Beginner Bassist

excalaber

Hi Folks
Im looking at buying a bass to learn on: i was think about
the beatles ignition hofner bass. Anybody any thoughts on this bass. or perhaps there is a better bass for a similar price. would the hofner be easy to learn on.
Thanks.

lalee17

It depends, what kind of music are you looking to play?

excalaber

id be into the doors, beatles, the strokes, kasabian etc....im a drummer by trade but would like to take up Bass . I think this bass looks cool but am wondering if it good quality

lalee17

I don't have any personal experience with this bass but if you're looking for the best value for that price range I'd say you're best off going for a Fender Squire.

They don't have the best name for quality but are great for beginners. Plus there's loads of deals with them (usually) in which you get a small amp, etc with it to start you off!

Rigsby

I dont have any experience of this bass either. However, I agree with "lalee 17" and would personally go for a fender squire instead. There are lots of good bargains on www.adverts.ie if you wanted to go the second hand route. Also, I doubt if the Hofner would be any easier to learn on than any other bass.

Having said all that, if you have your heart set on this bass, and you think it will suit the music you want to play, then go for it.


Here is a link to a Squire on "Adverts" that you may like to check out :

http://www.adverts.ie/guitar-bass/fender-squier-showmaster-bass/507399

Malice

I would go for a Fender Squier as well. My second bass was a Squier and it has served me very well over the years.

lalee17

Rigsby wrote: »

I dont have any experience of this bass either. However, I agree with "lalee 17" and would personally go for a fender squire instead. There are lots of good bargains on www.adverts.ie if you wanted to go the second hand route. Also, I doubt if the Hofner would be any easier to learn on than any other bass.

Having said all that, if you have your heart set on this bass, and you think it will suit the music you want to play, then go for it.


Here is a link to a Squire on "Adverts" that you may like to check out :

http://www.adverts.ie/guitar-bass/fender-squier-showmaster-bass/507399

Only problem with Adverts when you're a beginner is you don't know if the instrument is defective or has a hidden problem. Happened to me when I was starting out, got a dodgy Thunderbird!

Rigsby

lalee17 wrote: »

Only problem with Adverts when you're a beginner is you don't know if the instrument is defective or has a hidden problem. Happened to me when I was starting out, got a dodgy Thunderbird!

Fair point. I suppose a beginner would need someone who knows a bit about guitars/basses, to go with them to have a look. At least with a shop, you have some come back, if something is not right.

All the same, there are some great bargains to be got on "adverts".

reniwren

lalee17 wrote: »

Only problem with Adverts when you're a beginner is you don't know if the instrument is defective or has a hidden problem. Happened to me when I was starting out, got a dodgy Thunderbird!

Thats how a lot of shops get away with bad setups on many basses,

I started off with an Aria IGB which I still have and will never sell

flameboy87

From my own experience I had a poor SX custom bass, and still have it actually. The condition was ok but the set up was poor but I got it cheap and it served me well as a learning bass. I have also had experience with Hofner style basses and if you get them cheap, chances are they will sound like cardboard and being honest if you play through a bad amp you might want to hop it off a wall if you don't like the tone of it.

My suggestion is that you get an Ibanez gsr Jumpstart pack. It will cost about 350 or maybe less if you shop around but they give you everything and I can guarentee its the best and most versatile bass guitar you will get and will have a much nicer neck to play than any squire.

Here is one for sale in Savins in Limerick http://savins.ie/products-2,1493/GSR190J-Electric-Bass-Starter-Pack---Black. Although I don't advice you actually get it there Best of luck and hope you find what you're looking for and that this is of some help

Air_Bass

I'd recommend the squier also, I got one as my first ever bass, gigged with it for years and never any trouble with it. Still have it and still use it.
A buddy of my has a hofner style bass (made by Tanglewood though) and the tone is quite limited to be honest and the body is quiet small and light so you're never going to get a nice solid tone out of it.
I'd recommend any of the squier standard series (the Affinity series is slightly cheaper quality) especially "squier precision bass special" - it's a hybrid of both precision and jazz bases so nice variation in tones available and has the narrower Jazz-bass neck so should be easier to learn on. Good luck anyways