# Good bass guitar for beginner? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2011, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452 "2011-03-30T01:55:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452/21 "2011-03-31T00:44:34Z")
I know about Rondo but I am a little wary of mail order / web for a guitar or bass. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452/22 "2011-03-31T03:34:36Z")
Enough people have said good things about Rondo that I’d find it worthy. I have had nothing but goodness from Guitarfetish, but have not personally purchased from Rondo. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452/23 "2011-03-31T04:22:01Z")
Fender P and J style basses are big and tend to be heavy, which can make them hard to play. Short or medium scale basses are _not_ the same thing in a smaller size, though. Scale length is one of the main things that contribute to the sound of a bass, and if you want the classic bass sound, you **have to** have that 34-inch scale length. Medium (32-inch) or short (30-inch) scale basses can sound good, but they will _always_ be “muddy” sounding compared to long scale basses. There really isn’t any way of getting the classic “Fender bass” sound with anything shorter than 34 inches. If you’re looking for something to simply hold down the low end and don’t care about note definition or clarity, then short or medium scale basses are fine, but there’s a reason why very few professionals use them. Paul McCartney used a short scale Hofner in the early Beatles, but it’s worth noting that he started using a Rickenbacker 4001 bass (34-inch scale) in the studio in 1966 and it’s only at that point (Revolver) that his bass lines really started to stand out. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452/24 "2011-03-31T13:25:48Z")
I am looking into these guys, they have a good reputation [http://www.thebasscompany.com/](http://www.thebasscompany.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kim\_o\_the\_Concrete\_Jungle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kim_o_the_Concrete_Jungle)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452/25 "2011-03-31T14:38:28Z")
I like the Ibanez SR series basses. If I was starting over again, I’d have one of those first. They’re light, they play well, and you can get one at pretty much any price point. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452/26 "2011-03-31T18:34:20Z")
Got very lucky and found a light Yamaha that sounds great at a small store so I bought it. Only $290 with a hard shell case. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2011, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452/27 "2011-03-31T20:36:45Z")
I forgot to add: Anybody know good books/DVDs/CDs or websites to learn bass? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bass-guitar-for-beginner/576452.md?page=1)