Higher Priority: Bass or Amp ?

[4OnTheFloor]

Your bass is definitely good, now get a decent amp. Then get some people to play with to accelerate learning, it will at least show your strengths and weaknesses.

[tone696]

Have to agree, a good amp is the way forward, just make sure you get something with enough head room, in case you you end up with captain caveman on the drums (also save you the need for upgrading later on)

[lmfreeman9]

BASS. Amps are replaceable.

[walkerci]

Originally Posted by 4OnTheFloor

Your bass is definitely good, now get a decent amp. Then get some people to play with to accelerate learning, it will at least show your strengths and weaknesses.

Agree completely!

I'd add that a well setup bass (frets dressed, action set to liking, perfect intonation, and strings that you like) make all the difference in the world.

Also, other stuff like: good quality instrument cables (not necessairly expensive ones), comfortable strap, good tuner, etc are a big help.

[Quackhead]

I definitely agree about the setup. A good setup makes your bass play and sound better.

Originally Posted by walkerci

Agree completely!

I'd add that a well setup bass (frets dressed, action set to liking, perfect intonation, and strings that you like) make all the difference in the world.

Also, other stuff like: good quality instrument cables (not necessairly expensive ones), comfortable strap, good tuner, etc are a big help.

[chef wong]

I'd love to have a hi fi amp. But what if you have to leave it with them alone?

[justinellison3]

Originally Posted by Shakin-Slim

Indeed. Boutique basses are only REALLY for the bassists enjoyment anyways. And band members who really pay attention to the sound, but most just wanna hear the right notes, the right rhythm etc.

I've never heard heard such stupidity....

[BrandonBass]

I will op for the bass, i mean its better to have a nice axe than an amp imo. Plus you can play better if your bass has a better feel to it

[chadds]

Originally Posted by justinellison3

I've never heard heard such stupidity....

I thought he'd understand my critique. Yours was quite succinct.

[kbakerde]

New Amp. And while it is really awesome to play through a huge massive sexy rig, you will probably get a lot more use out of good combo, at least for a while. Two things you can do on the cheap to improve your bass without replacing the whole thing, is to change the strings, and change the pickups. That requires a little work, tools and know how. But once done, is a good way to improve your basses tone.

[Solarmist]

Originally Posted by BrandonBass

I will op for the bass, i mean its better to have a nice axe than an amp imo. Plus you can play better if your bass has a better feel to it

He has a "nice axe"; the Ibby SR706 is nothing to scoff at. It has a very wide range of sound capabilities, and is a high quality instrument.

[spector_boogie]

Definitely definitely bass.
That way it sounds good even through "just" a DI.

[Sav'nBass]

You have a decent bass. You are playing through headphones and an 8" speaker. What do you think?

Go with the amp. There is a used GK MB 115 going for $250 in the classifieds, check it out.

[Osprey]

Get a rig of some sort. Something pre-used you can carry..you won't be playing any stadiums just yet. Then find a band, or a bit of a band, or someone to play with.

It's sad that that instrument you hold and caress and polish isn't going to get your spare cash spent on it (maybe some new strings) and a big ugly box is going to cost you folding money. But pretty well whatever you buy will last you for a couple of years before you need something better. I had a practice combi for ten years which served for cafe gigs and a 2x10 box which I used with a covers band for most of that time. Could have been a better tone some of the time but it got me playing out and loving it.

[Sav'nBass]

GK MB115 $250

The nice thing about this amp is it is small, lightweight, yet it has enough power for you to grow into. A part of being able to hear yourself properly and there will be limits to what you will be able to hear with headphones and an 8" speaker.. The price is nice too.

[mas502arc]

Your bass is quite nice. An amp may not seem all that glamorous, but think of it as a long term investment. It'll make you more flexible if the situation may call for you to play live. Get a TC BG115 Combo or Ibanez Promethean (or something similar), so that you can plug in your headphones and mp3 player for personal practice.

[bolophonic]

Getting a real rig is like getting a real car. You will wonder how you ever made due with an underpowered headphone amp.

[cybersnyder]

As long as your bass is decent, the amp is more important. Wish I would have learned that sooner. When I first started playing I had a pro Steinberger bass (with whammy) and I used a boom box and the mic input as my bass amp. What the hell was I thinking???? Really should have bought that Trace combo that I was drooling over. Instead I learned bad habits that took awhile to overcome after I bought a real amp.

[Jazzdogg]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

<SNIP> I'd much rather play a "cheap" bass through a real rig than a boutique bass through a cheap rig.

I agree completely. In my experience, given "clean," or "neutral" electronics, it's the transducers at both end of the signal chain that make the biggest difference in sound; i.e., pickups and speakers.

For decades, I had one electric bass (a P-bass), and one double bass. As I improved my amp and cabs, I was able to clearly hear nuances attributable to technique, strings, and so forth.

It wasn't until I began investing in high quality amps and cabs that I was able to truly appreciate high quality instruments.

[Blankandson]

[Seriously though, I'd much rather play a "cheap" bass through a real rig than a boutique bass through a cheap rig.[/quote]

+1 After 47 years of playing I can pretty much get my sound with any bass. But I can't create the sound of a really good rig without playing through a really good rig.