Wednesday 9 September 2009

Simple Guidelines in Picking a Bass Guitar

By Jackie Strohm

If you are a bassist and do not have a bass guitar, then it does not really compute or add up. Get yourself a bass guitar. But before you head to the nearest music store, here are some pointer you might need to know in order to make the best purchase.

The body style of the guitar should be a top consideration. Do you play in a rock band or are you a part of an acoustic triumvirate? See, if you are into rock and loud music, then go for a solid body guitar. If you play for an acoustic tune, go for hollow ones.

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 a necessary attribute. All you have to do is remember that a bass guitar that has short scale lengths is the best instrument for guitar players with small hands. But you can still pick guitars that have longer scale lengths provided you can master them at your own pace.

A bass guitar should also come with an extremely functional tuning machine. This little device is what you use to fine tune your instrument and hold pitch, so you are better off if you have the best one available. Also, a tuning machine with an enclosed head is much better than an open air tuning head, which is very exposed to the elements.

Do not worry much about the number of frets for when choosing a bass guitar. The number of frets is always left on your personal preference. You can choose bass guitars that have 21, 22, or 24 frets. But in the end, it does not really matter since you will be playing a lot of notes in the lower frets anyway.

The material of your guitar is also a vital attribute when picking 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. But still, the best thing you can do is pick a guitar that produces the sounds the way you want it. Also, the guitar's finish is not much of a concern, so don't worry much about the finish..

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