I want to play bass

[SpiderWars]

Whenever I pick up a bass at practice or whatever I find it exceedingly fun to play. I have an old 50W Marshall (homebrew but pretty much stock circuit) or BF Bassman that I could use.

What would be a good speaker cab for playing bass thru those heads? I'd be afraid of damaging guitar speakers.
I don't know much about bass guitars so I was just thinking of playing it safe and getting a Jazz bass but I'm open to suggestions.
I don't know the difference between a piccolo, 3/4 scale or some of these other descriptors I've seen. Pretty lost here.

Chris Squire got some of my favorite bass tones and I read he used a Marshall head for Fragile (which is just sofa king good tone imo). But then doubled it using Howe's ES335. Not sure how that worked...but it def worked.

Any help appreciated. Or hell, it's Friday, keep it fluffy and add your favorite bass player joke.

 

[cardinal]

I bought a cheap bass on a lark and absolutely love it. I've since owned several, all 5-strings. My fav cheap bass was a Sterling SUB. You can find used German-made Warwicks for ~$600, and those are fantastic basses compared to anything at any price IME. I have a Spector NS now, and it's freaking awesome. The new Fender Elite Jazz is also a very nice bass.

Those amps will be fine for practice but I doubt you'd be heard above a drummer and guitar player at moderate volumes. You want a bass cab. The excursion from bass can wreck guitar speakers, though they can tolerate it at lower volumes. You probably could find a cheap SVT 4x10 on your local craigslist.

 

[SpiderWars]

I bought a cheap bass on a lark and absolutely love it. I've since owned several, all 5-strings. My fav cheap bass was a Sterling SUB. You can find used German-made Warwicks for ~$600, and those are fantastic basses compared to anything at any price IME. I have a Spector NS now, and it's freaking awesome. The new Fender Elite Jazz is also a very nice bass.

Those amps will be fine for practice but I doubt you'd be heard above a drummer and guitar player at moderate volumes. You want a bass cab. The excursion from bass can wreck guitar speakers, though they can tolerate it at lower volumes. You probably could find a cheap SVT 4x10 on your local craigslist.

Spector is what my bass player plays and what I usually pick up. Looks very similar to the NS pics. It is soooooo easy to play. Seems very high output.

 

[cardinal]

Spectors are famous for a fairly hot and lo-fi preamp. It gives a particular grind and growl to its tone. My NS5 blows away every other bass I've played. I wish I could find a guitar that I feel the same way about.

 

[Ventura]

Whenever I pick up a bass at practice or whatever I find it exceedingly fun to play.

Aw shit, you know I'm just joking - couldn't help in

Play what makes ya happy. Jut not a standup Korg synth keyboard - THAT will get you the boot!!

 

[SpiderWars]

Well fuck! Per the chart I'm already a bass player.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

I use guitar cabs with delta 12a regular not pro speakers. Cheap and can do bass AND a dark guitar sound.

Do it bass is awesome, a new persepctive that makes you a better player. Different role.

I use a jazz bass. Bought a squier and gutted it for all new quality electronics. Subsequently toured the world twice as a fill in bassist.

 

[Findthetone1]

Check out the Fender Squire James Johnston jazz bass. If it's something you might dig PM me. I might sell mine

 

[LP Freak]

Most guitar players don't make good bass players

 

[cardinal]

Most guitar players don't make good bass players

It's definitely a different way to think. I'm not there yet. More space between the notes (though some shredding and popping/slapping can get pretty fun). I think most bassist probably would make a solid rhythm guitarist with good swing and hooks. But it can be tough for a lead guitarist to really gel with what really works on bass to drive the song forward.

 

[Valtyr]

Bass is fun. Chris Squire and Geddy Lee are my heroes.

I play a Rickenbacker 4001 bass through a Mesa Mpulse amp and Mesa 2x12 cab. Also run a Moog connected to MIDI bass pedals for additional bass.

 

[LP Freak]

Most guitar players don't make good bass players

It's definitely a different way to think. I'm not there yet. More space between the notes (though some shredding and popping/slapping can get pretty fun). I think most bassist probably would make a solid rhythm guitarist with good swing and hooks. But it can be tough for a lead guitarist to really gel with what really works on bass to drive the song forward.

Yea, once you're a guitar player it's not always easy to think like a bass player. You end up playing guitar on the bass which usually sounds like ass.

 

[rottingcorpse]

I have a 5 string fretless zebra wood beauty and two acme b4 cabs. Need to get a new amp for it. Played bass first for 5 years before I switched to guitar. I still love locking in with the rhythm more than anything.

 

[SpiderWars]

I just want it to mess around and get other ideas flowing. Make loops with it and then play guitar over the loop. Help write songs. Things like that. I think/play differently with bass.

 

[vchizzle]

I like to mess around on bass as well. It's good to think differently when working on a new instrument. I appreciate great bass tone, playing and groove every bit as much as guitar. That reminds me, I have 3 basses now, I gotta let some of these go!

 

[chris lykins]

I also play bass in a rockabilly/americana band and love it. My first advice is learn to play with your fingers as it connects you to your instrument and make you play differently (you already got the pick thing down). Then learn lines where bass is the dominant instrument like R and B or funk. Helps with your groove and is totally fun. Then if you find out you like it, you can start with Jazz walking lessons which expands your knowledge but usually doesn't work in rock unless your playing Maj/min 7th chords or diminished.
While this is going on learn from the rock masters (JPJ, Steve Harris, the Ox, etc) and now you can play most genres. If you enjoy it, you can really branch out . At least in my experience in local scenes theres lots of OK guitar players but just a great bassists.
Sorry for the long winded response! Also if you want great bang for the buck, the import Laklands play better than any other inexpensive bass!

 

[Ventura]

Well fuck! Per the chart I'm already a bass player.

There's no judgement on RT

 

[JTyson]

Most guitar players don't make good bass players

I gotta vouch for this...
I have a killer Jazz Bass and a great bass amp I got for recording, but it sounds like a guitar player playing bass every time.
My bass player Jerry (who's awesome) has a completely different thought process to end up with what he does.
Plus he has an old school SVT head with the matching 8X10 cab and it is the coolest bass rig I've ever heard, makes my SWR sound like a childs toy

 

[cardinal]

Yeah I really suck at the bass. But it's still lots of fun to play. Great to have both. I use Positive Grid Bias's SVT sim into a FRFR cab.

And just 'cause, here's a pic of my beloved NS5

 

[JTyson]

That is a killer Spector