How long did it take you to get the setup you have today?

If you mean in the sense of, "work up to it" - a day.

When I went to playing clubs, I didn't need my big ol' concert rigs anymore, so I actually downsized and downgraded.

 

Yeah I have been downsizing too. I have found that my Carvin RC210 is plenty loud for clubs, so my stack, ADA preamp, and 1000 watt power amp sits in the basement. Good riddance.

 

Actually.. i renewed my entire gear in the last 3 months..

new bass, new amp + cab, new pedals, new cables..

 

I got my actual rig and bass 2nd hand - except for the cab, and it took me a while to get it.

My poweramp and preamp were on my wishlist since a read a review somewhere, and around two years after that I found both in a really nice green flightcase for a bargain in a shop (it was cheap because racks were suddenly "old" when the retro fad caught on).

Same thing with my bass. Read a review somewhere and forgot about it for some time until a saw one collecting dust in another store. I just couldn't resist getting a 1800$ bass in mint condition for 500$...

I bought my Triad 2 years after my rack and 1.5 years before that bass, so you could say it took me three and a half years to get my rig.

The only thing I'd like to change is the cab. The Triad is a little too quiet for my taste, but it'll take at least another year or so get my new dream cab.
Either a Glockenklang 4x10 or a Tech Soundsystems 4x10 or 4x12.

Well, and maybe a 5 or 6....

But my Green Audio rig is definitely a keeper.

 

I got my yamaha rbx 260 and crate bx-15 amp a coupla years ago. a year ago I got a Bartolini p pickup. Recently I got a Carvin Pro bass 200 amp. I got an onboard preamp a few weeks ago.

My system still sounds like regurgitated horse **** and I don't have the capital to fix it! (Well, the amp's ok; tried a $400 yamaha thorough it and loved the sound)

That's my setup!

 

- stay single
- work hard
- look for best price

 

...try to buy 2nd hand if possible.

gather as much information beforehand as you can.

 

Hrmz.. i don't trust 2nd hand stuff..
i prefer new stuff ( in case something breaks )

 

Rightio, well, considering this doesn't have much to do with the setting up of basses! I am moving this off to ummm, I might try it in amps, then they can move it to Misc.

Merls

 

well...i got my bass 350 and goliath jr last summer, my triad this winter, my poweramp last week, and i'll be getting my interstellar overdrive next week.


within the month i'll be getting a power conditioner, ART levelar compressor, and raven labs true blue EQ. then, AFAIK, my amp rig will be DONE.


how do i do it? well....play gigs, teach lessons, have a g/f that doesn't require much money, save, sell stuff you don't need


jason

 

I've been buying (and selling) gear every now and then in the past 14 years.

Learning what you actually need can take years - my first rig was a 200W Marshall head with a refrigerator-sized Acoustic 2x15 cab - horrible weight for sound factor...

How long it takes you to save up money is another point. Many posters here are not very young anymore

I'm working for some years now (not as musician, music is just my hobby), I'm not married (yet), have no children (yet) -> best and last (?) chance to spend some money on gear

Matthias

 

It has taken me 20 years to get 'my set-up'. I would get a decent bass and struggle with various iffy combos. In 94 I bought my Hartke 1415 and in 2000 bought my current amp.

I bought my basses in 97 having used a Status 3000 for 9 years. Now the children are a bit older and the wife works (has a better job than mine) I have some disposable income.

 

Because we're not all 17 or younger!!

 

Took me several years and MANY dollars to buy/try/sell so much gear in my search for the ultimate tone. I think as of a couple weeks ago, I have finally found it:

Status Graphite 2000 All-graphite 4 string
Walter Woods Head
Flite 3-way 2x10 & Flite 2-way 1x15

Got to use the new setup last week in a small club with no PA support for the bass. As close to perfect as I've found!

 

hey i got my bass 350 and goliath jr when i was 18


but i had that money left over from buying and selling cars that's the other thing that's made me some $$$ for gear.


jason

 

Since you asked:

1. get a day job to pay your rent, buy the cheapest stuff you can find that will let you play gigs
2. play lots of gigs, take gig money and buy better stuff
3. repeat #2 as needed

Gig money adds up fast...even if you are only able to make $25 a gig, if you can gig once a week that's $1300 a year.

Get into a band that does weddings and during the summer you can do 2 weddings per weekend easily. Even if you only get $100 for each one, in three months that would add up to $2400. Amazing how quickly you can learn to love wearing a tux and playing the Macarena

I now have two "house band" gigs that I do every week, one pays $90 the other $60. Then I get at least one other gig on the weekend; last week I did 3 and my take for the week was $470.

The last gear purchase I made was an Epifani speaker cabinet. It only took me 2 weeks of gigs to pay for it.

So it can't be that easy, right? Well the catch is getting steady gigs, until that happens you have no cash flow.