What's more important: the amp or the bass?

[ccyork]

In other words what is better:

+

OR

+

[TortillaChip520]

IMO, a squire affinity through a markbass combo will sound much better than an MIA fender through a behringer ass combo.

[B-string]

Your hands! Without knowing how to use them, either one will be useless. A good player can make a budget bass and amp sound good, a bad player can make an excellent bass and amp sound really bad!

[bass_snake]

They are both important.

Fred

[skywalkersurfs]

Amp>Bass

[Marko5657]

Originally Posted by skywalkersurfs

Amp>Bass

+1

[playerunk]

Originally Posted by skywalkersurfs

Amp>Bass

only if the bass is decent (hasn't 2 feet action and the intonation is over in your yard)

[Milky]

Player>>Amp>Bass

[bertbassplayer]

I think it's about 80% Amp, 20% Bass, and 100% Player. (Yeah I know that's 200%)....

As Tortilla said a great bass through a bad amp is still going to sound bad. A friend of mine had a nice Modulus but played it through a cheap Crate combo... it sounded bad, really bad.

[For_Ironys_Sake]

Originally Posted by Milky

Player>>Amp>Bass

+ 1

I think the amp can make even a really bad bass sound good, but the quality of the player will make or break the sound

[Bootzilla]

For sound it's the amp but it's important that the bass plays good.

It is somewhat important for the bass to have decent pickup placement because when you have a pickup all the way to the bridge you will never get a fat sound and if you have a pickup all the way towards the neck you won't get rid of the mud anytime soon.

[john nam]

If sound was the only factor, the amp is probably more "important", but most people develop a personal relationship with their bass since it's the thing that you're actually holding all of the time and because it's so visible when you're performing, it almost becomes a part of your identity. For instance, when you think of bass players, you may forget their names, but you hardly forget which bass they play. I think that's why most spend more on their bass than they do on their amps, and in my opinion, rightfully so. I know both are mere tools, but amps seldomly inspire you to practice more and get better, you know?

[Matt Dead]

Amp is way more important.
You can use a squire on an ampeg and it would sound amazing, a lot better than a warwick on a behringer combo. lol

[MNAirHead]

Bass Setup .. then amp.. then bass

For some reason, folks forget that gear needs to be maintained and setup/fitted

[M.R. Ogle]

Amp.

The bass is just the "controller".

It's nice to have a comfy controller, but having a crappy amp will disqualify you from more musical possibilities and situations than a crappy bass.

[gareth dunster]

Amp by far.
Go into a guitar shop and pick up the worst bass they sell and the best amp. Play it. Now pick up the best bass and the worst amp.
You know which combo will sound best
Obviously the player is the most important part of the equation but that was not the question.
I would say the only exception would be if the bass is so crap you can't pay it properly, bad action ,poor intonation etc.

There's a BIG difference between hollow body and solid body sounds as well... That said, the amp is more important to me, whether I'm playing bass or guitar...

NO MATTER WHAT, player trumps equipment!

[fokof]

+1000 for the player

But to answer the OP , a good bass have a better chance to sound good when you're plugged in the DI.The amp will have no effect on that.

I know that for some people the amp is part of their sound , but for me , it's only a monitor , so zero importance to the amp. I use IEM anyways.
If you're like me or if you use bass amps for your tone , both situations needs a good signal from a good sounding bass.

[Bouigha123]

I have a ampeg 810e and cl, my 100 cheepest ibenez you can buy sounded damn good through it

[johnnycat42]

If you have a good amp, it will make just about any bass with a decent setup sound good.