buying my first bass

[iAMhollyood315]

Hey everyone, i am a guitar player that has played for 4 years that wants to learn and play bass on the side. I'm really not sure what kind of bass to get. i want to play music from bands like every time i die to minus the bear to even blues. My budget is 300$ tops and im trying to debate bender a squier precision bass or a jazz bass. i really like the tone of the Squier vintage modified jazz bass as it is a lot brighter but i still want something thats beefy and packs a punch that can also delvier clean sparkling highs. do anyone of you know bassists that play a jazz bass for metal/punk/emo whatever style? if anyone's got suggestions thats in my budge let me know! thanks!

[Tristan Needler]

That's the thing with the jazz bass. More emphasis on the harmonics. More "punch." Cuts through better. The P-bass has a rounder tone. I play a jazz bass and I like the tone much better than then less-edgy P-bass.

If it's at all a possibility, save up the extra hundred and get the Fender Standard Jazz. You won't be disappointed.

[iAMhollyood315]

That's the thing with the jazz bass. More emphasis on the harmonics. More "punch." Cuts through better. The P-bass has a rounder tone. I play a jazz bass and I like the tone much better than then less-edgy P-bass.

If it's at all a possibility, save up the extra hundred and get the Fender Standard Jazz. You won't be disappointed.

thanks for the advice/input. btw what kind of music do you play? i really do like the jazz bass tone however i am wondering if it has enough low end for some edgier music. i am currently using a behringer 300 watt head with a matching 1x15 cab

[ClydeMcAllister]

That's the thing with the jazz bass. More emphasis on the harmonics. More "punch." Cuts through better. The P-bass has a rounder tone. I play a jazz bass and I like the tone much better than then less-edgy P-bass.

If it's at all a possibility, save up the extra hundred and get the Fender Standard Jazz. You won't be disappointed.


I find that while J-basses cut through better, a P always sits better in the mix and give the band overall a much more full sound. But even so, a P can get plenty edgy just by altering the way you attack the strings, and a J can get a bit rounder by backing off the bridge pickup a bit and playing closer to the neck.

Either way, J or P, you're going to get a good sounding bass with a lot of potential to sound however you want it. And the Squier Vintage Mod series a really great basses for the price.

[bassdrummer2333]

My friend plays in a post hardcore/experimental rock band and he does alot of edgy, heavy, distorted bass and he uses a Fender Jazz bass, it sounds really good.

[Tristan Needler]

thanks for the advice/input. btw what kind of music do you play? i really do like the jazz bass tone however i am wondering if it has enough low end for some edgier music. i am currently using a behringer 300 watt head with a matching 1x15 cab
I play tons of different stuff. You can get lots of different sounds depending on what pickup(s) you use in what amounts, where you play, whether you play with your fingers or a pick. I'll post a couple examples.

More of a rock song using (almost) only the bridge pickup and a pick (pretty punchy sound):
http://www.yousendit.com/download/bVlDSkhYcVgzeUt4dnc9PQ

A Bright Eyes cover using both pickups together equally and my fingers (a much deeper, rounder bassier sound) Ignore my terrible singing. This is a home recording so it may not be as high quality as some stuff, but oh well:
http://www.yousendit.com/download/bVlDSkhkR0Y4aVB2Wmc9PQ