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Cheapest Path to Pro Level Gear?

#21
^^^ I haven't read many audition stories at all :D , but I have no doubts that what you mention is true, in many instances. That's when the bassist needs to speak up with conviction & politely explain to the g*******t (or whomever) that, when it comes to bass gear, there are more high quality choices than just Fender/Peggy, & that the gear he has is quality stuff. Then he should suggest that they get on with the audition & strut his stuff :bassist:.
 
#23
In my experience, "pro gear" in this context mainly just means that you have bass that functions properly and an amp that is reliable and loud enough for most playing situations. You're plenty good on the bass front, as others have said. For amps, while top pros can get away with a small combo amp due to their reliable access to quality PA support, a lot of bands will want you to have a fairly good-sized amp to cover situations where that is not the case. Whether your current setup is loud enough really depends on the band you want to join; it would not be enough for my band, but we have unusual volume requirements (loud rock/metal, often in venues with minimal PA support). The Hartke rig you mention sounds like a great choice for most gigs.

There are some folks with a snootier view of "pro gear" -- i.e. the type of people that would sneer at a MIM Fender -- but you don't want to hang around with those folks anyway.
 
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#24
Felix1776 said:
I've been curious about the quickest, cheapest route to step up to pro gear. Based on my own research, it seems I could go the route of a Hartke LH1000 and a hydrive 410 for around $700-$750 used. That seems like a lot of reliable power and decent tone for the money.
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That Hartke rig sounds good for the price. For getting the most bang for the buck, you can also look into used SWR gear.

Crater said:
I'll second the suggestion for a 4x10 cab and at least a 300 watt amp head.
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This would also be my bare minimum.
 
#27
The term "Pro Gear" is too subjective to be useful. I have seen people making their living with a raggedy little Rogue amp and pawn shop nameless P bass clone.

Sadly to some folks, nothing short of a MIA P Bass and SVT 810 rig would be considered pro gear...

I think any well set up, and reliable bass, good cables / tuner, and a decent quality amp with at least 200 watts and a 210 cab / speaker config should do the trick for MOST but not ALL situations. Heck, a 100 watt 1x15 combo would do the trick in a reasonable volume coffee house type gig, loud Metal bands? Get as much power and speaker as you can possibly afford them beg borrow and steal more (figuratively speaking of course...)
 
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#28
I gig with a 2x6" 100w combo amp I did myself. Is this pro gear??? Heck yeah!!! It have never failed me and I´m always told to turn down. Do you need more power to be heard, that´s why is the PA for. My amp is my monitor...I really don´t need more than that. If I go big (I mean big stages), a 2x10" will do it for me.

You convert the gear to pro, the gear doesn´t convert you into a pro.

:)
 
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#29
Emanuel Apascaritei said:
I gig with a 2x6" 100w combo amp I did myself. Is this pro gear??? Heck yeah!!! It have never failed me and I´m always told to turn down. Do you need more power to be heard, that´s why is the PA for. My amp is my monitor...I really don´t need more than that. If I go big (I mean big stages), a 2x10" will do it for me.

You convert the gear to pro, the gear doesn´t convert you into a pro.

:)
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Doesn't sound like you would have much headroom here. You would be kinda forced to play very light so you don't fart out the cabs.
 
#31
Rmackner said:
Doesn't sound like you would have much headroom here. You would be kinda forced to play very light so you don't fart out the cabs.
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The last gig was with full acoustic drums (hard player too, he likes metal), 2 guitars, piano, keyboards and a 40 people choir. The drivers were doing quite good, I could even go louder but I was already told I was too loud. And I was using the B string a lot, I even went as low as open B. Maybe the bass has something to do as well, the Adamovic has an excellent low B response without overpowering the amp and rings like a bell.
 
#32
Your basses are fine. I would say that you can't go wrong with a 4x10 cab and a 300-400 watt head. If you can find one of those old red faced SWR Bass 350 heads and a 4x10 cab you'd be set. A friend of mine (I had one for a while as well) gigged the hell out of that rig and it never gave him trouble. Simple, loud, good sounding rig.
 
#33
A bit of an impossible question.

Pro-level gear? For live shows? You mean playing through the PA? In that case, you don't need an amp. Or, you just need something that you can hear. In ears? Stage amps for club gigs? In that case, you just need to be able to hear yourself. Many options that pros use. If you're a pro who doesn't have to carry, set up, and care for your gig...then get a couple of tube driven amps and a wall of 215-810s. But, if you are dealing with all that on your own, then a high-powered reliable, lightweight amp (and a back-up) would do fine. Or, you can do the same with a Power amp/preamp config. A nice pair of 210s will work fine and they are much lighter than a few years back.

But if you're a recording session pro, then your needs are much different. You need to be able to adapt to any setting and style. You should have access to a good vintage sounding set up, something more modern and clear. As a session pro, you need to be able to get the sound and feel that the artist wants but can't always describe.

If you're a pro in a band or a solo artist, obviously you have more freedom.

The least expensive way to "pro-gear" is not to buy more than you need. I'd say in 80% of the gigs I've been paid for, a 500-800 watt solid state amp and a 210 has been plenty. In the cases where it wouldn't be, there was usually a PA anyway. If stage volume was a problem, then the best (and cheapest) solution was a good in-ear monitor.
 
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#35
Rmackner said:
With the amp being a HUGE part of your bass tone (more so then the bass itself) I would skimp out on the bass and not your amp.
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-1

Your amp is almost always just your monitor. The PA handles FOH. Your bass gets DI'd before the amp comes into play. Get the best freaking tone from your instrument you have and bring an amp to hear yourself.

Having pro gear means not "big impressive gear" but right tool for the job. Most gigs you don't need a giant amp for. Bringing a SVT 810 to a lower volume/laid back gig looks unproseeional. Bring what you need and not massive overkill.
 
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#36
Felix1776 said:
Via the search function, I've seen that what constitutes "pro level gear" has been discussed quite a bit. Seems pretty subjective to me. I have been searching for a band or project to join and I've seen quite a few ads that mention that "pro gear" is a must. I'm also about to start working with a cover band. I feel like I have decent gear for some situations but I don't think I can say in good faith that I have pro gear. My gear consists of MIM P bass and active Jazz V basses and an Ampeg BA210V2 combo. I'm worried that my amp may limit me in terms of power. I've been curious about the quickest, cheapest route to step up to pro gear. Based on my own research, it seems I could go the route of a Hartke LH1000 and a hydrive 410 for around $700-$750 used. That seems like a lot of reliable power and decent tone for the money. Anybody found themselves in this situation? What did you do? Any feedback is appreciated.
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I use a 210 gk combo and hook it up to a 4x10. Way more than enough power there. I think you could do something similar and save yourself some money. Your basses are fine.
 
#38
Kael said:
-1

Your amp is almost always just your monitor. The PA handles FOH. Your bass gets DI'd before the amp comes into play. Get the best freaking tone from your instrument you have and bring an amp to hear yourself.

Having pro gear means not "big impressive gear" but right tool for the job. Most gigs you don't need a giant amp for. Bringing a SVT 810 to a lower volume/laid back gig looks unproseeional. Bring what you need and not massive overkill.
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The signal chain is , bass > whatever pedals > amp > DI > PA. The amp will still color your tone if it's DIed into the PA system my friend. I think you meant to say the "cabinet" is your monitor on stage and yes a 810 at small gigs is a bit much. Though you could use that SVT head and a 410 for a small gig and look very professional.
 
#39
You sound golden "as is" to me. At the venues I play, the amps are mostly just stage monitors and the PA provides the majority of the sound for the FOH. Of course not everybody is in my exact situation.
It sounds like some people want you have have "Pro Gear" so they don't have to get a "Pro PA".
 
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#40
Rmackner said:
The signal chain is , bass > whatever pedals > amp > DI > PA. The amp will still color your tone if it's DIed into the PA system my friend. I think you meant to say the "cabinet" is your monitor on stage and yes a 810 at small gigs is a bit much. Though you could use that SVT head and a 410 for a small gig and look very professional.
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Depends on the DI, you could have the cleanest DI built into the most coloured amp.
 
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