How to test a Bass Guitar?

[viper_chad]

lolz.. good advice bro.. but that range is pricey for me and i have difficulty in selling... my Timbre guitar is still on sale..

 

[Leokoo]

Congrats! You have answered a higher calling indeed! :mrgreen:



If you're looking at getting a NEW bass, here's some factors to consider, expanding on the above points by cherns

Tone - what kind of tone do you like would correspond to what kind of bass pickup configuration you would choose. The main types of pickup configuration are jazz, precision and humbucker. A good gauge is to listen to a bass player or bass line you enjoy and see what that bass player uses. For example I like bass sounds with lots of ZING! so I prefer jazz basses. If you can't decide, a good pickup configuation to start with is a P/J pickup config. Precision split coil type in the neck and a Jazz single coil at the bridge.

Playability - like a guitar, the neck feel is the most important. Jazz bass necks are narrower that precision bass necks. Ibanez necks are the slimmest I've tried. For me I have small hands but phat fingers so jazz necks are the most comfortable for me. This is akin to comparing les paul necks to strat necks to tele necks. Or even comparing acoustic to classical guitar necks.

Construction - what cherns said pretty much covers it. With new instruments its usually very hard to tell. I've found that cheap basses only show their defects over time.




We move on now to what look out for when buying a USED bass guitar

1) Neck warp
2) Cracks anywhere on the body, especially on the headstock and neck joint areas
3) Electronics. Any crackling sounds when turning knobs or when flipping the pickup selectors?
4) Dead spots on the fretboard

I'll let other posters fill in the 2nd hand bass guitar buying tips!

Hi, I just bought a 2nd hand bass guitar, and yes am having problems with the knobs.

When I first got it a week ago, all 4 knobs had buzzing/crackling sounds whenever the knobs are touched, but the crackles are worse in 2 knobs, as these 2 would crackle a lot when the knobs are turned. (sounds like when we're adjusting for radio frequency)

Was told it was a lack of earthing issue, and a change of knobs would help.

I took it back to my regular shop & got my repair friend to work on it. He rewired back the entire thing, and now, we still have 1 knob which crackles when it's turned. The other 3 buzzes, but hardly crackles.


Would you guys happen to know the solution?


Cheers!

 

[cherns]

Could be due to 2 things

1. Grounding: if you're touching the knobs and it makes a sound, that probably means your bass isn't grounded properly. Best is ground all the pots individually to one point > ground that to the cavity ground > ground to jack

2. Scratchy pots: Happens... just use some contact cleaner spray to clean it up

BTW - I'm not sure what your repairman told you, but there's absolutely no need to change the knobs, and they shouldn't buzz/crackle/slap&pop when being adjusted. As long as there's noise, it's not grounded properly.

 

[engz]

to me, it has always been about thinking of all these things prior to getting a bass, and in the end buying a bass solely on the pretense that i like it and that's all that matters =D

but look out for defects =] physical defects should b easy to spot. damage anywhere etc. loose strap pins. missing pickup screws etc. neck warp is a little hard to see, til today i still can't really see it that well =\

electronically i guess u can only hear whether the pots crackle when u turn them, whether they're equally smooth to turn. see whether the jack input is nice and snug for the cable.

yeah =]

and check urself out in the mirror wearing it and see if u look as cool as u want to

p/s: i think some ppl forget to test guitars standing up with a strap. this tells u the proportion of the guitar's weight. try avoiding neck heavy guitars which will neck dive once u let go of the neck. though its quite easily solved with straps that "gripe" to ur shirt, or even broad 3inch straps =]

 

[lester_music]

just get a cheap bass to practise..

most important factors are playability, tone and the rest are secondary.....

basses like Yamaha, LTD, offered good value for money...

until you r ready, then choose one based on tone, 4/5/6 stringer, pickups etc....all this come later...

learn how to play proficient first...my 2 cents..

 

[Noein]

what i do testing guitars/basses is that i tryout every fret for any fret rattle, i learnt my lesson from the past, lol. Secondly, i'll run some scales through the frets, just to make sure there's nothing obstructing and that I can play freely. thirdly, try lifting the guitar to see it's rough weight. And after that i'll just play some random songs to see if I can get the tone that I want.

 

[aquanaut]

how to test a bass guitar?

well, you pick it out, pick it up, carry it to a bass amp, get a cable and plug it in.....make sure the power is turned on. then you turn the volume knob on the bass up and pluck the string ...any string....it should have a 'doong' like sound coming out of the amplifier.

if no sound, then change the cable and repeat again.

if the sound is correct (doong) then you are spot on...its a bass guitar!!!!

next, find a good place to sit and rest the bass on your lap (right lap if you are right handed) and hold the neck at the same time fretting the notes. use your index & fore finger or your thumb(right hand) and pluck the string while your left hand holds down the string on the neck.

the 'doong' sound should reverbrate from the bass amp.

yes....you are now 'testing' the bass.

 

[Gothmaster]

ok.. great advice everyone. i have one question though. how do i test a bass when i dont have a amp around me? i mean im out on the street and buying a second hand bass from someone. how do i know that what he is selling my is in good order. physical aspects are clear like warping and the knobs. but how about knowing if the sound quality is in order?

 

[alanchia]

you cant 'test' without trying. physical is just one aspect. tone is the other, electronics is the other too.

without amp, you cant test tone and electronics. so make sure there's a return policy.

 

[scylla019]

if buying a new one, just look at the tone, if its nice then fine.

the action and all should be adjusted after purchase. if you don't adjust it, u probably find it really hard and might even give up.