well first off a bass has 4 strings (E, A, D, G) and a guitar has six (E, A, D, G, B, e). the bass's strings are tuned one octave lower than those of the guitar. a bass also has thicker strings and a longer neck. and there are people who will swear their lives on either one being more 'fun' to play. you have to just experiment and see which one is easier, more fun for you.

ok thanks i think i'll go to my local guitar shop and try out a bass just to see if a like it

For me bass playing is like walking to music, you keep a rhythm going with the drums but hitting the notes with the guitar or keyboard. Bass players are a different breed of guitar player I have noticed, each of them, like lead players have their own style and technique but if you will take a look at player like Robert Trujillo of Metallica and compare him to Geddy Lee of Rush you will see what I am talking about.

thanks peavey. i do my best ;]
and personally, i love both. but i can't play bass too well, even though i started on it, so i just do what i can with the two extra strings.

heres my theory:
in your average rock band, there is a lead and rhythm guitar, bass, and drum (forget singers for now :P ).
lets say for instance that lead/rhythm guitars, and drums represent stones filling up a jar. they fill up the jar to the top, but there is still some space in there. SO! you pour in water, which fully completes the jar. water IS bass. bass totally completes a band :D
and so theres my little illustration haha

generally speaking, playing guitar well will also allow you to facilitate playing the bass as the bass guitar is simply the bottom 4 strings of a regular guitar. so the theory is similar in both scenarios. bass DOES tend to be a bit easier to approach as you are primarily dealing with single nots and lines of music as opposed to guitar where you deal with chords and the like. guitar has smaller strings which are easier to manipulate than the thick heavy strings of a bass. but both can be a lot of fun to learn how to play.........

"playing guitar well will also allow you to facilitate playing the bass as the bass guitar is simply the bottom 4 strings of a regular guitar. so the theory is similar in both scenarios."

Sorry Bach but I disagree. Bass requires a completely different mindset and approach to music than does "normal" guitar. Just because you may be a passable guitarist that, in no way, translates directly into being a passable bass player other than knowing the note structure, etc.

I've heard guitar players who obviously think "hey.. I can play guitar I'll just play bass here" and it is almost always not good. Too busy, too much like them soloing in the bottom octave, no "relationship" with the rest of the rhythm section, etc..

Despite the similarities bass and guitar require different approches in playing. Being good at one does not make you good at the other. Most guitar players will take a swing at the bass and many will do OK as long as they aren't trying to play a four string guitar, but a good bass player will add to the oversound in a very consistant and solid manner. I have a bass along with a half dozen guitars and I enjoy playing it but I am certainly no bass player. So get a bass you never know that may be your instrument but don't feel as though you have to choose, it will choose you.

i always thought bass was a LITTLE BIT easier, but bass and guitar are a totally different game. it all depends on preference, opinion, what style you play, and the quality of what you try out, so try every guitar/bass you can and see what suits you.

I am a bassist and must say that i agree with most of the comments posted aldready. It is a mindset and an approach to music that creates the difference, I play a six string bass and that does not by any means mean that i am able to apply my approach to playing music on a guitar effectively even though the number of strings factor has been nullified.