So you have always wanted to be like those studly, rockin' bass guitarists! Well, now that you have decided to buy a bass guitar let's see what I can do to help you in fulfilling your ambition. You need to begin with the right instrument to help you to get your music career started with a bang!

The style of music you will be playing is your most important consideration when buying a bass guitar followed by budget considerations. Just remember, it may be better to buy a higher quality guitar that will sound better, last longer and be more enjoyable to play.

A bass guitar is just ideal for a beginner because it's a little easier to learn and play than a regular guitar. Bass players tend to live in a world of rhythm rather than melody. It is generally a fairly simple instrument, usually having fours strings (although there are now bass guitars with 5 or even 6 strings) which comes with the basic construction as described below:

Bass Guitar Body

Rather than describing a stand-up or 'double' bass we will confine ourselves to electric bass guitars. There is no industry specific standard for the shape or design of bass guitars. Generally electric bass guitars come with solid body and magnetic pickups which translate the string tones into an electronic signal. Some companies like Dean also make acoustic-electric and stand-up electric bass guitars.

Bass guitar pickups are of two varieties: single-coil and humbucker. Single-coil pickups are more susceptible to interference but usually produce a clearer sound. Humbucker pickups are more resistant to interference.

Bass Guitar Neck

The face of the neck of a bass guitar is known as the fingerboard. You will usually find metal frets embedded on fingerboards to create the corresponding notes. There are fretless bass guitars, but those are for more advanced players. Notes in bass guitar are produced by plucking or slapping the strings.

Bass Guitar Head

The bass guitar’s head is the area where the strings are connected to tuning pegs (sometimes called tuning machines) which are used to adjust tone by changing the tension. In some cases bass guitars will have no head, which looks weird but cool; they are instead tuned on the body of the guitar.

As I mentioned before, just because you are a beginner doesn't mean that you should go for the cheapest bass you can find. On the contrary, the rich tones of a quality bass guitar can inspire you to practice enough to fulfill your big dream of going pro. And it will fetch you good money if you happen to sell it in future by investing in a more professional guitar.

Most of the major brands like Fender, Gibson and Ibanez have a good selection of bass guitars for a reasonable price. There are also more specialized bass guitar brands like Rickenbacker, Warwick and Peavy. If your budget just doesn't allow for that you might look at a Squier bass. They have over a hundred bass guitars at zzounds.com  You can sort by 4-string, 5-string, left-handed and by brand.

A quality bass guitar is made of superior woods like maple, ash, alder, or mahogany. Make sure the tuning machines turn smoothly and freely. Also check out whether the fret board is made of such fine woods as maple, rosewood, or ebony. See if the bridge lets you adjust the strings individually, which gives you more control over buzz and tone, so that you sound more professional while playing.

Use the same criteria if you choose to buy a used guitar. Before buying a used bass guitar find out the age of the guitar, how and where it was stored and was played. Carefully examine the neck to see whether it is warped or has any splits, or if there is any repair history. You need not bother about strings as such as they can be easily replaced.

As a last note of advice, trust your musician’s instinct while buying a bass guitar. If you feel the sound is perfect, then just grab it. Always remember, it is not the look, but the wood, craftsmanship, and most of all, sound that makes a good quality bass guitar.