First Bass Guitar Lessons

Gunther swung open my office door with a violent jolt and glared at me jealously. He wasn’t amused to see me sitting on the couch with a gorgeous blonde creature cradled in my arms.

“Ah, detective Watts, ” he snarled, clenching a cigarette between his wolf-like teeth. “You found what I was looking for.”

I looked Gunther square in the eye as I slowly slid my hand along the supple curves of the blonde’s body. “Yeah, and you wouldn’t believe how cheap this one is, ” I teased. “Here. Check it out yourself.”

Gunther’s greasy, greedy hands lustfully prowled the blonde’s body. “This feels good, ” he growled like a warthog. “So gorgeous. Do you mind if I slap her?”

“Go ahead.”

Gunther howled, wildly flailing his right hand like Rocky Marciano catching his wife in flagrante delicto. The veins in his left hand turned purple as he tightened his grip around the blonde’s neck. “That’s the kind of action I like!” he shouted. “Please. I’ve been looking for so long. Let me buy this one from you.”

I snatched the blonde beauty back into my arms and snapped at Gunther, “Cool it! I may be a private bass dick, but an old Chinese man once told me something I’ve never forgotten: ‘Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day. Teach him to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.’ Well, Gunther, today’s your lucky day. I’m going to show you how the catch the big fish.”

“But it’s so confusing, ” Gunther whined. “I don’t even know where to begin.”

“Good basses are a dime-a-dozen in this two-bit town, ” I replied. “Just follow my advice, and you’ll get a bass of your own that’s as sweet and sassy as this beautiful blonde. But this one’s mine.”

Finding a great bass doesn’t have to be a mystery. There are so many well-made, affordable basses on the market today that it’s never been easier to find a good instrument. But don’t just buy the first bass you get your hands on. There are still problems to be aware of and features to consider to insure that you get the best value and an instrument you’ll be happy playing for years to come.

Here are some guidelines to help you make the right decision.

True Detective

Before you set foot in a store, you should have a clear idea of what you want. Doing research in advance will narrow down your options. Check out product reviews, ads, catalogs and manufacturer websites to become familiar with the features and specs of various models. Find out what your favorite bassists are playing. However, keep in mind that many players use modified custom shop axes that you won’t find on the racks at your local retailer.