Good bass vs good amp

[Ambrose barton]

Thinking from a pure tonal perspective, what's better, a low end bass with a high-end amp or a high end bass with a low end amp.
What are your thoughts?

 

[abarson]

A moderate-end amp and a moderate-end bass.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

A good amp makes all the difference in my opinion

 

[Wasnex]

IMHO the speaker makes more difference than either the bass or amp.

 

[Tommyc]

I can play my G&L US LB 100 through my 70’s hi-fi speakers, the computer’s speakers, Ampeg practice amp or my Aguilar stack and I know it’s voice and I love it. I had a Yamaha Trbx 304, a popular bass here, and for good reason, it’s well made and plays well and is very well-priced, but I couldn’t have plugged it into my imagination and been pleased with its voice. I just couldn’t warm up to that active thing about it so I voted bass, because that’s where it all starts.

 

[SwitchGear]

A good bass along with a good amp is best

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I’ll say bass...I think good tone starts at the root most of the time...if it’s a crappy sounding bass, all the amp is gonna do is amplify crap with “a nice tight bottom and a glass like too end”, right...? My personal experience is playing my FCS ‘64 P through a 15w Fender Rumble...for what it is, I’ve been really impressed with the tone and I would give most of the credit to the bass...I think..

 

[Bass V]

IDK about or have high end stuff but my $200 pairing gives me great home alone tone

 

[wvbass]

A good bass.

If you have a good bass, you can often get away with a crappy amp or no amp on stage. With adequate PA, chances are that you are running direct anyway, so the amp is largely irrelevant.

Also, a good bass is something you can bond with. It will make you want to play more.

Edit: The cool part of this is that a good bass isn't necessarily an expensive bass.

 

[Kro]

I'm not certain where you're drawing the line for low-end, but inexpensive basses and amps that sound great aren't all that difficult to come by IMO. Cabs on the other hand...

Well, at least if you don't want them to weigh a ton...

 

[Doner Designs]

Amp for tone. Bass for playability.

 

[Yahboy]

Bass, amp, cab, string, pickups, setup, EQ tweak and playing skill.

 

[JW56789]

I've been around long enough to have seen . . . .

A crummy bass thru a crummy amp sounds crummy.

A great bass thru a crummy amp sounds better crummy.

A crummy bass thru a great amp sounds more crummy.

So you want to shoot for a great bass thru a great amp.

And since specs are all over the place, it's entirely subjective.

 

[Diamond_Dave]

A good player.

 

[pappabass]

Edit: The cool part of this is that a good bass isn't necessarily an expensive bass.

WHAT?? The bass snobs will have you removed from TB for saying this!! You better delete this while u have a chance!!

 

[pappabass]

I say a good amp.

 

[DrMole]

IMO it is different with a bass than when this type of question is posited for guitars.

If $1000 was my total budget:
For guitar, would prefer a $200 guitar and an $800 amp rather than vice-versa.

For bass- as some have mentioned Probably a $500 bass and a $500 amp.

 

[Rob Martinez]

Be a good bass player. THAT makes the difference.

Also, depends on the kind of music you play.

 

[lz4005]

IMHO the speaker makes more difference than either the bass or amp.

Absolutely.
I can get great tones out of the right $200 bass and the right $200 amp, but cheap cabs sound like crap.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Thinking from a pure tonal perspective, what's better, a low end bass with a high-end amp or a high end bass with a low end amp.
What are your thoughts?

Great fingers on a crappy bass sound great with no amp, so I'm gonna say high end technique.