What to Know Before Buying Your First Bass

Sweetwater Sales Engineer and talented bassist Kevin Spunde shares some helpful advice on what to consider before buying your first bass guitar.

0:00 - Intro
0:51 - The P-Bass
1:32 - The Jazz Bass
2:20 - The PJ Bass
3:20 - Humbuckers
3:46 - What Is the Basses Role?
4:42 - Price Points
6:05 - The Importance Of A Setup
6:45 - How Do You See Yourself?
7:15 - Look For Inspiration
7:53 - Accessories
8:45 - Thanks For Watching!

#Sweetwater

[sweetwater]

Welcome to the world of bass guitar! If you have any questions, drop them in the comments section 👇 Get more great videos like this one when you like and subscribe 👍

[DaveMcCall]

One piece of simple advice as a bass player for 26 years: Get strap that is wider and and padded. They better spread out the weight of a bass on your shoulder than a normal guitar strap; basses are typically heavier than guitars because they're bigger and have heavier-duty bridges, tuning machines, pickups... even the strings are heavier... it all adds up. A good strap can make the difference between a distracting pain point in your shoulder and an effortlessly comfortable gig or session. My favorite is the Mono Betty, but each person might have their own preferences.

[jesusjhoh]

moving from piano to BASS but plan to creat some music from both instruments im hyped

[paperhatclown]

I’m an 8th grader who plays double bass, but I wanted to look into playing an instrument that isn’t necessarily made for classical music, and I thought bass guitar sounded beautiful. I looked up some solos, and more information about the bass guitar and I’m seriously considering buying the instrument. Thank you for the information dude, really appreciate it.

[legoharry]

Once you buy for first bass, your gonna need an amp. I recommend an SVT with a 8x10 and a Marshall JCM800 full stack, for biamping purposes, obviously. Oh and a pedalboard.

[JaxonHaze]

It took me awhile to learn about weights of basses. I got my dream bass at 11 lbs & didn’t know it was heavy until someone picked it up & said, “man, this is heavy!” Now I won’t go over 9 lbs- it’s important for standing gigs

[unicornnations]

*me trying to buy a bass and learn it in order to understand Davie504’s language*

[orca]

I recommend the fender Squier Affinity p-bass starter pack that comes with an amp, cord, case, and strap. It has everything you need to start for a relatively cheap price, but you should probably set it up once you get it.

[squaretomato]

First class introduction to bass. This dude is a really great presenter. Exactly what I needed, thanks!

[JasonMuellerauthor]

Glad to see something bass related doesn't seem like there has been much lately.

[navarredr]

Videos like this are why I always look to Sweetwater, first, for all my music needs. Cheers!

[thegypsyman]

Very good intro for aspiring bassists. My experiences w/ Sweetwater have always been good & Sales Rep Norb Berninger has been great! In addition to guitars, I play an LTD D-4 electronic bass purchased new in Spring '14.

[justarandomperson]

hoping to finally get a bass in a week or so! been wanting to play bass for a few years!

[thegypsyman]

Yes, she's a bit heavy (even more so w/wood hardshell case, ) so a padded wide strap is a must have!

[randywarren]

Im 66 yrs old and as my music listening has changed/mellowed I've have really been picking up on all the bass guitars sounds. So much so it has made me want to attempt playing a bass guitar. I've never played ANY instrument but thot maybe I could learn by copying the sounds/notes I hear on some of the music I'm listening to (play, rewind, play, rewind). So am I just dreaming or is learning a bass w/o lessons a possibility?

[TTinari]

I'm a multi-instrumentalist, bass singer, and I've primarily played guitar for several years, but never have had a bass of my own (aside from a Goodwill First Act bass with a missing G string). Played a friend's Fender Jag for a show, but I'm excited to go shopping for my own finally! Looking for the versatility that can accommodate various styles I perform and write, so probably going down the PJ lane (and might also look into some humbucker basses).

[JasonRennie]

After having played for two years, I think this video is sorely missing two points: (1) neck radius, and (2) neck finish. The neck radius tells you the curvature of the top of the neck. Fenders are typically 9.5" which is more curved than a Ibanez which is typically 12" (I'm talking 4-strings here). I initially gravitated toward a flatter radius (12"), but now I'm thinking of moving back to a more curved neck to make transitions across strings easier (I'm working on Vital Signs by Rush). Beginners won't know what radius to choose, but it's important to recognize that there is a difference. I find myself fairly sensitive to the finish on the back of the neck. Many basses use a gloss (i.e. thick polyurethane) finish. I find this less comfortable for my thumb than a satin (i.e. thin polyurethane) finish. I feel like the satin lets me feel some texture of the wood and makes it easier for me to hold the position I want.

It's good to go to a physical store to feel these differences. You may not really know what works better for you, but at least you can regognize that there is a difference and see how it affects your playing.

[RachelleAHhhhhh]

I really wanna learn to play bass, but my mom says it's so expensive lol

[joelanderson_t]

I have 2 Squier Bronco Bass guitars, and neither of them was my first bass. They're great platforms for modification. One of them was converted to a fretless with Korean hot-rail pickups, very enjoyable to play.

[Brutsie]

Regardless of the number of strings on the instrument you are buying, what is essential to "sight the neck" Place your eye near the rear strap connector & look toward the nut. The neck needs to be straight. Does the fingerboard curve toward the sky or the ground? It can be corrected & needs top be done before you buy it.