Help!!! (New bass desicions!)

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Kyler_Welsch

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I'm having trouble making a choice on a new bass. My financial situation limits my choices, as well as my past experiences in buying basses I haven't ended up liking. I currently have a six string Warmoth Gecko, which is absolutely a wonderful bass (mostly because I modeled the options after a Warwick) that I'm going to sell once the electronics are fixed (or replaced, whichever the case may be: PM me if interested in pics or info...) and am hoping to get $1100 out of. I also have an SWR SM-500 for sale (see Amplification For Sale threads) that I'm hoping to get $600 out of, and I have $300 scrounged together already. So all in all, I'll have $2000 if all goes according to plan. Although my birthday is at the end of the month, so I might get a little more if I'm lucky. Here is my dilemma, I have been playing for about 7 years, but never learned theory, scales, anything, only played by ear. (I don't even know the notes on the fingerboard) I even played for the jazz choir in my high school, and according to my teacher did really well and if I kept at it I could become a "monster bass player." So I've decided to learn theory but don't want to do it on my six string because my mind puts up a road block with the extra strings and all my resources teach for four strings anyway, making near impossible for me to actually grasp the concepts. So I'd like to get a four string, preferrably used Thumb, Streamer, etc with a contoured back and neck through. (I've owned a Thumb BO 5, Thumb NT 6 fretless, and a Katana NT 5 and have played many others but narrowed what all I liked about all these down to these models) Though I'll probably have $2000 to spend I'd like to get a good amp to go along with, so I'd like the cost of the bass to be in the $1000-1500 range, as close to the $1000 as possible. Yet, with what I'm looking for in a bass my choices are usually closer to the $2000 range. If I were to be okay with a 5 string I seem to find more of those around the prices I'm looking for (as far as Thumb NTs go). So should I go all out and get exactly what I'm looking for in playability, sound, feel and aide in learning theory (essentially my perfect bass) and spend all my cash, just get an amp later? (could between months and a year before I can get extra cash for an amp) Should I sacrifice getting the perfect bass for the ability to have an amp and a bass? I'd rather not wait for time and all eternity for the perfect deal to come along, I'm already having a rough time having my only bass be in the shop for the last week. I appreciate any all responses!!! HELP!!! :cry:
 
I think you should sit back, and think
about what you really want as a bass
player in general.

Let's first establish what you feel at
home on. It seems you like your six
stringers well. So, if you want to learn
music theory, why not stick with what
you like to play already!?

I mean, say you learn theory on a four
string instead, well, then you have to
adjust to a four string, and when you
pick up a six string again, you're going
to feel quite awkward in your playing
style.

I think you should stick with six strings,
unless you're dead set on getting a five
because you don't use either the B or C.

Now, as far as which model... Well, what
type of tone are you after? You said you
modeled your Gecko 6 after a Warwick,
which woods did you use for it's construction?

Keep in mind, tone woods are a HUGE
signature in Warwick's overall sound, and
the Thumb BO and neck through are made
of two different species of woods, not
to even mention that the Streamer is a
whole other beast.

So, first, the basics...
 
Hey man.
I think 2000 USD are enough money to have a GREAT setup second hand.

I strongly recommend a Streamer LX. It is not very expensive, still it has something "extra" in sound, that you'll find only on Warwicks. Thumb BO too, ok, but the LX is cheaper actually.

so this shouldn't be more than 1000 USD. even if you buy it new, you can find a very good deal for a 4 stringer...
And with 1000 $ for an amp... you can buy a very good one too.

It's not about sacrificing anything, it's only about being smart ;-)

The Florin.
 
To be honest, I do feel more at home on a four string, I just haven't had one in quite some time, so I have had plenty of time to have a feel for six string. To me, they're just different beasts altogether, Five strings as well. I tend to have a slightly different playing style for all three. As far as getting a six string later, I might... but I'm not really positive if I would or not. My Thumb BO five is what I used when I played jazz for school, and I used the fifth string often enough that I could see myself getting a five string after re-conquering the four string for jazz, but it wouldn't be my primary bass. But I don't really see myself getting a six again. I really only ever use the high C for "solo bass" type melodies. (Like bass playing the melody, not a bass solo) If I was really concerned with getting that later, I could always get a 5 string with a high C because I don't usually play the high C and low B simultaneously. I actually did that with my Thumb BO right before I sold it and it seemed to work out pretty well for me.

I've played my fair share of Thumb NT's and have loved every one I played, I could get exactly what I was looking for out of it sound-wise, and I love everything about it with the exception of neck dive, and I've never played one that did it as badly as my Gecko does. But I'm not sure about Streamers as I've never played one, but I love Stuart Zender and Dirk Lance's tones and if that's what they use, I don't see how I couldn't get a great sound out of them. My Gecko is actually made of black korina, with a flamed/quilted walnut top, and a figured maple accent between. The neck is actually brazilian rosewood with wenge laminates and a gaboon ebony fingerboard (with a pau ferro gecko inlay that runs from the 11th to the 17th fret and is pretty snazzy), which I was lucky to get because they wont make them anymore considering brazilian rosewood can't be imported and is in short supply.
 
You should check your local Guitar Centre.
Alotta Talkbass members are buying new Corvette's for $600 to $800 on sale as we speak.
If you like the Thumb,the Corvette should impress you as well.
 
I do like Corvettes, they aren't exactly my dream bass though. I do love the fretless ones though, so I think I might go that avenue when I expand my horizons and start learning fretless much later, but the fretted ones aren't really "home" to me as Mr Durden stated. I'd like this bass to be the bass that I keep forever. I'm tired of finding things I don't end up liking about them and selling them later or "settling" for a bass and then selling it later because I realized how I should have just went all out and bought what I really wanted.
 
Too true. My friend's birthday is the 7th of February and he wanted to head over to Seattle that day, so if I have my funds and haven't found a fantastic deal by then, I'll probably visit all four GCs in that area. Thanks to everyone who has assisted me!
 
Not sure if this is considered spamming or against the rules but my bass is for sale so I can get that new (to me probably) Warwick!
 
not spam at all. In fact, there's a for sale section so you can post an ad for it!
 
It's definitely a pretty bass! I never cared
for the Gecko inlays though... Regardless,
very pretty little number. Best of luck finding
her a new home!
 

Keep your beloved Gecko and just get a $99 ax for
your theory exercises.

Personally, I'm also using a nongigging ax acquired
specifically for my learning theory, etc. I don't get
all "in love" with my lessons tool, so that avoids the
distraction of just wanting to jam out.

I admit that I did spend over $99 for my lessons ax.
I spent $300, but I have a decent job, so thaz still
pretty low budget. It has no fancy wood, no sooper
feel ... it doesn't even have weighted keys.

OK. Catzouta the bag. Looky if you wanna get a new
ax, fine and dandy. But don't hide it behind all this
'theory lessons' stuff. So you wanna new bass ? Cool.
You wanna learn theory, use a KB. Ask anyone.

BTW, I recommend a book called "How to play piano
despite years of lessons". Sorry, I forget the author.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
golem said:

Keep your beloved Gecko and just get a $99 ax for
your theory exercises.

Personally, I'm also using a nongigging ax acquired
specifically for my learning theory, etc. I don't get
all "in love" with my lessons tool, so that avoids the
distraction of just wanting to jam out.

I admit that I did spend over $99 for my lessons ax.
I spent $300, but I have a decent job, so thaz still
pretty low budget. It has no fancy wood, no sooper
feel ... it doesn't even have weighted keys.

OK. Catzouta the bag. Looky if you wanna get a new
ax, fine and dandy. But don't hide it behind all this
'theory lessons' stuff. So you wanna new bass ? Cool.
You wanna learn theory, use a KB. Ask anyone.

BTW, I recommend a book called "How to play piano
despite years of lessons". Sorry, I forget the author.
Click to expand...

First off, it really is for the theory stuff, getting a new bass is just a bonus ;). Second, what is a KB is that keyboard? I don't know if it's forum talk or not, but I'm not well versed in it. I probably shouldn't rightfully say "theory" because I don't know if that's what it would be persay, I'm referring to knowing the fingerboard notes so well it's an automatic reaction, knowing scales at all positions of the neck, etc. Third, that cheapo bass idea is excellent! I hadn't even considered that! I think if my bass doesn't sell this time around, I might just have to do that. I remember playing a Schecter Custom that was a great bang for the buck, especially if I get one used, it'll only be a couple hundred. Fourth, I'll definitely check that book out. Thanks again everyone!
 
Kyler_Welsch said:
First off, it really is for the theory stuff, getting a new
bass is just a bonus ;). Second, what is a KB is that
keyboard? I don't know if it's forum talk or not, but
I'm not well versed in it. I probably shouldn't rightfully
say "theory" because I don't know if that's what it
would be persay, I'm referring to knowing the
fingerboard notes so well it's an automatic reaction,
knowing scales at all positions of the neck, etc. Third,
that cheapo bass idea is excellent! I hadn't even
considered that! I think if my bass doesn't sell this
time around, I might just have to do that. I remember
playing a Schecter Custom that was a great bang for
the buck, especially if I get one used, it'll only be a
couple hundred. Fourth, I'll definitely check that book
out. Thanks again everyone!
Click to expand...


OK. I see what you mean ..... not a universal [pure?]
theory, but a more "scientific" way with your bass, vs
your current "gut" feel which, of course, you'll wanna
keep alive no matter what more you learn.

KB is keyboard but it's not especially forum talk, just
like FL for fretless is not forum talk. But I don't know
why you'd want that book unless you're also going to
get into KB as well ......

 
Exactly, and who knows, maybe I will learn the keys as well, I figure it would help me understand more aspects of what I'm doing/would like to do.
 
Hell, keys are easy. As long as it has a transpose button, all you have to do is learn the white ones. :lol:
 


Considering your actual intent, not general theory, but
learning an organized approach to your bass, now I'm
thinking that the desire for a 4-string is maybe misled.
Just cuz a 4-string is "basics" does NOT mean that it's
the most direct or easiest to understand teaching tool.

Sure, a multi-string can be distracting ergonomically,
but ... like a KB ... it lays out certain ideas very clearly.
Frinstintz, a 7-string has a complete Circle of Fifths, in
order, on any pair of adjacent frets. Compared to a 4-
string, your 6-string may be more complex for your
hands, but simpler, and more direct, for your mind.

For each scale [or mode] there are various alternate
fingerings that are still the same scale. IOW the scale
morphs its shape on the FB but it's still the same set
of notes. Getting about 3 "shapes" into habitual use is
gonna lead to more musical, more innovative, ways of
fingering each change of chords. It's like knowing how
to carve thru traffic on a scooter instead of waiting in
line, in one lane, driving a truck. With multi strings,
these shapes can be found everywhere, intact, all over
the FB. With a 4-string, the shapes are always being
compromised by encounters with the edges of the FB.

Of course you should learn to deal with re-fingering at
the edges, but for "theory" learning purposes, keeping
a concept uncluttered and more pure is cool. The more
strings you have, the less you "run off" the edges.

You've already got a 6-string. If you've got a mentor
that's helping you, show him the concept of this post
and ask how you can take advantage of how your bass
on hand is already similar to a KB. He will teach you
some exercises that will organize your approach to the
bass to match how music in general is also organized.
 
Wow. I never thought about it that way. You learn something new everyday, don't you? I may just have to keep this beast...
 
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