Music related stuff on eBay/Aliexpress/anywhere else - instruments, equipment, etc

[Like Ra]

I simply took the time to try out a few models to choose the one I like the sound and feel to play with, which is what I highly recommend to do, when chosing an instrument.

I agree, but I would not trust myself buying my first eva! bass with no playing experience, also, not all guitar possible can be present in the shops. Also, as a complete dummy I might miss something important I wouldn't even think about. So, in this case I checked dozens of reviews, and Ibanez Mikro bass was always in the top.

as a beginner, you won't play patterns that require you to stretch the fingers excessively

I will try to play scales this time, but usually I go straight to what I want to play 😁 And even very standard patterns assume 4-fret spreads.

I consider any bass with more then 5 strings an abomination (and the 5th string is justified for lower frequencies only...)

5-6-7-+ string basses are not always about the lowest 2.5 tones - it's more about the amount of notes you can play without changing your hand position OR for tapping (think of Chapman's stick).

[thominhose]

I simply took the time to try out a few models to choose the one I like the sound and feel to play with, which is what I highly recommend to do, when chosing an instrument.

I agree, but I would not trust myself buying my first eva! bass with no playing experience, also, not all guitar possible can be present in the shops. Also, as a complete dummy I might miss something important I wouldn't even think about. So, in this case I checked dozens of reviews, and Ibanez Mikro bass was always in the top.

as a beginner, you won't play patterns that require you to stretch the fingers excessively

I will try to play scales this time, but usually I go straight to what I want to play 😁 And even very standard patterns assume 4-fret spreads.

I consider any bass with more then 5 strings an abomination (and the 5th string is justified for lower frequencies only...)

5-6-7-+ string basses are not always about the lowest 2.5 tones - it's more about the amount of notes you can play without changing your hand position OR for tapping (think of Chapman's stick).

I understand the fear of overlooking something and it seems you've done your research. This is an old problem of mine, I always do the research after buying something way more intensively than when I plan to acquire something (but I'm happy I took the time for the Scarlett. I've also learnt that Behringer seems to employ business practices that many find problematic, so they were out of the question for me). I also had some initial experience when taking over the p-bass of an acquaintance in the music school who himself upgraded. I did so because the spots for guitarists in the band project were taken but bassists were needed (and as a classical player it meant I could employ finger picking quicker than those pick-using e-guitar folks). So I aeady knew a bit about what feels right to me, when entering a store. Of course you're limited to what they have to offer. But I wouldn't want to waive a hands-on experience, recalling the different impressions the guitars I tried there left on me.

Regarding the fret distance I find the neck width way more limiting in playing the patterns I'm used to than the distance between frets. To give an example: I just tested (not having warmed up, that I actually can hit a clean tone when playing holding F2 and hitting B2flat on the acoustic on the sixth string). On the bass, this goes down to F1 and A1 similarly on the fourth string. A ceteris paribus broader neck reduces this further, limiting the comfort of walking up or down on a scale.
Of course, playing big intervals or chord patterns is another thing, cause with a 4 string, you can't really go beyond an 11 note distance (e.g. 1-x-x-3).

But, regarding chapman's stick as an example (I wasn't really aware of), this just means that in such cases, you need to redesign your whole technique when playing something like this, away from what is imprinted from acoustic guitar playing. So from my point of view in the sense of playing, these things no longer are guitars - which is not meant to disqualify their players, it's just that your guitar skills won't help you much initially.

[Like Ra]

I actually can hit a clean tone when playing holding F2 and hitting B2flat on the acoustic on the sixth string)

F2 - A2 (5 frets) for me

On the bass, this goes down to F1 and A1 similarly on the fourth string.

F1 - A♭1 (4 frets) on my 28" bass. So, very short scale is clearly a bare necessity 😁

from what is imprinted from acoustic guitar playing.
...
in the sense of playing, these things no longer are guitars

Tapping is becoming an essential technique for all kind of guitars, regardless the amount of strings.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn4WGEEBk78

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2LzL_vPmyg


The cool thing is - thanks to the Internet, the techniques are evolving right in front of our eyes!

[EmilyCS]

What do you think about this Joyo guitar clip-on tuner? The reviews are good- they say it picks up the B (as in "BASSSS" 😆).

I've used several clip on tuners.  Gstring app on smart phone is now my go to tuner.

[thominhose]

I actually can hit a clean tone when playing holding F2 and hitting B2flat on the acoustic on the sixth string)

F2 - A2 (5 frets) for me

On the bass, this goes down to F1 and A1 similarly on the fourth string.

F1 - A♭1 (4 frets) on my 28" bass. So, very short scale is clearly a bare necessity 😁

from what is imprinted from acoustic guitar playing.
...
in the sense of playing, these things no longer are guitars

Tapping is becoming an essential technique for all kind of guitars, regardless the amount of strings.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn4WGEEBk78

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2LzL_vPmyg


The cool thing is - thanks to the Internet, the techniques are evolving right in front of our eyes!

Somehow my browser just gave in after making a lengthy post. So I need to recap. In those 9 years of guitar lessons I came across a lot of techniques that many are oblivious of in the sense of "oh this can be done with a guitar as well?" but they are almost always employed as small complementing ornaments to an orthodox style of playing. Cause that is what the instrument is designed for. 
So, looking at this impressive lap-tapping, it'd make much more sense to do this on a chapman stick. (But, if it were about taking the easy route, why not arrange it in midi and hit play...).
I'd like to think of an instrument as a tool. Has an intended purpose, requires a specific technique. Not saying you can't do something else with it, but eventually there could be a design fitting better. And a guitar offering too many features is probably a swiss army knife kind of thing, a jack of all trades, but master of none.

Youtube is a great source to learn about new things. But IMHO not so much to learn from. You'd have to be really good at mimicking what is shown, since there's nobody around correcting your mistakes (also: you'll always see them from the front and not your POV.) And the way the things are cut for monetization purposes is annoying, so much beating around the bush for your 15 minutes threshold... (maybe there's some bleeding in from my experience with golf videos cause prominent youtube golfers are this way, but then look at a clip of tour pros where they tell you the same in 20% of the time, cause they got nothing to sell, except for showing their equipment providers).
Maybe I'm jealous as well, but looking at folks like Polyphia, Ichika Nito, Rob Scallion or Davie504... it's simply demotivating seeing performances that I'm aware of I'll never get done.
To illustrate, look at this simple recording of a 13 year old girl (that is not trying to sell anything...)

Source: https://youtu.be/0EJkrupER5c

This is a piece I had in the making in my last year of taking lessons and I picked it up again last year. She finishes it flawlessly in 1:50 with an extreme ritartando at the end. I just butchered it in 2:30 (albeit not having warmed up) and perhaps I can gain 10 seconds, but that's about it - before we even start comparing expression and cleanliness. That  effortless shift at 0:17 seconds right before the first bar chord makes me cry. My pinky can't hit the G# safely for the life of mine).

[Like Ra]

I'd like to think of an instrument as a tool.

Exactly! A tool to express yourself. This is important! So, as long as you can express yourself playing the instrument in whatever way, that way is the correct one.

Maybe I'm jealous as well, but looking at folks like Polyphia, Ichika Nito, Rob Scallion or Davie504...

Thanks to guys like Victor Wooten, Jaco, Charles Berthoud, Davie, Scott (from Scott's Bass Lessons), Josh (from BassBuzz) I finally bought my bass 😉

In those 9 years of guitar lessons I came across a lot of techniques that many are oblivious of in the sense of "oh this can be done with a guitar as well?" but they are almost always employed as small complementing ornaments to an orthodox style of playing. Cause that is what the instrument is designed for. 
So, looking at this impressive lap-tapping, it'd make much more sense to do this on a chapman stick. (But, if it were about taking the easy route, why not arrange it in midi and hit play...).

I love how Charles answered that in this video (at 1:50):

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOdOqkTZKQg

Cause that is what the instrument is designed for.

I will try to find Victor Wooten's response to that (that's gonna be tricky...)

To illustrate, look at this simple recording of a 13 year old girl (that is not trying to sell anything...)

Ah... yet another intimidating video... 😆

[Like Ra]

I will try to find Victor Wooten's response to that (that's gonna be tricky...)

Found it!!!!

Beginning 15:50:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48Owmaxh0cM

[thominhose]

Aight, who am I to object.
At around 17:50 he's referring to folks playing 3fingered. *Big grin*
I started doing this quite early, in order to be able to hold high speeds longer without cramping and to more evenly distribute the blistering. It also turned out to be immensely helpful not having to think with which finger that darned pattern across multiple strings needs to start in order not to fail. Classical training helped a lot to get started, but nonetheless it's normally only tirando strokes where three fingers are employed whereas bass-typical appoyando rest strokes on the acoustic are the job of index and middle finger. I was really surprised to find out that this is a rather rare thing to do.

So yeah. I just need to clarify that I intended to refer to the ergonomics (and probably also economics) of playing. One finds one's idiosyncratic means of dealing with the instrument and perhaps if you stick to something unorthodox and you are a tinkerer you might end up designing or creating a new tool as well, which may as well become the new standard. I wonder if a guy like Steve Vai would have himself grow additional arms to fully utilise creations like these:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ehGGTS83m0

[Like Ra]

he's referring to folks playing 3fingered.

Don't "Spanish guitarists" use 4 fingers (mostly for strumming, but still)?

creations like these:

"Climax regulator", "Optional lamp" 😆 Yeah, OK, it's an obvious show-up thing, yet Steve Vai can make use of all these frills, bells and whistles. He's a great musician and a showman.

OTOH, I always found such theorbos fascinating:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imV-sC2UJB0

[Like Ra]

I will try to find Victor Wooten's response to that (that's gonna be tricky...)

Found it!!!!

And another one:

Beginning at 08:30:

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyPQ6SYrj28