What to use for home practice? Amp or no amp?

[JRA]

What would you do?

i really use what i can depending on the practice situation and the purpose (ax to amp to cab, ax to mixer to monitors, ax to DAW to monitors/headphones, yada yada). sometimes, i can practice unplugged.

 

[nono]

If you live in an apartment I honestly don't think you have any reasonable options besides headphones. The fundamental problem (no pun intended) is that low-frequency sounds travel readily through walls and floors and ceilings, so the only way to use an amp/cab/combo without headphones is to make sure it has no bottom end. And what would be the point of that?

Fair enough. This is more or less what I'm afraid of even with good small combos like the Phil Jones X4.

Not really related to the sound chain but I changed the strings on my Precision today, replaced the factory roundwounds with flats and it sounds better already, even through the monitors. Not perfect but fuller and less tinny.

 

[marchone]

Fair enough. This is more or less what I'm afraid of even with good small combos like the Phil Jones X4.

Not really related to the sound chain but I changed the strings on my Precision today, replaced the factory roundwounds with flats and it sounds better already, even through the monitors. Not perfect but fuller and less tinny.

You'll get a full fat tone through a Phil Jones Bass Double Four, have a headphone in and double as an audio source through an iPhone, etc., for play along. The X4 is exactly half a D4 but the D4 is more versatile due to its greater volume.

I'm an apartment dweller and without headphones have no problem using my D4 in daytime practice. I don't in the evenings. My Mesa rig on the other hand can be challenging even in the afternoon.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Hi!

My current home practice rig is, more or less, bass into SamsAmp VT Bass (v2 I think, not the DI) into mixer into studio monitors (KRK Rokit RP5).

It works good enough but the sound is somewhat clinical; good for hearing my mistakes but I kind of miss some grain here, I guess.

What would you do? Keep things as is, use different speakers (maybe a small stage monitor) or a small bass combo, and if an amp what kind of make and model?

Between the tiny room I use for practice and the fact I live in an apartment with neighbors, the most powerful I could realistically use is something like the Markbass Micromark 801 (which I tried and quite like, but it is quite expensive). I heard quite a lot of good reviews about the Phil Jones X4 but I wonder if it would bring me much more grain than the VT Bass. Or maybe a cheaper combo like one of the small Fender Rumbles?

Choices, choices...

I have several methods. One of course is sans amp. Second, I have an effect pedal that has emulations, media input, and headphone out. Works great. Sometimes I just use the headphone out of my amp (WD-800) or just plug up a cab instead of head phones and have at it.

Probably out of the 3, I use my effect pedal the most.

 

[Whale guy]

You're going to hate this answer, but I travel for work a lot. I carry a junk bass with me and sit in the hotel room and sight read, practice whatever I am working on, and do finger exercises unplugged. I can make progress with just that.

I think the important part is: what do you need in order to move forward as a musician. Just my opinion.

 

[Medicine Man]

Straight into an audio interface and daw, dry with no eq. Yamaha phones.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Lots of useful advice, thanks. I wouldn't have thought of something like the Bighead, last time I checked this kind of headphone amp (20+ years ago) they more or less universally sucked, sounds like they have come a long way.

What is definitely not useful is anything about 100+W amps or huge cabs, sorry. I can't see how this would fit my "tiny crowded room in an apartment" situation.

I use an Ampeg SCR-DI because even a 50W Micromark is too loud. I can do my thing any time of the day, with headphones. It has an Aux in for MP3 player or phone. The Ampeg SGT-DI may be more desirable, especially if it is easier on the batteries (I doubt it is any less voracious though).

 

[LiptonJigglers]

I Just plug straight into my bass rig (600 watt 4 ohm amp and 800 watt 4ohm 215 cab).
At least it's been tried and tested before I go out for a gig.

 

[2thAche]

Apartment, playing for enjoyment, no gigs, get a good pair of cans and maybe a preamp if you think you need it

 

[Diplock]

It's necessary to spend some time practicing as close as possible to the way you'll perform. But in the big picture as long as the instrument is in your hands and the TV is off it doesn't really matter.

 

[Kaplan]

At home i use the Quilter Interbass (45 W/4 Ohm) because of no annoying fan noise. Going into Headphones or 12" cab.

 

[osv]

This. The best part is it runs on a 9v battery so it's easy to take anywhere.

 

[Wfrance3]

use the identical set-up to learn new songs and work out the bass lines

Me 2.
I have a zoom b1 four into an MXR m81 on mine. Gives me the option to add things that make it les bare bones sounding.

 

[fdeck]

For me, no amp. But I also use the time when I can't make any noise in the house, to practice my electric.

 

[Clark Westfield]

I built a studio in the basement and always use one of my 2 heads through my Hartke HD210.

Can be super quiet or thumpy loud if need be.

It allows me to dial in my head, and I can make adjustments to the gig room on the fly.

Will either use my 410 or 810 for the gig, but the head and sound are consistent.

 

[LowEndThrasher]

I'm kind of jealous that lots of people seem to like headphones here which is great. I could never get used to the tone coming from headphones, even from one's with decent quality…it has always sounded off to my ears. If I have to play silently, I'd rather just play unplugged in a space quiet enough for me to hear myself.

With that being said, if I'm not playing unplugged, I always play through an Orange full stack at my house. I'm lucky enough to live in the middle of nowhere and can crank it as high as id like provided my wife doesn't yell at me and the foundation to my house is still intact!

 

[KohanMike]

Mac Studio with a Focusrite Solo. It has a subwoofer and satellite speaker system.

 

[Brother Goose]

Fender Rumble 15 (with or without headphones) in living room

Nux Melvin Lee Davis preamp w headphones in office

Ukulele bass for travel/bathroom

 

[pbass62]

Love my Boss Bass WAZA
Not cheap but great for practice

 

[ricknote]

Hi!

My current home practice rig is, more or less, bass into SamsAmp VT Bass (v2 I think, not the DI) into mixer into studio monitors (KRK Rokit RP5).

It works good enough but the sound is somewhat clinical; good for hearing my mistakes but I kind of miss some grain here, I guess.

What would you do? Keep things as is, use different speakers (maybe a small stage monitor) or a small bass combo, and if an amp what kind of make and model?

Between the tiny room I use for practice and the fact I live in an apartment with neighbors, the most powerful I could realistically use is something like the Markbass Micromark 801 (which I tried and quite like, but it is quite expensive). I heard quite a lot of good reviews about the Phil Jones X4 but I wonder if it would bring me much more grain than the VT Bass. Or maybe a cheaper combo like one of the small Fender Rumbles?

Choices, choices...

Got a few nice amps for playing live. Never an amp at home for practice. Really good headphones for the last 40 years. No reason to bother the family. Currently using Ultrasone headphones with a Mackie interface.