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poll: how to decide?
- Thread starter jomahu
- Start date
Combination of things, Ive bought my stuff from talking with those who own it, trying it out in stores, and a just a little bit of just goin for it.
Choices that are not in your poll:
a) It was a heck of a deal; so what if the mortagage check bounces.
b) It was the most money I could spend without my wife divorcing me.
c) I had to have something for this weekend's gig and it was all I could afford.
d) I spent all my money on a new bass and I found this 30 year old combo at a garage sale.
a) It was a heck of a deal; so what if the mortagage check bounces.
b) It was the most money I could spend without my wife divorcing me.
c) I had to have something for this weekend's gig and it was all I could afford.
d) I spent all my money on a new bass and I found this 30 year old combo at a garage sale.
Aaron Schiff said:
e) I have SOME money, so i just have to buy something... anything... NOW.
f) Hmmm... looks like it could generate enough volume and low end to hard boil the eggs i am having for breakfast.
DMB said:
Same here. There's only so much you can learn by playing stuff in stores IMO, so it's good to also get the opinions of people who've owned it, gigged with it etc. There're also occasions where you can't find anyone who already owns it and there's nowhere you can try it out, so either you potentially miss out on something fantastic or take a risk and just buy it.
At the end of the day, the only way you can REALLY tell if something is the right thing for you is by using it yourself in a variety of settings and over a significant period of time. So my advice is...... to buy everything you see as soon as you see it.
Well, let's state the obvious and say that it has to fit my budget. Yes, i know that sounds odd coming from a guy who evangelizes the need for adequate amplification and biting the bullet when it comes to price tags (see my thread linked in the FAQ sticky entitiled "reality check".
The sound should be what i hear in my head only in that it should be pleasing to me, and fit in with my "signature sound" as it were. A caveat, as most of you know, the tone that sounds great when you play by yourself may not cut it in a band, make sure the amp can do both, or at least the latter.
Honestly, when shopping for new gear the biggest concerns are if it will adequately deliver in real world situations, and be portable by myself without the need for a special vehicle. This translates into being able to provide total amplification of the bass (if needed), which translates into SPL, which can translate roughly into wattage, cab sensitivity, and the voicing of the amp and cabs. A word on specs, use your ears first, if it's loud enough and cuts thru with acceptable tone, it's fine.
The portability thing is big for me, and as many of you know, i'm a fan of modular rigs. That said, when i shop for cabs i make sure that they are of an impedance that will allow me to add more if needed, or that they can be added to my existing rig. I also make sure that they fit into my car. Don't laugh, how many of us have owend rigs that required us to borrow a pal's van? When amp shopping, i make sure that they are capable of powering multiple cabs.
The sound should be what i hear in my head only in that it should be pleasing to me, and fit in with my "signature sound" as it were. A caveat, as most of you know, the tone that sounds great when you play by yourself may not cut it in a band, make sure the amp can do both, or at least the latter.
Honestly, when shopping for new gear the biggest concerns are if it will adequately deliver in real world situations, and be portable by myself without the need for a special vehicle. This translates into being able to provide total amplification of the bass (if needed), which translates into SPL, which can translate roughly into wattage, cab sensitivity, and the voicing of the amp and cabs. A word on specs, use your ears first, if it's loud enough and cuts thru with acceptable tone, it's fine.
The portability thing is big for me, and as many of you know, i'm a fan of modular rigs. That said, when i shop for cabs i make sure that they are of an impedance that will allow me to add more if needed, or that they can be added to my existing rig. I also make sure that they fit into my car. Don't laugh, how many of us have owend rigs that required us to borrow a pal's van? When amp shopping, i make sure that they are capable of powering multiple cabs.
I voted for #1, but I have to say, that I wouldn't have sought out Bergantino if it hadn't been for all the praise it's received here. Once I played through the IP 310, though, it was exactly the sound I'd been hearing "in my head."
I'm happier with my rig, though my bank account is much lighter.
I'm happier with my rig, though my bank account is much lighter.
sometimes or should I say often since I don't think I've had alot of experience hearing enough different gear, I don't have a firm "sound" idea in my head, but I'll "know it when I hear it!" especially with speakers. but the final testing ground is on stage and if I can hear it cut through (to me) and sound pleasing to me.
It depends on what I'm needing to do with it. Sound is definitely the most important factor. Reliability is next on the list. One of the reasons I like talkbass is that people have real word experiences with the equipment. The only negative is that sometimes people get on the "bandwagon" and get caught up with the hype surrounding a product.
I always look at reviews and grade on a curve. I look at the best and worst and usually the reality is somewhere in the middle. If I can live with the middle then I'm OK with my decision
I always look at reviews and grade on a curve. I look at the best and worst and usually the reality is somewhere in the middle. If I can live with the middle then I'm OK with my decision
Good point about reading reviews, I usually throw out the best and worst and then really only give much weight to the ones written by people who have been playing for a few years, use good spelling and grammar and have actually used the thing on a few gigs. Ignore the folks who write a review 6 hours after they got it and think it's the greatest thing ever because it really shakes their living room.
