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Noob with an overdrive pedal.

S

Saarik

Oct 27, 2011
44
0
#1
SO, every amp review/help thing/guide I've read (I've read a few) tells me all about how i can get a great set up and great cabinets and pro sound systems...

I AM A STUDENT. I bought my first bass off ebay for £40. (Thank goodness I was 18 recently and got a t-bird ;))

SO. Having a combo is probably the only way I can afford anything, and the only cheap (good value?) amp I can find is this:

Invalid Link Removed

At the moment I have one of these buggers:

Invalid Link Removed

..which distorts before you even THINK about going loud.

I think they're pretty much the same thing with bigger wattage - can you lovely people tell me if I should bother?
The problem I'm having atm is that my new Boss ODB3 is sounding very strange - unsteady, choppy etc. and I THINK it's my amp.

So. Will this be able to handle it? Or are there any other amps that can which are even remotely as cheap?

ta (:
 
#4
Wow, those are some really [DEL]inexpensive[/DEL] cheap amps!

I think in the long run you may be a lot happier with saving up your funds long enough to get a quality amp. Without going used I cannot think of any amps that are worth paying money for and still in that price bracket.

It sounds like you're just starting out. If that's the case, I would also try to caution you about getting an amp just for practice. The time when you will want to jam with a band/acoustic drums will come up quicker than you think, and then suddenly you find yourself in the market to upgrade your amp again. I would suggest looking around here at some of the threads on the micro heads. They're small, lightweight, powerful, have some good tones, and they're scaleable by just switching out cabinets.
 
#5
haha ok, ok I get the picture :)
thanks

do you think that 45 watts would be a waste of time too?

just come across this beast - [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000L1HU...e=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B000L1HU1A]

I might have to go without eating for a while, but I have Amazon vouchers so not for too long ;) anything better in the same price range? (keep in mind it'll sit in my room for most of its life[i just HATE that crappy distortion])
 
#7
Save up. Buy used if you can to get more for your money, and stop looking at craptastic combos! If a combo is what you want dont just look at the price. 200 watts minimum with the option for an external speaker cab (IE if you find a 210 combo, make sure the included speakers are 8 ohms, and that you can add a 8 ohm 210 extension cab).


Saarik said:
haha ok, ok I get the picture :)
thanks

do you think that 45 watts would be a waste of time too?

just come across this beast - [http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000L1HU...e=asn&creative=22206&creativeASIN=B000L1HU1A]

I might have to go without eating for a while, but I have Amazon vouchers so not for too long ;) anything better in the same price range? (keep in mind it'll sit in my room for most of its life[i just HATE that crappy distortion])
Click to expand...
 
#9
Pilgrim said:
I'd target 100W minimum to start.
Click to expand...

This, and I wouldn't go for anything with a speaker smaller than 10" (pref 2 if you can get it)

The only single-speaker combo's i'd consider would be 12" or 15"

I also avoid behringer like plague-flavored chips. (that's just my opinion, but it comes from playing them and working in a store that sold them both.)
 
#10
Saarik said:
haha ok, ok I get the picture :)
thanks

do you think that 45 watts would be a waste of time too?

just come across this beast - [Invalid Link Removed

I might have to go without eating for a while, but I have Amazon vouchers so not for too long ;) anything better in the same price range? (keep in mind it'll sit in my room for most of its life[i just HATE that crappy distortion])
Click to expand...

Yes, 45 watts is a waste of time. Really, it really is. So is 65.

The problem with the ODB-3 might be the ODB-3 - sell it for your amp fund and then buy a good distortion later on when you really need it.
 
#12
Saarik said:
SO, every amp review/help thing/guide I've read (I've read a few) tells me all about how i can get a great set up and great cabinets and pro sound systems...

I AM A STUDENT. I bought my first bass off ebay for £40. (Thank goodness I was 18 recently and got a t-bird ;))

SO. Having a combo is probably the only way I can afford anything, and the only cheap (good value?) amp I can find is this:

Invalid Link Removed

At the moment I have one of these buggers:

Invalid Link Removed

..which distorts before you even THINK about going loud.

I think they're pretty much the same thing with bigger wattage - can you lovely people tell me if I should bother?
The problem I'm having atm is that my new Boss ODB3 is sounding very strange - unsteady, choppy etc. and I THINK it's my amp.

So. Will this be able to handle it? Or are there any other amps that can which are even remotely as cheap?

ta (:
Click to expand...

If money is that much of an issue, you should stop looking at new amps. Best deals are on used gear.
 
#14
woahh, why the massive ampage? I'm not going to be gigging much if at all with it - do I really need to spend more money, and what do i get for it?

oh, and where on earth do you find used? i'm not risking ebay...
 
#15
There's frequent discussion around here about watts vs. number of speakers to get louder... The experts all say speakers = loud. That's why a lot of folks will suggest that you get either a small head and cab, so you can add another cab later, or a combo that can drive an extension cab, which you can add later.
 
#16
Saarik said:
woahh, why the massive ampage? I'm not going to be gigging much if at all with it - do I really need to spend more money, and what do i get for it?

oh, and where on earth do you find used? i'm not risking ebay...
Click to expand...

craigslist.org Regular people sell stuff in person to you. Always meet in a public area and/or bring a friend with you. So many good deals on there. Post what you find and we can let you know how good it is for you.

Wattage at 200 watts or more will give you a cleaner tone. Don't think about guitar and combos and how those amps can get away with less wattage - the amps distort and sound VERY LOUD with little wattage. Clean bass tones need a decent amount of wattage to sound good and stay clean - they also need plenty of speakers to get loud enough.

In many cases a 100 watt bass combo cannot cut it in a band situation - so we advise you into getting something used, is good for playing by yourself and loud enough for future gigs. It saves you money in the long run.
 
#17
Gearhead17 said:
craigslist.org Regular people sell stuff in person to you. Always meet in a public area and/or bring a friend with you. So many good deals on there. Post what you find and we can let you know how good it is for you.

Wattage at 200 watts or more will give you a cleaner tone. Don't think about guitar and combos and how those amps can get away with less wattage - the amps distort and sound VERY LOUD with little wattage. Clean bass tones need a decent amount of wattage to sound good and stay clean - they also need plenty of speakers to get loud enough.

In many cases a 100 watt bass combo cannot cut it in a band situation - so we advise you into getting something used, is good for playing by yourself and loud enough for future gigs. It saves you money in the long run.
Click to expand...

This.

I've had mostly decent experiences as a buyer on ebay, but craigslist is in most ways better. Bring a friend, always.
 
#18
HMMM. ok, I kind of loathe you guys now x) GRR.

haha not really, it's just i'm a major miser.

OK, well is there a reason why everyone hates Behringers? Found this beastier beast: Invalid Link Removed

i think that's pretty much the top end of my price range.. anything else I should keep my eye out for used? (:
 

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