TOP 7 Bass Guitars Beginners should AVOID

Summary of product review: “TOP 7 Bass Guitars Beginners should AVOID” (Johnny)

Overall verdict

The video isn’t about good beginner basses—it’s a “avoid list” based on Johnny’s experience. His main advice is: as a beginner, prioritize clarity, simple controls, reliable passive electronics, comfortable playability (especially avoiding neck dive), and basic 4-string layouts.

He’s skeptical of basses that sacrifice fundamentals for gimmicks, complex electronics, or inconsistent quality.

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Unique avoidable basses and key points

1) Höfner Violin Bass (new ~£250–£300)

• Why avoid: The sound “doesn’t really fit in every mix.”
• Comparison: More limited/less versatile than a Precision-style bass.
• Who might want it: Only if you’re a dedicated Paul McCartney / Beatles fan.
• Verdict in-video: “Okay bass,” but not recommended as a first bass.

2) Epiphone SG Bass (EB-1 mentioned) (~£200)

• Why avoid: Said to be “muted and dull and boring.”
• Specific complaint: Lacks clarity and note definition, especially noticeable for beginners who need to hear mistakes.
• Mechanics: Listener won’t pick up nuances that help improvement.
• Verdict in-video: Strongly discouraged as a beginner’s first bass (though the speaker says people may love/hate it).

3) Epiphone Thunderbird Standard (~£350)

• Why avoid: Playability issues.
• Key drawback: Neck dive (“renowned for their terrible neck dive”).
• Other context: Johnny loves the vibe and sound, but says it creates an extra barrier while learning.
• Verdict in-video: Not good for beginners despite being sonically appealing.

4) Ibanez TMB-100 Talman (~£260)

• Why avoid: Active preamp performance.
• Key critique: Active electronics require a 9V battery, and the preamp is described as “super hot,” forcing users to back it off frequently.
• What’s missing: Johnny wishes the money was spent on better pickups instead of the active preamp.
• Verdict in-video: Plays well overall, but the preamp system undermines it for beginner needs.

5) Sire M2 (M series humbucker) (~£300)

• Why avoid: Overly complex onboard electronics/control system.
• Key critique: Johnny found the control setup “overwhelming” and distracting.
• Beginner principle: Beginners should keep things simple—less confusion while learning the instrument.
• Verdict in-video: Sound/playability are praised, but not recommended for beginners due to control complexity.

6) Squier Contemporary Series P-Bass (~£350–£400) — “quality control” concerns

• Why avoid: Inconsistent quality and reliability problems in Johnny’s experience.
• Specific problems cited:
  • 3 units owned
  • 2 arrived not working
  • 1 arrived damaged in transit, even though it shipped from Fender
• What’s positive: He says they play well and sound good; the design concept (roasted maple neck, color/looks, pickup configuration) is exciting.
• Buying advice: If considering one, play it in a shop first due to questionable QC.
• Verdict in-video: He cannot recommend because of repeated failures.

7) “Acoustic basses” (generic category)

• Why avoid: Acoustic basses “play differently” and respond differently than electric basses.
• Who they’re for (implied): If focusing on electric rock/metal/slap basics, electric is preferable.
• Verdict in-video: Not recommended as a beginner path if your goal is electric bass fundamentals.

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Additional generic “avoid” advice (not tied to one specific model)

Avoid active electronics for beginners

• Reasoning: Passive basses are described as more reliable, with “less to go wrong” and fewer ways to “color your sound.”
• Goal: Reduce distractions so beginners focus on fundamentals.

Avoid bass hardware tradeoffs

• Reasoning: In affordable basses, money may get spent on preamps while tuning pegs / bridge / pickups quality suffers.
• Guidance: If it costs the same, prioritize better basic components over expensive active features.

Avoid 5-string basses as first basses

• Why avoid: Said to be inherently harder:
  • wider fretboard
  • possibly smaller string spacing
  • added learning barriers
• Verdict in-video: Start with 4-string, progress later if desired.

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Comparison points made in the video

• Höfner violin bass vs Precision bass: Precision-style is framed as more versatile; violin sound doesn’t fit every mix.
• Ibanez Talman TMB-100: Affordable full-scale Talman is discussed as an alternative to Fender-style offsets, but the preamp is the deciding negative.
• Squier Contemporary P-bass: Design concepts are praised, but QC problems dominate the recommendation.
• 6-string “bass guitar”/guitar-like basses (Bass VI concept): Positioned as crossing between guitar and bass.

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“Bass VI” / guitar-like basses (extra topic)

• Concept described: Looks like a guitar; bass in the name; tuned an octave lower; can play like bass/guitar crossover.
• Advice: Even though it’s tempting for guitar players, Johnny treats it as a separate instrument—he doesn’t recommend it as a first step to bass (he recommends getting a real bass instead).
• Price mentioned: “Squire Classic Vibe Bass VI” ~£350–£400; he calls it an excellent deal, but only if you’re already a good beginner/guitar player and want the unique instrument—not as a direct bass substitute.

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Pros/cons as stated (global theme)

Pros mentioned

• Höfner: “okay” and has a distinctive sound.
• Epiphone Thunderbirds: sounds great and has awesome vibe.
• Ibanez TMB-100: plays really well; active EQ could add flavor (when controlled).
• Sire M2: sounds and plays fantastically (but controls are complex).
• Squier P-Bass: sounds good and plays well (when functioning).

Cons emphasized

• Weak clarity/note definition (Epiphone SG).
• Neck dive (Thunderbird).
• Active preamp issues (TMB-100) and active electronics generally (avoid philosophy).
• Too complex electronics (Sire M2).
• Quality control/reliability failures (Squier Contemporary P-Bass).
• Playability mismatch (Höfner mix fit; acoustic bass feel; 5-string learning burden).

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Speaker breakdown

• Johnny (main speaker): Provides the full avoid-list, gives personal ownership/experience (notably with the Epiphone models, Sire M2, and especially the Squier QC issue), and delivers the generic beginner principles (passive > active; 4-string > 5-string; avoid complex controls).

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Concise recommendation

If you’re a beginner, the video recommends avoiding basses with muted clarity, poor playability (neck dive/wrong feel), complex active systems, and unreliable QC. Stick to a simple, passive, 4-string bass with clear note definition and consistent hardware, and consider trying in-store if QC is a concern.