More important - bass or amp?

[MultiScaleMale]

Let's assume that you're in a gig where you need both a bass and an amp - no going direct or supplied backline. Which is more important? I say the amp, even though I've obsessed over basses for the longest time. I came to the realization that a $300 bass through a $2000 amp is going to sound better than a $2000 bass through a $300 amp. Now, in a perfect world where you can have the best of everything, a $2000 bass through a $2000 amp will sound the best. But when you're starting out, I think it's more important to put the money into the amp if you have a bass that isn't getting in the way of your playing. Maybe this is more of a acknowledgement that cheap basses are infinitely better than 20 years ago.

 

[Trouztrouz]

I voted bass because there's more to how you sound than raw tone, be it from the amp or bass. It's got to feel right, balance right, and play right for you to play at your best. If you're playing at your best it'll sound good through any amp.

I mean for most people. I sound kinda lousy through everything.

 

[nostatic]

yes

 

[SurferJoe46]

Fingers. Oh, and arms.

 

[superdick2112]

An inexpensive bass through a really nice amp will usually sound good, but a great bass through a crappy amp usually sounds crappy.

Bottom line it that your sound is only as good as the worst piece of gear in your signal chain.
Speakers, amps, basses, strings and pedals are all important.

 

[madmaskbass]

Who cares about everyone else! Bass first! I don't think I would enjoy making a crappy bass sound good, but I could always enjoy playing a nice bass and just blame sounding crap on someone else (soundguy)!

 

[tfer]

A bad amp sounds bad. Doesn't matter what is plugged into it.

A good amp can make any bass sound pretty good.

 

[Rib 13]

fingers and strings -- and enough time for a quick setup on whatever instrument is supplied.....although I think some amps are crap and some are great, I can usually sound like me on most of them (including a floor wedge vocal monitor)

 

[Mechayoshi]

Amp, but this a asuming the guitar isn't complete garbage as well. At the end of the day, you just need a well set up guitar. It can be cheap or expensive. However, you will definitely NOT be gigging with a little practice amp.

 

[groove pump]

I agree that there are honestly lots of decent basses out there for cheap these days. The Franken Jazz I found several years ago for $350 is probably still my favorite player today. I've had more than one American Fender come and go through the years just because they weren't as good (for me) as this bass. Every time I noodle around at a shop with one of those cheap Yamaha P/J's (maybe the RBX 170?), I can't believe I've never picked one up. Very cozy players that sound terrific.

If your hypothetical pitch includes having no PA support for your sound, then I'd say that the priority is having enough capable speakers to push your sound out there. A fantastic head with great tone (yes, that also depends on what sounds run to it from your bass) and umpty-hundred watts can't chuck a lot of volume through only a single 12" cab. My vote is for spending enough on the amp, but that includes one or more cabs big enough to shake the air.

 

[dreamadream99]

The bass. Most amps are just personal monitors, anyway.

Realistically, though, it usually goes like this: when you start out on bass, you don't have the money, resources, or knowledge to choose a great bass or a great amp. So you start with basic models. As soon as you are able, you trade up on one of them. If you get a better bass first, you soon realize the amp's shortcomings; if you get a better amp first, you realize the shortcomings of the bass. Soon you'll be upgrading the second component.

And so it goes throughout your bass lifetime.

Then you join TalkBass, and stay abreast of all the latest and greatest gear, and GAS rules your life thereafter.

 

[Chris 'Wighat' Jordan]

Assuming the bass functions (in tune, intonate-able, usable action, usable electronics, etc), the amp is much more important. I can work with a crappy bass but it's game over with a crappy amp.

 

[spaz21387]

Im going to say bass. A bass that sounds good and is comfortable to play is more important to me. Most combo amps in the 300 to 500$ range sound decent. Ideally id just play my 4003 or stingray through my carvin 2x10s and bx500. Mainly because im lazy and dont want to carry my big heavy 8x10/svt av rig.

 

[BassmanM]

The player!

 

[Element Zero]

The answer to you question is...

Yes.

 

[MojoPenguin]

A Bass with a good setup and not noisy pickups. Does not have to be expensive, just easy to play and not buzzy.

 

[Jazz Ad]

If you stay in the bedroom or shed, invest in the bass.
If you play in bands amp is more important.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

A junk bass will give you a junk sound

A junk amp will give you a junk sound

Playing a junk bass through a nice amp will just give you a cleaner junk sound

Both are important. Price is not important at all. You can play any standard Fender/Schecter/Ibanez etc through a Fender Rumble and it will sound great.

Pretty much once you get over $250 in either category, it will sound fine.

Lastly, a junk player playing a nice bass through a nice amp will give you a junk sound

 

[AaronVonRock]

I voted amp.

A crappy bass through a crappy amp will sound crappy.

A great bass through a crappy amp will still sound crappy.

 

[Jam Jarman]

I voted bass. When recording I quite often go DI, and if I have an amp being recorded I will take a DI and Amp mic blend.

A crappy bass (i.e ruined action, dodgy truss rod, bad intonation) is going to sound awful through any amp. A cheap bass is not necessarily crappy.

Both cheap amps and cheap basses if bought intelligently can sound fine, or even good.

I've played through a number of really posh amps (1970's ampegs and selmers, modern ampegs, vintage fenders (I've recorded at some incredible studios)), and (I like my signal as untouched as possible) personally I prefer the sound of my (very cheap) Ashdown electric blue for most applications.