How much should a beginner spend on an amp?

[bebass]

Whatever the instrument chosen, if it inspires, it's the right one. Amps can do that to. You have to find both and find the right balance in affording them.

True. And I doubt there are very many on here who couldn't take an old beat up peavey amp and cab with a $100 bass and at least get a fairly decent sound out of it. I love most all bass gear and have for a long time, but I did kinda look down at some of the beginner basses out there until I got that $200 Peavey Millenium which I purchased as a porch bass.

 

[bebass]

Whatever the instrument chosen, if it inspires, it's the right one. Amps can do that to. You have to find both and find the right balance in affording them.

True. And I doubt there are very many on here who couldn't take an old beat up peavey amp and cab with a $100 bass and at least get a fairly decent sound out of it. I love most all bass gear and have for a long time, but I did kinda look down at some of the beginner basses out there until I got that $200 Peavey Millenium which I purchased as a porch bass.

 

[beans-on-toast]

True. And I doubt there are very many on here who couldn't take an old beat up peavey amp and cab with a $100 bass and at least get a fairly decent sound out of it. I love most all bass gear and have for a long time, but I did kinda look down at some of the beginner basses out there until I got that $200 Peavey Millenium which I purchased as a porch bass.

The Peavey Millenium sounds like a nice find. Some inexpensive instruments can really surprise you. It sounds like a good recommendation and the price is certainly right.

I started off with bargain instruments. Other people I played with had much better equipment. At times my amps were underpowered. I learned to play in the holes to be heard. High action helps you develop strong hands and better tone. At times, I wished that I had better gear but it was good training and it made me a better player. Equipment wise, I got there eventually. I have fond memories of some of those old instruments.

In general, there's a difference between an experienced player being able to wring out a good sound out of an inexpensive bass and a new player on an instrument that makes it harder to learn on. I've seen people give up trying to learn if the instrument is too hard to play. Players that have a better instrument often progress faster and are encouraged by that.

Which path is best? I think is depends on the individual.

 

[Bubby Brown]

Get a used Peavy Fury and a Fender Rumble or Ampeg PF rig. Old used Peavey's sound pretty good for how cheap you can pick one up especially if it's coming from a good middle-shelf rig. Both the Fender Rumble and Ampeg PF have head phone jacks to so you can play in your room at night or go jam with some friends and shake the walls.

 

[bebass]

The Peavey Millenium sounds like a nice find. Some inexpensive instruments can really surprise you. It sounds like a good recommendation and the price is certainly right.

I started off with bargain instruments. Other people I played with had much better equipment. At times my amps were underpowered. I learned to play in the holes to be heard. High action helps you develop strong hands and better tone. At times, I wished that I had better gear but it was good training and it made me a better player. Equipment wise, I got there eventually. I have fond memories of some of those old instruments.

In general, there's a difference between an experienced player being able to wring out a good sound out of an inexpensive bass and a new player on an instrument that makes it harder to learn on. I've seen people give up trying to learn if the instrument is too hard to play. Players that have a better instrument often progress faster and are encouraged by that.

Which path is best? I think is depends on the individual.

Good point. I have for many years now found out that cheaper usually isn't really cheaper. The old "buy once, cry once" does certainly address a factual argument for purchasing higher quality. Most of the time cheaper stuff is just something that one isn't going to be happy with. And in the case of an instrument, as you say, if one doesn't feel comfortable with it then they will not be encouraged to practice. And a person CAN practice without an amp if they just have to.
In the bass I referenced the actual retail price of the bass is higher than many of the inexpensive models. MAN! If Peavey would only move their production basses back to the USA they could dominate the market or at least have a huge share of it.

For the OP, if he/she wants to buy new.
My suggestion: Try to find one of those GB blowout/closeout deals on the Contour 500 combo for $349.00; add Peavey Millennium for $225. This will give a rig that you CAN play anywhere with, at an unreal discount (combined retail of these two is close to 1,500). IMO this is a minimum amount one should spend on a rig, new.
Otherwise find someone selling a good used Peavey or other amp and a used bass

 

[FFTT]

I think in the long run, going for a better instrument is priority over an entry level amp.

 

[CL400Peavey]

I think in the long run, going for a better instrument is priority over an entry level amp.

I think a lot of people would disagree with you. There are many fine basses sub $300, either new or used, that with a little attention to set up can serve a player for a long time. On the other hand, spending a small budget on a low grade amp isnt going to allow a player to progress to playing with others.

You can give the best player in the world a garage sale bass, and he can make it sound wonderful. If he is using a low quality budget combo, you are never to hear him over the rest of the band.

 

[FFTT]

Some people are content with best cheapest. I never have been.
It's a musical instrument. The better the instrument the easier to play and the easier to learn.

Buy the better electronics as his ability improves and budget allows.

 

[CL400Peavey]

Some people are content with best cheapest. I never have been.
It's a musical instrument. The better the instrument the easier to play and the easier to learn.

Buy the better electronics as his ability improves and budget allows.

Amplification is part of the instrument as a whole. The part that actually makes the sound.

 

[Rob22315]

Here's a way to get started for really cheap - an Ibby GSR 150 and a used Peavey bass combo. I first bought a GSR 150 off craigs list for $50 and was very surprised at the mechanical quality of the bass. The pickups weren't bad either although I upgraded them with Dimarzios but the tone difference wasn't huge from a beginner standpoint. I still pick up that bass from time to time and am amazed at how good it feels to play it.

Used Peavey combos, cabs , and amps are very cost effective, often running $100 or so for something that's giggable in small settings. Moving up to a used Mk VIII and a 410 or 115 might run you $300 if you're patient. It won't be a featherweight ear buster like a modern class D with neo speakers but you will have plenty of tone options to work with until you refine your tastes and needs.

 

[CL400Peavey]

As an example, I looked on my local craigslist for gear available locally.

I would start by talking to this guy, who has a whole bass rig, and bass for sale.

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He is asking $650 for the whole shebang. I bet I could talk him down to $500 cash on the lot.

Or, I would start piecing things together.

Could probably get this bass for $400.
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Add in this cab, and amp:

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And you are looking at way better than "budget" gear for $1,000.

 

[FFTT]

While he's learning, there is zero need for a gig worthy amp.
He just needs to hear himself.
Technically, he could learn playing D/I through his computer and monitor with headphones.

I asked what guitar amp he already has, because maybe he only needs a bass cab to get by.

My first bass rig was my Fischer stereo.
Most of the time, like 4 hours a day, I was learning to play unplugged.

 

[One Drop]

Everyone's different, but I can't stand playing through headphones unless I have absolutely no alternative.

Beginners can pick up a lot of bad habits and even hurt themselves always playing unamplified.

There is no right way.

 

[mikefromchurch]

I went from guitar to bass. A definite help as opposed to just picking up a bass from the start. The only real learning curve was going from a 4 to a 5 string, but that wasn't too bad. I won't go so far to say anyone who plays guitar well can also play bass well. You may experience some boredom early on, as you will be doing a lot less at times.

FWIW, my first guitar amp was an old karaoke machine we had growing up. Had a single 6" speaker that would fuzz out around 50% volume. I did fine learning on it.

 

[beans-on-toast]

Amplification is part of the instrument as a whole. The part that actually makes the sound.

There are some very good budget instruments available. But we do call ourselves bass players. A balance between a good instrument and a good amp has to be found. That's the hard part.

If I was buying an instrument to take to a dorm room, I'd want an inexpensive one that plays well. If I wanted a beater for the road due to changing weather conditions, I'd want the same. In the studio or at home is a different story. There you want the best you can afford.

So the application should also contribute to the decision as to which alternative is best.

 

[CL400Peavey]

There are some very good budget instruments available. But we do call ourselves bass players. A balance between a good instrument and a good amp has to be found. That's the hard part.

If I was buying an instrument to take to a dorm room, I'd want an inexpensive one that plays well. If I wanted a beater for the road due to changing weather conditions, I'd want the same. In the studio or at home is a different story. There you want the best you can afford.

So the application should also contribute to the decision as to which alternative is best.

Absolutely. But this is a beginner we are talking about.

But lets say you have $1,000 to spend on a rig, and bass. There are lots of low value (In my opinon) basses in the $500-800 range. Why get a brand new MIM P bass, only to spend your remaining $200 on a combo that wont let you gig? One would be better served getting a $250 used bass and spending the rest on amplification. It will be more meaningful to a beginner to play with other people.

I also find it funny when people play $8,000 basses through crappy $100 combos, and talk about the tone of their bass. No, sorry dude, you sound like a $100 combo.

 

[FFTT]

He's beginning on bass but has at least some background on guitar.
Adapting over to bass should not be difficult.
Considering he's going to university, I'd get the best playing bass he can find and
just go D/I into his computer for learning.

I'll leave it to the OP to decide how serious he is about learning and how he wants to invest his money.

 

[beans-on-toast]

But this is a beginner we are talking about.

A guitar player switching to bass in this case so they have some experience. And yes, no question that used is the best way to go with a $1000 budget.

I would prefer that someone educate themself by trying out as much gear that they can get their hands on, irrespective of price. Decide what they like and don't like; what they can live with and what they can't. Consider a budget and deal with the tradeoffs. Maybe what would be best would come in at $1200. In that case I would adjust the budget and try to stretch to make it happen, or wait till the funds are there. Not to make a decision based on a hard barrier. You can't always do it, but bean counting shouldn't be what dictates the best choice.

 

[Sareece]

Not trying to hijack, I just picked up a SR405 this week and was looking for an amp too. So if I hear everyone correctly buy once with as much as you can afford and you'll be set to move from practice to gig? Is there a minimum amps I should look at? I've read the Fender 500, but is that too much? Most of my playing (when ready) would be in smaller venues, probably large church settings (contemporary style). Thanks!

 

[Joe Louvar]

Hi,

I've been playing guitar for about 6 or 7 years now, and I've been losing interest in it. I just don't like the way guitars naturally sound, as much as I love the way the bass sounds. But, what I want to talk about now is this: is 500 too much to spend on an amp, as a beginner? I can spend like 300-500 on the bass, so the total budget is around 1000.

Thanks

However much you want... however, I recommend buying a good secondhand bass amp that can be resold at or near the purchased price just incase you get bored and lose interest in playing bass too.