New bass! New amp?

Regularjohnny · #1 01-20-2011, 02:50 AM

Hi guys, this is my first post as I have recently decided to pick up the bass! I bought myself a squier affinity p-bass, and from reading up on them alot of ppl reckon that the p'ups, pots, and hardware should be replaced with pro gear.

The only problem I have with this is that I haven't played it thru a decent amp yet so I'm unsure whether I'll actually want to spend all that money right now, when a decent amp will help sort out my tone.

So my question is, can someone recommend me some amps that I could use for practice(with a drummer), and small gigs? I play a mix of asiwyfa/future of the left/pulled apart by horses/les savy fav/at the drive in/tool. So I think I'd be looking for something that has great all round tonal abilities, and either something with gain/distortion or an amp that takes pedals well, like a Russian built big muff! Help please????!!?? And I'd be looking to spend no more than 300 gbp on it. Would rather go for second hand due to getting more for my cash! Thanks in advance

tom once dead · #2 01-20-2011, 02:57 AM

Not really sure on prices over there. But I've found the line 6 gear has a lot of tonal range with different channels so you can save in your own sounds.

JimmyM · #3 01-20-2011, 03:27 AM

no idea what's in britain at 300 pounds but i'd try to find a used 300w amp and 410 to get started on a rig you can gig with that won't run out of juice in most situations. and you are right in not wanting to mod your bass yet. you don't need to worry about modding it until you've been playing for a while and you're more sure of what you want and how to get it. besides, every second it's apart is a second you're not playing and practicing, and that's what's important.

Regularjohnny · #4 01-20-2011, 03:33 AM

I'm not being a snob or anything, but I have to say I really prefer analog to digital, I just think digital modelling amps sound a bit off, can't put my finger on it tho. Prob more my taste than anything else. Not meaning to offend anyone!

Would 300w with a 4 speaker cab not be way too much? I was thinking maybe something relatively easy to carry around, a combo maybe. Any particular models/brands you were thinking of??

Hellbastard · #5 01-20-2011, 03:42 AM

Look for a used Trace Elliot Rig. Trace Elliot is very realible, excellent sounding and built like a tank. You can probably get a 1048 cab and a Ah250 head Series 6 for 300 Pounds.
This would be enough to play bar gigs with a Loud Drummer and no P.A support without a problem.

Hellbastard · #6 01-20-2011, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regularjohnny

Would 300w with a 4 speaker cab not be way too much?

Not Really, once you get to play live you'll see why is it important to have as much power and speakers as you can afford to buy or carry.
Maybe you can start out with a 2x10 cab, that way if you ever need more you can get a second 2x10 and stack the two cabs vertically.

JimmyM · #7 01-20-2011, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regularjohnny

I'm not being a snob or anything, but I have to say I really prefer analog to digital, I just think digital modelling amps sound a bit off, can't put my finger on it tho. Prob more my taste than anything else. Not meaning to offend anyone!

Would 300w with a 4 speaker cab not be way too much? I was thinking maybe something relatively easy to carry around, a combo maybe. Any particular models/brands you were thinking of??

well it sounds like the music you want to play would require something of that size if you plan on doing it with a band. you can practice on anything, though, and some combos are capable of putting our reasonable amounts of volume that you could actually gig on if you don't need to kill babies with volume.

no idea what is available in gb, but over here, stuff like ampeg, peavey, hartke, gk, yorkville, swr, etc. can be found used at reasonable prices.

and fwiw, i agree with you about digital sounding a bit off. it's come a long way, but most digital stuff available for reasonable prices really doesn't have the processing power to get it done imho. it's good, but not great. digital stuff for computers and high end audio stuff is really good, but you have a lot more guns available with that and it makes a difference.

playerunk · #8 01-20-2011, 03:57 AM

my rig [peavey tour 450 + peavey 410] costed me about 350euro. If you search used and wait for a deal you could get a decent amp and cab. Head + 210 may be suitable for you if you move your gear from practice->home->gig because it's light and you can expand easily

Plays_For_Dog · #9 01-20-2011, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regularjohnny

I'm not being a snob or anything, but I have to say I really prefer analog to digital, I just think digital modelling amps sound a bit off, can't put my finger on it tho. Prob more my taste than anything else. Not meaning to offend anyone!

Would 300w with a 4 speaker cab not be way too much? I was thinking maybe something relatively easy to carry around, a combo maybe. Any particular models/brands you were thinking of??

+1 on getting as much amp and wattage as you can afford. Drums have a way of being LOUD! Once you pick up a guitar, you're going to be drowned out easily.

As far as combo's go, I'd stick with name brands in the bass world. SWR, Eden, Trace Elliot, Markbass. All of which will be expensive even used, but you get what you pay for. Nothing sucks more then to out grow your gear while it's still new to you.

Go forth and do great bottom end

kosmicwizard · #10 01-20-2011, 04:41 AM

Trace Elliot, Marshall or Ashdown are my recommendations based on location. I also recommend a head that is 4 Ohm capable (2 can be better) and if it produces 300 Watts at 8 Ohms you are laughing. Get a 8 Ohm 2x10 and then add more 2x10's on later as your needs require. Cheers.

Regularjohnny · #11 01-20-2011, 05:18 AM

So is it the general consensus that I should be looking for a trace Elliot/hartke/ampeg/Gk head and cab(possibly 2x10 to begin with)?

Are there any brands I should stay clear of, or bad models of good brands to beware? Sorry for all the inane questions guys, but you've been great so far!

Zakk007 · #12 01-20-2011, 09:17 AM

If you are in the UK mate id be looking at Ashdown or maybe Ampeg...

JimmyM · #13 01-20-2011, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Regularjohnny

So is it the general consensus that I should be looking for a trace Elliot/hartke/ampeg/Gk head and cab(possibly 2x10 to begin with)?

Are there any brands I should stay clear of, or bad models of good brands to beware? Sorry for all the inane questions guys, but you've been great so far!

behringer.