Advice on buying ideal setup for individual practice

[singlemalt]

A pair of powered studio monitors with serious heft would have the neighbors banging on the door in short order.

You already have a computer, interface, software, and the headphones you use 90% of the time. If you aren’t going to leave the room, an amp seems redundant.

Beefing up the digital approach would give you studio quality sound for the whole mix. Plus if you game, or watch movies on your computer you get killer sound.

The cheapo solution is running your sound output into a stereo with good speakers.

The great sound can come from GarageBand, or amplitude or any number of DAW software programs that give you amp modeling, effects, compression, eq, ect. Plus the drums, synths, and everything else.

I haven’t plugged in an amp in the last couple years. It’s either all digital on the computer or a multi fx unit like the Zoom B3n or my line 6 hd500x. Headphones 95% and the cheapo stereo monitor setup for loud.

This works great for bass or guitar. Just about as simple as it gets. The bigger set up is in another room.

 

[Mark 63]

Fender Rumble 500 is a very versatile amp, and they're widely available. It doesn't take up a lot of space, sounds good at low volume, and if you ever do get into a jam session, it'll be capable.
The world needs bass players. Don't assume you won't be sought out to take part.
"Hey, my friend Morguloth plays bass, let's call him."
The fun of playing bass increases greatly when you're side-by-side with a good drummer.

 

[Jim Suber]

I need help with picking out an amp/cab/combo.

I'm having trouble. On one hand, don't really have the opportunity to go try things at a store, so I need to try and figure things out to order online. On the other hand, most discussions and advice tend to be geared more towards playing in band, gigging etc.

I play 99% fingerstyle, no slap or tap and rarely pick. Jazz Bass ultra.

I have no intention of gigging or even practicing with a band. I play by myself, for myself and I'm trying to put together a setup that'll give me the 'best' tone- In my practice room. Most of the time I play with headphones on through my audio interface, but I just want to sound as good as possible when I feel like playing out loud and fully enjoying my hobby.

I play mostly Funk, Rock, Jazz, Blues. Main focus is definitely on the clean tone. Onboard distortion/effects of any sort are mostly irrelevant, but hey, I won’t kick some grit outta bed. Obviously, volume/power isn't an issue.

I figure the cab will likely have the biggest impact on the tone, rather than the amp, but perhaps not. My thinking was that given my circumstances, I'd want a single speaker(?) or perhaps a 2x10? I don't know. Weight is irrelevant as it won’t be moving anywhere.

Money/budget isn't really an issue within reason; not going to sell a kidney to buy some rare vintage tube filled with Lemmy's farts, but I'm lucky enough to be able to spend what I need to spend to get the best setup possible for my needs.

Thoughts?

Buddy, certainly you know your own mind but I'll tell ya. I thought I was just gonna do home recording and practice for the sheer joy of making music after I retired. Out of the clear blue, a band in Atlanta (I live in Mississippi) got a recommendation to use me from a circuit blues player that I played with almost 40 years ago for one night. ??????? Go figure. Outdoor festival, 24 songs everything from Rush to Steely Dan. They sent me a spread sheet with keys and links and gave me two months to get ready. The only in person practice was sound check. I had a blast and now, I'm off to the races. All I'm saying is don't rule it out. Sorry for getting off topic. All you guys are amazing.

 

[Jim Suber]

I use a Rumble 40 in my music room.
Duke
View attachment 5295391

Love it

 

[lug]

Rumor is the Phil Jones Double 4 + is about to hit the States. I'd wait and get that. I currently have a regular Double 4 and wouldn't trade it for anything. (Well, maybe a good Lamborghini)

 

[Sid Fang]

These are hard to find but damned near perfect by the stated criteria. Can’t vouch for the seller, but vouch for the combo as a compact quiet, usable at home (with phones or speaker) amp with great tone and enough balls to play with a drummer if and when you need to.
EBS DROME 12 BASS AMPLIFIER | eBay

They were made in Sweden. I got mine ages ago in France. So maybe easier to find in Spain than the US.

 

[MegaSwing]

I never practice at volume anymore alone in my house. Any amp I use for home practice must have a headphone jack and an aux in jack. Currently, I have an Orange Crush Bass 50 combo dedicated for that. A cheap combo can have excellent headphone tone.

 

[viking power]

I use a Rumble 40 in my music room.
Duke
View attachment 5295391

Bet that rug has killer tone!

 

[RandomKaren]

+1 on the Double Four, I also use an X4 Nanobass which is great for quieter practice.

 

[King Harvest]

If you intend to play in the same room as your current headphone rig, I’d just get a 1x12” wedge or similar.

 

[MaxSpinrun]

TI had a history with Mesa. So it was a no brainer to get the D800+, especially after many comments here on TB.

Bough my Genzler BA 15-3 cab without even hearing it! TB feedback on here about that cab was outstanding. Was able to talk with Jeff Genzler directly with questions. Both companies have excellent support.

 

[mikeswals]

I have two micro rigs for home practice: the micro SVT and the micro Acoustic.
Both have headphone and aux feature, I can be silent when fam goes to bed, it can be loud enough when no one else is home, they're inexpensive and take up very little space, and I can actually use them for jams when I need to.

 

[LiptonJigglers]

Second hand combo would be suitable for your needs. 100 watts or so would suffice.

Whilst there some great suggestions, I think it's completely unnecessary to be spending a small fortune on a bass rig that will never see the light of day let alone a music venue.

 

[Yahweh22]

Newer bassist, been playing Sundays for a medium size crowd for a little over a year. I enjoy playing finger style on a short scale with rounds with the tone off or flats. I play white church pop music and motown music.

I practiced:

• using a pedal thru to my $70+- Logitech computer speakers
• thru an M-Audio audio interface a good set of headphones (definitely what I use when recording / playback for the very clear sound)
• with older Peavy Basic combos (blue face and a red face). The blue face is darker, muddier. I like the red face a little better, but its still darker / muddy.
• using the whole line of Acoustic brand amps, the whole line of Fender Rumbles, using a hand full of Markbass combos, and with a couple Ampeg's, Blackstars, PJBs.

Most used:

1. Most used is the pedal / Logitech computer speakers/headphones the most due to the convenience and portability. Great for hanging out with the fam or practicing during commercials.
2. The second most used, the M-Audio audio interface and headphones. I'm sitting in front of my PC, so I have this available or I want to listen in great detail during intense/analytical practice.
3. Third most used are my first two amps: Peavy Basics. For when I want to jam out. Neither are clear, but are pretty dark and muddy. They sound great, are cheap, are easy to setup, and are indestructible.
4. I never liked the other combos so much more than my cheap Peavy's. Of these, if I were to buy another, it would likely be the Acoustic B100C due to its clear, un-brand-specific-like sound, and versatility. Its also able to use as a wedge (love this). If I had the money, I might go with a Markbass as well. I love their sound, I can't figure it out.

Things I liked about combos

• 12" or 15" combos... none of the single 8's or 10's seemed to sound full (exception being the Markbass). I don't think it had anything to do with the size, but just the general quality of a brand's lineup as price decreases.
• combos 100w or more... like the size, I don't think it has anything to do w the wattage.
• Fender, Ampeg.... I don't like the brand-specific sounds.
• Markbass... idk what it is about their brand-specific sound.... its not ventage or 'hey that sounds like a Markbass' sound... its just a good dark and muddy sound... its not dark and muddy like the Peavy... its much more rich and still keeps its clarity.
• Acoustic B100C - if I'm in a store and I'm not trying to figure out why Markbass sounds so different and good, I end up playing on this.

Wish you could get out and play a bunch more. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Auer]

Orange Crush 100

Wonderful clean or dirty, great EQ and blend functions. DI out.

 

[Discount Bassy]

I opted for two amps, one big and one small, to cover what I need. The small amp is a GK MB112 combo from before the big price hikes. The big one is a GK 1001rb that sits on a Mesa Subway 215. I use either at home depending on preferences and where I am playing in the house. I use either on gigs depending on the stage monitor situation and space available in the hauler and on stage. If I need more that the large amp, I would be looking to PA support. My preference is the one that makes the most sense in the given situation. Granted, I never felt a need for the larger amp, but opted out of personal preference and nostalgia for a rack with a tuner and compressor, in case I don't have room for the larger pedal board.

 

[TommyGunz]

Ampeg PF-50T with your choice of matching cab

 

[Bartrinsic]

I need help with picking out an amp/cab/combo.

I'm having trouble. On one hand, don't really have the opportunity to go try things at a store, so I need to try and figure things out to order online. On the other hand, most discussions and advice tend to be geared more towards playing in band, gigging etc.

I play 99% fingerstyle, no slap or tap and rarely pick. Jazz Bass ultra.

I have no intention of gigging or even practicing with a band. I play by myself, for myself and I'm trying to put together a setup that'll give me the 'best' tone- In my practice room. Most of the time I play with headphones on through my audio interface, but I just want to sound as good as possible when I feel like playing out loud and fully enjoying my hobby.

I play mostly Funk, Rock, Jazz, Blues. Main focus is definitely on the clean tone. Onboard distortion/effects of any sort are mostly irrelevant, but hey, I won’t kick some grit outta bed. Obviously, volume/power isn't an issue.

I figure the cab will likely have the biggest impact on the tone, rather than the amp, but perhaps not. My thinking was that given my circumstances, I'd want a single speaker(?) or perhaps a 2x10? I don't know. Weight is irrelevant as it won’t be moving anywhere.

Money/budget isn't really an issue within reason; not going to sell a kidney to buy some rare vintage tube filled with Lemmy's farts, but I'm lucky enough to be able to spend what I need to spend to get the best setup possible for my needs.

Thoughts?

To Cab or Not to Cab:

There are two 'rigs' under the mahogany table. Both travel for studio and stage (with laptop, oh my!)--so my sound carries over. Both are based on Apollo (left: older x8, right: newer x4). I could never get full bass in the face from near-field monitors and mid-fields are oh-so-rich, so I've got 2 x Polk R400 center channels powered by monoblocks and a corner-loaded subwoofer instead, which is the best this room has ever sounded. PA speakers tend to have a higher noise floor than this setup, but also work. I can take either rig and patch to a mixer or a modern amp/cab with more clean than vintage tone (I get 'vintage' with filters in the box), such as Quilter or PJB amps and Bergantino NXT cabs. I have cabs, but what you see sounds better than all those, hands down. You'd never guess my favorite gear item in the picture (other than the Super-J). Its the dbx Venue 360, which performs real-time room EQ and mic feedback suppression on the signal before going to the monoblocks and powered subwoofer. The two setups here give me play/record and play/stream capabilities that are hard to support with a single computer and interface.

 

[Aidenn7]

the styles you play are typical ampeg.. and just a warm di like a Countryman DI.. plus la-2a.. you prolly won't need a cab.. or amp..

I look at software.. and a good pair of monitors.. or closedback headphones.. get a ampeg plug in.. and a nobel odr-1.. then play along to spotify or youtube..

 

[Standalone]

I just figured out something GREAT for home practice:

With a long speaker cable, one can take any cab and place it anywhere convenient in a room, and then situate a small to medium size head exactly in the most convenient unobtrusive spot.

I now have a way to grab a bass in my front room any time inspiration strikes, any time music comes on the radio or record player that I'd like to noodle along with .... and because I've tucked my cabinet under a big Klipsch speaker that probably needed to be elevated anyway, it all but disappears. One of my 400RB heads is unobtrusively tucked in a sofa side table.

Given the flexibility and modularity of head/cab purchases, I think this is a great alternative to the usual "practice combo approach," which I use in my family room at the back of the house.

The "practice rig" in my studio in the barn goes with the "this 215 cab is too big to haul around to gigs these days but what an amazing leave-it-there practice rig it makes."

We are a musical house so having three places to play is sort of culturally appropriate...