Beginner needing upgrade help.

[The Codfather]

Hey all,

I've been playing just about 8 months now and bought my first 5 stringer this week (RBX765A) which I'm really happy with, but it's just struck me how lacking my amp is (I kinda knew anyway)

All I have at the moment is a tiny Laney Richter RB-1 I think it's only about 15W, it can get a fairly decent tone but it just seems to be a bit lacking especially when it comes to the B string playing.

So what I'm wondering is where to, I really don't know much when it comes to amplification, I'm aware more watts = more power but that's really where my knowledge ends.

I play a range (or rather practice, I don't gig, far from good enough yet ) of music, mostly The Smiths, The Cure, some heavier rock. Am I better off going for a combo amp, or a small head and seperate speaker?

Any help would be appreciated here. I'll throw out a budget topping at around.. £300, but that could be pushed up I guess.

Help?

 

[Alec W. Conway]

Best thing you can do is go to a music store with your bass, try out amps, see what you like.

 

[charic]

www.soundlive.co.uk is an amazing site for cheap stuff (Wooo another uk person ) for £300 you can get yourself a 1x15" Ashdown Mag 307w its what im routing for if you dont like it ill have it off ya... hows £20 sound?

 

[The Codfather]

Those Ashdowns look delicious (both the 1x15" and the 2x10") I'll definately keep those in mind.

Any reason to go for the 1x15" over the 2x10"?

I've had a look in my local music store (Hooters Music in Watford) and they've really not got that much in the way of bass amps. TBH it's a fairly small store so I can't blame them.

Apparrently there's a couple of music shops in St.Albans that I've not checked out, may have to head up there sometime soon.

Thanks for the suggestions though, any more welcome

 

[charic]

Find your way down to denmark st in london all music shops the entire street

 

[Ostinato]

If you're not gigging, why bother?

When I started playing I didn't have my own amp for over two years. Smiths and The Cure, huh? Sell that silly contraption and get a proper 4 string..

 

[Shindig]

Sell that silly contraption and get a proper 4 string..

I respectfully diagree. I wish I had started playing 5 string bass instead of 4. Stay with the fiver.
Get a Line6 POD or similar. You can listen through headphones and work yourself into a good bassist without buying a decent amp yet (make sure you get a decent set of headphones that will handle the lower notes-prob cost you most of $100 US). Plus you can save others the pain of you learning to play
Then try as many amps as you can. You will soon which ones sound better to your ears and you can start to define your own sound. Buy used if you can. You'll get more for your money.
Staying with the five string will cost you more (More for a decent bass and more for a proper amp) but IMO you'll have a leg up on most other players who learned on a 4 and now have to re-learn a 5. The fiver just makes so much sense in today's music scene.
Just my 2 cents worth.... good luck

 

[markjazzbassist]

+1 on the ashdown. also check out used gear. You can get a great amp for cheap if you go used. just shop around all the music stores near you and check used and clearance items.