Planning to buy a bass amp and a bass.........

Isabellacat · November 08, 2011, 04:14:12 PM

I'm looking to buy some decent bass gear in hopes to join or reform a band soon. I've been wanting to jam again really bad and decided to switch from guitar to bass as my main songwriting instrument this time around.

Just need some good recommendations before I start to really look. What's a good bass amp?

Discö Rice · November 08, 2011, 04:33:03 PM

It's all bold. I'm not sure which word you meant to emphasize. I have no idea how to answer this.

jibberish · November 08, 2011, 04:40:15 PM

fwiw, i seem to see galleon kruger a lot like for club bands when a combo is used.

i wonder if anyone makes the ladies version of the ampeg fridge, which comes as 4 2x10's heh.

laugh if you want, i would like that, especially after having the pleasure of wrestling a fridge up out of a basement practice space. fuck that noise.

Mr. Foxen · November 08, 2011, 04:45:53 PM

Quote from: jibberish on November 08, 2011, 04:40:15 PM
i wonder if anyone makes the ladies version of the ampeg fridge, which comes as 4 2x10's heh.

Ampeg make that. http://www.ampeg.com/products/classic/microvr/

Plus another cab.

Kinda need a budget to work with. New or secondhand? How much do looks matter?

For a rig, a Sansamp VT bpedal/preamp, a cheap Peavey power amp and most of the budget on a nice cab is best way to go, but utterly without style. I'd pretty much be OK with that sort of rig now, although I'd be fussy on the cab.

Corey Y · November 08, 2011, 04:49:24 PM

What sort of tone are you going for and what's your budget? There's more than one way to skin a cat.

SpaceTrucker · November 08, 2011, 04:56:12 PM

Word^ is tube a priority? or the overpriced old solid state amps? or just down right cheap?

Chovie D · November 08, 2011, 05:04:26 PM

Squire Precision bass...used....$150.
amp? May i recommend something small? ampeg combo?

Corey Y · November 08, 2011, 05:15:59 PM

If you just want the best value/tone for the buck get a vintage modified Squier Precision, Ampeg 810 and a decent solid state head like a GK RB series or even a Behringer Ultrabass BX4500H. If you need more dirt, pick up a cheap bottom of the barrel OD/Dist pedal, there's plenty that can be found for $30 brand new. You can find all of those used for cheap. An Ampeg 810 is not a very cheap piece of gear, but there are so many out there you can find functional ones for $300-400 if you're patient and don't mind it being beat up looks wise.

Chovie D · November 08, 2011, 05:21:09 PM

shes a young lady living in an apartment I think? in a major metropolitan area? not sure if she has a car even? first time as a bassist. Id avoid the 8x10.

SpaceTrucker · November 08, 2011, 05:30:58 PM

Yeah, I would go for 2 single 15's If she can't haul those, she aught not even bother with bass.

Corey Y · November 08, 2011, 05:36:48 PM

Plenty of affordable 4x10 cabs out there too. I wouldn't bother with a single 15, unless it's got a really efficient speaker in it. You can get 8x10s so cheap now and they put out so much volume, I think it's worth it to find a way to haul them around, if you're serious and not just dipping a toe in. In the end whatever gets you a result you like is the answer though. I have stronger opinions as a bassist who plays heavy music, but I'll stick to the encouragement.

VOLVO))) · November 08, 2011, 05:42:33 PM

Markbass anything if you just want to jam out.

Classic Vibe P-bass, ay, ay , ay~~~~

Hemisaurus · November 08, 2011, 05:43:32 PM

I have a buddy selling his bass rig uber-cheap ($150) but he's in WA, dunno where you are, 300W head and a 15" he's gigged it around the country, it's pretty bombproof. Look in the deals section.

Uber-light gear, TC-Electronic do lightweight heads and cabs, as do Markbass, Genz-Benz and Gallien Krueger, but don't assume being a girl someone can't lift heavy objects, I've worked PA crew with women and watched them haul subs downstairs

Now old farts on the other hand, we appreciate light gear, I need to buy some

VOLVO))) · November 08, 2011, 05:47:48 PM

I've seen some cock-strong females. I used to know a chick who could beat me in arm-wrestling. I should have married her, only chick I've ever seen get in a fist fight with a guy that had 30+ pounds on her, and win, without my assistance. To his credit, she was a downright dirty fighter. 30 pounds on her put him at about 150, so I easily had a hundred pounds on him, to put it into perspective. 120 pound female with the arm strength to put me down in arm wrestling.

Corey Y · November 08, 2011, 05:50:37 PM

I used to have a Markbass Little Mark II and it was a very good amp. 5 lbs and very loud. There was a certain something in the low mids that drove me crazy (in an obsessive knob twiddling way, which I am not into), which is why I got rid of it, but I would still recommend it and they can be had used pretty cheap. One of those items that was all the rage one year, so the market is flooded with used models for cheap at this point.

Hemisaurus · November 08, 2011, 05:55:22 PM

Quote from: SunnO))) on November 08, 2011, 05:47:48 PM
I've seen some cock-strong females. I used to know a chick who could beat me in arm-wrestling. I should have married her, only chick I've ever seen get in a fist fight with a guy that had 30+ pounds on her, and win, without my assistance. To his credit, she was a downright dirty fighter. 30 pounds on her put him at about 150, so I easily had a hundred pounds on him, to put it into perspective. 120 pound female with the arm strength to put me down in arm wrestling.

Dude I was 135lb when I hauled PA, it's all in the legs, not the cock. It's obvious your self employed, otherwise you would have been force-fed some gender sensitivity training by now.

Quote from: Corey Y on November 08, 2011, 05:50:37 PM
I used to have a Markbass Little Mark II and it was a very good amp. 5 lbs and very loud. There was a certain something in the low mids that drove me crazy (in an obsessive knob twiddling way, which I am not into), which is why I got rid of it, but I would still recommend it and they can be had used pretty cheap. One of those items that was all the rage one year, so the market is flooded with used models for cheap at this point.

Isn't that what those weird VPL or VPE controls or something is for?

Corey Y · November 08, 2011, 06:01:08 PM

Yeah, there is a of adjustment with the EQ available, but it was too knob tweaky for my taste. I went through dozens of settings and I was always adjusting the settings trying to get this certain scoop out of the low mids. I've read since that a lot of people have made the same observation, but some people like that voicing. So I can't criticize it as a flaw, just a matter of taste. I'm sure if I could just force myself to be less obsessive I could have used it for the rest of my bass playing days no one would have said anything bad about it. That was never going to happen though.

Worthless Willie · November 08, 2011, 06:25:15 PM

I use a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz Bass-->black Russian Big Muff-->Markbass Little MarkII-->Ampeg 4x10. It gets the job done.

BrianDamage · November 08, 2011, 06:54:04 PM

Quote from: SunnO))) on November 08, 2011, 05:47:48 PM
I've seen some cock-strong females. I used to know a chick who could beat me in arm-wrestling. I should have married her, only chick I've ever seen get in a fist fight with a guy that had 30+ pounds on her, and win, without my assistance. To his credit, she was a downright dirty fighter. 30 pounds on her put him at about 150, so I easily had a hundred pounds on him, to put it into perspective. 120 pound female with the arm strength to put me down in arm wrestling.

Must not have been your "whackin arm" haha

Chovie D · November 08, 2011, 06:56:53 PM

this is gonna be another one of those threads where the OP never returns and leaves us arguing endlessly over our suggestions

so.....

...Just plug into your home stereo.

VOLVO))) · November 08, 2011, 07:19:51 PM

Cock-strong is a turn of phrase, haggisbreath.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

Hemisaurus · November 08, 2011, 07:41:12 PM

Quote from: Chovie D on November 08, 2011, 06:56:53 PM
this is gonna be another one of those threads where the OP never returns and leaves us arguing endlessly over our suggestions
so.....

...Just plug into your home stereo.

Got my best sounds that way, amazing what a 20 year old 50W receiver can do.

Hemisaurus · November 08, 2011, 08:26:28 PM

Quote from: SunnO))) on November 08, 2011, 07:19:51 PM
Cock-strong is a turn of phrase, haggisbreath.

I just figured

as usual

Baltar · November 08, 2011, 08:56:37 PM

My last bass player had a Markbass, it sounded killer for the size.

giantchris · November 08, 2011, 08:57:02 PM

The SS distortion on those Markbass LMIIs actually sounds pretty badass nice and grindy a la old acoustics.

I'd probably try to get a used G&L SB-2 or a P bass of some sort (preferably w/ an active boost). Personally I think the new Fender Blackout P bass looks pretty badass no clue on pricing though. For amps I'd probably go the Tech 21 VT bass as pre and use a random old peavey power amp and whatever decent used speakers you can get. Always been a fan of 12s myself but it kinda depends on what sorta tunings you plan on doing and whether or not you'll be playing a 4 or 5 banger.