• 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.

Most popluar amp/rig? Is there a 'standard'?

W

willop

Feb 7, 2013
94
0
beaver, pa
#1
OK, yes, I know it's 'whatever sounds good to you'....great advice for someone with 20 years experience.

Not worth squat for a newbie.

There must be something that 50% of all players use. I've been watching a lot of bands playing and see most choose a les paul or strat as a guitar, 4 string bass (squier/fender jazz is seems).

Of course there is a wide variety of instruments being played and a wide array of music out there and today there are fewer 'rules' than ever before. For example, I've seen a couple of bands now with no drummer -the lead singer or someone just has a bass kick drum. I see either no keyboards or a setup of half dozen of them. (korg being the brand I see most).

So is there a 'standard' (aka most popular) rig for bass for rock, country, jazz? (assume each has it's own preference).

Or is it a matter of get a modeling amp/pedal and what you choose for gear is unimportant?
 
#3
I would say in both Guitar and Bass, both instruments and amps would hold to the Pareto principle which is pretty common in supply chain. The idea goes that you get 80% of your result from 20% of your population. So I wouldn't say that 50% use one brand, but 80% will use a very narrow band of brands.
 
#4
For cabs, I would argue that the Ampeg cabinet tone is the sound a lot of people go for. The majority? I don't know.

For heads, it really depends on the sound you are going for, so I guess that means that I don't think there is a single "right" amp.

Really, you are asking what the most popular rig is. My question to you is, why do you care? Popular doesn't equal best, or even good. It might mean good advertising, maybe.

A better question might be "Given that I play xxxxx style of music, and I intend to use the rig in xxxxxxx setting, and I like the sound of the bass in xxxxxxx bands, and I have xxxxxx to spend on amp/cab, what recommendation can you suggest?"

Give as much info on you as you can. How old are you? What bass do you have or plan on getting? What's your level of experience and skill? What do you intend to do with the gear (bedrooms/jam spaces/weddings/clubs/outdoor venues)?
 
#9
CL400Peavey said:
This is kinda like asking what girl you should take tonight for V-day, and which you should marry. You will get as many opinions as posts. And you know what they say about opinions and as*holes, everyones got one.

Go out with your bass and let your ears decide.
Click to expand...

Not helpful at all, sorry. If nothing else tell me what you bought - you must think it's the best or you'd have bought something else.

There must be some brand that you can say 'you can't go wrong with ....'
Or "most rock bass players I see use 2x10 cabs' or such.

I could complicate things more for you - but I know that won't get me the answer I'm looking for. (i have a 4 string w/ flats, a 5 string with rounds, and would like a 6 and a beatlebass - so I know each will sound different and may require different amp/cab).

And while I may eventually buy 10 amps I have to start someplace and the most common, most versatile, most popular seems like a reasonable place.

A chevy or ford may not be the 'best' truck or sports car or suit anyone person the best, but they're common, known, easier to sell if you decide something else fits you better.
 
#13
willop said:
Not helpful at all, sorry. If nothing else tell me what you bought - you must think it's the best or you'd have bought something else.

There must be some brand that you can say 'you can't go wrong with ....'
Or "most rock bass players I see use 2x10 cabs' or such.

I could complicate things more for you - but I know that won't get me the answer I'm looking for. (i have a 4 string w/ flats, a 5 string with rounds, and would like a 6 and a beatlebass - so I know each will sound different and may require different amp/cab).

And while I may eventually buy 10 amps I have to start someplace and the most common, most versatile, most popular seems like a reasonable place.

A chevy or ford may not be the 'best' truck or sports car or suit anyone person the best, but they're common, known, easier to sell if you decide something else fits you better.
Click to expand...


IMHO the best place to start is the cab. It will ultimately guide your tone more than any other piece of gear you buy. For me versatility is key, and that means not having a cab that has a huge amount of coloration, but instead presents the tone you send it as evenly as possible. For me that is a fEARful cab. Its is 1000% better than any commercial offering, for me. I still gas for greeboy's other designs, and may pick a few more up down the line.

Next is powering your cab. Lots of options here, and really you just have to find what works for you, your play style, and tonal goals. What I prefer to use and own is in my profile.

As far as a bass goes, I think what feels right in your hand is way more important than anything else.
 
#14
Ok...
ibanez GSR200 with flats on it.
Yamaha RBX375 with the strings that came on it (bought used, mixed thread colors... Thinking DR Hi Beams as a replacement)
Would like a beatle bass with flats (just because i like the looks)
would love a through next 6 string at some point.

I like the sound of an upgright bass as heard in jazz music.
I like (but will never be as good as) les claypool/primus, John Paul Jones in zeppelin.

At this point I play for fun and am learning, don't need to play an arena, just my house and be able if needed to keep up in volume with a guitar and maybe a dummer (my son plays guitar as do some of his friends, so even if I don't join in one of them can use my gear)

I would like to gig at some point in the future. I'd rather play country bass - much simpler of course, all the way around but there's not many country bands around here so reality says rock of a 'general' nature in a cover band (could be classic, alternative or anything in between). Forget funk/slap.




cchorney said:
A better question might be "Given that I play xxxxx style of music, and I intend to use the rig in xxxxxxx setting, and I like the sound of the bass in xxxxxxx bands, and I have xxxxxx to spend on amp/cab, what recommendation can you suggest?"

Give as much info on you as you can. How old are you? What bass do you have or plan on getting? What's your level of experience and skill? What do you intend to do with the gear (bedrooms/jam spaces/weddings/clubs/outdoor venues)?
Click to expand...
 
#15
The most popular isn't always the best. This is repeated many times in history.
Familiarity is what drives popularity.
It's a new world and many new options. All the familiar sounds of the past available and new sound yet to be created. Especially with modeling, profiling, emulation, simulation - what ever you want to call it, the sound has been archived.
Perfect your tone on the small, and it scales up from there.
What works good in the studio works good for FOH. There is a lot more DI going on in the studio and live than some would believe. All players need to go through FOH at some point.
Even if the venues you play don't warrant Bass through FOH, you can take the same approach.
 
#16
willop said:
Not helpful at all, sorry. If nothing else tell me what you bought - you must think it's the best or you'd have bought something else.

There must be some brand that you can say 'you can't go wrong with ....'
Or "most rock bass players I see use 2x10 cabs' or such.

I could complicate things more for you - but I know that won't get me the answer I'm looking for. (i have a 4 string w/ flats, a 5 string with rounds, and would like a 6 and a beatlebass - so I know each will sound different and may require different amp/cab).

And while I may eventually buy 10 amps I have to start someplace and the most common, most versatile, most popular seems like a reasonable place.

A chevy or ford may not be the 'best' truck or sports car or suit anyone person the best, but they're common, known, easier to sell if you decide something else fits you better.
Click to expand...

Your OP asked "is there a standard". There is, it's an SVT and 810. Not my personal choice which is a Sunn 300t through a 215.

You are more likely to want different amps for different venues rather than different basses.
 
#17
OK, so what can reasonably emulate an SVT/8x10 for less money/heft than 'the real thing'?

See if this helps any...

My son and his friends are trying to get something together (there are 5 kids in the class ahead of them as motivation - these 13 year olds are playing for money and have a CD coming out) this summer (son is 12) and if I don't join in (what, your dad in OUR band? LOL) they can use my gear) so something that can be heard in a small electric guitar setting w/ drummer yet can be used 'at home' without taking all the decor out (i'm married and don't want to get into TOO much trouble)

The kids will play green day/rock type stuff. I like the sound of jazz / blues bass and would like to try country (not much around here in the way of country bands).

So if I want to gig it could be anything. One very successful (as in always working) band here plays everything - cee lo green, sinatra, beyonce', bob seger - at the same event (weddings, parties, etc).

Does that narrow it down any? LOL Hence my quest for advice!

I have a BP355 which can model many amps/cabs but it does it's thing the same whether played through an 8x10 or 1x15, at 1000w or 20w so 'how does it sound to you' is just a ballpark guess at best, but comparisons should be fair.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back