Bass or guitar?

[skullsplitter]

Sorry Kraku
I'll be on my way now.
My vote ... Go for the guitar.

[Har]

Or you could get a Chapman Stick that'll let you play bass AND guitar parts on the same instrument.
(though the actual playing technique is like neither)

http://www.stick.com/method/
http://www.eyeoncville.com/005/005vid04.htm

I sold one of those once, I had to call them to get the tuning...if I remember right it was tuned from the middle out, 4ths one way and 5ths the other...cant be sure though....what I do remember is how slack the strings were, unwound strings were just so loose as a guitarist it was quite unatural. However what a fun instrument to play...I never did much with it except have fun, but I could see myself owning one...

Yep, the standard tuning is decending 4th on the guitar/melody side, and ascending 5ths on the bass side (though there are a lot of different variations available; I use Deep Matched Reciprical on mine, which is a whole-step lower on both sides with the lowest frettable bass note being a deep Bb), with the deepest/thickest strings towards the middle of the fretboard.

The tension is definitely a lot different than from a standard guitar or bass as it's designed to be played purely by tapping the strings with each hand with as little effort and as light a touch as possible (Emmett Chapman once told me that if you have to play hard enough on a properly setup Stick to build up calluses on your fingertips, you're doing something wrong ), but I wouldn't really describe it as being really "slack" if it's properly set up and adjusted.

But your'e right in that it definitely does feel different from a "normal" guitar or bass...then again, the instrument really wasn't designed to purely emulate or replace a standard guitar or bass, but to instead be a unique instrument unto itself.
For example, with its tuning it's a royal pain to try to play what would be considered a plain ol' walking bass line with one hand (though you certainly can if you use a two-handed bass technique like Tony Levin does). But on the other hand, you can also acheive some incredibly rhythmic/percussive parts that would be almost impossible to do on a "normal" guitar or bass.
Which is why I still have a freeted and fretless "normal" bass as well as a Strat along with the Stick...just opens up more fun options and possibilities.

[Hink]

Or you could get a Chapman Stick that'll let you play bass AND guitar parts on the same instrument.
(though the actual playing technique is like neither)

http://www.stick.com/method/
http://www.eyeoncville.com/005/005vid04.htm

I sold one of those once, I had to call them to get the tuning...if I remember right it was tuned from the middle out, 4ths one way and 5ths the other...cant be sure though....what I do remember is how slack the strings were, unwound strings were just so loose as a guitarist it was quite unatural. However what a fun instrument to play...I never did much with it except have fun, but I could see myself owning one...

Yep, the standard tuning is decending 4th on the guitar/melody side, and ascending 5ths on the bass side (though there are a lot of different variations available; I use Deep Matched Reciprical on mine, which is a whole-step lower on both sides with the lowest frettable bass note being a deep Bb), with the deepest/thickest strings towards the middle of the fretboard.

The tension is definitely a lot different than from a standard guitar or bass as it's designed to be played purely by tapping the strings with each hand with as little effort as possible, but I wouldn't really describe it as being really "slack" if it's properly set up and adjusted.

But your'e right in that it definitely does feel different from a "normal" guitar or bass...then again, the instrument really wasn't designed to purely emulate or replace a standard guitar or bass, but to instead be a unique instrument unto itself.
For example, with its tuning it's a royal pain to try to play what would be considered a plain ol' walking bass line with one hand (though you certainly can if you use a two-handed bass technique like Tony Levin does). But on the other hand, you can also acheive some incredibly rhythmic/percussive parts that would be almost impossible to do on a "normal" guitar or bass.
Which is why I still have a freeted and fretless "normal" bass as well as a Strat along with the Stick...just opens up more fun options and possibilities.

eastcoast usa please dont tell me you bought the stick in somerville mass Laugh if you will but I bought a Roland A33 controller a couple years ago off e-bay. I bought it because I saw it just as t was ending and the guy lived in the same town as me...not only did I buy it from him, I sold it to him to begin with...

[Har]

Or you could get a Chapman Stick that'll let you play bass AND guitar parts on the same instrument.
(though the actual playing technique is like neither)

http://www.stick.com/method/
http://www.eyeoncville.com/005/005vid04.htm

I sold one of those once, I had to call them to get the tuning...if I remember right it was tuned from the middle out, 4ths one way and 5ths the other...cant be sure though....what I do remember is how slack the strings were, unwound strings were just so loose as a guitarist it was quite unatural. However what a fun instrument to play...I never did much with it except have fun, but I could see myself owning one...

Yep, the standard tuning is decending 4th on the guitar/melody side, and ascending 5ths on the bass side (though there are a lot of different variations available; I use Deep Matched Reciprical on mine, which is a whole-step lower on both sides with the lowest frettable bass note being a deep Bb), with the deepest/thickest strings towards the middle of the fretboard.

The tension is definitely a lot different than from a standard guitar or bass as it's designed to be played purely by tapping the strings with each hand with as little effort as possible, but I wouldn't really describe it as being really "slack" if it's properly set up and adjusted.

But your'e right in that it definitely does feel different from a "normal" guitar or bass...then again, the instrument really wasn't designed to purely emulate or replace a standard guitar or bass, but to instead be a unique instrument unto itself.
For example, with its tuning it's a royal pain to try to play what would be considered a plain ol' walking bass line with one hand (though you certainly can if you use a two-handed bass technique like Tony Levin does). But on the other hand, you can also acheive some incredibly rhythmic/percussive parts that would be almost impossible to do on a "normal" guitar or bass.
Which is why I still have a freeted and fretless "normal" bass as well as a Strat along with the Stick...just opens up more fun options and possibilities.

eastcoast usa please dont tell me you bought the stick in somerville mass Laugh if you will but I bought a Roland A33 controller a couple years ago off e-bay. I bought it because I saw it just as t was ending and the guy lived in the same town as me...not only did I buy it from him, I sold it to him to begin with...

Whoa, sounds like a Mobius loop!

Anyway, nahh, bought mine new directly from SE out on the Left Coast.

[birrbits]

OK on the serious side.
I think it will be easier on your fingers going from keyboard to guitar then keyboard to bass.

if you learn the guitar you learn the bass too

Hmm.. I play the guitar and yes I can play bass lines on it as well but playing the same thing on a real bass is much harder. On bass you have to stretch your fingers much harder and the action is .... well the size of the grand canyon compare to a guitar.

I think this depends on the person. I have long fingers (see look ladies )
For years I struggled with guitar (and still do). Finally I decided to give the bass a shot & it suits me alot better. It is easier for me to fret and slide on bass strings and there is more distance between strings so my fingers arent as bunched up.

I might just be the exception to the rule.

[sangha]

I say go with the guitar. Bass gtr is much easier to emulate using synths than emulating a realistic guitar. Also, once you learn electric gtr, all you have to do is to get used to the feel of an acoustic gtr.

In additio, while I think it is easier to learn how to play bass like a beginner, it's much harder to play bass really well because the differences between good and great are so subtle.

[cptgone]

- My vote goes to guitar:
1) much more versatile
2) bass can be easily emulated with a synth.
My track "Rollerbass" (it's on my site) has a real bass guitar and a synth bass: can you tell which is which???
I doubt it.

Check out the Line6 Variax!

- about the girl factor: is Kraku even interested in girls, I wonder?
Anyway, bass frequencies are sexy, is it coincidence that of all the Rolling Stones, only the bass player got groupies?

[Max el Belga]

Why should you choose ? Take both, in one : the Yamaha EZ-AG guitar-midi-controller. Great fun ! There´s a tread on it over here on this forum. Guitar, bass, banjo, koto and piano sounds. Plus the midi controller possibilities !

[Lawnmower Of The Damned]

I play guitar and bass, and they are quite different. Playing bass isn't really like playing a monophonic guitar, it's much more rhythmic in nature. With guitar it doesn't matter much when you release the note, on bass it's just as important as when you hit the note...

I also write completely different types of songs depending on which instrument I start with. The same is also true of when I start a song with drums or synths too. I'd say there's a place for everything, and there's no reason to only get one.

I'd say buy the guitar now and get used to it. After a while save some more money and get a bass too.

[Hink]

There´s a tread on it.

it's an ATV too...leave it to Yamaha

[Kraku]

Everyone seems to suggest the guitar. Also the Chapman Stick has been mentioned. What about between those two? Guitar or Chapman Stick? There seems to be a stick which can do both "guitar" and "bass" at the same time...

I think I'll look forward to that AmpliTube 2. It'll be good for both the guitar and the stick.

Check out the Line6 Variax!

What's that?

- about the girl factor: is Kraku even interested in girls, I wonder?

I am But when it comes to looking good in the eyes of the girls because of writing music (or playing some specific instrument) then I'm not

[cptgone]

Check out the Line6 Variax!

What's that?

It's a modeling guitar: it emulates the sound of a lot of guitar models, mostly electric ones - there's a Variax Acoustic and a Variax Bass too.

I've ordered my Variax Bass

http://www.line6.com/variax/

[Max el Belga]

And what is the price of that Variax ?

[Lawnmower Of The Damned]

Ranging from $500 to $1,400 depending on the model. The good news is that all models (Not including the Variax Bass or Variax Acoustic, those are different) sound the same as it's the electronics that produce all of the sound.

The more expensive models are mainly just better looking. You can see videos and hear audio demos at Line 6's website: http://www.line6.com/products/instruments/

[Hink]

Everyone seems to suggest the guitar. Also the Chapman Stick has been mentioned. What about between those two? Guitar or Chapman Stick? There seems to be a stick which can do both "guitar" and "bass" at the same time...

I think I'll look forward to that AmpliTube 2. It'll be good for both the guitar and the stick.

Check out the Line6 Variax!

What's that?

- about the girl factor: is Kraku even interested in girls, I wonder?

I am But when it comes to looking good in the eyes of the girls because of writing music (or playing some specific instrument) then I'm not

I would consider the stick an advanced instrument to play imo, thoug it is possible that could be mastered easier without guitar habits...all the same I think the guitar would be wiser to start with...