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Practicing with headphones.

G

gkaneko

May 16, 2010
5
0
#1
Hi, I don't know much about gear and equipment so I decided to ask you guys. I want to practice my bass guitar with headphones, mostly along with CDs. What would be the best way to do this?

Should I buy an amp?
If I buy an amp, I don't need a strong one, since I would not be using it w/o headphones too much. But I would like to playalong to my CDs in stereo.

Also, could I plug my bass into my computer?
I have a macbook laptop and have garageband and Reason.
I've tried plugging my bass into the computer with a quarter inch to 1/8 inch cable but obviously it doesn't sound very good.

I was wondering what kind of options I have for these two ways.
Which would be easier? Sound better? Cheaper?

Thank you!
 
#3
Check one of these out:

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Put in a CD, plug in your phones and bass and you can practice all you want (without disturbing the neighbours). Also has cool stuff like a tuner and metronome built in. I use it almost every day.
 
#4
slagbass said:
Check one of these out:

Invalid Link Removed

Put in a CD, plug in your phones and bass and you can practice all you want (without disturbing the neighbours). Also has cool stuff like a tuner and metronome built in. I use it almost every day.
Click to expand...

Yes!

This is exactly what you want! I have had mine for about 2 years, it has been flawless. I could never live without it now.
 
#6
I use one of these:

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#10
slipkyes said:
there are many ways. I have one of these: Link Removed


They´re the easiest way to practice with no cable/amp/mixer messing around, and it has an Aux in so you can connect an ipod, discman etc. with a simple stereo aux cable. I plug a metronome through it for practicing excercises and songs I have to record
Click to expand...

I agree. I have the AC-30 version, and I love it for practicing and playing along to songs. I can play clean or add a bit of distortion, so I can sound a bit like Geddy when I play along to Rush songs. And when I plug it into my Strat, I can sound like Clapton in his Layla period. $29.95 at GC, even the price is good!
 
#13
There are a few options for what you're describing -- I think Danelectro does a kind of pocket amp for about $30, my local music store has some but my quick online search is only turning up guitar versions. There's also this -- Link Removed.

But if you're ever going to play OTHER than for yourself on headphones you'll need a real amplifier. Seems like most combo amps I see have stereo input jacks and headphone out jacks. I practice to a CD plenty, just using the same amp I take to practice with the band.
 
#16
Scottgun said:
I went even smaller:

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Plugged into computer. I use Audacity to pull tunes off places like YouTube and the Amazing Slow Downer to pick out the fast/complicated parts.
Click to expand...

Last year I had a small Tapco mixer similar in size to this one. It worked well, but I eventually got rid of it because I would have a jumble of wires all over my bed when practicing. Now with the Vox AmPlug there's only one wire for my MP3 player, and the headphone wire. Nice and simple. And I can move around from room to room if I want.:)
 
#20
I'm certainly on board with the idea of gettting rid of all the cables, but frankly, me and portable stuff have had a bad history. Mostly due to the chintziness of the units; and the reviews of some of the new stuff complaining of the same thing are keeping me leery.
 

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