I`m looking to get my Dad a bass for Christmas and I was wondering what kind of beginner jazz basses there are out there for under $250... any suggestions would be great thanks- Dan

To be honest, I think there is only one kind of bass (save four five and six-stringed variations)and jazz is the style it`s played in. The really only different basses I no of are upright basses (the huge ones people in orchestras play) and the electric bass. Personally, I`d go with the electric bass. If you do, get a starter set. Those are fairly cheap for basses and come with everything. Also go to a bookstore and look for a book called The Bass Player Book. It`s really good for beginners and and advanced players alike. One drawback: it`s $22.00. If you`re English, I don`t know how to convert that into pounds, or if the book is even available over there, but check anyway if you are. Hope his helps. Happy shopping!

Jazz is traditionally played with an upright, but you won`t want to start with one. Because they`re rather hard to learn and are gargantuan and expensive. So just get an electric bass with at least a precision pickup.

fender jazz bass is a good choice

you should look for a bass that is not from mexico to start

not made in mexico they are cut out copys,look for amercan

hi, go to a local music store and ask for a good but fairly inexpensive bass, then look for a nice small amp-30- 50ish get him a gig bag-30-50ish, a cable, 10 or 15, a strap, real cheap. this will run you fairly close to 250 but its well worth it over a begginer pack. basses id recoment would be an ibanez gsr model, or the gaxb are nice and fairly cheap, the gsr model has a jazz pickup as well as a precision and the gsr 200 is active for i believe 200 ish

Peavey has a really nice sounding, smooth feeling bass on the market that goes for less than 150. You can`t beat the value for what you are looking for.

TRY NOT TO BUY A USED BASS. AND ALSO, TRY NOT TO GIVE UP WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, IT WILL ALL TURN OUT TO BENAFIT YOU IN THE END. IF YOU ARE TRYING THE UPRIGHT, DON`T LOOK ON THE ENTERNET FOR UPRIGHT BASS TAB. COOL......COOL........PEACE OUT.

PLAY ON PLAYA

There is nothing wrong with used basses, my first bass was an Ibanez TR-50 second hand, ive had it for 3 years now, and it still plays absolutly fine, it had been dunted about alot and everything, but for £50, i wasnt complaining!

Now got an ibanez eda906 and btb406qm, but they both cost over $250, although i did manage to get the btb406qm second hand at £270, bargin! (eda was new though)

Alot of companies make decent quality replicas, "Vintage" have a good fender jazz bass rip off, ill agree its not as good as the fender, but its a 5th the price!

Get a good quality bass like fender jass bass and if u wait awhile u may get the bass for a good price.
I have the fender jass bass, its awesome and its good for beginers and intermediate players

mexican bass has equal potential to american in ratio to cost
its the impotent player who disagrees.

what the hell is wrong with a used instrument? it is a good way to save money. As long as the previous owner took care of it it will be just as good sometimes better than a new intstrument....

why do you think concert violinists spend a million or two on a 200-300 year old Stradivarius?

buy used!

That just doesn`t make sense. Haha. But it is true that used is nearly as good quailty, with a lot better value! So ya, buy used!

uhh u should probably go with a fender dont get one from wal mart they suck and the strings break real easy