"Must have" equipment for a bass player?

[Frettage]

I'm not talking about brands, I'm talking about equipment. Sure, you have to have a bass to be a bass player, but what do you plug it into? What do you use to model the sound? How do you connect it together?

I'm still a newbie. I've only been playing through a Pandora PX4D into a pair of headphones (a cheapo pair until recently, when I upgraded to the Grado SR60i). I inherited a Lexicon MPX1 which I'm trying to figure out how to use. Then I read the forums here and people are talking about amps, pre-amps, pedals, compressors, DI boxes, etc.

So, what do you think is must have equipment?

 

[stflbn]

Tuner, Bass, Cable, Amp (Many amps today have very decent D.I.'s on them)

Beyond that is up to the player himself and his personal needs.

 

[bassteban]

It depends on what you want to do- play in a band? Become a solo artist? Studio musician? Home-studio recording fanatic?
Diffferent jobs require different tools.

 

[chris.gotfunk]

Tuner, Bass, Cable, Amp (Many amps today have very decent D.I.'s on them)

Beyond that is up to the player himself and his personal needs.

+1 to this. This is really all you need to be in a band, record in the studio and do your own solo stuff.

Everything else that people talk about, (pedals, DI's, etc...) is just what everyone likes to have their own sound.

The only thing I would honestly add to this would be an open ear. That is THE MOST important musical tool. You can borrow everything else, but you must have your own ear.

 

[bigntasty]

Tuner, Bass, Cable, Amp (Many amps today have very decent D.I.'s on them)

Beyond that is up to the player himself and his personal needs.

+1. I'd also add a strap and a stand. Effects are great for some people, but not a necessity, especially when you're just starting out. Don't worry about that until you have a good grasp on the basics (learning your way around your bass, developing your technique, etc.).

 

[SteveC]

All I need is a good bass (4 string these days as I gave up the 5 for now) and a good cable going to a good amp that can handle a medium loud gig without PA support - say 300 watts and at least a 12" cab. My amp has a good DI so I'm covered there. I have a good tuner and use the tuner out on my amp.

I play jazz trio gigs, quartet gigs, 9 piece horn band gigs, cover band stuff and at church. Some with PA, some without. With my current gear I am doing just fine.

 

[Frettage]

I'm not going to use this as a shopping list, I just like the different perspectives. Chances are someone will say "I think you need ____," someone will question why, and I'll learn in the process.

 

[LaklandBass]

1 bass, 1 cable, 1 combo amp, 1 tuner, 1 backup set of strings, 1 strap, a couple picks.

yes picks, i know most of us dont use them but sometimes they get the right tone so its important to be able to use one if need be.

 

[jmac]

groupies? How else is the "Chicks at shows" thread going to continue?

 

[Magnus Scott]

no tuner. Get a pitch fork (is that what they are called?)

 

[Rickett Customs]

For me (I always tend to keep spares, I gig almost every weekend of the year). Also, I only take 1 rig (1 head and 1 cab) with me to a gig:

2 bass heads (In my case an SVT-VR and a SWR 'Mo bass)

2 Cabinets (810 classic and a home made 212)

2 basses (1 fretted, 1 fretless, both go to the gig)

Backpack with cables, spare cables, batteries, wireless, earplugs, tuner, any FX, fuses, flashlight, tools and sansamp (just in case the rig goes down).

2 guitar stands

Continuity is the name of the game.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

a bass
a Cable
an Amp

that's all the MUST have stuff. Everything else is optional.

Seems to me the better question would be "what is required for 'X' type of music. Of course, in my opinion, that would be still be the same: Bass, cable, amp.

 

[Rickett Customs]

a bass
a Cable
an Amp

that's all the MUST have stuff. Everything else is optional.

Seems to me the better question would be "what is required for 'X' type of music. Of course, in my opinion, that would be still be the same: Bass, cable, amp.

In a nutshell you are correct.

 

[AlembicPlayer]

I'll add..
a dependable car/truck that can haul big boxes

 

[ogrossman]

no tuner. Get a pitch fork (is that what they are called?)

lol, "tuning fork" (or were you being sarcastic?)

 

[REAPER52]

a bass
a Cable
an Amp

that's all the MUST have stuff. Everything else is optional.

Seems to me the better question would be "what is required for 'X' type of music. Of course, in my opinion, that would be still be the same: Bass, cable, amp.

wouldnt a cab also be needed .an amp with no cab you could only di .....i think......

 

[Rickett Customs]

wouldnt a cab also be needed .an amp with no cab you could only di .....i think......

I believe Harry was stating "amp" as in a combo amp, right?.

 

[phaze1todd]

Screw Jeff Berlin! Get a metronome, Josquin Des Pres's Bass Fitness and learn your modes so you can forget them!

 

[bluewine]

Tuner, Bass, Cable, Amp (Many amps today have very decent D.I.'s on them)

Beyond that is up to the player himself and his personal needs.

If your doing shows that pay decent money you would want to consider a back up bass and amp.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I believe Harry was stating "amp" as in a combo amp, right?.

My intent was for "amp" to mean "means of amplification". I haven't had a combo amp for 20 years, but I call my head & cab my "amp".

But, for those who just *really* wanna split hairs...

Bass.
Cable to connect base to means of amplification
Means of amplification.

that's all ya need.