Cheap Bass

[Fico]

Objectively speaking, playability is adjustable. Any instrument benefits from good setup. Tone is also adjustable and most of that adjustment lies in the amplifier. A better musician can make better music with any equipment. So your answers are above. Be sure your instrument is properly set up for you, learn to use the equipment effectively and practice.

I'm new to bass guitar personally but I have some calluses from years of playing guitar. I am also a pianist. These issues apply to all of these musical instruments. Below is a picture of my first bass. It was not expensive. It is a Gretsch Corvette bass and behind it is my Fender Rumble 100 amplifier. Also competent but affordable. I had a really good bass player visit the other day and I asked him to play it. He showed me that what I have is capable of doing anything musically. Nothing wrong with the equipment. It just needs a better musician. All it takes is a good musician to make it happen. So don't worry about the equipment. Worry about operating it effectively and worry about practice. You can't go wrong.

 

[jking138]

Do you have a particular sound/bassist in mind? What style are you playing?

 

[Smooth_bass88]

yo bud just get youself one of them kit things they got em all over reverbs dang your gunna love it bud

 

[Gorn]

A great bass player can play an $80 Squier and make it sound amazing.

 

[matthewbrown]

It depends on what you're starting with in terms of the 'cheap bass'. You can't polish a turd. Compression would be the last thing I'd suggest, as it will only bring out the worst parts of a bad sounding bass, and EQ might help cover up some 'problem areas', but it won't 'improve' anything. As others have stated, the setup and playability of the instrument matters the most. If you can get the string height low, and there are no major buzzes and/or uneven frets across the full length of the fingerboard, and it is in tune/intonated properly, then you stand a much better chance at getting a 'bass-like-tone' out of a cheap instrument. Pickup height matters a lot too. If it's hard to play, your technique will have to overcome the deficiencies of the instrument, and that's not a recipe for long term happiness with it.

I don't understand how compression would "bring out the worst parts of a bad sounding bass." Could you explain how this would happen?

 

[Leisure Weaver]

Preamp or harmonic booster.

 

[JamesGrant]

Easy, spend 30mins with an experienced player and have them try your bass - if it sounds good when the play it then… or they might say ‘the strings are rusty and sound poopy’ or something equally helpful. Good luck!!

 

[wintremute]

Sure, but couldn't some multi-effects or plugins make it sound good too?

Git gud.

Don't depend on effects to hide your flaws. Use them to enhance your strengths.

Most low-end basses these days are solid players. Like the man said, get a good setup and some new strings and that's the base line.

If you're looking for a SPECIFIC sound, then tell us that.

 

[ezstep]

Have John Patitucci play it.

I have a good friend, great musician who worked for decades at a piano/music store. They would take trade-ins, and he would sit down and play Laura's Theme or something similar, and a $300 piano sounded great. The piano didn't sound that good once you got it home, though.

 

[DigitalMan]

Sure, but couldn't some multi-effects or plugins make it sound good too?

Nope. You have to start with a good sounding bass. Then you have to make it sound good when you play it. Effects and plugins can only do so much.

 

[5StringBlues]

My name's not Bud, it's Kenny.