Best Amp For Home Studio (And Perhaps A Good Mic Too)

Nightwingvyse · #1 01-13-2011, 03:57 PM

Hi. Complete newbie on this board. I know starting new threads on common topics is frowned upon, but i really wanted custom advice.

I'm currently a solo artist slowly but constantly working on new material which i record with my home setup involving vocals, guitar, bass, piano and violin. I currently have a Squier P-Bass Special with a Peavey Max 158, which i record through an SE Electronics valve mic. On top of wanting better pickups in my bass, i'm looking for a new amp (and possibly another mic better suited for recording bass).

I have no intention of gigging with it any time soon, so i'm not after anything particularly big, or particularly powerful, but i want something with unrivaled clarity and definition; Just a little amp with great quality.

I'm looking to spend no more than about £200 (~$320). I know how limited i am to quality with that price limit, but i'm after the best clarity for that kinda price.

I'm also looking for maybe a kick mic for recording bass with. So if anyone has any recommendations.

Thanks.

RickenBoogie · #2 01-13-2011, 05:15 PM

I'd forget the mic, and get a good quality bass preamp, with a good DI, and record bass direct from that. At the very least, you'd want to have a DI track to go along with any mic'd cab, but with the available stuff these days, a good preamp is ALL you need.

JimmyM · #3 01-13-2011, 11:19 PM

+1. for that money, your recording dollar goes farther with some sort of preamp. lot of really good ones out there. i don't know that i'd use any $200-300 combo to record with, and i wouldn't record with a mic that didn't cost at least that much without running a separate preamp di'd anyway, so get a preamp pedal instead.

Nightwingvyse · #4 01-14-2011, 06:59 AM

Great advice, thanks. My old bassist also told me at work that i should DI it.

So assuming any money i might have spent on a mic to go with a new combo, a spending limit of about £250 (~$400) is what i'd probably keep to. I play a range of things, but mainly "Art Rock"; stuff like HURT, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, etc.

Has anybody any recommend any preamps i should look out for? Thanks!

JimmyM · #5 01-14-2011, 09:53 AM

well sansamp is a traditional answer, but it's basically a matter of taste.

plangentmusic · #6 01-14-2011, 10:07 AM

What's an amp?

RickenBoogie · #7 01-14-2011, 12:11 PM

seriously?

Nightwingvyse · #8 01-14-2011, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

seriously?

I don't think so lol