bass guitar and bass guitar equipment.

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How to Buy a Bass Guitar - The Guide to Choosing the Right Electric Bass For You, Part 1

Looking For How to Buy a Bass Guitar - The Guide to Choosing the Right Electric Bass For You, Part 1

This article is mostly aimed at helping bass players who are just starting out (or anyone who's unfamiliar with bass gear) get an idea of what's going on out there, and to arm you with the information you want to consider before you start spending a bunch of money. Obviously, someone who's played bass for several years wouldn't need a guide like this since they've been around and learned what basses they like and what works best for them.

And how did they learn all that? Most everyone learns the hard way - buying stuff they end up not liking or wanting. But since you're smart, you're taking a minute to read over this article.

Ok, that being said, there are so many different models and types of basses, and so many competing manufacturers out there, that it really is a buyer's market. At the same time, all those options can make it confusing for someone who's new to this or just isn't sure what to spend their money on. If you're looking for a functional/versatile bass that plays great, sound great, and looks great (as most of us do), you do not have to spend 00 and up -especially if you're buying your first bass. There are plenty of decent deals out there, and lots of different basses to fit your needs.

By the way, weird body shapes, and wild paint jobs have nothing to do with the quality and playability of a bass. You may want a bass that looks really cool, but ultimately, it needs to be playable in order to have fun with it. All basses work the same, whether they are conventional or radical in style. You want a bass that balances well on your shoulder, isn't too heavy, and has the right look and sound for the kind of music you play. The most important thing about the look of a bass is that you like it. The more it fits you and your music, the more you'll play and enjoy it.

Quality is everything. The "trusted", big name brands became trusted and big because they use good construction materials and perfected their manufacturing "process" well enough to keep costs down and sell their basses at a reasonable price.

In The Beginning...

Leo Fender was the genius guitar builder who first introduced the world to the electric bass guitar in 1951 when he unveiled the first Precision or "P - Bass". The Precision Bass became the industry standard until the release of the Jazz Bass in 1960. These are the two types of electric basses most manufacturers have always patterned their designs after: The Fender Precision Bass and The Fender Jazz Bass [http://buybassguitar.amazonwebstore.com/Fender-Standard-Jazz-Bass-JBass-4string/A/B001L8MBRA.htm].

The "J-Bass" features a tapered neck that's a bit narrower where the neck meets the headstock. They offset the body shape, and used two pickups - one placed up near the neck of the bass and one closer to the bridge -to get a wider tone range. The (unmodified) P-Bass uses one split-style pickup near the middle. Of course there have been some improvements over time, but when you look at the myriad of basses that have been produced since then, you see that most never strayed too far from the original Leo Fender basic setup.

The reason these two models have been so successful is because they sound good, look good, are very playable and are not terribly expensive. Fender basses were a success from the start and so most other bass manufacturers basically copied Leo Fender's design and added their own modifications and personal touches. The Gibson guitar company was one of Fender's first and biggest competitors in the electric bass guitar market. Gibson may have copied Fender's manufacturing process, but they got creative in their own right when it came to design. Gibson basses were fist patterned off of their popular SG and Les Paul guitar designs.

Please read Part 2 of this article for much more info on buying a bass guitar and bass guitar equipment.

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