The Complete Bass Guitar Buying Guide

· Music

What Is a Bass Guitar?

bass guitar

This guitar looks almost the same as any other type of guitar, and unlike the regular models which have six strings, this one has four strings which are thicker and perfect for hitting lower notes. These notes are needed to add more depth to the music.

Important Things to Consider

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Well, before making any choice, first you should know that you should take into account several important factors before choosing the handiest bass guitar for sale on the market that will best suit your needs.

Type

First things first, these guitars come in a large selection of types, so finding the right bass guitar for sale should be based on your personal needs. That being said, you can choose from electric and acoustic types.

Electric

This music instrument was first invented in the ‘50s by Leo Fender and it quickly became a hit in the use of rock and roll, funk, soul and hard rock music genre. This guitar is smaller in size which makes it handier and easier to use by children as well. It can produce many tones which makes it perfect for being used in creating different music. Precisely this makes it the most popular and versatile music instrument in its category. The only downside it has is that it requires some additional accessories, however, this isn’t considered as that much of a problem.

Acoustic

The acoustic bass guitar has the same look as regular acoustic guitars with the difference that they are hollow and have a sound hole in the top which makes them perfect for being used in folk music. When compared to the electric ones, it seems that they have a much smoother sound which doesn’t make them the top choice for rock, hard rock, metal and even pop music. Just like the other type, this one is also easy to move around. The acoustic one doesn’t need amps, however, you’ll need some additional equipment for its installation into the sound system or the amp. Otherwise, you won’t be able to hear its sound, especially when playing with a band. Unlike the electric one, this one has more limited tones.

Number of Strings

Even though the classic model has 4 strings, nowadays, you can also choose from ones with 5 or even 6 strings. While the more the strings the more the notes you’ll be able to achieve, this might not be the perfect option for beginners who are just entering the world of guitars. However, if you’re more advanced, you’ll certainly find this handy.

Size

Generally speaking, you can choose between two types of bass guitars, small-scale and full-scale models. As the name suggests, the small ones are shorter in length while the larger ones are lаргер in length. Even though adults use the longer types of bass guitars, still, if you are a petite you might want to consider the idea of choosing the small-scale model. They make the perfect choice for youngsters as well. Regardless of the size you plan to choose, make sure that your elbow can bend comfortably without feeling any pressure or discomfort.

Body and Neck

When searching for the right musical instrument of this kind, you shouldn’t also forget about considering its body and neck. The body can be usually made from different materials and the neck can come in different shapes. The neck is an extremely important component of this instrument because it is crucial for having a good performance.

You should also think about the instrument’s fretboard which is the long wood piece placed on the top of its neck. On top of the wood, there are metal frets embedded into it. So before making any choice, first you should try and see which one would fit comfortably in your hands. Otherwise, you risk investing in an instrument that you’ll have to return.

These guitars can also come in a large selection of tonewoods, however, the most standard ones from which you can choose are ash, mahogany, basswood, maple, walnut, etc.

New or Used

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The last thing to take into account is whether to buy a new or used musical instrument of this kind. And in order to do that, you’ll need to weigh down the pros and cons.

For instance, when buying a new one, you can have peace of mind that no one has used it before you. It will come with a manufacturer’s warranty and it will last you for a very long time. The advantage of buying a used one is the lower price, however, you really cannot be sure how good it will be and how long you can use it. Buying a used instrument might be best for beginners only because they are new to this world and they might change their mind and try switching it for some other instrument.