"I want to start playing bass, but I don't know what to buy..."
Don't worry about that!
I want to start playing bass!
For all of you who are new to bass guitar, we've compiled some helpful information!
There are so many different shapes of bass guitars, what's the difference? Besides the bass guitar itself, what else do you need?
You'll probably have a lot of questions at first, but don't worry. Leave all your concerns to Ikebe!
Let's work together to find the perfect bass guitar for you!
About the types of bass
One of the first things people often struggle with when they decide to start playing bass is, "Which bass should I choose?"
Different types of basses produce quite different sounds, and some are more suitable for certain genres of music. Let's start by looking at some of the most common types of basses.
JB (Jazz Bass) type
This is a classic type of bass with a traditional look, similar to the Fender Jazz Bass. It has a slim, easy-to-play neck and a relatively clear, versatile sound. Recommended for J-POP and any other genre.
PB (Precision Bass) type
Another classic type, similar to the Fender Precision Bass. It has a thicker neck than the JB type, and its sound is characterized by prominent mid-low frequencies. It's especially recommended for rock and funk music.
MM (Music Man) type
The third type, exemplified by the MUSIC MAN StingRay, is
extremely powerful and allows for sound shaping with its equalizer, effortlessly producing everything from thick, gritty tones to tight, punchy ones.
Its slapping technique, in particular, produces a powerful, punchy sound that every bassist dreams of!
Compact (slim) body type
With their modern looks, bass guitars come in a variety of designs and sounds from different manufacturers. Many models feature body shapes that prioritize ease of playing and offer excellent playability. They are recommended for those who are worried about reaching the strings or who want a lighter bass.
5-string bass
The 5-string bass has become quite popular recently.
It has an extra, thicker string, allowing it to produce even lower notes than a standard 4-string bass, and consequently, the neck is also thicker.
Many popular songs these days use 5-string basses, so choosing one that suits your preferred style of music or band is a good idea.
For other recommended basses across all price ranges that are easy to play, please see here.
What else do I need besides the bass?
To play the electric bass, you actually need several things besides the instrument itself. Here are some essential items for starting out on the bass!
This is a device that amplifies and outputs the sound of an amplifier bass. A powerful bass sound comes out of the speaker of this amplifier!
Shielded cable
is a cable used to connect an amplifier to a bass guitar. It's often simply called a "shielded cable."
Tuner
is a device used to tune a bass guitar to a reference pitch. It comes in pedal and clip-on types.
pick
A pick is used when playing with a pick. If you want to produce a rough, straightforward sound, playing with a pick is recommended !
Stand
is a stand used to keep musical instruments upright.
Q&A (We'll answer frequently asked questions from beginners learning bass as clearly as possible!)
The bass guitar is the instrument that provides the low-frequency (bass) parts of a song and, together with the drums, controls the rhythm of the song, essentially supporting the foundation (bass) of the music.
The system works by picking up the vibrations of the plucked strings with a pickup, converting them into electricity, sending it to an amplifier through a shielded cable, and then amplifying the power to produce sound from the cabinet (speaker).
A pickup is a component that uses magnetism to pick up the vibrations of a plucked string and converts them into electricity. It's usually the black part located near the center of an instrument. The tone changes depending on the type, such as JB type or PB type, so it's a very important factor in determining the "voice" of the bass.
At Ikebe Musical Instruments, we have basses available starting from the upper 20,000 yen range, so with the necessary accessories, the total cost will probably be around 40,000 yen or more. The best thing to do is to choose the bass you want most (even just based on looks!), so please set a budget that is within your means.
First, if you have a genre you want to play, choose a bass that suits that, but ultimately, I recommend choosing a bass that you like the look and design of the most!
If you have a bass guitar that gets you excited just by having it in your room, you'll naturally practice more and it will surely be a shortcut to improvement.
If you're unsure, please feel free to consult with us at the store! Our staff will do their best to support you!
Check out the [Ikebe B-Sound Check] section, a collection of demo videos by our exclusive demonstrator, Ueda-kun!
Ueda-kun, who plays bass for his own band Are Square and RED ORCA, and is also active as an influencer, tries out the carefully selected basses at each Ikebe store! Check out the sounds of the basses you're interested in here.
