Cheapest Path to Pro Level Gear?

[PortlandBass77]

Used Peavey or Crate amps: anywhere from $40 to $400 on CL depending on specifically what you are looking for.
or if you prefer DI
Behringer BDI21

Bass: Whichever you prefer

Total cost: anywhere from $100 to $$$$$

 

[hopsbb]

The term "pro gear" is bull. If I get paid $35 for playing the local coffee house with my $50 acoustic then its pro gear cause I just got paid lol. In all seriousness though 300-500 watts is plenty. I've played crowds of well over 1000 with 350 watt amp heads and its been more than enough because I just need to hear myself on stage.PA does the rest of the work.

 

[peterpalmieri]

It's not the gear that's makes you a pro. Play a pro gig with your existing gear and it is now magically "pro gear" if the gear somehow limited your ability to do the best job you could than an addititionL invest should be made. It's always a moving target.

 

[bebass]

The term "pro gear" is bull. If I get paid $35 for playing the local coffee house with my $50 acoustic then its pro gear cause I just got paid lol. In all seriousness though 300-500 watts is plenty. I've played crowds of well over 1000 with 350 watt amp heads and its been more than enough because I just need to hear myself on stage.PA does the rest of the work.

It's not the gear that's makes you a pro. Play a pro gig with your existing gear and it is now magically "pro gear" if the gear somehow limited your ability to do the best job you could than an addititionL invest should be made. It's always a moving target.

Good points!

I would like to point out in this thread that there IS a difference between cheap and inexpensive in the bass amp/cab world. "Cheap" in many cases results in one getting exactly that out of the gear. Inexpensive may end up a bit more initial cost than "cheap", but is order of magnitude difference in design, quality control, longevity, and as important as all, sound. Therefore cost of ownership, in many cases, of "inexpensive" is way less than cost of ownership of "cheap".

 

[sandman357]

In ads that say pro gear is a must, I think people generally mean gear that works, ie no dirty pots, jack issues that cause static or the sound to cut out every time you move, and gear that is loud enough to mix well with the rest of the band. You could have expensive sounding name brand stuff that is beat to hell and has issues and I wouldn't call it pro gear. It doesn't have to be new, or even pretty, but it must work and be reliable.

 

[Sputnik Monroe]

I've seen the Craigslist adds for "pro" gear (usually associated with have your own transportation) which leads me to believe this is shall we say younger players. Image is a large part of the equation here, gotta look good at the show. In the real world, yes a 300 watt amp with a 4x10 is the standard and has been for awhile.

And I can't get over how many post reference sending a DI to the FOH as though that's the the norm at virtually every gig. I'll bet most real gigs (as opposed to multi-band showcases) for most folks the FOH is a couple speakers on a stick with a portable PA box with vocals only.

 

[mpdd]

here's the best we've done out here in LA recently:
mintish pawn shop ibanez sr800 for 100 bucks
mint vintage acoustic 140 and matching 215 cab with leather covers - 400 bucks

 

[hsech]

The terms "cheapest" and "pro level" don't really go together.