In a word…FLEA!
He’s the funk-master for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and is every bit as revolutionary as Jaco.
Lexi: I’m glad my thread helped make your decision to jump into the world of bass guitar. I’ve found playing with a group, even just jamming, was the best way to increase my skills. Know your scales and the fretboard and you can fake your way through any jam session.
You can’t go wrong with a Fender Standard P-Bass ($300 new). But, like everyone else has said, make sure it’s well constructed and make the salesperson work for you. I say, buy some little cheap bass amp Fender BXR for in-home practice because you’ll want to spend the big bucks on your stage rig later on. Plus, if you find bass isn’t your “bag,” you haven’t dumped a lot of cash into it.
I’m finding it easier to go to the music store and just try different basses and amps. It costs nothing but time. Don’t stress over your skill level when playing in the store. Everyone started out at the same level.