Amps, Strings, Pick-ups, etc. etc. HELP!

[pappas]

Hey guys. Been playing for 5 years, take lessons in reading and theory. Play with two recreational groups, intermediate to advanced players. I have a Fender Rumble 75 combo amp, and when we practice at the studio there's a 115w I plug into. I love Bass Player mag and other forums BUT, when they start talking about gear, amps, distortion boxes, what kind of strings and pickups somebody uses, I don't have a clue and I don't if, or when, I'll ever have a clue. Like I said, I plug into my Fender Rumble amp at home and play, I plug into the amp at the studio, and play, how do you learn about all this other stuff which, sounds really interesting. Any recommendations? Are there any books out there like, Everything Else But The Bass For Dummies or, Music Electronics 101? I would like to make my first rogue (haha) purchase and get an effects box, why, I don't know, I see them in Bass Player and a lot of dudes use them. Well, thanks for any feed back you vets may provide......

 

[spz8]

Sounds like you're doing fine. Keep focusing on playing, lessons, theory, etc., and worry less about what's written in some Bass magazine. To get more enlightened about gear, perhaps learn the details of EQ and how to use it on the gear you own. Use the search function or Google. String types? Maybe read some reviews here on TB, and try something new for your next string change. My 2¢.

 

[ctmullins]

Agreed. Far too much emphasis is placed on gear these days, at the expense of practicing and gigging. Keep playing with other musicians who (you feel) are better than you. This is the best way to improve as a musician. At some point you may begin to suspect that your bass or your amp are limiting your musicianship; then (and only then) you can look into upgrading your gear.

(Do as I say, not as I do. )

 

[gregmon79]

It sounds like you're doing the right things already. Talk Bass will help immensely IMO. It did and does me. Also, experience is the best piece of knowledge you can get. I've been playing 14 years and I'm still learning. Since I joined TB I have learned more about tone and sound than I have the whole time I played. Experiment with as much gear as you can as far as gear goes. You can listen to YouTube videos too but unless you have them plugged into and amp or good speakers its hard to get a really good idea how some sound. Especially dist and OD's. Just keep an open mind and keep going with your lessons and jam with as many musicians as you can. Experience is a key ingredient IMO.

 

[rotis]

You can spend lots of money on gear you may or may not use or if you hear a sound you really like, ask how they get the sound and see how you can reproduce it.