Newbie questions

[Hantke]

okay, sorry if i seem mixed or edgy, this is the third time ive typed this, i keep getting logged out!
so im going to summarize everything since im in about to be heading out the door.
So, I'm a new bass player, i got a Starcaster J bass and i love it, it fits me much better than the ibanez or the small Hammer that i tried (it could be me but being over 6'1" im liking the size of the J bass the best!) and topped it all off with a Kustom Deep end DE50 amp, i have no regrets about my equipment im just curious.

Has anybody used the VOX Bass amPlug? do you like it? and have you tried the amPlug cabinet? hows it sound?

How does Deep end compare to say Orange?
I've been eyeing the Micro terror because i travel alot and it would be nice to bring that along with me.

Would something that small even work decently with a bass?

I've only had it about a month and haven't started lessons yet, but i can play some metallica songs and sweet home alabama. (I am going to start lessons VERY soon!)

Thank you in advanced for reading this long post!!! Now you can be like "WWWEEEEeeeee its over"

again, sorry if this is probably disgruntled!

 

[will33]

A. Playing Sweet Home will make you more tips than any Metallica will.

Small amps can sound just fine, as long as you don't expect loud. Volume does not equal good tone, conversely, good tone doesn't matter if nobody can hear it.

You've got a good setup to learn on, so working on chops/technique/music theory, etc. is what to focus on now.

"Practicing" doesn't have to mean playing scales all day either. Get together with some friends of comparable skill level, drums, guitar, somebody sing, pick an easy song and make it through it, play it together. Working good together in a group is what makes musicians and bands good/sought after.

 

[Hantke]

A. Playing Sweet Home will make you more tips than any Metallica will.

Especially where i live! lol

Small amps can sound just fine, as long as you don't expect loud. Volume does not equal good tone, conversely, good tone doesn't matter if nobody can hear it.

Okay, i dont need to get any louder than my Kustom DE50 gets, if i need it that loud i can haul that with me.

You've got a good setup to learn on, so working on chops/technique/music theory, etc. is what to focus on now.

Thats great to hear, i played around with the different guitars then decided i liked mine the best then they let me try it on all the different amps and it seemed like the best for my money, i'm glad i made a good choice!

"Practicing" doesn't have to mean playing scales all day either. Get together with some friends of comparable skill level, drums, guitar, somebody sing, pick an easy song and make it through it, play it together. Working good together in a group is what makes musicians and bands good/sought after.

two of my best friends play guitar all day and night, its part of the reason i got a guitar instead of going back to drums (well that and my mom hates drums) so i get some practice in!

I have one more question, not sure if i should start a new thread or just post it and see what people say so here goes.

Is it bad for me to use my bass with a guitar amp? i was over at my friends house and he kept telling me to plug my bass in to his amp (this things ridiculously expensive so i was a bit nervous) saying its fine, but is there any chance a bass can hurt a regular amp? like if im with my friends and i plug it into one of their amps will it be bad?

also, what if i plug a regular guitar into a bass amp?

 

[Hantke]

And thanks for the quick reply! this is the most active forum ive ever seen!!

 

[lomo]

A guitar amp will not handle the lows of a bass and unless you play it low you may blow the speaker in it. It will not sound nearly as good/deep as a proper bass amp, but at low volume it "is what it is".

 

[Hantke]

A guitar amp will not handle the lows of a bass and unless you play it low you may blow the speaker in it. It will not sound nearly as good/deep as a proper bass amp, but at low volume it "is what it is".

Thats pretty much what i was afraid of, i would hate to be responsible for breaking his brand new amp!! thank you!

 

[MakoMan]

If you're just looking for something for quiet practice, any of the headphone bass amp plugs will work well. I'm fairly new to the instrument myself and have tried a few.
I demoed the Vox Amplug and it was very nice but I ended up going with the Vox AC1 Bass Rhythmvox. It was $20 more, but includes a very nice drum kit, basic tuner and a few other features. It fits in a gigbag side pocket. You can also play it without the headphones through 2x3" speakers built in. Admittedly the sound through the speakers is pretty poor, but good enough to practice quietly. It does sound FANTASTIC through the headphones however, actually better than any of my amps through their headphone jacks. I also use it to patch it's drumkit into my PA so I can practice loudly to the drum patterns.
Another option is something like a Korg Pandora for bass. I have one of those too and it is also good through the headphones and for practice. I don't use it nearly as much as the Vox though.

Here's a link to the AC1 for Bass. I could not find a link for the bass version in the US but heree's one for a Canadian store so you can see what it looks like. They should be about $60 US:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Korladis]

I have one more question, not sure if i should start a new thread or just post it and see what people say so here goes.

Is it bad for me to use my bass with a guitar amp? i was over at my friends house and he kept telling me to plug my bass in to his amp (this things ridiculously expensive so i was a bit nervous) saying its fine, but is there any chance a bass can hurt a regular amp? like if im with my friends and i plug it into one of their amps will it be bad?

also, what if i plug a regular guitar into a bass amp?

Guitar speakers tend not to like having bass played through them very much. The amp portion will be fine (might not have the low end you want), but a guitar speaker could be damaged at high volume.

Bass speakers will handle guitar just fine, as will the amplifier portion. The only thing to watch out for is if the cab has a tweeter (tiny high frequency speaker) that could be hurt due to guitar having more high end than it's expecting.

 

[Hantke]

If you're just looking for something for quiet practice, any of the headphone bass amp plugs will work well. I'm fairly new to the instrument myself and have tried a few.
I demoed the Vox Amplug and it was very nice but I ended up going with the Vox AC1 Bass Rhythmvox. It was $20 more, but includes a very nice drum kit, basic tuner and a few other features. It fits in a gigbag side pocket. You can also play it without the headphones through 2x3" speakers built in. Admittedly the sound through the speakers is pretty poor, but good enough to practice quietly. It does sound FANTASTIC through the headphones however, actually better than any of my amps through their headphone jacks. I also use it to patch it's drumkit into my PA so I can practice loudly to the drum patterns.
Another option is something like a Korg Pandora for bass. I have one of those too and it is also good through the headphones and for practice. I don't use it nearly as much as the Vox though.

Here's a link to the AC1 for Bass. I could not find a link for the bass version in the US but heree's one for a Canadian store so you can see what it looks like. They should be about $60 US:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Wow, thats PERFECT!!!!!! i have to find one of those!! its judging by your description and the pictures its a tad bit bigger than a cigarette box, right
?
Edit*
Dimensions (W x D x H): 170 x 67 x 128mm/6.8 x 2.6 x 5.0 inches (found it on their website
i found this
http://www.amazon.com/Vox-AC1RV-Rhy...cal-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1329615349&sr=1-4
same thing but this is regular, not bass, right?

 

[Hantke]

Guitar speakers tend not to like having bass played through them very much. The amp portion will be fine (might not have the low end you want), but a guitar speaker could be damaged at high volume.

Bass speakers will handle guitar just fine, as will the amplifier portion. The only thing to watch out for is if the cab has a tweeter (tiny high frequency speaker) that could be hurt due to guitar having more high end than it's expecting.

okay, i dont think i have to worry about that too much, thank you!!


WOW you guys are awesome! ive been practicing "the spider" so i can get some better technique and glancing over here once in a while and im getting all these responses.
thank you again to everybody!

 

[MakoMan]

Wow, thats PERFECT!!!!!! i have to find one of those!! its judging by your description and the pictures its a tad bit bigger than a cigarette box, right
?
Edit*
Dimensions (W x D x H): 170 x 67 x 128mm/6.8 x 2.6 x 5.0 inches (found it on their website
i found this
Amazon.com: Vox AC1RV 66 Rhythm Mini Guitar Tabletop Practice Amp Bundle: Musical Instruments
same thing but this is regular, not bass, right?

Yes, that is the same unit, but the guitar version. You definitely want the bass version. The bass unit is new so it might be a bit harder to find but they are out there.