Why is it so much harder to choose a bass rig than it is a guitar rig!!

[jimcroisdale]

Hi all,

I'm in the process of deciding what to buy for my first 'proper' bass rig, and the choice is baffling me!

With guitar it's so much easier I think. Bluesers - Fender Twin. Rockers - Marshall. Metallers - 5150/Dual Rec.

Ok, I'm simplifying a little, but you get my point...

With bass there seems to be so much choice and despite plenty of research I'm no closer to making a decision. Various speaker sizes and configurations, regular vs. lightweight/high cost neo cabs, tube/solid state heads, pedal into power amp.... the list goes on, and there's no way I can try out enough gear in a gig situation (where it counts, for me) to come to a proper informed decision.

At the moment I've got a Warwick 6x10", which I think is the only bit of my current rig that I might keep. I got it for £225/$365 which I think was a bit of a steal and I know I'd have to spend double that on the equivalent Ampeg.

So what to do? I play modern rock with an old-school funky fingerstyle technique. I currently have a Jazz bass. I have considered a VT pedal into a Class D powers amp, a Trace Elliot SMX head (which I have used before and liked on the valve setting with the input gain cranked) I've thought about the Markbass cabs for the weight saving....

Again, the list goes on. There just doesn't seem to be as many 'landmark' rigs to use as a starting point. I fear I may never make a decision at this rate.

Any giogging bassists care to chip in with their opinion?

Cheers all,

Jim

[pedroims]

everytime I go to a music store or check a musical catalog there are like 20 amps guitar per one bass amp so I think it will be harder for me to get a guitar amp. Now to answer your question, for me , honestly, is all about gas, so after spent a lot of money and time I found that I really like Aguilar Cabs, Markbass and GB amps. I am set in those choices. A Markbass with a VT is a very good choice IMO. Good luck with the search.

[jordie65]

SVT into 8X10 is pretty much landmark for rock, and pretty much most genres branching from there,

try what you like as best you can (i understand the lack of gear available thing) sounds like you are in the UK, ive found Orange stuff is great for the whole rock thing for me.. don't be confined by history and expectations of what your rig "should" be

[jimcroisdale]

Does anyone have any comments about the Warwick 6x10?

If someone could assure me that it's worth keeping, it would simplify the rest of my quest somewhat.

It is heavy, but easier to manage that a 4x10, and i can fit it in my girlfriend's car. Sounds ok to me too, but then I've never tried any other 6x10's....

Cheers,

Jim

[Alex1984]

In response to the OP, I think most bass heads are more versatile when comparing to guitar amps, and most of us play a few different genres, so it becomes really hard to choose.

[Kwesi]

Because your a guitarist! Traitor!

[Shoewreck]

Because you're not a guitarist, so you don't realize how hard it is to pick the right rig for a guitar.

[jimcroisdale]

Originally Posted by Shoewreck

Because you're not a guitarist, so you don't realize how hard it is to pick the right rig for a guitar.

I'm not sure what you mean by that? I've been playing both guitar AND bass in gigging bands for 15 years.

Cheers,

Jim

[mazdah]

It's way easier to choose a bass rig!

For blues - SVT-CL + SVT810E
For rock - SVT-CL + SVT-810E
For metal - SVT-CL + SVT-810E
For funk - SVT-CL + 810E
For pop - SVT-CL + SVT810E
For punk - SVT-CL + SVT-810E
For everything else - SVT-CL + SVT-810E

[jimcroisdale]

Originally Posted by mazdah

It's way easier to choose a bass rig!

For blues - SVT-CL + SVT810E
For rock - SVT-CL + SVT-810E
For metal - SVT-CL + SVT-810E
For funk - SVT-CL + 810E
For pop - SVT-CL + SVT810E
For punk - SVT-CL + SVT-810E
For everything else - SVT-CL + SVT-810E

Hahaha!n Are you going to roadie for me?

[Shoewreck]

Originally Posted by jimcroisdale

I'm not sure what you mean by that? I've been playing both guitar AND bass in gigging bands for 15 years.

Sorry, I couldn't read that from your first post.
There are many options in guitar amplification besides the "default" ones you mentioned. About the same applies to bass. There probably are not as many default options (like others, I can't think of anything but a big Ampeg stack) and, for some reason, bass players seem to be not as conservative as guitar players are.

[SerratedBass]

I've played through the Warwick 6x10 and thought it sounded great. Looks better with the giant W painted black as well!

I guess you just have to try a load of gear out. Music Live in Birmingham was great for that, take your own bass along and have a go on everything you can. You'll quickly discover which amps you like over ones that just don't do it for you. Mansons in Exeter has a great selection so if you live anywhere near there you should take a trip down. They had Markbass, Aguilar, Eden, Ampeg, Ashdown, SWR, and Orange to name but a few. I for one prefer my current rig to a lot of top end gear I have tried out recently, just because it suits me and the tone I am after.

[PotsdamBass8]

I say just pick an amp that looks fairly reputable and give it a shot. You'll be able to EQ a good usable tone...especially since it sounds like you aren't exactly set with a specific sound in your head that you're looking for.

If you need some dirt in your sound, pick up one of the Tech 21 pedals to help you.

[AwkwardLoudness]

There are just as many (if not more) rig options out there for guitar players, and it took years for me to be totally satisfied with my guitar rig. The search ended after restoring the first of several old Hiwatt amps.

Since you're in the UK, I suggest trying out these amps through the Warwick 6x10: Laney (Nexus 400), old Marshall (Major or Superbass), Orange (AD200, AD140, AD120), Simms-Watts (AP200, PA100), old Hiwatt (DR103, DR201), others. Take your cab to some music stores and give 'em a test drive.

I know the frustration. I'm still trying to find a bass cabinet that suits my ~400 watt tube amp. Even the 8x10 cabs I've tried have too much speaker break up. I'm satisfied with my lower powered rig bass though, two Hiwatt DR103s through a pair of Ampeg PR410H cabs.

[SerratedBass]

Originally Posted by AwkwardLoudness

Since you're in the UK, I suggest trying out these amps through the Warwick 6x10: Laney (Nexus 400),

+1

I have the Nexus Tube and it's a great amp which suits my needs PERFECTLY. I've even stopped using my Sansamp BDDI as I can get a better tone with the amps EQ and valve distortion.

That being said, it suits me but it depends what tone you have in your head. I AB'd the Nexus with an Aguilar DB750, an Eden WT and an Ampeg SVT4 pro, and I found the Nexus was the sound I wanted, which when comparing price tags was a pleasant surprise

[blastjv]

I have asked myself the same question MANY times. I think there is just much more 'science' and even more 'magic' involved in getting a good bass tone.

I agree that it seems much easier to get a good guitar sound with any reasonable gear, but even with a good bass rig, you might not be able to get close to the tone you want. What I mean is, if you are a guitarist and show up to a rock gig and you normally play through a Marshall, and you have to play instead through a 5150, or a Dual Rec, or an Orange, or a Laney, or.......you'll probably be able to dial in a great tone, that is very close to your regular tone. If you normally play through a GK rig, and you show up and have to play through an SVT you might have a real tough time dialing in a sound that works for you.

I think this is MOST true of cabinets. For guitarists, if you have your guitar, effects, and amp, you can probably run that through any decent 412 and be fine, but changing cabinets with your bass rig usually makes a HUGE difference in your tone depending on the design.

Of course, in all of those cases, the people you're playing for would probably not even notice the differences...we're mostly chasing our tails here.....


-JV

[jimcroisdale]

All good stuff fellas!

Ok, so I'm keeping the 6x10 (I might add a cheeky matching 2x10 to sit on top!)

For £500 I can get a used Trace Elliot RAH600SMX which I really like. I've tried a lower wattage model with the same pre and I really liked the sound - the dual compressor and valve pre were really excellent!

It sounds like a lot of money, but it's a huge hunk of British engineering, and all for only a bit more than an Orange Bass Terror.

Sound like a good idea? Surely that setup won't be lacking in volume and oomph?

Jim

[plangentmusic]

I actually think it's more complex for guitarists because the amp is more a part of the sound.

With bass, I'm looking for something to reproduce the sound of the bass as clearly as possible. That mean flat, uncolored, loud clean power. Then I use EQ and choose a bass that fits the situation and PLAY the style of music.

[ga_edwards]

Personally even as a bassist for the last 20 years, I'm more familiar with the signature guitar amp sounds than I am on signature bass amp tones. I think guitar amp tones are more varies to an extent and for want of a better word, 'famous'.

Actually, to this day, I'm still not entirely sure what a signature SVT tone really is.

Also, as mentioned elsewhere in this thread, a lot of bass amp are about getting a huge range of features and sounds out of one box. A lot of guitar amps haven't changed design in 30, 40 or 50 years, as guitarists like those famous tones that each individual amp gives. I've thought for a long time that bassists are more embracing of new technology than our vintage seeking 6 string brethren.

[s_mcsleazy]

id say if your in the uk try a amp made in the uk like ashdown