Hello, First time poster and beginning bassist. It only took me 46 years but I’m finally starting a longtime desire to learn how to play bass. Being relatively new I started out with a Yamaha TRBX 304 (which I love) and recently added a Fender American Professional Jazz Bass to my arsenal. Both of which I’m running through a Fender B-DEC. In my quest to find a more vintage sound I came across an ad for a 70s Ampeg B115 bundled with an 89 Peavey Fury that has been upgraded with Seymour Duncan pickups. The seller claims to have installed a new Ampeg speaker in the amp and is including a 15” Carvin that was apparently original. He’s also throw in some other things like a gig bag, cables, etc. All this for $500. My question: Is this a good deal that I should be purchasing as soon as yesterday or should I be concerned and haggle a bit? The posting is listed on Facebook Marketplace. I have provided a link below:
You are just starting bass, IMO, you have enough instruments for now. Go get in the shed and get to know the instruments you have. My Yamaha P 4 string, that I paid $350 for, does everything I know how to ask it to do. But, if money is in the budget, go have fun. This bass thing is supposed to be fun. However...…. ...…. Sounds like you are chasing a sound before knowing what you can do with the stuff you have. Good luck which ever way you go and welcome to the bottom end.
Welcome aboard, first of all!! You have two outstanding basses to begin with, and the B-Dec is the practice amp with all sorts of loops, backing tracks, voicing and effects on it to get going and jam at home or alone etc?? Sounds like you only really need a good, plain “bass amp” to get some great sound if you find yourself playing with others or (perhaps!) gigging. For less than that offer, you may want to try a Fender Rumble 100- new at $300, has a robust EQ section, an overdrive that can be operated with a foot switch, and some “tone sculpting” buttons of “bright” (bright- nice if you plug a guitar in- or bring out that bridge pickup on your Jazz), “contour” (mid range scoop- I’m not a fan-) and “vintage” which adds a nice compression and roundness to the tone. I have the Rumble 40, and love it- I use it at smaller gigs, and open mics etc- does enough and gets loud- but you might like the extra headroom of the 100. You should be able to find them at any box music store- GC. Sam Ash etc- not sure where you are- bring your Jazz Bass and plug into one- Again- Welcome Home- and Happy Fathers Day- Carl
Thanks everyone. Malcolm35 hit it right on the head. I spent the weekend playing around with sounds and getting to know my equipment. Afterwards I ended up buying an 84 Peavey TNT 100 for $75. Figured out a way to run my line out on the B-Dec to the Peavey and get all the benefits of the B-Dec through the Peavey. I don’t know if that is dumb luck or a big mistake but it works. Now I can get pretty much every sound I was looking for.