Beginner looking for recommendations (gear, learning, etc.)

[El_Duderino]

About a month ago, I picked up my bass (a '72 Gibson EB-0) for the first time since high school (roughly 15 years ago). After a good friend joined a band and started having some success with it, I've been seeing a lot of local music recently, hanging out with musicians, and I was tired of feeling left out.

When rumor got around that I was even thinking of starting back to playing bass, two different friends who are guitarists asked if I wanted to join bands they were looking to put together (one a Sly and the Family Stone-esque sound, the other remains to be seen as I think his intent in starting a new band is to write some new/different songs and to change his sound a bit).

I've been going through the lessons on studybass.com, which have been a real help getting back into playing bass. I also splurged on a used Fender FSR Standard Jazz Bass (the GC/MF one with the natural finish and ash body) for my birthday since there was an issue with the EB-0 that I thought was going to be a bit pricy to fix but turned out being a pretty simple adjustment.

Right now, my gear consists of those two basses, a Crate BX-80 that I've had since high school, and an iPhone chromatic tuner app.

My original intent was just to get to a point where I could go over to a friend's house and jam for an evening, but with two offers to join bands, and a pretty wide array of fairly talented musicians to play with, I'm seriously thinking about getting to a point where I can perform.

To that end, I'm trying to put together a wishlist of basic gear that will be pretty useful no matter what style of music I play. I'm happy with the basses I have at my disposal, but thinking I definitely need to upgrade my amp (at ~ 75 lbs, its a pain in the butt to move, and a bit small if I'm competing with drums and a guitar or two). What other basic gear should I add to my wishlist?

Also, while studybass.com has been a great resource so far, any recommendations for online instruction or books that I could use after finishing the lessons/exercises on that site? From what I've read on here, the general impression seems to be that studybass.com is a great site for beginners, but that you can move past it pretty quickly.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the responses to my first TB post.

[oniman7]

My 75 lb amp works fine at 200 watts for competing with drums and guitars. We're all set to the relative volume of the drums and the volume of the vocal PA pretty much as high as it can go without feedback. Even on this, I'm only at 5 or so volume. What amp do you have?

Personally, I've never needed more gear than 2 basses and an amp. Occasionally I'll use a multi-fx pedal, but I haven't used it live yet. I might soon for some distortions, tone modeling, etc. If you're interested in one of those, I can point one out to you.

I know it sounds weird, but depending on the style of music you play, a capo is a good, cheap investment. Maybe some dedicated pedals versus a multi-fx. Extra strings. Maybe a lightweight amp with an extension cab (make sure you have the right cables). If you're going to be doing home recording, even scratch stuff, get a small input controller for that. They're about $40 to $60, I think. That's all I can think of off the top of my head.

[El_Duderino]

My amp is an 80 watt Crate BX-80 that I've had for close to 20 years. Assuming that calls for an upgrade, any recommendations for about a $400 price point? I saw this thread which concentrates on combo amps, and prices seem to reflect new gear whereas I'm thinking I'd prefer an amp + cab configuration, and I'm not opposed to used (or should I be?).

As for pedals, I'd probably consider either a multi-effect or dedicated pedals, but assuming I go the dedicated route, what sorts of pedals are going to be useful for most any style of music?

Last thing - a capo? You're right...it does sound weird. When do you use one?

[oniman7]

I know GK just released a series of lightweight cabs. Same cost and power as my Acoustic B200 at literally less than half the weight (33 vs. 75). I haven't tried these and unfortunately cannot recommend any amps. Ask in the amps section for that, because I know almost nothing about them as far as shopping.


As far as pedals, I use a Digitech BP90 that cost something like $100. Great little pedal that has all kinds of effects in it.

If you go dedicated, I'd get a compressor, distortion/overdrive/fuzz of your choice, a wah, some modulator (flanger, phaser, etc.) , maybe a whammy, a chorus (I don't know if that's considered a modulator), maybe a reverb and a bass boost/ solo gain. You don't need all of those, but a healthy combination of most of them will serve more than you'll ever need. I'm in a rock band and the only effects I've ended up using so far is an amp setting on my pedal with the tube distortion set up all the way for a warm, fuzzy overdrive sound. But, what I listed above is pretty universal.

If you want to simplify it, you could go to compressor, distortion, modulator, and reverb. Or you could do a tone shaping configuration of compressor, distortion, reverb, bass boost, maybe a tone pedal, etc. That would be more than I would use on most occasions. It really comes down to you. Some of my heroes include Roger Waters, Justin Chancellor, Cliff Burton, that guy from Porcupine Tree, etc. and they all like their pedals. Nobody can tell you which way to go but you. Until you know what you want, I'd get a multi effects pedal.

As for a capo, I've not needed one much, but my singer is sort of a singer/songwriter and he usually brings in songs that he's written on guitar with lyrics. He keeps his guitar tuned to Drop C and uses a capo all up and down for everything from Drop D up to a G or an A. While I always could transpose, sometimes it's good to have really fast access to root notes. For instance, if I use a capo on the 3rd fret of the bass, I can always have a low G, a C, an F, or a Bb open note that I can use while playing higher up on the neck, where I wouldn't always have time to reach for that note. You may not use it much, but it's a really cheap investment that comes in handy. Plus, you can capo really high up the neck for a totally different range of sounds, different options when tapping, etc. I like to put it up around the 10th fret sometimes and do some tapping and harmonics with some effects on. Gives you lots of new options as far as open notes and harmonics.

[Balog]

I'd invest in some lessons then worry about the gear. Says the guy with the fearful driven by a pa amp and a variety of pre's... Do as I say, not as I do