A Beginner’s Guide to Buying an Upright Electric Bass

No matter the style of music, the bass sets the tone and rhythm for any band. It creates the intense foundation for a rock group or the right amount of swing for a jazz band. But just as you must practice on a daily basis, you’ll need the proper instrument to set up the right sound. When you go looking to purchase your first upright electric bass, there are a few things to consider other than just your budget.

Strings

One of the most important parts of your bass is the strings you choose to use, with the main focus on your playing style. Will you be using a bow or plucking the strings while playing? The focus for bowing strings is creating responsive and mellow sounds, so you should stay away from metal strings. If you plan to pluck, then you should look for strings that are made to be resilient and have lower tension — especially if you’re into playing rockabilly. While most strings are usually meant to be used for one style, there are brands now that offer hybrid versions that can be used for either plucking or bowing.

Neck

The neck of a bass is most commonly attached with bolts, creating a stable base that won’t shift during use. A through-neck bass has no joint between the body and neck but is more expensive to repair should you break it. The through-neck continues as one with the body, which results in a longer sustain — how long you can continue to hear the sound before it becomes too quiet. A bolt neck will result in a stronger timbre, which is the tone quality, and it will be cheaper to repair.

Bridge

The bridge is where the strings transmit the sound through the body of the bass. Look for one made of heavier materials, such as brass; this creates a solid anchor and better vibration of sound. There are two types of bridges available: fixed and adjustable. Which one you go with will depend entirely on you, though when starting out, it’s better to get a fixed bridge and focus on the other aspects of the bass, like the neck and strings.