Choosing A Bass Guitar

Many bass guitar players get confused on how to choose the right bass guitar for them. Many will try to look at Internet reviews, magazines and what other players might say. It is good to listen to. But the final judgment comes from you. You are the one who will spend on the bass guitar, use it and care for it. So what YOU think really matters on what you will buy. This guide will help those bass guitarists who are still in the midst of confusion when choosing the right bass guitar for their playing.

There are a lot of reasons and details to look at when you are thinking of buying your bass guitar. One factor is the bass guitar’s body style design. Most of the bass guitars available in the market today are all solid-body. And most are electric. There are hundreds of standard designs that are applicable to any kind of music. But if you are into the mellow, more rounded sound that is similar to jazz and orchestra playing, then try to a get a semi-hollow electric bass.

Next on the list is the fingerboard. If you are looking for that warm, smooth bass sound, then try to look for the uncoated fingerboard. This style is suited for jazz and other mellow genres. But if you get a fingerboard that is coated, the sound is higher in tone and more treble, generally for rock and pop music.  The bass guitar’s neck is another factor to consider. But this one is simple. Just check if your hand size can hold the neck and is comfortable. There are many different designs on this one. There is the round, oval, asymmetrical, flat and the V-shaped. If you are planning to get a four stringed bass, it usually has a small neck compared to the 4 and 5 stringed basses.

The scale length of the bass guitar should also be checked. This factor influences the quality of the sound and tones of the bass guitar.  What is the best scale to choose from? It actually depends on the kind of sound you want. For lower, warm sounds get a bass guitar with a longer scale. For a higher tone, get the ones with the shorter scale.

Next on the list are the frets. There are three configurations to choose from. You can get 21, 22 or 24 frets. It really depends on your style of playing. Some need less while others need more. It’s all up to you.
The pickups are probably the most examined area of the bass guitar. It does not matter what the design of the bass guitar is, or the kind of wood used, the pickups produce the sound that will come out of the amplifier.

These are just some simple tips to help you on how to choose the right bass guitar. Just understand some of the basics on this guide and you are on your way in getting the perfect bass guitar that you will use for you playing.  Now you can just find some easy guitar songs to learn as well as some guitar tutorials and you will be good to go!

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