The Bass Neck
Possibly the most important part of
buying an electric bass is how the neck feels in your
hand when you fret. When trying out basses, be
sure to pay close attention to the neck thickness,
string spacing, and the length of the strings. If you
have small hands look for a small neck and vice versa.
This is not always appropriate but it is a great place
to start to see what necks feel right. The standard bass
guitar neck is 34″ long. Longer necks are available and
different sizes of basses are available. Also, make sure
the neck is straight. You can check this by holding the
guitar like you are looking down the barrel of a rifle
and site down the neck from the bottom to the bridge. If
the neck is crooked, this is a problem you may not be
able to correct with set up. Check this out, please.
Strings
The standard bass has 4
strings and is tuned like the first four strings of a
6-string guitar E-A-D-G. There are also 5 and 6-string
basses available as more bassists have become interested
in soloing and have more range. A 5-string bass is
usually tuned B-E-A-D-G, and the standard 6-string is
tuned B-E-A-D-G-C. Additional strings generally make the
neck wider so make sure to try these out before buying.
If you are buying a your fist bass get a four string and
learn that. If you get to be a pro you need to know how
to play it.
Frets and Fretless
The Fender Precision got its name because its frets
allow for “precise” fingering unlike a cello for
instance. If you are buying your first bass get a
fretted bass. You will need the precise tuning from the
fret placement to get started. Using a fretless bass
demands that you know where the notes are on the bass
and what each note should sound like in tune. Some
people never get there, so make it easy on yourself.
Purchasing the Bass
Before you put your hard earned money
down, do your homework. If you live in town with guitar
stores, then please go and try some out with the
intention of learning and not buying anything. It is
best to try as many basses as you can before deciding on
what to buy. When you do definitely decide on a bass
then your choices for places to buy are wide and
differing. Buying online can usually save you money but
you need to decide for yourself. If everyone buys online
then the guitar shop you visited to decide on a bass
will not be there. So, think it through.
If
you are buying a bass for the first time, I recommend a
four string, fretted one from a manufacturer whose name
you recognize. This is the safest bet.
Thanks and good luck.
Written by
Musicians-pal.com.
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