Which would you upgrade first? An amp or a bass? - Page 6

The Mule · #**101** 04-26-2005, 09:31 AM

It took me much too long to understand that a good amp is AT LEAST as important as a good bass. Take the example in the first post: in that situation upgrading the amp will certainly have a more positive influence sound-wise than upgrading the bass...

iriegnome · #**102** 04-26-2005, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowMan227

People argue about this all the time... here's how I tend to approach it:

Is your amp underpowered? If you're finding that you don't have the ammunition to play in whatever situation you're in, I'd upgrade the amp first, because having a nice bass isn't any good if no one can hear you. If your power is good and you're just looking for a different sound, figure out what basses and amps you can afford, and then try to see what you like in that range. If you like your bass now, don't replace it until you've got the amp you want... you can use an amp to EQ around a bass to a certain extent, but if you don't like the way your bass feels, all the EQ'ing in the world won't change that.

Rurr Rurr!!!!

Hollow Man · #**103** 04-26-2005, 10:55 AM

My my... y'all are some kind folks, ain'tcha?

**embellisher** · #**104** 04-26-2005, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowMan227

People argue about this all the time... here's how I tend to approach it:

Is your amp underpowered? If you're finding that you don't have the ammunition to play in whatever situation you're in, I'd upgrade the amp first, because having a nice bass isn't any good if no one can hear you. If your power is good and you're just looking for a different sound, figure out what basses and amps you can afford, and then try to see what you like in that range. If you like your bass now, don't replace it until you've got the amp you want... you can use an amp to EQ around a bass to a certain extent, but if you don't like the way your bass feels, all the EQ'ing in the world won't change that.

Great advice.

Off to Miscellaneous.

**IvanMike** · #**105** 04-26-2005, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HollowMan227

People argue about this all the time... here's how I tend to approach it:

Is your amp underpowered? If you're finding that you don't have the ammunition to play in whatever situation you're in, I'd upgrade the amp first, because having a nice bass isn't any good if no one can hear you. If your power is good and you're just looking for a different sound, figure out what basses and amps you can afford, and then try to see what you like in that range. If you like your bass now, don't replace it until you've got the amp you want... you can use an amp to EQ around a bass to a certain extent, but if you don't like the way your bass feels, all the EQ'ing in the world won't change that.

holy crap!

best advice ever on tb

Joe Nerve · #**106** 04-26-2005, 08:51 PM

Hollowman, congratulations!

You have just been catapulted into talkbass fame. You shall be respected by all, forever more. We will seek your wisdom and advice always. People will soon start Hallowman appreciation threads.

clanner · #**107** 05-27-2005, 11:48 AM

buy and amp first, my rumble 100 allowed me to gig with my squire rather tha my 15 watt. sold the 15 and the squire and saving for a mm. but go with an amp 1st.

mmm, wattage.

ERIC31 · #**108** 05-27-2005, 09:11 PM

Good amp first then upgrade the bass. As it has been said a good amp can make a less that great bass sound pretty decent. Not to mention how easy it is to swap out cheap pickups to instantly improve the sound of a cheap bass.

ras1983 · #**109** 05-27-2005, 11:19 PM

as a first year electronic engineering student, i can't stress enough that the amp makes THE biggest difference to tone, since it is the device directly responsible for making the electrical signals audbile to the human ear. Ask any luthier and they tell you that the electronics of a bass are THE most important tone factor.

Conclusion: you must upgrade ONE amp, either the amp, or the pre-amp on the bass(by buying a new bass in this case). Therefore, buy a new amp. cheaper than a new 'high end' bass with decent preamp, and has a greater effect.

steveksux · #**110** 05-28-2005, 03:07 PM

Replace the one that most reminds you of ass.

A piece of crap bass that's poorly setup and unintonatable with a mediocre amp is begging to be replaced.

Randy

Iruleonbass · #**111** 07-13-2005, 10:50 PM

Well, here's my problem right now...I guess its been a little to long of knowing what I want to buy, that my mind got bored of doing nothing, and made me change my mind again.

So, I went into the store for lessons today, and I saw a musicman sterling sitting on the wall, its buitiful. And I really really want it. But at the same time I also really really want my new amp. Ampeg SVT-CL and SVT-810 to match. But its a matter of need right now, and I dont know what I need more.

The amp Im using is an Ibanez 35w combo, pretty loud, almost can make it over a drummer, but not really. And the bass im using is an Ibanez Artcore series. It was a coinsedense *spelled it wrong* that I have amp and bass by ibanez, didn't do it on purpose.

Well here's why I want to upgrade each...

The amp - I love the sounds I can get from it, but it only goes so loud, and theres no chance I can gig with it ever. As I can barely be heard over drums with it.

The Bass - I like it, but sinse its semi hollow, it is more for jazz players, and not for punk rock or whatever it is my band's genre is. Its to deep sounding. I also find the body to be HUGE. I honestly Can't play standing up and not feel like an idiot with it on me. It also weights a ton. So I'll be playing songs standing up jumping around my room like an idiot and i'll be tired after 4 or 5 of them. So figure 20 minutes. Witch is not good. My brothers P-bass I can go for an hour, and my guitar...forget it, all day.

I will be gigging sooner rather than later. And I need to upgrade my amp and bass at one point, I just need to know what to upgrade first and why. And btw, the gigs im getting probably will not have a PA system for me to use.

clanner · #**112** 07-13-2005, 10:58 PM

go with the amp first. you can play on the bass no matter what but it's more important to be able to hear yourself.
you can always upgrade the bass later.

Iruleonbass · #**113** 07-13-2005, 11:05 PM

How are stock Fender P-Bass's. I really really Need a new bass, im sorry but my ibanez is HUGE. I will settle for something cheaper in the bass area, but amps I will not. I agree with you that I need to be heard, but if I can't physically play my bass, either way I wont be heard.

I need recomandations on a bass thats like under 400 dollars prefered, 500 is duable, 600 is MAX. I probably want a fender. But I dont care just throw suggestions out.

4 strings only, growly mid range type sound. All this points to a P-bass, I know I know, but is there anything else?

Minger · #**114** 07-13-2005, 11:10 PM

SX > MIM Fender.

Spend the rest on your amp.

Iruleonbass · #**115** 07-13-2005, 11:19 PM

well that about sums that problem up. Now its just me deciding if i want a P-bass or J-bass. SX bass's are good though right? I've heard good things about them, but there priced like squires so I have a right to be concerned I think.

So yeah, It'll be fun for me to pick between P or J though...

thewanderer24 · #**116** 07-13-2005, 11:38 PM

definitely the amp. What's the point of getting a nice bass if you can't hear it in a band setting???

Get the amp, and you might find you can get a sound you like from the bass. If not, you can always upgrade that later. Get the bass first, and you still will be stuck in a band situation.

As for a cheap bass, you might wanna consider a fender knock off like Squier. Play a few. see what you like.

FriscoBassAce · #**117** 07-13-2005, 11:47 PM

I was reading one of the stickies in another topic and it answers the question pretty definitively.

what should you upgrade 1st? best advice on TB

Hope it helps!

FBA

Iruleonbass · #**118** 07-13-2005, 11:54 PM

Funny that you mention squires. Im holding my bros P-bass right now. I dont like it enough that I would go buy one, but im gonna buy an SX P-bass for now I think. And I'll get the musicman around christmas maybe.

Trevorus · #**119** 07-14-2005, 12:04 AM

The amp is definitely a better way to go. The artcore will last you a while. And I can play metal on a hollow danelectro guitar, you can play punk an an artcore, and look good doing it!

Iruleonbass · #**120** 07-14-2005, 12:29 AM

I love my artcore, But i hate how big it is. And I can get my sound from it. Its just that the musicman and P-bass's have the extra umph for some reason. More bite, call it what you want, but my artcore doesn't have it. And I already explained how big it is. i've been walking around my house playing my brothers p-bass for about an hour now (dont ask me why) and my back isn't hurting at all, but standing still with my artcore for a few minutes and my back is killing me.