Confused....really dumb questions

[BazzTard]

a combo is one heavy box to lift.

With separate amp and cab, it's two lighter boxes to lift, an issue with us older folks especially

 

[Jim Carr]

Boys, boys, boys. The OP has firmly stated that he will not buy used and is not in a band. Furthermore, he wants to buy an amp to play bass at home. Moreover, he has stated he wants an amp he will never have to replace or move. He wants a minimalist and simple home "practice" amp, but with great tone and a generous amount of power. He is not looking for a cheap little practice toy, to wit he is states he will spend up to $1500 USD!

Why should he waste money or time on all of this excited over-enthusistic chatter when he can just go buy a nice combo at guitar center and really rock on out? They even deliver. His stated plan is to remain bandless, eternally delighted with his high-end combo amp, and never be even a little curious about the new latest fEARful killer, M9 micro-clone, or whatever. So chill. We are done here.

 

[JehuJava]

Boys, boys, boys. The OP has firmly stated that he will not buy used and is not in a band. Furthermore, he wants to buy an amp to play bass at home. Moreover, he has stated he wants an amp he will never have to replace or move. He wants a minimalist and simple home "practice" amp, but with great tone and a generous amount of power. He is not looking for a cheap little practice toy, to wit he is states he will spend up to $1500 USD!

Why should he waste money or time on all of this excited over-enthusistic chatter when he can just go buy a nice combo at guitar center and really rock on out? They even deliver. He stated plans to remain bandless, eternally delighted with his combo amp, and never be even a little curious about the new latest fEARful killer, M9-clone micro, or whatever. So chill. We are done here.

100% agreed!

In fact, I'd say don't even spend more than $500 (you can do way less) and get a combo until you know more about what you want and what you need. From your description a combo fits the bill and an amp/cab is overkill. Just get plenty of power so you gave room to grow. When you've outgrown your combo (and you will some day), you'll have $1000 to spend. Plus you will know more about bass amps in general.

Don't waste $1500 on a practice amp!

 

[Jim Carr]

...When you've outgrown your combo (and you will some day)... ...Plus you will know more about bass amps in general. Don't waste $1500 on a practice amp!

The OP has started a few threads asking about this—which is fine, but he remains quite certain it seems, that none of the three statements you have made above apply to him.

 

[JehuJava]

The OP has started a few threads asking about this—which is fine, but he remains quite certain it seems, that none of the three statements you have made above apply to him.

Weird, but ok.

Spend $1500 on an amp of some sort for no particular reason except to play in the living room. Wish I had the liquidity.

 

[raventepes]

Find yourself a Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout. You'll thank me later.

 

[Arturo+music]

Basics really. Most starters have a very limited budget and a used combo is the best choice. it is convenient for rehearsals and smaller venues but as you make progress, you may find that a larger rig will be necessary.
i built 2 cabinets in the mid 70s and had a stereo amplifier built by a post-graduate branching out on his own. That was for my Rick Stereo in about 1974. It is all still working 40 years later!!! You can see the rig on the Home Page
of my website. I acquired a Carlsbro Viper bass combo a couple of decades later. www.escutcheonmedia.com

 

[danosix]

trying to decide between a combo purchase or an amp/cab separates purchase.
i understand that if i buy a combo there is just the ONE PIECE OF EQUIPMENT TO PURCHASE that you plug your guitar into to make sound.

if i go the amp/cab route, does this mean that i need to buy JUST TWO PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, an amp/head unit and a cabinet????

then i am reading stuff about pre-amps, and getting confused. DO MOST amp/head units HAVE PRE-AMPS contained in them???? IF I GO SEPARATES, DO I ACTUALLY NEED 3 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT???

really dumb questions, i know.

I think the other posters have covered it pretty well but I think it can be simplified ever further.
What we usually call a "head" contains both pre-amp and power amp.
Combos have that and a speaker.
Things usually sold as "pre-amps" are for one of two things -
1. high end applications in which the player wants to be able to select the sound of their preamp and power amp separately - usually in a rack mount format OR
2. to put in front of their amp (between bass and amp) to change the tone either by adding the different character of the new preamp or by adding extra gain (distortion) or eq options - usually in a pedal or compact format.