JustRooster

Good bass gear is. I was purely a bassist for 4 years before I picked up guitar. I still have SVT GAS from time to time.



EDIT: Thought of something else. What kind of music do you like?

Also, have you tried other one, yet? You never know, you could walk into a music store and hate/love either-or.

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Alucard817

I play both bass and guitar, not very well mind you, but I do play them.

Personally I prefer bass. The way I look at the two is this:
Good guitarists get the fame and a good bass player gets the women to shake their asses.

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W4RP1G

Do whichever you want more. I wouldn't choose based on what a band needs myself, I'd choose based on what I want to play.

Also, look for a used Ibanez SGR bass if you decide to get a bass. I can vouch for the Japanese made SGRs, they are awesome. I got mine for $100 in a pawn shop.

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Homemade pickup winder!

trashedlostfdup

i like your enthusiasm, and its much refreshing, but it will take some blood sweat and tears for a while until you are ready for a band.

good luck. honestly i would go to a music store, grab a bass, feel it and you would likely know a few things, like how to hit a note. then grab a guitar. get what feels natural.

you have to make the decision on what you want to play, not us. although most of us probably play both to some degree.

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RedMist

Bands are always looking for bass players, which is something to think about. I have to disagree with an above comment. Basses are not cheaper. In most cases a nice bass setup will be more expensive.
If I were you. I would buy an acoustic guitar and learn to play first. Yamaha makes a great entry level acoustic for around $300.

trashedlostfdup

i don't see how getting an acoustic would be what he wants. nor is it better/easier to learn on. all of the bands he listed used electric guitars, and electric bases. i would go for one of those.

OP just see what you like better. this really has to be your choice. and also there is no reason why you couldn't play both. at some point. whether it be a few months down the road or a few years.

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Toasterpossum

Thanks for the suggestion, but again, I live in a small town. We don't have any music stores within a few hours.

RedMist

[QUOTE=trashedlostfdup]i don't see how getting an acoustic would be what he wants. nor is it better/easier to learn on. all of the bands he listed used electric guitars, and electric bases. i would go for one of those.

OP just see what you like better. this really has to be your choice. and also there is no reason why you couldn't play both. at some point. whether it be a few months down the road or a few years.[/QUOTE
I am a firm believer that you should learn the basics on an acoustic first. That's why many metal players are "exposed" when handed an acoustic.
The OP is only 13. Lots of time to do it the right way. $.02

ibacred

What do you listen for when you here music with good guitar and bass? I always found myself listening to the guitar, then feeling the urge to play and follow along with it. That's why I chose guitar. Listening to bass never gave me that urge to play.

Also, try them both out. Basses are huge to me and just feel unatural, while a guitar feels 'correct'. Some people do play both though, but most favor one over the other.

And where do you guys live? We have a huge pool of bassists in my area but not many 'good' guitarists. The ones we do have are just teenage shredders who only want to play teh brootz.

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Gear

Carvin Bolt Classic
LTD EC-400
Epiphone Standard Pro Les Paul
Currently no amp
Line 6 Pod 2.0

CarsonStevens

What nobody's really touched on is that both instruments fill different roles within a band setting, and personally I feel that whichever instrument you choose should reflect the role you most want to play... with the knowledge that you can always branch out and try the other later. I started on guitar, and now I play both, and I love them equally.

Bass is the foundation of the band. You're down there with the drums, holding everything together with power and groove. It's not always flashy, but it has to be there. Guitar... well, guitar can be anything. Basically, do you want to be the dependable guy keeping the band solid or do you want to be the flashy guy up front chugging and/or widdling away?

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jugglingfreak

Well, the tuning for a Uke is different (G-C-E-A is standard, I believe).

But that is not too difficult to overcome. Your Uke playing will probably give you a leg up on strumming.

apart from that

what he said..

Mephaphil

Yea, I'm sure many acoustic, Bob Dylan and Van Morrison players shine when asked to play some Satriani.

If you aren't interested in acoustic then there's little point. It may have its uses but if people have well structured practice it doesn't matter what they learn on, as they're doing everything right anyway.

Personally I see them as different instruments for different genres, not all will apply to what you want to play so learn what applies and everything else is an added bonus. Focus on what you want to learn, that way you'll stay at maximum motivation.

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trashedlostfdup

do you teach? i have for two years now. students who do the best are the students that are playing what they want to play. most of my students started electric by choice, i have a few students on acoustics and thats find too. they learn well.

what is stupid to recommend a person something that they are not interested in. he listed pop punk bands, and for those particular bands use electrics. maybe he will say he is and if he is that is fine. but i wouldn't ever say to start on ______ first. tell them to start what they like.

i usually have around eight students, four of which have been with me since day one. two of which are developing well, but are still very new and the other two can be anything, one usually floats and isn't interested in the work that it takes to play.

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Connolluer

Also bass is only as boring as you make it. You could try writing your own tunes that make the bass more prominent, I have a hard time finding tunes that are fun to play that don't involve just copying the guitar part.


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