Ray Charles Music

What is the best bass guitar brand for playing soul/hip-hop music?

I'd like to start playing bass and I'm not sure what would be the best guitar for what I am trying to achieve. I really enjoy the The Roots, Old soul music (early 70's) and newer band that emulate that old sould sound (Dap Kings, Amy Whinehouse, etc). As far as brand, type, price, and shape(?). Thanks!

Public Comments

1. You have a lot of options, but here are a few things to look for... If you're playing stuff like Soul, R&B and Hip-Hop, you'll probably want a really warm tone with lots of low end. For that, look into basses made of Mahogany or Bubinga; both of these are really dense woods that give you a deep, fat tone. In this case, I'd avoid a bass made of Maple; it has a lot more treble, and a harsher sound. As far as brands go, there are many good ones to choose from - you're really only limited by your price range =) Fender: Their Jazz bass is pretty much a classic, and that's because it's so versatile. You can get just about any tone out of them with the right EQ adjustment, so they're suited to a number of styles. They have a number of models, ranging from super-cheap Squiers to expensive Deluxe versions. I wouldn't get a Fender Precision in this case; they have a great sound for Punk/Rock/etc., but they aren't very flexible. Ibanez: They make some really awesome mid-priced instruments. I'd actually highly recommend one of their Soundgear basses - the higher end ones come with incredible-sounding Bartolini pickups, which are some of the best you can get. Also, a lot of them are made of the tone-woods you're looking for. For example, the SR500 (there's also a 5-string and 6-string version) has a solid Mahogany body, with a Jatoba/Bubinga neck. Also, the Soundgear basses have really thin necks, which makes them really easy and comfortable to play. I think you could easily get one of these for $500-600. Warwick: You may want to look into these; they're pretty pricey, but you can get some really warm, fat tone out of them. MusicMan: Also on the more expensive side; but again, very versatile basses. Those are a few good brands to check out; I'm personally an Ibanez man, but that's just my preference. The most important thing is to play the bass yourself before you buy it. Go to a music store with a few basses in mind, and play each of them for a while. Find which one feels the best, sounds the best, and suits your needs the best - then you'll be set =) Hope you find what you're looking for. Cheers! ^_^
2. Get a vintage Fender Percission bass you can never go wong with that, it's possibly the best bass ever made.