Question about Amp & other accessories.

[Dulahey]

So I have decided to purchase an American Standard P-Bass.

Along with it, I'm currently planning to get a Roland Micro Cube RX. Mainly for the battery operation. I play an upright bass most of the time, but there are just some situations where I physically can NOT take the DB. So instead of being instrumentless, I can at least take the electric with a small battery powered amp. I would just be playing in a small group anyway. Not looking to perform here. Lots of volume not needed. Is this an acceptable decision? What are some other options?

Now in the future, if I was wanting a better amp/combo to use to perform for smallish groups, what kind of amp would I be looking at? Currently I only play with a bluegrass/gospel group. Most our performances are at church and other small equivalent "venues" around town. 100 people max. Usually about 30-50. All other instruments are acoustic. So again, volume isn't needed, but I'd want something of decent quality.

Do I need to buy a better cable for hooking up to the amp? How big of a difference does this make compared to the stock one that's gonna come with the bass from Fender?

I need flat strings. What kind do you suggest?

Anything else that I need? I'm a total beginner with electric bass btw.

[SurferJoe46]

@ Dulahey

So I have decided to purchase an American Standard P-Bass.

Good choice - nice bass - one of my favorites - rich in voicing and very expressive.

Along with it, I'm currently planning to get a Roland Micro Cube RX. Mainly for the battery operation.

Acceptable in some low volume instances.

I play an upright bass most of the time, but there are just some situations where I physically can NOT take the DB. So instead of being instrument-less, I can at least take the electric with a small battery powered amp.

So far, sounds plausible

I would just be playing in a small group anyway. Not looking to perform here.

When is 'playing in a small group' not 'performing'?

Lots of volume not needed.

Hold that thought

Is this an acceptable decision? What are some other options?

See previous answer

Now in the future, if I was wanting a better amp/combo to use to perform for smallish groups, what kind of amp would I be looking at?

Currently I only play with a bluegrass/gospel group. Most our performances are at church and other small equivalent "venues" around town. 100 people max. Usually about 30-50. All other instruments are acoustic.

The ONLY part I see here that might save your bacon with a Roland Cube is that everyone else is acoustic - but Bluegrass can get pretty loud, and I'd bet the mandolin and fiddle are at least mic'd - right?

You DO realize that a solid body bass won't make any sounds of it's own - right? And that it NEEDS to be amplified to be heard - right?

So again, volume isn't needed, but I'd want something of decent quality.

'Quality' and 'volume' are not separable as far as an electric bass is concerned. If you don't have the capacity to make volume by moving large amounts of air (unless you tiny amp is mic'd - then that's a whole 'nother game in itself) you will need the headroom - or the ability to have more volume and move lots of air for the sake of decent quality.

Do I need to buy a better cable for hooking up to the amp? How big of a difference does this make compared to the stock one that's gonna come with the bass from Fender?

A Fender cable is good - there are better and there are much worse. Me? - (I personally stay away from 'Monster Cables' for physical damage reasons, not sound quality).

The thought of a better cable should not be an issue if you buy a brand name and I don't really understand the question of the quality of a Fender one.

One of my favorite cables was a very inexpensive one I got from Guitar Fetish in cloth wrapped that has served me well for years and is my 'go-to' cable much of the time.

I need flat strings. What kind do you suggest?

I really like the Rotosound 77s.

Anything else that I need? I'm a total beginner with electric bass btw.

I think the amp choice is weak - I wouldn't buy anything now that is less than 200 Watts and runs at least a pair of ten-inch drivers, maybe a good quality fifteen-incher, but nothing less IMO.

Eventually you'll want or need a DI box to get into a PA system in a larger venue. BUT - I don't play that way and prefer to stand alone with MY amps and cabs and run around 600 Watts.

You don't NEED 600 Watts - but there's always the Volume control to turn the output down to acceptable required levels.

I play a few Wine & Cheese venues for the parents of old people and they won't put up with loud noise, so I still run 600 Watts, but into a singe fifteen cab and just keep it low. The amp doesn't care that it's taking it easy, and neither do I.

What I see many times is someone asking for a small amp recommendation now, and then what amp should they buy later when they need more power (you will).

That's kinda the expensive way to do things I feel: buying twice for what's eventually gonna become a changeable set of circumstances.

YOUR quandary is needing a battery powered amp and then some acceptable power later on too. You may have to buy twice then if this is your only option.

Amps are all over the place and as such comes a warning: I only recommend NEW as you'll get the ability to return it in 30-60 days for a trade up, down, sideways until you find the powered amp that suits you best.

There's gonna be a lot of people saying you'll get more bang for your buck by buying used - but you are n00b enough to maybe not really know the ins-and-outs of amps yet, especially used one and what to not get and to look out for.

Used amps, in your situation, are a crapshoot and you may HAVE to buy several until you find one that works good for you.

That to me is a lot of work with shipping, testing, getting angry at buying a POS and having to resell it to recuperate financially from bad judgement and bad fortune to get a wasted and wiped-out amp.

Go to Guitar Center or Sam Ash or a really larger music store and try every amp they have until you find one that works to YOUR requirements.

Frankly, there aren't really any inherently bad amps out there on the new market right now, just variations on a theme. I'd prefer (and do) to be more Olde School in sound reproduction.

The newer voiced, brighter gear is OK if you're gonna slap or play Metal.

I didn't read that between your lines, unless you've somehow fused Bluegrass and a Mosh Pit and then I guess you can always get some black and silver makeup, platform boots, smoke and flash-bangs.

[Dulahey]

Thank you very much for the insight!

I totally agree with you on not buying a small amp at first only to have to buy a better one later. That's the same reasoning behind why I'm getting an American Standard. I plan on having the bass for a long time and probably not buying another anytime soon. So it's efficient use of my money to get quality now instead of starting with a Squier, THEN getting an American later.

Unfortunately, I do want the battery powered option. It'll be good as a practice amp as well. Currently, when I perform I'm using my DB. I don't really plan on using the electric instead of the DB at performances. But, I know that option exists and eventually it could come into fruition. I was just curious what I should be looking at for the future. ie COST. I also assume as a noobie that an easier option is to just buy a combo or a bundled stack?

And back to the Roland Microcube, are there any other good battery powered options? Should I just get the cheapest one I can find to take camping and such? This would let me put more money into a good amp sooner.

[SurferJoe46]

Before I go out to my Wine & Cheese venue this morning - I can say this: I dislike the quality of sound from anything that puny Cube system creates - other then possibly playing quietly in the bathroom of a nunnery at midnight where it can at least get some resonance from the tile floor and walls.

I suppose that you can get something outta it - but the tonal quality and projection at the frequencies we need to reproduce (somewhat faithfully) does not sound good coming outta one of those units to my ears.

As far as cost - the old statement of a 'buck-a-watt' makes sense. Personally I use 600 Watts as a minimum for everything - with the judicious use of the Volume control as previously stated. Even my practice amp is 600 watts.

Again - that's NEW prices, as I totally eschew used gear, especially if it would (but it won't) be something I couldn't try first at at least 90% capacity.

[bobodechimp]

i have a cube 100 wich is i nice smallish amp it's putting out 75 watts now but if you add another 12" cab you can get 150watts

[RickenBoogie]

I agree, the tiny Cube amps are fine for their battery powered=ness, but tonally, pure yuk. Doesn't sound like you'd ever really need anything huge, but good tone is important, and a Mesa Walkabout Scout 12 would be fairly small and compact, around 50ish lbs, and sound sublime. Also +1 on the Roto 77 Jazz Flats, great strings, my fav flats as well. Maybe you should bring your new P bass out to a few shops, and test drive a few amps, to get a feel for the differences.

[Dulahey]

oof, that Mesa is a little out of my price range

I'm already splurging a little on the American Standard. If it's going to be pretty much required for me to spend a grand on an amp I'm gonna have to drop the bass down to a Squire.

I see Acoustic B200 recommended a lot here on the forums. Is something in that range acceptable? Or do you really need more wattage than that? I mean I am NOT going to be playing in a rock band. Again, everyone else I play with will be acoustic.

[SurferJoe46]

The B200 is a good combo, and add in a B-115 Neo in awhile and you've got a nice little stack there.

Stay with either the 15s or go 10s, but try to not mix them as they can have certain bad effects on each other if they are mismatched.

You can sound pretty good with a pair of 10s on top and a 15 on the bottom if you aren't pushing the combination too hard.