• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Impossible question!

fuzzy beard

fuzzy beard

Mar 8, 2011
2,747
31
Aurora, Indiana
#1
As some of you know i sold most of my gear off a few months back to fund my wifes maternity leave. And now with income tax coming around the corner my wife has offered me the money to replace gear.

So here is where it all gets complicated! I sold vintage tube amps, basses, and a upright i had for a very short time. And now with this offer i dont know what to get!

I kept my favorite amp (Bassman 20) and my favorite bass (VM mustang). Wich are more than enough for a hobbist like me! But i do have a wish list LOL.

Custom bass from Grove gitars
American made fender bass
Custom 1x15 or 2x12
Micro ss head and cab
Upright bass

So i imagine i will have about 2 grand. So i could do custom bass and micro rig. Or custom cab and used American bass. Or find more cool used and vintage gear. Or buy a decent upright?

I do miss my upright. Although i spent very little time with it and didnt know what i was doing it was a blast!

So should i get another upright? Or replensh my electric gear?
 
#5
If you really use the upright, it's not something you can duplicate with an electric and maybe you should go that way.

If not, I'd put it off for the time being and go with the micro rig; a Genz-Benz Shuttle 6.0 combo with the 12" speaker would be ideal, and buying used would leave you room for a nice electric which has a different sound than the VM Mustang.
 
#7
If there's any possible way to do it, try the Genz-Benz Shuttle series before you buy anything else. My Shuttle 6.0 amp is 3.75 pounds, puts out 375W peak into 8 ohms, 600W peak into 4 ohms. Weight docked on a 12" speaker is 32 pounds - total. And it sounds formidable. For me it was love at first listening.

G-B12TwithShuttle6.jpg
 
#9
What do you need the stuff FOR? Do you play with a band? Do you gig? Or is this just for playing for yourself at home? If it's for a band and gigging, I'd focus on amps, because the bassman 20 isn't going to get you too far. If it's for your enjoyment at home, I'd go for the upright, because a) that's what you seem to have the most emotional response to and b) for personal satisfaction, I'd go for variety rather than upgrading. But that's my reaction. Have fun spending your money!
 
#14
fuzzy beard said:
I have been looking at the engel's on line. Seems no shopsaround here carry them. They all push the Shen uprights. And i love the look of that Shen sb90. But thats $1700
Click to expand...
I think the Engelhardt is more robust than most others - important if you want to go to bluegrass jams with it or whatever. The Shen might sound better but the Engelhardt (formerly Kay) is plenty good enough for most gigs. The Engelhardt is also made in the USA if you care about that :) .
 
#16
Carvin makes great, inexpensive, giggable combo amps.

If you're actually going to play double bass, as above, you really can't duplicate that tone exactly, even with a block of foam under the strings at the bridge on a MIA P-bass.

Go over to the DB side and there are stickies about shopping for a double bass that have great advice. But expect to use almost all of your budget to get one that is giggable out of the box from a reputable dealer.
 
#17
iiipopes said:
Carvin makes great, inexpensive, giggable combo amps.

If you're actually going to play double bass, as above, you really can't duplicate that tone exactly, even with a block of foam under the strings at the bridge on a MIA P-bass.

Go over to the DB side and there are stickies about shopping for a double bass that have great advice. But expect to use almost all of your budget to get one that is giggable out of the box from a reputable dealer.
Click to expand...

Yeah I have been over there. Even posted a big question over there if you look at the post above yours.
 
#18
Upright, and get a few lessons! I have two friends with the entry level Englehardts and have played both a fair amount. They are quite different from each other, but I could gig either one pretty happily as long as jazz solos weren't a big part of the gig, and both are very pretty. The Shen I've played was in another world from either, but cost like it as well.
 
#19
Passinwind said:
Upright, and get a few lessons! I have two friends with the entry level Englehardts and have played both a fair amount. They are quite different from each other, but I could gig either one pretty happily as long as jazz solos weren't a big part of the gig, and both are very pretty. The Shen I've played was in another world from either, but cost like it as well.
Click to expand...

Lessons are a must!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back