Have you played it through a Gorilla "Bass amp"? (At full band volume?)
After you do, then tell me how great the tone is.
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Good bass vs good amp
- Thread starter Ambrose barton
- Start date
Have you played it through a Gorilla "Bass amp"? (At full band volume?)
After you do, then tell me how great the tone is.
I voted bass but I've never been sure. The thing for me is I can't think of another instrument where the point where notes are played and the point from where they're heard are in totally different places. Every other instrument comes in one piece. Guitar's pointless without an amp and vice-versa. Separate entities making one instrument. $10000 camera body is useless if it only has an old milk bottle end for a lense. The set-up's only as good as it's weakest element will allow. Perhaps "Equal measure" should have been an option on your pole.
Good bass vote here. I can play it though a 10 watt combo, record and still be happy. I don’t gig, so I don’t need much. So, I guess it’s situationally as well. I have a better amp (Mesa Bass Prodigy), but I never use it.
The tone will be pretty much like all the amps I have owned. Because it's a sadowsky.
Well.... I went to check what a Gorilla amp was. I came to the conclusion your coment was actually ironic . Wasn't it?
A great bass through a horrible amp sounds horrible. A Sadowsky or Fodera will not sound like they are capable.
The great basses will play great and sound terrible.
A decent bass- there are many $200 basses that sound fairly decent- will sound better through a Bergantino than a Gorilla.
Don't totally cheap out on either end of your bass tone and you will be better off than forcing yourself into either extreme in the poll.
The great basses will play great and sound terrible.
A decent bass- there are many $200 basses that sound fairly decent- will sound better through a Bergantino than a Gorilla.
Don't totally cheap out on either end of your bass tone and you will be better off than forcing yourself into either extreme in the poll.
I voted bass. Even without an amp, a good bass sounds good. It also a lot easier to practice when you enjoy the bass and when you hear notes clearer because it has good pickups.
A 150$ super cheap TC Electronic Amp is good enough, as nowadays pretty much every location has a PA due to DJs.
For me it would be Bass > Cab > Amp
A 150$ super cheap TC Electronic Amp is good enough, as nowadays pretty much every location has a PA due to DJs.
For me it would be Bass > Cab > Amp
The OP didnt specify much in the poll- but the assumption that " well most people will have the PA" should not be part of the reasoning process here and as shown in several other threads a large portion of people on TB gig without the bass going into the PA and at practice, very few.
I picked the bass because there are times when you might not be using your own amp or be DIed with no amp at all. The bass is where the tone starts...the wood, the strings, the pickups. The amp can only do so much when presented with a lousy input.
I see the majority is trending towards the amp, guess I'm an old fuddy-duddy
I see the majority is trending towards the amp, guess I'm an old fuddy-duddy
I see the majority is trending towards the amp, guess I'm an old fuddy-duddy
I think the opposite... you expressed the modern way bass players should actually think.
Voting Amp is the conservative way of seeing gig rigs... that don't match reality anymore.
Just play acoustic to your dogs. That’s what I’ve been doing lately. Hahaha
Indeed.
I say this as one who always played in groups that put everything
through the board and monitors- house/barn parties, open mic stuff excepted.
I was also surprised at the number of folks who carry the low end only with their amp.
Still, in a practice situation a full PA with subs is rather rare for the majority of bassists.
The poll really does not capture reality though. Most anyone who has put $750-$7500 into a bass isnt even dreaming(nightmaring?)of playing through a Gorilla or 80's Crate 10" combo.
So, kinda silly, IMO but fun.
- Jul 7, 2010
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- Endorsing Artist for: Duncan Pickups; Line6, Hipshot, GHS Strings, Somnium Guitars
Well a good amp will make a good player with an average bass sound good.
Also it is easier and cheaper to do a good setup, good strings and upgraded pickup (if needed)
Also it is easier and cheaper to do a good setup, good strings and upgraded pickup (if needed)
It depends on what you consider "good". Laura Lee is touring the world with a popular band playing an SX. There is really no reason to not have a worthy amp and bass these days. Especially if you aren't concerned about weight for an amp, there are some steals on gear that is older and heavier but back in the day was pro-level. You could easily get a bass and amp that would handle any gig for less than $500 total. It won't be a Fodera and a boutique tube amp, but the gear will not be the limiting factor in the equation.
From the time I had the luxury of more than one amp to use, I would choose the amp based on each gig's requirements...indoors, outdoors, super loud, super quiet, provided backline, etc. But I would bring the same #1 bass to all.
I couldn't vote because there are just too many variables. active bass? tube amp? all of these things make a big difference. If I had to I would choose bass because, as it was said earlier, you bond with a good instrument, and it will make you want to play more. It will also sound better if you are playing through a house rig or something borrowed like that. Personally I love my set up as is. modest, but best tone I've ever had. Fender fretless jazz, Le Bass tube preamp, Ampeg BA 115.
