Soooo.

I was looking at buying a bass guitar so I can join a band and conquer the world of music, well actually just get good enough to get up on stage with a band and rock out and have a fucking good time (or become the new bassist for the Smashing Pumpkins when they eventually reform! hahahah, yeah right.)

Soooo.

What are good brands, places to get a bass/stuff that goes with it i.e. amp etc, good places to get 2nd hand ones maybe, any tips on playing, anything at all!

Help me out, i'd love you longtime :P Cheers.

Funny you mension this, you can join our alternative progressive rock band, we need a bass guitarist :D

Ok with a bass guitar and just getting into it I would say just go with a starter package from the rockshop, go in and talk to the staff and see what they recommend. Then you can work out the most cost effective set up and best bang for buck.

my 2c :)

edit: as for playing ill see if i can score some beginners bass books off Bron

I just want to get something, have a jam, see how I go, as for joining a band, that would be wicked! I used to play the drums, was okay, I figure Bass guitar is a little more up-front and exciting. I'd just love to get up on a stage (Even at Edens Bar) and play infront of people. There needs to be more chicks in bands (with guys) like Darcy from the Pumpkins, she was wicked. I've checked out a couple of guitars at Lewis Eady(sp?) I think the cheapest starter package was around $650 which is a little out of my league at the moment, but if I get a full-time job it shouldn't be a problem, but which brand is the question!

Ooooh, I was just thinkin of getting a bass. (Trading in my electric gat for a little bit of money too, hopefully).
Be warned, Rockshop know their shit but can over charge real bad. And if you DO go there, ask them to set it up properly.

Umm. Yeah. What brands people, BRANDS. ( ? )

*and now Shedevils stolen bass guitarist position, which I guess means Im back to bottom-of-the-heap-roadie-slash-groupie-trash :(

There's going to have to be a group just for bass players on Loob. I was thinking about giving this a go as well...

Yeah, Ive decided recently that bass is just plain SEXIER than guitar.

And fez was lol, go for a fender brand. They have an excellent name. Archies the real one to ask about this kind of stuff

We could make an ... interesting band with four or five bass players.

We could have one of those bands that uses low frequency waves (or something) to control peoples bodily functions, and our gigs would consist or projectile vomiting, people crapping themselves...n shit. Kinda like heaps of gigs, but en masse grossness.

Mmm, I don't think i'd want to see people crapping themsevles and vomiting, i've seen enough vomiting over the years, and crapping, well that's just crass. No one wants to see that shit (literally).

I think we might need a few bands!

Apocalyptica are fucking mean.

Oh my sweet mercy. What the fuck is that? I am going to have to listen to some of that bands music.

Noise Marines!!1!one (Maliekieth should get this at least!)

Seriously though... incorporated into a normal band with drums, guitar etc, you could get some insane low-pitch harmonics going on.

SONIC BOOM!

Bass is for noobs.

Ahh yes, I discovered Apocalyptica recently, they are teh shiz.

Sorry I have been absent chaps, had work last night. And actually I'm not that clued up about bass anyway! But as Steveo says, have a look at the Rock Shop first as they will have starter packages with bass, a small amp, strap, a few picks and a lead. But don't just look there, check out a couple of other places to make sure you've got a good deal. The Rock Shop says it has the lowest prices, "guaranteed", but it isn't necessarily telling the truth.

Incidentally, Edens is getting majorly renovated so in a few months' time it may not be the scummyarse venue we all know and love. But, for historical reasons, I will always refer to it as "dirty ol' Edens"

Once you've got a bass, you will learn that it's pretty simple to learn to play basic bass lines, but it takes a lot more work to become a good bassist. Scales and things are the way to go. But first just make sure you're getting the notes properly, ie holding down the strings with enough force that it's not muted... and put on a song and try to follow the chords (you can find diagrams which show you which string and which fret plays which note on your bass - and find the chords by searching for the guitar tabs, or even better, bass tabs).

Hey, check out the bass packages on trade me. Bass brand is lancewood. I play one (newbie bassist) and theyre VERY good for the price.

They covered that theory on Mythbusters. They put nappies on one of the guys and used a massively powerful PA to blast frequencies at him and see if he'd shit himself.

It didn't work.

And SheDevil, bass is awesome! I wanna buy a bass guitar but can't warrant spending the funds on one just yet :P I recommend you buy a Fender Jazz!

I WAS going to swich to bass but then Chris found a guy that already plays at Alt so Im sticking with my shitty guitar/vocals

I still call lead vocalist for this forum band