Brent Ward Music
Recommended Gear
for Beginners
These basses sell for under $120, and provide very good quality for the money. They're made of wood that's normally found in more expensive basses and have a good reputation. The electronics and hardware are decent; therefore, the instrument sounds good and stays in tune. I own three of these basses; they sound good and are reliable enough that I also use them when playing with a band.
SX basses are available in long (34") or short (30") scale, depending on the size of your hands.
You'll need to replace the strings, however, to get a better sound. And the bass may need to set up so it plays well (adjust the truss rod in the neck and the saddles at the bridge).
Setups are $5 to my bass students. A set of strings will cost between $15 and $20 from any music store or online at JustStrings.com
See more SX basses
Korg Tuner Chromatic Tuner CA-30
You need to make sure your bass plays in tune. This tuner is highly rated by a lot of musicians, is accurate, easy to use, and reasonably priced.
Eventually, you'll learn to get your bass in tune by ear, but at first, we recommend you use a tuner until your ability to hear the accuracy of your tuning develops. This way you can get on with making music!
Wittner MT-50 Metronome
You need a metronome to act as a "pretend drummer" when you're practicing. The job of a bass player, next to the drummer, is to keep the time solid. A metronome beeps in perfect time, and helps you figure out where you're speeding up, and where you're slowing down when you practice.
This particular metronome has a reputation for being very tough, and long-lasting. It has basic features, but is all you need to play with good time.
Learn More
Tempo Perfect Metronome Software
(Free Download)
This is a software metronome you download to your computer. I found it quiet on my computer speaker, however, it's worth a try if you don't want to buy a physical metronome.
Learn more
When you're starting out, you'll need something to amplify your bass so you can hear it. For practicing, a small 10 or 15 watt amp will do. If you intend to play with a band, however, you'll need something more powerful -- like a 100 Watt amp.
Peavey has always made good practice amplifiers, and is a brand a I often recommend. Search on Peavey Practice Amps at Musicians Friend:
Learn More at Musicians Friend