Basic Tips in Buying a Bass Guitar

August 27th, 2009 by Jackie Strohm, under Music. No Comments

If you play great with a bass guitar but don’t have a bass guitar, then it’s high time that you get one. If you are thinking of buying one, picking the best choice may not be as simple as plucking some strings. There are a lot of things to cover when you make a bass guitar purchase. Luckily, this guide will aid you in finding the perfect bass guitar for your act.

The body style of your bass guitar means a lot. If you are into loud bass action, then a solid-body bass guitar is the perfect body style for you. However, if you are into the slower side of things, go for a bass guitar with a hollow body.

Once you have the body figured out, its time to check the neck. Picking the guitar with the perfect neck is easy. Just take a look at the size of your hands. The type of neck is relatively dependent on how big or small your hands are. Whether you prefer round, flat back, oval, “vee” and asymmetrical types of neck, small hands mean thinner necks and vice versa.

Scale length is also important. When you have smaller hands, a bass guitar that sports short scale lengths is the best instrument for you. But you can still pick guitars that have longer scale lengths provided you can master them at your own pace.

A bass guitar must come with a fully functional tuning machine. This little device is what you use to fine tune your instrument and hold pitch, so having the best one available is a must. Do remember that tuning machine with enclosed heads are better than the open-air types. Enclosed tuning machines are shielded from the elements and have slower wear and tear rate.

When choosing a bass guitar, do not concern yourself much about the number of frets. You can pick any guitar with any number of frets. It does not really matter if you have a bass guitar that has 21, 22, or 24 frets, what matters is that most notes are played on lower frets.

The type of wood material is also a significant attribute when buying a bass guitar. The type of wood totally affects the tone and the weight of your instrument. If you will be playing on your feet, better pick a guitar that is made of lightweight wood, such as swamp ash. Alder is also a very good choice.

Before ending this guide, just remember to be very thorough with your options. The best thing you can possibly do is find a guitar that really produces the sound you want. Do not concern yourself much with the finish, as it can never affect the way you play.