Who does need an Amp anyway?

[madmic]

I used to own a Markbass Combo, but sold it.

Just curious if there is anyone else out there who came to the conclusion that owning an Amp is a "nice to have".
Mind you, that could be the only justification you need of course, I respect that.

Setting:
I practice weekly at a studio, and gig approximately 15 times a year, mainly in (large) bars.

When practicing at home (daily), I plug my Drumcomputer, Ipod, Bass and Headphone into a mixer, and I am all set.
Don't want to bother anyone else with my "noise", by playing over an Amp.

At the studio (practice) a full back-line is included in the fee.
(PA/Amps/Drumkit/Mic's etc).

When we gig , we rent a P.A. set and as part of the package deal I get to rent a Bass Amp for 15 dollars (EBS stack).


I don't think spending cash on an Amp makes sense for "only" 15 gigs a year

Cheers,
mich

PS: The P.A rental company does also take care of transporting the goods.
That is a nice extra for me, as due to a bad back I'd rather not carry a big rack around (jokes aside).

[john m]

I'm on the other side of the coin.

I own at least 5 usable setups, depending on the gig.

I'm doing a show this Thursday, Friday,Sunday. Rehearsed last night with the rig I'm using tonight and Friday.

Saturday's rig will be left at the reheasal (afternoon) for Sunday's show. It's odd that I'm not working this Saturday,
but that could change.

john m

[rockstarbassist]

Is this a question or just a misguided generalization?

[KJung]

Originally Posted by madmic

I used to own a Markbass Combo, but sold it.

Just curious if there is anyone else out there who came to the conclusion that owning an Amp is a "nice to have".
Mind you, that could be the only justification you need of course, I respect that.

Setting:
I practice weekly at a studio, and gig approximately 15 times a year, mainly in (large) bars.

When practicing at home (daily), I plug my Drumcomputer, Ipod, Bass and Headphone into a mixer, and I am all set.
Don't want to bother anyone else with my "noise", by playing over an Amp.

At the studio (practice) a full back-line is included in the fee.
(PA/Amps/Drumkit/Mic's etc).

When we gig , we rent a P.A. set and as part of the package deal I get to rent a Bass Amp for 15 dollars (EBS stack).


I don't think spending cash on an Amp makes sense for "only" 15 gigs a year

Cheers,
mich

PS: The P.A rental company does also take care of transporting the goods.
That is a nice extra for me, as due to a bad back I'd rather not carry a big rack around (jokes aside).

You do 15 gigs a year, and wax poetic about what players need or don't need in general God help us. I guess if you did zero gigs a year, you wouldn't even need a bass. You are almost there

I agree, if you hardly play, you hardly need anything.

[BassJunkie]

If that works for you, great!

[Bassdirty]

Originally Posted by madmic

Who does need an Amp anyway?

Answer: Someone who Gigs more than 15 times a year, and/or does not have acces to all those other "luxurys" you mentioned.


I do not use an amp when I practice at home though,
I use either my Bass trainer/pocket rocket with laptop in aux/ or my digital recorder.

Playing with a band, (call me old fashioned) I use my amp.

Plus, we all want to justify our GAS problems somehow.

[Bob C]

Q: Who needs an amp?

A: Someone who needs an amp.

[waleross]

I havn't played a gig or been in a band for many years. Still, my DEAN bass headphones weren't cutting it. Thing this I just love big loud heads and cabs. I understand that downsizing is the thing and I have a small setup if needed but come on we all love loud and thundering bass or else you'd be playing another instrument. Turn up the Bass we can't hear you, OK!!!!

[HeadyVan Halen]

Practicing in bedroom thru headphones will give you a 'slighty' different sound than 2x15's during a gig. Having an amp to 'get to know' your sound is mildly important I would think.

Whatever wets your whistle though..

[MNAirHead]

I own a room full of cabinets, amps and heads....

Quite sincerely over the last few years, I've moved toward DI/IEM or small kickbacks with DI

The sincerest opinion is live gigging folks without a good PA and Tech need amps.

[Ric5]

I need bass amps ... even when I play through a pa or record I still use a bass amp. However I also really like pa support.

[madmic]

I respect all your comments.

For the ones downtalking my limited numbers of (paying) gigs:

I have had my fair share, playing for 26 years, I played anywhere between 10-30 gigs a year. Not a large number by any means, but I would be member of the 500+ (paying) gigs club, thank you

For the ones who can not read:

I do at times need an amp, but can not justify owning one.
I just rent an (always the same) EBS stack for 15 dollars, that I don't even have to carry around.

Whatever, it works for me.

[martyman5000]

I practice and record at home...I prefer to mic my amp and also prefer to have an amp when a guitarist/drummer show up to jam.

[JimmyM]

i don't have to have an amp...i WANT an amp.

[57pbass]

[quote=madmic;10136945]I don't think spending cash on an Amp makes sense for "only" 15 gigs a year

Due to your back condition..this makes sense for you.... but I hate playing through the PA / monitors and not having an amp right next to me....

[christw]

I need big amps so my neighbors can hear me and tell me how awesome I am! MWHAHAHAHHAA.

Okay really, I tend to play in loud all-originals bands where sometimes even a 4x10 wouldn't cut it in the din of guitar and cymbals that is our music. I need to be heard at rehearsals clearly and to hold my own at half of the gig spots around here. There is no way to work around that for me. I have to have a big, loud, amp. However, I have a 115 30w tube mini setup that I've been dying to match a band to. Not only so I don't need earplugs all the time but so my audience doesn't either!

Worth noting that I do use earplugs in the loud one. My band mates laugh at me for it. Then I laugh at them for their hearing loss after practice and they don't hear me. (Only kind of kidding too :/)

[Burlington]

I need an amp. Gigging 2-4 times a month, small clubs that either have crappy PAs or don't want to put bass through the monitors.

[the yeti]

i need an amp. i usually practice with a pandora. it sounds great but you can't really feel it. that's probably a good thing. when i play i "need" to feel it so i "need" an amp.

it sounds like you need one too, or else you wouldn't rent one.

[anonymous02282011]

I WISH I didn't have to own an amp.

I've spent a good chunk of coin on my gear and I LOVE the sound it all makes, but if there's a backline I'll use it instead of hauling my own stuff pretty much 99.9% of the time.

[BurningSkies]

If you want to spend your life depending on borrowed gear, I guess that's fine.

I'd rather know what I'm playing on before I show up at a club or show.