Working Bass and Guitar players - advice solicited

In my life travels, I have fallen in with a bad crowd. My best friend in Denver is a professional keyboard player in an alt-country outfit. He knows that I have played rhythm guitar in a rock band and DJd extensively.

He has dared me to become a bass player for a project he is doing in January. I am willing to see a teacher twice weekly, buy a bass and amps/pedals, blah, blah, blah...

He wants to basically play modern rock with a psychedelic 60s edge to it.

Since this is kind of a one shot deal...and I will likely be purchasing a new bass rather than used...

What must I have to do this? Don't be shy...

I wanna know about short scale models, hollow body options, best overdrive and delay pedals, and combo amp options for small (100seat bar) venues. I am guessing I will like a lower action based on my guitar notions...and I am looking for a four string model.

Thanks in advance!

 

How big is the room that you'll be playing in? One show or several? Do you want a throw away or an instrument that is quality or somewhere in between? New, used or vintage? What's your budget? I know, lots of questions.

As it's rock, go with a solid body.

 

New, good quality for gigging...40x60 foot room, could be 2x per month. Could drop $1-2k on a rig.

Edit: one shot deal means I need a setup and I need to just freeze the design and start getting good.

 

I've always been impressed with Fenders, but I haven't touched anything newer than a 1974 model. However, this one appears to be something similar to what one of my fellow band members used years back.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender/Deluxe-Dimension-Bass-Rosewood-Fingerboard.gc

Our keyboardist had a peavey amp that sounded amazing. The reviews on this one are quite good. My daughter plays keyboards in the church group and the bassist uses a Peavey. It puts out a great sound.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Peavey/...-Amp-Black-1274228073869.gc?pfm=item_page.rr3

 

I was about to pull the trigger on this yesterday.

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender/Special-Edition-Deluxe-Ash-Jazz-Bass.gc

 

That is a beauty! It has a rosewood fretboard too! I just read the reviews and there's not a bad comment there.

That might very well fit the bill!

 

If I dropped $700 on guitar, $700 on amp, I'd still have a few pennies for a pedal or two.

 

The rule I always used was 1/2 the budget on the guitar and 1/2 on the amp. So, $1,400 spent on the bass and amp and you've got a few bucks left over Tor a case and accessories.

 

I've been told not to buy an amp immediately, I can plug in to my friends amp for practice at first, but I will need one by January if this works out.

 

That's a cost effective way to go. You could always pick up a small amp for practice around the house. A real cheap one is under $100. If you were near NJ, I've got a couple in my basement that you could take your pick from. Not bass amps, but would work well for practice.

 

Btw, keep us posted on how it goes. This sounds like it could be a very cool and fun experience.

 

Oh yeah... Pics or it didn't happen!

 

I will. He's a guy who has two piano degrees and is writing most of the music. It's shaping up to be me, him (keys), a guitarist, and a percussionist/drum programmer/sequencer/engineer. Instrumental dancy rock tracks are the goal. Feel really lucky he wants me to try. We've been joking for years, he finally called me out

 

Understood. FWIW I don't know if I can actually pull it off in two months. But I I'll try!

 

Perhaps the best advice I can give is to buy used. My logic is that someone else has already taken the hit that a used product will take and it will generally sell for about what you got it for if you decide it's not for you.
Picking a bass for someone is highly personal, like piking food or clothes, you have to look and see what you like. We are living in a "golden age" of basses where even the low priced Chinese stuff is not bad.
As for an amp, I generally would recommend a combo with 200 or more watts into a 15" or 2 10" speakers. I've gigged all over Long Island with a rig like this. It is either big enough to fill the room or if you are at a bigger gig there will be a sound guy who will put you in the PA and your rig will be great as your monitor.
And lastly get on Talkbass.com, the forum for bass players. More info there than you can believe, and used stuff. Get on Reverb.com lots of used stuff there too.

 

Just brought this baby home!

 

To any bassists in the crowd:

What's your favorite scale and theory book for electric bass?

 

Pre-jam photo opportunities tonight.

 

Have you considered a Fedora?

You've got that '40's brooding Bogie look about you.

 

Kangol 507 tweed.