Being a Minimalist - One Bass, One Amp (And Maybe an Effect or Two)

walksupright · #1 08-05-2010, 11:14 PM

Just wondering how many other players out there are in the same situation as me. As a non-pro, "weekend warrior player," with other financial commitments (i.e., bills, kids, braces - you know, grown-up expenses) I can never seem to justify owning more than one bass and amp. I certainly can't afford anything really high-end either.

This creates a situation wherein I have to experiment within certain limitations to get the maximum variety of sounds. It can be frustrating at times, but also fun. I play a Precision, strung with D'Addario chrome flats, with fingers and pick, through a SansAmp VT Bass pedal into the amp, a Traynor 300-watt head and neo-cab.

Despite the meagreness of the rig I seem to do okay with what I can. It sounds fairly good, and I gig regularly with it.

So, who else is in the same boat as me? What do you do to maximize your rig's potential, without spending the big bucks?

KingRazor · #2 08-05-2010, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walksupright

Just wondering how many other players out there are in the same situation as me. As a non-pro, "weekend warrior player," with other financial commitments (i.e., bills, kids, braces - you know, grown-up expenses) I can never seem to justify owning more than one bass and amp. I certainly can't afford anything really high-end either.

This creates a situation wherein I have to experiment within certain limitations to get the maximum variety of sounds. It can be frustrating at times, but also fun. I play a Precision, strung with D'Addario chrome flats, with fingers and pick, through a SansAmp VT Bass pedal into the amp, a Traynor 300-watt head and neo-cab.

Despite the meagreness of the rig I seem to do okay with what I can. It sounds fairly good, and I gig regularly with it.

So, who else is in the same boat as me? What do you do to maximize your rig's potential, without spending the big bucks?

I'm even more of a minimalist. One bass, one practice amp. No effects.

I've slowly been trying new strings and what not to try and find what I like best before I move on and start playing with other people. I say slowly because, as I'm sure you know, experimenting can get expensive.

OneMoreRobot · #3 08-05-2010, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KingRazor

I'm even more of a minimalist. One bass, one practice amp. No effects.

Same here. I have a G&L ASAT as of today (traded my L2K for it, basically the same thing), LittleMark II and an odd 4x10. That should keep me going in almost any setting I'll be in within the next year because G&L's are so versatile and the LMII can put out a decent amount.

N.F.A. · #4 08-05-2010, 11:25 PM

I am getting there. Down to 2 cheap basses and 2 amps. Trying to sell one amp. Going to get a custom bass made here soon. Then I will sell the other basses and the score will be 1 bass and 1 amp.

pnut166 · #5 08-05-2010, 11:26 PM

I "made do" with a MIM J Deluxe and combo for 10 years. Just last year, I bought a full stack just because it was affordable. And just this week, I broke down and bought a second bass; a Squier VM. What do I do to maximize my gear`s potential ? Practice. It`s free.

skwee · #6 08-06-2010, 12:30 AM

I'm in your boat. I do own a second bass (acoustic), but I've only ever played with one effect, an old DOD bass flanger pedal, and that only on a tune or two. Haven't used it for two years, come to think of it. I really try to maximize what I do technically on the instrument to make different sounds (dynamics, moving to different places to pluck, etc.). Seems to work fine, and I am no virtuoso.

yehongxiang · #7 08-06-2010, 07:37 AM

Same here. I play a Precision through a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 combo. Looking to downsize my amp because it's simply too loud for my neighbours.

Considering to get the VT Sansamp after selling my Shuttle 6.0, and try out a few smaller combo amps for home practice.

Nurb · #8 08-06-2010, 07:59 AM

The setups posted so far don't seem so minimalistic to me. In my country a lot of people have much less than that. My setup is: Mayones Bass (polish brand, my bass is a Spector look-alike with EMG pickups, sounds good, plays even better), SWR Workingman's 4004 head, Ashdown MAG 410 cab. The only thing I don't like in my setup is the cab. I don't use any effects.

NS2A · #9 08-07-2010, 07:46 AM

It kind of depends on what minimialistic is. A custom bass with a Ampeg SVT and 8x10 is a lot of money. Where you can have 10 Squiers and a Ampeg combo for less.

But I go through this all the time...

Right now I have 2 basses and a 2x10 neo rig. I have about $2500 into it all. I've recently sold single basses for that and am thinking of letting one of the basses go just to get down to one bass.

I've also thought about selling the entire rig and going to a used $100 combo amp (everywhere I play I use the house amp) and something like a Ibanez soundgear. I'd be into it less than $500 then. But, if I'd just spend the money on something else, what's the point? I suppose if I put it against the mortgage or something like that, it'd be worthwhile. I dunno.

Why is this in the String section by the way?

HeadyVan Halen · #10 08-07-2010, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pnut166

I "made do" with a MIM J Deluxe and combo for 10 years. Just last year, I bought a full stack just because it was affordable. And just this week, I broke down and bought a second bass; a Squier VM. What do I do to maximize my gear`s potential ? Practice. It`s free.

^ this.

I tried a MIA Jazz and just don't like it. I've had a MIM for 5 years now and if it was up to me, (it might be) this will be the only bass I ever have.
Hydrive 4x10 (not real cheap) for perform and Ampeg 1x15 for practice and that's a wrap folks....

I'd rather practice than buy new sh!t

pasta4lnch · #11 08-07-2010, 08:03 AM

I'm a musician full time - and for years all I had was 1 four string, 1 five string, a practice amp, and a gig amp/cab. I recently added a smaller cab for smaller gigs and got another 4 . . . couldn't resist

but maybe another five as a b/u and a b/u amp but I dont see the need for much more (well, maybe a fretless too

)

iirc Jeff Berlin only has one bass. . .

T40Chump · #12 08-07-2010, 08:06 AM

Perfect. Never have to worry about what to load for the gig.

Bo

Billnc · #13 08-07-2010, 08:42 AM

1 Fretted Edgepro5, 1 fretless Bunny Brunel, Hartke Kickback for practice and LH1000 on Hydrive410 for the gigs. I've owned more expensive stuff, and have access to really expensive stuff on the cheap. I like my rig just fine. If your rig is capable of nuance, after a certain point it's not the rig anymore but the player.

stratovani · #14 08-07-2010, 09:04 AM

This is what I use:

Squier Affinity P-Bass, heavily modded for $185 total, including mods

Hofner Icon, on sale at GC, along with 15% off coupon it came to $260

Yorkville XM100 bass combo, $270, traded in a Fender FM212R amp for it

three Boss pedals, CEB-3, GEB-7, LMB-3, around $30 each

So for around $800 I've got gear which will last me a good many years. The lesson here is that if you want to build yourself a rig on the cheap, then eBay is your friend, just don't forget to do your homework before you bid.

1dgbass · #15 08-07-2010, 09:06 AM

Fender American Jazz and 100 watt fender rumble. All I need. I also have a small 20 wt peavy for my room. I don't expect to upgrade anytime soon b/c what I have will last.
I don't have the money either.

douglas

pbass2 · #16 08-07-2010, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walksupright

Just wondering how many other players out there are in the same situation as me. As a non-pro, "weekend warrior player," with other financial commitments (i.e., bills, kids, braces - you know, grown-up expenses) I can never seem to justify owning more than one bass and amp. I certainly can't afford anything really high-end either.

This creates a situation wherein I have to experiment within certain limitations to get the maximum variety of sounds. It can be frustrating at times, but also fun. I play a Precision, strung with D'Addario chrome flats, with fingers and pick, through a SansAmp VT Bass pedal into the amp, a Traynor 300-watt head and neo-cab.

Despite the meagreness of the rig I seem to do okay with what I can. It sounds fairly good, and I gig regularly with it.

So, who else is in the same boat as me? What do you do to maximize your rig's potential, without spending the big bucks?

I'm a working pro so I need to have a variety of axes, etc. but if I had only ONE bass/rig, it would be something like what you have. P or J with Chromes, decent head (with the ability to get a good tubey sound one way or another) and cab, tuner, a stomp or two. It's really all you need. Between pick and fingers you can get any sound you would need for just about anything with that setup. I'd rather walk into a studio with that then 10 fancy boutiquey beasts any day (and the producers and engineers would rather I do that too!). I bet you get a great sound. Just get yourself a nice DI like a JDI and you're done.

Eater_of_Birds · #17 08-07-2010, 09:48 AM

i currently own one bass and.... no amp! its on my to do list but im pretty skint so im currently making do at low volumes through a small peavey guitar amp. tone is awful. ive switched from guitar so alas i have a load of pedals, a couple of guitars and a nice big half stack, all for the wrong instrument ^ ^ more on topic though ill be looking to get a new bass, sell the old one then get a decent sized amp. aside from a couple of passive effects that'll be it tbh, wont be going much further unless im drowning in cash (read: unlikely)

dwm74 · #18 08-07-2010, 05:59 PM

The OP's post definitely hits close to home. Two kids attending university, all on my dime.

Have a P with Chromes, and sold my other bass and combo amp to get a modest 410 half-stack. Although I did recently get another bass (a Ray34), I am most assuredly done buying gear anytime in the foreseeable future.

Although if I run across a great deal on a used Sans Amp, I might have to raid the piggy bank!

Rob Martinez · #19 08-08-2010, 07:33 AM

Lately, I bring a Hofner Icon with LaBella Beatle flatwounds and an Ampeg BA112 to gigs and that is IT! It works great for small to medium rooms we play, and even for big stages when we have PA support. Cool!

88ric2030 · #20 08-11-2010, 07:47 PM

If I were to scale back to bare bones, I'd sell my current 6 basses and get one great American Fender P bass. I had 10 basses at one point, sold a few, then gained a couple in the last year. I have a couple amp heads,an '87 GK 400RB and an '82 Peavey Mark IV, 2 GK cabs, a 2x10 and a 1x15, each 8ohm, and I have a really old 4ohm Peavey 1x15 that I've been trying to get rid of, no takers yet. If I were to keep just one cab, it would be the 2x10.