Buying a bass guitar is like buying anything. It requires a little research and looking around, but knowledge is also a good thing to have. So if you arm yourself with a little knowledge before you go shopping, you can probably get a better deal.

First, there are many brand names to choose from. Some are great, some are just good and then there are those that are, well, not so great. Some of the better ones are obvious like Gibson, Fender and Ibanez. All offer a high and a low end line of instruments to appeal to all bass players; especially those on a tight budget.

The differences are sometimes subtle but need to be looked at before making the selection. Just remember that you will be together with that bass guitar for some time to come, so choose wisely. Here are a few to get you started:

• Material – What is the bass guitar made of? Good tone woods are Alder or Basswood.

• Neck – Is the neck a bolt-on or “neck thru”. Bolt-on explains itself and is lower in price. A “neck thru” bass guitar is made so that the neck wood runs through the body end to end. The sides of the body are attached to the sides of the neck piece. Provides greater sustain and deeper tone, but is expensive.

• Fret board or finger board – Usually these are made from either Maple or Rosewood. Some high end models will have Mahogany or some other exotic wood here.

Now that we have looked at materials 101, we can talk about size and comfort. You will find bass guitars in some of the same body styles and models as six string instruments. Some are larger than others, so you need to select one that fits you physically.

Another consideration is the type of music you will be playing. Some models are better for jazz, some for rock/metal and yet others for folk type music. You will want a bass that accents the style of music.

For the comfort aspect, there is only one way to go. Go to a music store and play a few different basses. Get the feel for them, see how they play, what they sound like and if they are comfortable for you. For bassists of smaller stature, there are what we call “junior” sized. These are made on a smaller scale and are usually used by young people or kids just starting out.

Play a few basses and notice how the sound differs from one to the next. Flip the switches and listen to the sound change. Really get into the fret board and make sure there aren’t any dead spots on it. Most of all, you want a well rounded out tone. Play the lower strings and work your way through the higher ones. The tone and sound should be uniform with the lower notes not too “flopsome”.

Looks are important as well, so look at the ones that catch your eye and pick them up. Many colors and models are there for you to look at and play. Visiting the music store is the best way to find that perfect bass guitar.