I recently got a Fender Road-Worn P bass (Mexico made)($1000) , It'll do the job. Any kind of Fender Rumble Amp ( used ) under $300. Gigging heads and cabs are another story but don't jump into that until you are ready. 
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Hello, Question From a Guitar Player Switching Sides!
- Thread starter nd23rin
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tifftunes
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There's a saying that applies to any endeavor... KEEP IT SIMPLE!!
I started my pro bass life with a Jazz bass... Thought I needed something better... 34+ years later, I'm back to Fender Jazz and Precision basses!! One of each (MIM) for now 'til you find your legs (and sound).
The best "middle of the road" bass amp *I* have tried is the Ampeg BA115... Though I prefer any vintage Traynor tube amp... But its a good starter amp, and will handle band rehearsals for now as well...
Once in your "starter" gear, remember, it's the journey, not the end of the journey that counts!! ENJOY!!!
I started my pro bass life with a Jazz bass... Thought I needed something better... 34+ years later, I'm back to Fender Jazz and Precision basses!! One of each (MIM) for now 'til you find your legs (and sound).
The best "middle of the road" bass amp *I* have tried is the Ampeg BA115... Though I prefer any vintage Traynor tube amp... But its a good starter amp, and will handle band rehearsals for now as well...
Once in your "starter" gear, remember, it's the journey, not the end of the journey that counts!! ENJOY!!!
For the amp... look into the GK Microbass series, the mb210 to be exact ($600). Its a small 34 pound amp with good tone, and it puts out 500 watts. I also suggest to guitar players looking into bass to try out short scales first, just because it feels a bit more familiar to them. That's just a suggestion though, as you may want a full scale. You could buy both with your price point actually.
Just my two cents, but MTD makes very nice basses in your price range and the neck design is super comfortable and fast. I rocked on an old Yorkville amp for years. It was built like a tank and as cheap as a nice dinner for two.
I'll start with saying my recc comes from being both a guitar and bass player. I also mess around a fiar amount with synthesizers. For your at home and kewl giggable bass rig I suggest a pair of 10" bass combos. Plus guitar processor of choice, plus bass processor of choice. Lets say $800 for this. Add a mixer, go ahead and get a 10-12ch one. The reason for the mixer is easy way to send signal to the combo amps that act as a mini stereo rig for gigs and signal for main sound going to PA. $200 for mixer. Your now at $1,000. For 10" bass combo amps I favor Peavey and Eden Nemesis. For bass and guitar processors I favor the upper end line by Zoom. The bass combos will handle processed electric guitar very very well and give you fuller sound then allmost any guitar combo amp. Tighter more articulate bass and plenty of sweet treble content available to. They act as powered monitors for your ready for recording tone created with the guitar and bass processor.
That leaves up to $600 for the bass. Leaving $200 cushion for case or deluxe gig bag for bass plus a couple of nice instrument cables like livewire elite.
Well, for $600 and under theres lotsa basses used by amatuers thru pros. These being the mid level import lines by Ibanez, ESP LTD, Schecter, Traben, Peavey, BC Rich, Fender squire. If you like humbucker guitar pups you'll prob also like humbucker/soapbar bass pups. So checking out such basses like schecter, esp ltd, traben. Traben also offers some nice humbucker and jazz pup combo basses. A first thing to narrow down along with pup preferance is neck profile likes. Most of the import lines suggested have relatively slim fast necks. Like fender jazz but imo often even better. Whereas if you prefer large necks fender P like necks would more appeal to you.
You could of course then sell your guitar combo amp since the bass combo's replace them. And when used together equal a single 15 bass combo air movement wise. One by itself when lower volume is preferred or needed.
There are a few 15" bass combos also suitable for electric guitar that use qaulity tweeter like the Eden Nemesis 15" bass combo with comp tweeter. Avoid any that use piezo tweeter as these sound horrid with any kind of overdrive or distortion voices. $800. That leaves up to around $800 for the bass plus case and cable. By getting upper end cables like Livewire elite you maximize the sound qaulity of your signal to processor, processor to amp or mixer, and mixer to monitor amps and PA mixer. Though this is more important for dense signals like several instruments together, it also benefits solo instruments too imo. Giving richer, more articulate, more detailed sound.
Your budget allows for quite a bit really. Lots of peeps dont seem to realize that more and more touring pros use import basses. This includes a lot of world touring bands members. Theyve decided these give better value and equal sound (perhaps with pup change in some cases) qaulity to the more expensive amer made and such. You can afford to create a simple rig suitable for bass and guitar without haeving to haul around seperate amps and cabs for each. Plus get your new bass. And have the tools for ready for recording sound that is plug and play.
For bass I suggest the kewlest feeling, playing, fitting, sounding, and looking one you can find thats $700 or less and be open to be being one that cost you more like $400 or even less. Some of the latter are absurdly good for their small price compared to 20 years ago and longer. Most of todays $300 and up import basses are better then most off the shelf fenders, gibsons, and other brands available when I was growing up. Better consistent qaulity control, faster & better playing necks, equal or better electronics (dont forget the 2-3 band active eq preamps on modern import basses being played by lots of pros including world touring ones).
Long post. Main point: You neednt spend $1,600-$1,800 on a bass to get top qaulity suitable for and used by pros. The budget you have gives opportunity to take your guitar and bass rig to a new level and get very nice bass too. You dont need seperate guitar and bass amps/cabs or combos to get top sound for both. And better sound for your guitar at home then most people ever experience with a small rig.
That leaves up to $600 for the bass. Leaving $200 cushion for case or deluxe gig bag for bass plus a couple of nice instrument cables like livewire elite.
Well, for $600 and under theres lotsa basses used by amatuers thru pros. These being the mid level import lines by Ibanez, ESP LTD, Schecter, Traben, Peavey, BC Rich, Fender squire. If you like humbucker guitar pups you'll prob also like humbucker/soapbar bass pups. So checking out such basses like schecter, esp ltd, traben. Traben also offers some nice humbucker and jazz pup combo basses. A first thing to narrow down along with pup preferance is neck profile likes. Most of the import lines suggested have relatively slim fast necks. Like fender jazz but imo often even better. Whereas if you prefer large necks fender P like necks would more appeal to you.
You could of course then sell your guitar combo amp since the bass combo's replace them. And when used together equal a single 15 bass combo air movement wise. One by itself when lower volume is preferred or needed.
There are a few 15" bass combos also suitable for electric guitar that use qaulity tweeter like the Eden Nemesis 15" bass combo with comp tweeter. Avoid any that use piezo tweeter as these sound horrid with any kind of overdrive or distortion voices. $800. That leaves up to around $800 for the bass plus case and cable. By getting upper end cables like Livewire elite you maximize the sound qaulity of your signal to processor, processor to amp or mixer, and mixer to monitor amps and PA mixer. Though this is more important for dense signals like several instruments together, it also benefits solo instruments too imo. Giving richer, more articulate, more detailed sound.
Your budget allows for quite a bit really. Lots of peeps dont seem to realize that more and more touring pros use import basses. This includes a lot of world touring bands members. Theyve decided these give better value and equal sound (perhaps with pup change in some cases) qaulity to the more expensive amer made and such. You can afford to create a simple rig suitable for bass and guitar without haeving to haul around seperate amps and cabs for each. Plus get your new bass. And have the tools for ready for recording sound that is plug and play.
For bass I suggest the kewlest feeling, playing, fitting, sounding, and looking one you can find thats $700 or less and be open to be being one that cost you more like $400 or even less. Some of the latter are absurdly good for their small price compared to 20 years ago and longer. Most of todays $300 and up import basses are better then most off the shelf fenders, gibsons, and other brands available when I was growing up. Better consistent qaulity control, faster & better playing necks, equal or better electronics (dont forget the 2-3 band active eq preamps on modern import basses being played by lots of pros including world touring ones).
Long post. Main point: You neednt spend $1,600-$1,800 on a bass to get top qaulity suitable for and used by pros. The budget you have gives opportunity to take your guitar and bass rig to a new level and get very nice bass too. You dont need seperate guitar and bass amps/cabs or combos to get top sound for both. And better sound for your guitar at home then most people ever experience with a small rig.
Another vote for budget heavy on the amp side. This would be my picks for your rig.
Squier Vintage Modified fretless Jazz Bass 4 string - $299 brand new musiciansfriend.
(This because you are big on Jaco right now and you'll probably like it)
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Squier Deluxe Active fretted Jazz 5 string - $329 brand new musiciansfriend.
(This way you have versatility, you have a 4 string fretless and a 5 string fretted for any and all situations, they match cosmetically too. Grand total of $550 bucks for two brand new basses)
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For an amp it gets a little trickier to pick for you, but I would recommend fitting this criteria.
1)At least 300w, but preferably more. (loud enough to play with drums or do gigs in the future)
2)A combo so it's easy to carry (lighter than say....75lbs so that you can go jam with people)
3)Along with weight, small enough to easily fit it into your car.
Look into markbass, genz benz, traynor, and everything else that's hot right now in the amps forum. Don't skimp on this.
Squier Vintage Modified fretless Jazz Bass 4 string - $299 brand new musiciansfriend.
(This because you are big on Jaco right now and you'll probably like it)
Invalid Link Removed
Squier Deluxe Active fretted Jazz 5 string - $329 brand new musiciansfriend.
(This way you have versatility, you have a 4 string fretless and a 5 string fretted for any and all situations, they match cosmetically too. Grand total of $550 bucks for two brand new basses)
Invalid Link Removed
For an amp it gets a little trickier to pick for you, but I would recommend fitting this criteria.
1)At least 300w, but preferably more. (loud enough to play with drums or do gigs in the future)
2)A combo so it's easy to carry (lighter than say....75lbs so that you can go jam with people)
3)Along with weight, small enough to easily fit it into your car.
Look into markbass, genz benz, traynor, and everything else that's hot right now in the amps forum. Don't skimp on this.
hiho,other names to consider-sandberg,seriously good,musicman sub-quality at not a lot of money.both of these are active
A big consideration is Active or Passive,it does make a difference.
The best advice is try a lot out and get one that fits,you,ll know what I mean when you try one,it just feels right.Our hands are different and that affects the sound a lot.
A big consideration is Active or Passive,it does make a difference.
The best advice is try a lot out and get one that fits,you,ll know what I mean when you try one,it just feels right.Our hands are different and that affects the sound a lot.
That's fine if he's budget strapped, but he's not so that leaves him $1500 to spend on an amp that will only be used at home...? I don't think he needs or wants an SVT with a 810 cab in his basement... he's not gigging arenas, he's playing at home!!
OP: Plan to spend no more than $500 on the amp, you won't need more than 100 solid state watts for home use, even 50 watts would be fine, and then you can shop for features - $250 for that matter will give you a lot of options, used or new. Any brand name amp will do, just research and try them out. Ampeg, Fender, Peavey, Traynor, etc. Check out the Fender B-Dec training amp, with pre-programmed jam tracks, it's actually pretty cool and fun for someone just learning the role of the bass in an arrangement. Maybe budget in $150 for a tube amp emulation pedal, the Tech 21 pedal I mentioned is great for that. Even for jamming with a drummer, with $500 to spend you can easily find a nice used 200-400 watt combo, and even for that the 100 watts is probably still plenty, depends on how volume hungry the guitar players are.
With $1500 to spend on a bass, you have a lot of great options!!!! You *need* a decent axe... Even $1000 will give you a lot of great options on the used market. There *is* a big difference between a $1000 instrument and a $100 instrument... some guys can't seem to tell in the showroom and they buy the cheap one and come on TB yelling about how great those are compared to the more expensive ones... the differences become apparent a year or two down the road, especially if you're playing a lot.
The new Squiers are great basses, and I'm sure the $100 SX basses are too, but I'm not going to entertain a discussion about whether they're as good as an American Fender... You have the money, get a nice bass, something you can show your friends, something you can show your kids, something you can show your wife, something that will still look and feel cool to you five or ten years from now. You can make the walls shake and the dishes rattle just fine with a 100 watt amp. I stand by my first post in this thread.
Where are you going to find an amp for $100?? I agree with this, $100 would be a serious POS for an amp. However $500 is puh-LENTY for a home-use amp, and he has $2000 to spend.
Ok, well I think you would all be proud. I was able to score a 2006 wawick thumb BO for 800 on craigslist. I figured probably much better value than a used j-bass for the same amount. For an amp I went down to some shops and played a few. The guys at the guitar center seemed to push the ampegs BA115 however, I preferred the tone of the Ampeg Micro VR. Its hard to explain but it just sounded more definedf and vintage to me. I paid around 550 for the head + cab package. All in all not bad. On the Warwick I noticed while changing the strings that the adjustable nut seems to be missing one of the little tabs on the side...looks like it cracked off. Is it easy to replace.
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