I'm playing a gig in Wisconsin this August: Need advice for inexpensive electric bass

[KansDem]

Might try the pawn shops since this is a "one-time" gig. I normally play double bass, but have played electric bass on occasional (rarely, I should say).

Any advice?

[PeaceNikki]

1. My advice is...

Be sure to post the details in the WI forum. There are a lot of us cheeseheads here on DU that would probably love to support you.

When and where are you playing?

[KansDem]

3. Don't quite know, yet.

Old friend of mine is a doctor there who has taken up drums. We knew each other in junior- and senior-high school. We were both saxophonists in the school bands and jazz ensembles. I picked up bass in my senior year to play in the orchestra.

He now lives in Wisconsin and wants me to come there in August for a "concert in the park." I'm not sure where "there" is, but expect to receive some more information soon.

Oh, and he specializes in Beach Boys' music (we both grew up in southern California) and asked me to do the arrangements! He plans on using 4 male singers, piano, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums.

I've already completed three tunes!

PS--We haven't seen each other for 35 years!

[PeaceNikki]

6. oooo, probably "Jazz in the Park"

http://www.easttown.com/info/Jazz%20in%20the%20Park/jipindex

Niiice! :thumbsup:

[KansDem]

8. You know, you might be right!

I just checked our past emails and he originally said "Wisconsin Jazz Festival," then corrected himself in a subsequent email and said "gig was for summer in the park series." I don't know yet what this means but hope to find out soon.

Thanks for the link :hi:

[dolo amber]

11. I can stumble to that from my house!

:D :bounce:

[KansDem]

13. Yeah? If that's the one, you'll have to stumble over and hear us play!

If this goes through, I might be the one wearing the "DU-Underground" t-shirt!
:hi:

[KansDem]

10. Good idea!

Be sure to post the details in the WI forum.

I'll do that as we get closer to the date. And I'm planning to take my "DU Underground" t-shirt with me!

[Orsino]

2. Ibanez makes 'em good and cheap. n/t

[KansDem]

5. You know, I've seen the "Ibanez" brand in a local pawn shop

I don't recall the price but I think it was somewhere between $200-$400.

Thanks for the information! I'll go on by the shop and take a closer look at them.

This information is very helpful! :hi:

[tigereye]

17. have bought a few instruments in pawn shops over the years

they always look so forlorn, like they need a good home. :(


Otherwise, I think it's better to buy a cheap new instrument, or a used one from a good home. I have an Ibanez bass and it's pretty cool. I think was less than 200.

[Greyskye]

4. Stick a pick-up in your double bass

Why not stick with what you're comfortable with? Get a good quality pick-up installed. You can't whip out a bow if you need it with an electric bass! :evilgrin:

[KansDem]

7. Except I'm driving about 500 miles to get there. Not much room for double bass.

In my youth, I used to take the passenger seat out of my VW and the bass would easily slide into the space next to me. Used to drive around quite a bit without the passenger seat.

I made sure to replace it though when I had a date. :D

[Greyskye]

9. I was afraid that might be the reason.

:( In that case, how about an electric double bass? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_upright_bass Can't beat it for the cool factor! :evilgrin:

[KansDem]

12. Hey, I like that! Good for "walking bass."

But I really want an electric bass for the novelty factor: imagine two 55-year-olds performing "Surfer Girl" (I don't know the ages of the other musicians involved).
:rofl:

[Zodiak]

14. I would get an off-brand P-bass, passive pickups

Preferably a company like Epiphone (Gibson) or Squier (Fender).

All P-basses sound excellent and are VERY cheap (150-$250). If you are just farting around, that is all you need.

Ibanez basses do not play well, in my opinion. They are pretty...they have lots of knobs and whistles, but they do not sound or play very well at all.

[KansDem]

16. Good information!

I'm not familiar with the term, "P-bass"...

And is the price $150-$250 the new price? That seems quite reasonable.

[Zodiak]

29. Yes, you can get new at that price

But you will have to settle for an off-brand of an off-brand. Like a Samick or the like. doesn't matter, though...because the sound of the P-bass is in the pickup design. P-basses have a two-part pickup (off-set from each other) that give a full, rich sound. Good for rock through punk.

Lots of larger music stores have a "deal" where you can get a starter bass for that price. If you make sure it is a P-bass, then you are in like Flynn.

[ghostsofgiants]

31. Samick's P-bass is decent.

I needed a cheap bass in high school for my applied music class so my parents got me one and it served me well.

[Zodiak]

33. I used to sell em

The Samicks are great, cheap basses.....at least the low end. If I were to get a mid-end bass, I'd go with Schecter.

[ghostsofgiants]

32. P-bass = Precision bass.

It's probably Fender's most popular model of bass. Lots of other companies make replicas.

[B3Nut]

21. Most of the Ibanezes I've played had fine action and tone

once you got above the entry-level (I love the SR506 6-stringer). I do find the necks on their Soundgear 4-stringers too narrow, the ATK series is much beefier, like a Music Man or a P-bass. But a used Fender Standard Precision (P-bass), one of the Made In Mexico instruments, would be a fine, dependable choice. I've played one for years, strung with Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. I've got a Mexican Fender Jazz and a Traben 5-stringer, too. Fresh strings and a good setup are vitally important with any of them.

The OP would be well-advised to head to a music store or Guitar Center and paw through the inexpensive basses...he's bound to find one he'll like. Definitely hard to go wrong with a P-bass or good copy...butt-simple with solid tone that sits in a mix well.

[Zodiak]

30. The mid-range Ibanez are okay, and the high end are great

But the low end are real monsters to play...at least in my experience. They seem tight and resist quite a bit. But then again, I am a Rickenbacker player, so slinkiness is one of my main criteria.

[Callalily]

15. Have you thought about

renting? I just rented a Steinway for one of our events in Florida.

Maybe check the music stores in Milwaukee, if indeed that is where you're playing.

If you're playing farther up north, try Heid Music.

http://www.heidmusic.com/

Good luck, and please let us know when/where you're playing!

[KansDem]

18. Thanks!

I may need to get the instrument earlier since it's been over 30 years since I've played electric bass, and I'll need to "bone up" a bit. Plus, I'll be reading chord symbols and will need to practice a little doing that.

Good luck, and please let us know when/where you're playing!--If this gig goes through, I'll post in the Wisconsin forum when we get a little closer to the date!

[jberryhill]

19. These ones are really cheap now....

[KansDem]

20. Where do you plug it in?

;)

[jberryhill]

24. The more relevant question is...

How do you turn it off.

[mikeytherat]

22. Don't overlook the Fender Squire Jazz basses

Dirt cheap, decent tone (a little thin in the mids, but decent), great neck and action. They are a little heavy, but most Fenders are. Check out youtube.com/soulercoaster to hear some of my basses recorded live (most are with my G&L L2000, but at least one track was done with my Squire Jazz bass - it was my #2 backup/practice bass at the time, and my G&L was out of commission at the time).

mikey_the_rat

[KansDem]

23. Thanks for the advice!

I keep my eye open for this bass as well as the others suggested by other knowledgeable DUers. I won't be needing to buy one until about the end of spring, so I'll have plenty of time to look. :hi::

Hey, just looked at your video! Nice job! :D

[Magrittes Pipe]

25. Go here:

http://creamcitymusic.com/

They have a great selection, good prices, outstanding service, and you might be able to swing a rental deal.

[Rabrrrrrr]

26. Tell your friend you've gone dada and bring a lawn chair, inflatable snowman. and a picture of

Gene Shalit tuned to R-negative.

[KansDem]

28. LOL!!!

I haven't seen him in 35 years. I just might be able to pull this off! :rofl:

[Jamastiene]

27. Fender Mexican Standard Precision Bass.

They run around $400 and are good reliable bass guitars that keep their value fairly nicely.