My gear(if you can even call it that) is crap. China made J bass of unknown brand and an Ibanez IBZ10B amp. I have only been playing about 6 months. Which should come first new bass or new amp? I have only about 400 bucks to spend right now. Thoughts anyone?
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My gear is CRAP...New Bass or Amp first?
- Thread starter reptyls
- Start date
In my experience, a decent amp can make a crappy bass sound better...but the reverse is not usually true.
However, if the bass is crappy enough that the "setup" of it is inhibiting your learning of technique...that's something to consider as well.
However, if the bass is crappy enough that the "setup" of it is inhibiting your learning of technique...that's something to consider as well.
Are you gigging out / or ready to gig out?
I'd get a good amp first. Search the Amps forums for good starter amps (either combos or head/cabs) for your price range.
Then, take your current bass you have and get a setup at a local tech with some new strings too - should run you $40-60 depending on where you take it.
A great bass can still sound like crap through a crappy amp, but a good amp can make any bass cut through the mix nicely IMO IME.
I'd get a good amp first. Search the Amps forums for good starter amps (either combos or head/cabs) for your price range.
Then, take your current bass you have and get a setup at a local tech with some new strings too - should run you $40-60 depending on where you take it.
A great bass can still sound like crap through a crappy amp, but a good amp can make any bass cut through the mix nicely IMO IME.
i would get a bass first as you can always rent an amp or use preamp temporarily,you play the bass first then the amp IMHO!
Even the best bass on earth will sound crummy if you don't have a real amp to play it through. I suggest getting a decent amp before you worry about upgrading your bass. Meanwhile, take your bass to a shop and have them do a cheap set up for you.
if you're not gigging or serious with a band, I would take the money and invest in lessons. Best $$ spent IMHO. Basses and amps come and go over a life time, but the knowledge will stay for ever.
If you are gigging, go with a better amp first.
You can always dial in something decent sounding if you have a good amp.
If you are gigging, go with a better amp first.
You can always dial in something decent sounding if you have a good amp.
AMP AMP AMP AMP, I too have suffered through the IBZ10B 
Worst POS I have ever plugged into in my life. An open-backed L6Spider III 30 watt has more bass tone than that thing does.
Worst POS I have ever plugged into in my life. An open-backed L6Spider III 30 watt has more bass tone than that thing does.
- Feb 27, 2005
- 3,218
- 125
- Disclosures
- Full disclosure, I'm a certified Fender technician working in a music store that carries Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez products among others.
A better bass feels better, sounds better, and will do so in all applications. A better amp just more reliably amplifies whatever your bass sounds like.
Are you gigging, or getting ready to? Do you need more power right away? Or are you learning your instrument, and dissatisfied with the way your bass plays and sounds?
Unless I had gigs that needed a bigger amp, I'd get a better bass first. There have been times I've had no bass amp and still gigged and sounded great, because I had a good bass and a good DI. I have yet to need an amp to record, either. What's more, a great amp never motivated me to practice as much as a bass that felt great and sounded good no matter what I plugged it into.
Also, it's been easier to borrow an amp here or there when I needed one than it was to borrow a bass when I didn't have one. I'm willing to bet you know someone who would let you borrow an amp should you need one.
Are you gigging, or getting ready to? Do you need more power right away? Or are you learning your instrument, and dissatisfied with the way your bass plays and sounds?
Unless I had gigs that needed a bigger amp, I'd get a better bass first. There have been times I've had no bass amp and still gigged and sounded great, because I had a good bass and a good DI. I have yet to need an amp to record, either. What's more, a great amp never motivated me to practice as much as a bass that felt great and sounded good no matter what I plugged it into.
Also, it's been easier to borrow an amp here or there when I needed one than it was to borrow a bass when I didn't have one. I'm willing to bet you know someone who would let you borrow an amp should you need one.
I totally disagree with this.
If the kid is trying to be a real bassplayer and join up with friends to jam, they're going to have to practice, and he's going to want to be heard over his drummer and guitarist/keyboardist/whoever
You don't wanna be the dude who has to borrow gear from other people all the time, or rent beat-up, unreliable stuff from a local store everytime you want to rehearse or play a show, that stuff adds up in your wallet and your rep...trust me - I used to be THAT GUY.
You can get a nice amp for the money you have there - look for good used deals, but do some research around the forums - there's a lot of crap out there too.
If you are looking to gig right away play with other people, get a better amp while you save up for a bass. You can't play with other people and expect to be heard with what you have.
If you are mostly working at learning your instrument and figuring out lines at home, get a better bass and save for an amp.
For about $400, you could do a Squier or SX bass and maybe a used Acoustic B200 or something similar, and that would be something you could use for a small gig or with a jam session that is of a normal volume level, and still have a nice quality bass to practice on.
If you are mostly working at learning your instrument and figuring out lines at home, get a better bass and save for an amp.
For about $400, you could do a Squier or SX bass and maybe a used Acoustic B200 or something similar, and that would be something you could use for a small gig or with a jam session that is of a normal volume level, and still have a nice quality bass to practice on.
Just as long as your bass is set up properly and plays well then I see no need to replace it yet. I gig inexpensive Chinese basses but I play them through decent amps and get a great tone so my advice would also be to get a better amp.
I understand it's the question of the egg or the chicken, but also you don't want a bass that cripples and prevents your progress! of course it's a tough decision if you are gigging but if you are not you can use small amp in your room!
Experiment...Take your bass to a local music store, and plug it into a good amp. If you're STILL not getting a good sound, get a new bass first.
But I'll bet you wind up surprising yourself... the bass will sound just fine... and will discover that it's the amp that's really holding you back.
But I'll bet you wind up surprising yourself... the bass will sound just fine... and will discover that it's the amp that's really holding you back.
