A Little Background The most recognized electric bass today is no doubt the Fender Precision. This bass has a single set of pickups located about half-way between the bottom end of the neck and the bridge. It has two controls for the tone and volume. The neck is usually considered somewhat thick and has a solid body. The Fender Jazz Bass is quite comparable to the Precision but has two pickups with 3 controls. It has a thinner neck. Most bass guitar manufacturers build a copy of the Fender basses.

Electric Bass Body Maple, ash, or alder are the hardwoods usually used for making electric bass solid body guitars. Less expensive bass guitars are sometimes made from plywood. Synthetic composites have been developed but generally not well-accepted by the seasoned veteran bass community. A solid body guitar has absolutely no resonance. It provides no quality of tone to the bass. Bass designers can virtually design any shape bass they desire. Shopping for a bass should include trying ones that feel good to your particular shape and size. Try many different basses to see how each one feels. Pay attention to where they feel best on your body. Some bassists play with the bass way up high while others bend over with the bass way down low. Looking cool is nice, but you have to make sure you can always hit the right notes.

The Neck of the Electric Bass A very important part of buying an electric bass is how the neck feels in your hand when you play. Be sure to pay close attention to the neck thickness, string spacing, and the length of the strings when trying them out. If you have small hands look for a small neck and big hands may prefer a larger neck. This is not always appropriate but it is a great place to start to see what necks feels the best. Thirty four inches is the standard neck length for an electric bass. Also, make sure the neck is very straight. This can be checked by holding the guitar like you are looking down a rifle barrel from the bottom to the bridge. If the neck is crooked, this could be a serious problem. It may not be able to be corrected with a bass guitar set up. You can check the straightness of the neck in just a couple seconds.

Strings The standard bass has 4 strings and is tuned like the first four strings of a 6-string guitar E-A-D-G. There are also 5 and 6-string basses available as more bassists have become interested in soloing and have more range. A 5-string bass is usually tuned B-E-A-D-G, and the standard 6-string is tuned B-E-A-D-G-C. Additional strings generally make the neck wider so make sure to try these out before buying. If you are buying a your first bass get a four string and learn that. If you get to be a pro you need to know how to play it.

Frets and Fretless The Fender Precision got its name because its frets allow for precise fingering unlike a cello for instance. If you are buying your first bass get a fretted bass. You will need the precise tuning from the fret placement to get started. Using a fretless bass demands that you know where the notes are on the bass and what each note should sound like in tune. Some people never get there, so make it easy on yourself.

Purchasing an Electric Bass Do your homework before putting down your hard earned money. If you live in town with guitar stores, then please go and try some basses out for real. Your intention is to learn about the basses and not necessarily to buy one. It is best to try as many basses as you can. Making a decision on what to buy may take some time. When you do definitely decide on a bass then your choices for places to buy are wide and open. Buying online can usually save you money but you need to decide for yourself. If everyone buys online then the guitar shop you visited may not be there.

If you are a first time bass buyer, I recommend a four string, fretted one from a manufacturer whose name you recognize. Make your first bass a good experience. Best of luck.