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Beginner Bass/Amp Reccomendations, $1500
- Thread starter lonestarwings
- Start date
Bass = G&L Tribute L2000 used from our classifieds. $400 plus shipping.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250590
Amp = Traynor YBA200 all tube head from our classifieds as well. $625
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391522
Cab = Avatar B212neo in any colour tolex you like shipped for $400 tax included
http://avatarspeakers.com/
There's a complete rig that is way more than a beginner setup, that is long term gigable, and good investments. Total cost would be around your budget and not only would those items last years of gigging, the ones you bought used could be sold for very close to what you paid for them if you take care of them. They are all high quality products and are incredibly underpriced compared to their rivals in the market.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=250590
Amp = Traynor YBA200 all tube head from our classifieds as well. $625
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=391522
Cab = Avatar B212neo in any colour tolex you like shipped for $400 tax included
http://avatarspeakers.com/
There's a complete rig that is way more than a beginner setup, that is long term gigable, and good investments. Total cost would be around your budget and not only would those items last years of gigging, the ones you bought used could be sold for very close to what you paid for them if you take care of them. They are all high quality products and are incredibly underpriced compared to their rivals in the market.
I like what Todd said. Here's what I would do. I agree that you should buy the best instrument you can. The instrument is the most important part of this equation. Fender is making great basses in Japan right now. People don't realize that these basses are often times way better than the American basses. I play bass for a living and one of my main basses is a Fender Jaguar. Its like a jazz but can be run active or passive. Also, you should try a Geddy Lee Jazz bass. Both of these basses are amazing and they are in the $650.00 to $700.00. I promise you would be happy with either of these basses. You don't have to buy an American Fender. I've played some really crappy ones lately. As for the amp. I would just get a little Ampeg combo or (since I am an Eden Endorser) one of the Silver Series or N Series combos. Should be able to get one of these for $400.00 or less. Then buy some decent cables and learning material. I would go ahead and buy used if you can stand to. Just in case you decide you don't want to play later. Good Luck!!!!
IMHO it's always more important to spend more money on your amp than your bass, for the simple fact that a great quality bass is quite affordable, whereas a great quality amp is still always expensive. Your sound is only as good as your weakest link, unfortunately spending double what you spent on a bass for your amp still might make your amp the weaker link.
Well a quick update:
I went to Bss Emporium like you guys recceomnded. It was a really nice store and they were really helpful. I had them hook up a few different basses, tried the geddy lee, a couple of different vintage precisions, and the Mike Dirnt.
I think I liked the Mike Dirnt the best out of those, but I overall I liked the sound of the precisions better than the jazz (geddy lee). To be honest, I really cound't tell a huge difference when it came to neck feel. Coming from a zero frame of reference, the few mm difference in width between a jazz and precision seemed really insignificant and barely noticeable. They had me hooked up to an ashdown five fifteen which sounded pretty nice. I had the salesman play a few tunes on each guitar so I could get a feel for what they sounded like in the hands of a capable player.
Like you guys said, their prices were a little steep, although they said they would be willing to work with me. With a little bit of an idea of what I liked, I went a few blocks down the road to G.C.
Unfortunately for the fine folks at bass emporium I walked into their competitor I saw the Bass that I had really been wanting (especially after deciding liked the precision sound best), a black fender american precision. I held it and plucked a few notes through an Ampeg BA115, and really liked it. Plus I thiought the S1 switching feature was kind of cool. They had it listed for $799, and although it was new, I could tell it had probably been in their showroom for a while as there were some minor blemishes in the finish, but nothing major.
Unfortunately they didn't have the Ampeg BA112 that so many of you had reccomended, and I felt the BA115 was a little to big to haul around for lessons in my small car. A G.C. salesamn reccomended an Acoustic B20 instead. I played on that amp for a little bit and thought it sounded nice, so I went ahead and purchased the Acoustic B20 and the Fender American Precision, with a case and cord for $1000 out the door, well under budget.
Really looking forward to my first lesson, and might buy a tuner in the mean time. Thanks again for all the help.
I went to Bss Emporium like you guys recceomnded. It was a really nice store and they were really helpful. I had them hook up a few different basses, tried the geddy lee, a couple of different vintage precisions, and the Mike Dirnt.
I think I liked the Mike Dirnt the best out of those, but I overall I liked the sound of the precisions better than the jazz (geddy lee). To be honest, I really cound't tell a huge difference when it came to neck feel. Coming from a zero frame of reference, the few mm difference in width between a jazz and precision seemed really insignificant and barely noticeable. They had me hooked up to an ashdown five fifteen which sounded pretty nice. I had the salesman play a few tunes on each guitar so I could get a feel for what they sounded like in the hands of a capable player.
Like you guys said, their prices were a little steep, although they said they would be willing to work with me. With a little bit of an idea of what I liked, I went a few blocks down the road to G.C.
Unfortunately for the fine folks at bass emporium I walked into their competitor I saw the Bass that I had really been wanting (especially after deciding liked the precision sound best), a black fender american precision. I held it and plucked a few notes through an Ampeg BA115, and really liked it. Plus I thiought the S1 switching feature was kind of cool. They had it listed for $799, and although it was new, I could tell it had probably been in their showroom for a while as there were some minor blemishes in the finish, but nothing major.
Unfortunately they didn't have the Ampeg BA112 that so many of you had reccomended, and I felt the BA115 was a little to big to haul around for lessons in my small car. A G.C. salesamn reccomended an Acoustic B20 instead. I played on that amp for a little bit and thought it sounded nice, so I went ahead and purchased the Acoustic B20 and the Fender American Precision, with a case and cord for $1000 out the door, well under budget.
Really looking forward to my first lesson, and might buy a tuner in the mean time. Thanks again for all the help.
I'd come at this a different way. I would get a decent head like a MarkBass LMII or GK 1001RBII, both can be had new for $600. Then get an 8 ohm 2x10 or 2x12 cabinet, maybe Avatar http://www.avatarspeakers.com/ getting an 8 ohm cabinet will allow you to easily add another later to cover any reasonable volume level. You have so many options here and most of them are good.
Then, since you already like the P basses get a cheap one from SX. This gives you a pro amp for under $1000 so you have some cash for cables and stuff and only $120 or so for the bass. In a few months with the SX you'll learn what you like and dislike in basses and can sell it for $80 or keep it as a backup or something to modify and learn setup on. A new Squier for $200 or so would also be a nice entry level bass. If you change your mind about used Peavey and Yamaha have some nice basses in the 2 to 3 hundred dollar range.
And lastly if you want to play a 5 string start on one, no sense in learning twice. If you do go with a 5 string spacing varies more than it does on 4 strings so going cheap until you decide what size you like can save some money.
Spending big money on a bass should come after you can play a few songs at least in my opinion.
Then, since you already like the P basses get a cheap one from SX. This gives you a pro amp for under $1000 so you have some cash for cables and stuff and only $120 or so for the bass. In a few months with the SX you'll learn what you like and dislike in basses and can sell it for $80 or keep it as a backup or something to modify and learn setup on. A new Squier for $200 or so would also be a nice entry level bass. If you change your mind about used Peavey and Yamaha have some nice basses in the 2 to 3 hundred dollar range.
And lastly if you want to play a 5 string start on one, no sense in learning twice. If you do go with a 5 string spacing varies more than it does on 4 strings so going cheap until you decide what size you like can save some money.
Spending big money on a bass should come after you can play a few songs at least in my opinion.
