carlos fandango Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 Hi to all, new to the forum So I'm looking for a bit of advice please...... I have taken up the bass guitar and been practicing on and off for about a year now I currently have a Tanglewood Rebel 4K which to be honest is quite cheap but I just bought it for practicing but I have noticed when playing it the awful continuous feedback when playing a note and it's very off putting when playing the next notes as you can still hear previous note. I'm just wondering whether I'm actually doing anything wrong or is it purely because it's a cheap bass with cheap components and would upgrading to a better model be the way to go? If so, what do fellow bassists recommend? Budget approx £600-£700 but I'm open to suggestions don't mind paying a bit more for quality i just want to play a note and not have to hear continuously hum when I'm playing the next notes.......or again am I doing something wrong? Cheers Carlos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zbd1960 Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 Sounds like the strings are ringing on and you're not muting? There'll be YT videos about how to do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 Do you have the facility to record what’s happening? I think we’d be able to advise as to whether it’s a technical fault with the bass or a technique problem? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 Oh and my advice? Learn on a five string. I wish I had and since I’ve made the move I have not looked back, it’s so much more flexible and going lower than the E really does feel good at gig volumes! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dad3353 Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 (edited) 16 minutes ago, carlos fandango said: ...So I'm looking for a bit of advice please... Good evening, Carlos, and welcome to the Forum... Firstly, there is nothing wrong with your bass; changing it for another will do nothing but empty your purse, so forget that, for now. Secondly, please give your location; it helps to know what resources you may have not far from you. Are you playing through an amp..? Is there any chance of spending just a little of your budget on a couple of lessons with a bass tutor (a real one, not a guitar/bass tutor, preferably...)..? What style of music are you wanting to play (any bands or players you are influenced by..?...). Have you any bass method books..? The 'standard' 'best buy' recommendation is ... ...the Ultimate Bass Method for beginners, at an unbeatable price. Spiral-bound, so lays flat, and three (yes, three..!) methods in one, to take any player to the level they want to achieve. Highly recommended. Go on; spoil yourself. You know it makes sense... Amazon.co.uk : Hal Leonards Bass Method... https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hal-Leonard-Bass-Method-Complete/dp/0793563836/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Hal+Leonard+Bass+Method&qid=1620574154&sr=8-1 Worth a look..? Edited May 25, 2021 by Dad3353 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 If you're having issues with ringing notes learn the "Floating thumb" technique - several videos on YouTube. It'll be really helpful if you move on to 5 string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted May 25, 2021 Share Posted May 25, 2021 I have no idea why people are mentioning 5 string - the OP hasn't?!? Anyway, it sounds like you're getting overtones, a quick and easy fix is to put some foam under the strings like the picture below. This will stop the strings from ringing when you move to the next one. There's nothing wrong with your Rebel bass. The biggest affect on the sound you get on any string instrument is the strings themselves! You need to try out a few sets of strings by different brands, or let folk here know the type of sound you want to get or favourite bands, and we can guide you to the best string choice. Having an expensive bass with poor or cheap strings will still sound poor, it'll just feel nicer to play. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Dare Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Some excellent advice above. Nothing wrong with your Tanglewood. They are decent budget instruments. Your issue is one of technique. You will experience the same problem whatever instrument you play. Why not spend some of that £600 on a few lessons? It will get you on the right track (and save you money). 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 I am going to guess if it is still happening after a year you are playing with a pick? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiram.k.hackenbacker Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Are you sure it's feedback you are hearing? I suspect it's probably not unless you're playing at volume right in front of the speaker enclosure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 The easiest thing to do here is to video what’s happening and post it here. It’ll save you £600 on a new bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 This is an obvious technique problem that’s common for beginners. If I was starting again I would join Scott’s bass lessons where I’m sure there are copious lessons on proper technique. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SumOne Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12stringbassist Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 (edited) Book one taster bass lesson with a tutor and hopefully that playing technique problem will be sorted out there and then. Putting a quick video on here would sort it out even quicker. If you do end up buying a new bass, the Fender Player Series Precision Bass or jazz Bass are an excellent bang for your buck. I have a few of them. Edited May 26, 2021 by 12stringbassist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkgod Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 most basses in that price range are good now days, try a few, and go for the one that YOU like best, dont be a sheep. Good advice ? the best bit of advice i can only offer is... There is no such thing as "god given talent" everyone that is good has put time and effort into it. Period. you cant pull anything out the hat that you did not put there in the first place.... so my advice ? its a time thing, put the time in and you will get the rewards, there is NO shortcuts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 or as Pele would say: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funkgod Posted May 26, 2021 Share Posted May 26, 2021 Just now, TheGreek said: or as Pele would say: PERFECT 🙂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlos fandango Posted May 28, 2021 Author Share Posted May 28, 2021 Many thanks to you all for your replies but especially to hooky_lowdown for the tip to put a bit of sponge under the strings.....wow what a huge difference that made Who'd have thought something so simple would have a drastic improvement...cheers hooky and I'll be keeping my 'cheap' 4 string lefty Tanglewood for a little while longer 😁 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bass_dinger Posted May 28, 2021 Share Posted May 28, 2021 (edited) Carlos, you came for advice on buying a new bass for £600, and ended up with a sponge, and your old bass, and £600 in change. Surely that is the last time that Basschat will save you from spending money! All the best on your bass journey - all the above advice is good. Edited May 28, 2021 by bass_dinger wrong word corrected 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted May 28, 2021 Share Posted May 28, 2021 4 hours ago, carlos fandango said: Many thanks to you all for your replies but especially to hooky_lowdown for the tip to put a bit of sponge under the strings.....wow what a huge difference that made Who'd have thought something so simple would have a drastic improvement...cheers hooky and I'll be keeping my 'cheap' 4 string lefty Tanglewood for a little while longer 😁 Something else which will lessen overtones are brass saddles, brass is a little softer metal than the standard metal used for saddles, the result is an ever so slightly dampening of the string. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawford13 Posted May 28, 2021 Share Posted May 28, 2021 Glad to hear that the sponge has helped. Next step is to practice moving your fingers completely from the last note to the new note you want to play, while using other fingers to mute the unplayed strings. Working on this will allow you to remove the sponge and still have the other strings muted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted May 28, 2021 Share Posted May 28, 2021 Yep. Next step is to take out the sponge and learn how to play it properly! It will imprint eventually now that you know it's a lack of muting from the plucking hand. Getting it down will improve your playing no end. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 Or leave the sponge there and just enjoy playing! 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunderwonder Posted May 29, 2021 Share Posted May 29, 2021 11 hours ago, hooky_lowdown said: Or leave the sponge there and just enjoy playing! 😎 There's a lot missing from what he can play if he never learns some technique. Disclaimer, I am entirely self taught and can't slap my way out of a paper bag. To make it talk I am relying on muting AND ringing when appropriate. OP still didn't say if he was a pick player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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