Which bass should I bring to college?

[Immigrant]

I voted Ibanez.

-Easier to store (smaller)
-Dime a dozen (if damaged)
-Quiet (quieter than an ABG when using a headphone amp)
-Better weapon (just in case)

 

[verycoolname]

First of all -CONGRATS !!! Great school ! Heard it gets pretty cold there though !

I went to Mizzou. Hopefully you are a sports fan because the football games there will be super fun!

As for bass... I voted Fender, but the Ibanez would work too. I would leave the Gretsch home for the reasons you mentioned.

Thank you very much! I live in Northern VA currently, so I'm used to some cold, but when I went up there earlier this year I was absolutely freezing. Got to invest in a jacket.

And my cousin actually went to Mizzou; I was looking at applying there because of their Journalism program (majoring in Journalism and minoring in Economics at PSU), but I decided I wanted to stay close-ish to home. And I was actually on a mission trip (no wifi) when the tickets went on sale (sold out in six minutes), but there's a student exchange...super pumped!

And yeah, I think I've definitely narrowed it down to those two...the Gretsch is my baby.

 

[AltGrendel]

I hate to say this, but I'd take the one you would be least upset about if it was stolen.

Just saying.

I voted Ibanez for this reason but you might have a different point of view.

 

[verycoolname]

I voted Ibanez.

-Easier to store (smaller)
-Dime a dozen (if damaged)
-Quiet (quieter than an ABG when using a headphone amp)
-Better weapon (just in case)

Yeah, the thing that makes the Ibanez appealing is that it's fun for me to play, relatively easy to replace, and (most importantly) it would make a pretty good weapon.

I hate to say this, but I'd take the one you would be least upset about if it was stolen.

Just saying.

I voted Ibanez for this reason but you might have a different point of view.

I feel you.

The Fender is the one I couldn't care less about, but it's also not very useful for what I want to play. The Ibanez is a happy medium.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I would bring the Ibanez - would be less expensive and less likely to be damaged than the Gretch. Somehow an ABG does not scream "I want to find a band to rock" as much.

However, as I mentioned in the previous thread, bring a chain. Either find a way to mount a ring on the case, or find a way to get the chain tightly around the case, and lock it in your closet or under your bed. ALWAYS lock it when not playing it. That will at least deter the average drunk/quick fingered student looking for an easy score.

Once you are there, you may find better options. My first dorm in college had a rehearsal studio in the basement, with a drum set and a PA.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Bring the Ibanez. If your Fender combo has a headphone out, you are golden. A lot of the newer practice amps have an auxilliary input for plugging in a stereo, or 1/8" jack for iphone input, etc. There are all kinds of apps for using a smartphone as a headphone amp now as an alternative. My son is heading off to college in the Fall, he's in a similar situation. He's taking his Jay Turser Hofner knockoff and his Fender Rumble 15, which has the headphone and auxilliary input jacks. The Turser is a hollow body, so he can practice unplugged and still hear it quite well.

P.S: Watch you gear like a hawk and ALWAYS put the bass back in the case and under your bed when not in use. Keep the case locked if you have a key. Your roomates drunk friends can nuke a bass right quick (ask me how I know this).

 

[Rosebud]

My thing with taking your main player and the reason I suggested the acoustic bass, is that if you don't have access to a fairly good amp (as in loud enough) it's going to be hard to play w/a band. Unless someone has an amp for you to use, which you wouldn't know right off. You could always get the Ibanez later if you found a band that has a bass amp for you to use...

 

[lbbc]

I said the fender because it doesn't necessarily need an amp and, at least I've found, if I can play something on my acoustic bass well....I'll be much faster and more confident on my main player!

 

[birdman14]

Just has everyone else has mentioned, I would definitely bring the ibanez. I'm actually facing the same problem right now, I'm moving into my dorm at Northeastern in about a month, and I'm still torn on which of my basses to bring. One thing you definitely want to do is talk to your roommate to make sure he knows that you're planning on bringing your bass, and that if he has people over, not to let them play it. As for bringing an amp, either make sure your main amp has headphone outs, or invest in a pedal like the 3leaf audio enabler that has a headphone plug out (one of those tiny vox things would probably work almost as well).

 

[BigBigGuy44]

Welcome to State College. You made a great choice going to school there and please don't hesitate to PM me if you need anything at all.

I would take the Ibanez. Unplugged it's quiet enough to play without disturbing your roommate and you can amp it for the times when you are able.

PSU has a lot to offer. Don't miss out while playing bass in your dorm room. You have the rest of your life to do that but only four years to be in school.

 

[verycoolname]

I would bring the Ibanez - would be less expensive and less likely to be damaged than the Gretch. Somehow an ABG does not scream "I want to find a band to rock" as much.

However, as I mentioned in the previous thread, bring a chain. Either find a way to mount a ring on the case, or find a way to get the chain tightly around the case, and lock it in your closet or under your bed. ALWAYS lock it when not playing it. That will at least deter the average drunk/quick fingered student looking for an easy score.

Once you are there, you may find better options. My first dorm in college had a rehearsal studio in the basement, with a drum set and a PA.

Very true, the ABG would hinder my band search.

And, as in the original thread, I appreciate the advice. The Gretsch case (for whatever stupid reason) actually doesn't lock, but the Ibanez and Fender cases do. I believe the closets in the dorms lock as well, so I would probably be storing the bass there (no one wants to steal my clothes, so those can just be out in the open).

And I haven't had an opportunity to look for a place like that in my dorm yet, but that sounds awesome!

Bring the Ibanez. If your Fender combo has a headphone out, you are golden. A lot of the newer practice amps have an auxilliary input for plugging in a stereo, or 1/8" jack for iphone input, etc. There are all kinds of apps for using a smartphone as a headphone amp now as an alternative. My son is heading off to college in the Fall, he's in a similar situation. He's taking his Jay Turser Hofner knockoff and his Fender Rumble 15, which has the headphone and auxilliary input jacks. The Turser is a hollow body, so he can practice unplugged and still hear it quite well.

P.S: Watch you gear like a hawk and ALWAYS put the bass back in the case and under your bed when not in use. Keep the case locked if you have a key. Your roomates drunk friends can nuke a bass right quick (ask me how I know this).

Thanks for the input. The combo does have a headphone out, despite being fairly old (from about eight years ago...been trying to upgrade).

And trust me, when I'm in my room the bass will not be leaving my sight...

My thing with taking your main player and the reason I suggested the acoustic bass, is that if you don't have access to a fairly good amp (as in loud enough) it's going to be hard to play w/a band. Unless someone has an amp for you to use, which you wouldn't know right off. You could always get the Ibanez later if you found a band that has a bass amp for you to use...

Yeah, I guess it would be silly to bring a gig worthy bass but then have just a 15 Watt combo...

 

[pbass6811]

Which ever one you'd be most ok with getting stolen.

Definitely this. As has been mentioned earlier, congrats on getting into a good school! You sound like a pretty responsible kid, so definitely take SOMETHING to play, but realize that, being responsible, you may find that bass playing takes a backseat to studying, which is fine. Take the bass that: A) You won't mind leaving in the case for extended periods. B) Will give you maximum enjoyment when you are able to play it. & C) Won't make you want to throw yourself off of your dorm roof if you come back to your room and it ain't there. Enjoy your time at college, young padawan...

I'd say Ibanez.

 

[buldog5151bass]

You aren't going to stop a determined thief, but that is not your goal - just the random yahoo. Just like with a car, the more difficult/time consuming it is to take something, the more likely he/she will move on to easier pickings.

 

[Rosebud]

I'd say bringing a gig worthy bass is not silly as long as your comfortable playing through headphones or at low volumes ie to yourself/practicing which is great too. You actually may get more done in terms of practicing that way.

 

[verycoolname]

Just has everyone else has mentioned, I would definitely bring the ibanez. I'm actually facing the same problem right now, I'm moving into my dorm at Northeastern in about a month, and I'm still torn on which of my basses to bring. One thing you definitely want to do is talk to your roommate to make sure he knows that you're planning on bringing your bass, and that if he has people over, not to let them play it. As for bringing an amp, either make sure your main amp has headphone outs, or invest in a pedal like the 3leaf audio enabler that has a headphone plug out (one of those tiny vox things would probably work almost as well).

Thanks for the input, and congrats on Northeastern! That's a fantastic school.

My roommate knows I'll be bringing at least one instrument with me, so no worries there. And the Vox headphones are definitely an appealing option.

Welcome to State College. You made a great choice going to school there and please don't hesitate to PM me if you need anything at all.

I would take the Ibanez. Unplugged it's quiet enough to play without disturbing your roommate and you can amp it for the times when you are able.

PSU has a lot to offer. Don't miss out while playing bass in your dorm room. You have the rest of your life to do that but only four years to be in school.

Thank you for the greeting, and for the offer. I really appreciate it.

And it looks like the Ibanez is becoming an increasingly popular option.

As for me becoming a bass playing recluse, there's no worries there. I'm going to be taking full advantage of every social/scholarly opportunity that Penn State is offering, the music is just an auxiliary thing.

 

[verycoolname]

Definitely this. As has been mentioned earlier, congrats on getting into a good school! You sound like a pretty responsible kid, so definitely take SOMETHING to play, but realize that, being responsible, you may find that bass playing takes a backseat to studying, which is fine. Take the bass that: A) You won't mind leaving in the case for extended periods. B) Will give you maximum enjoyment when you are able to play it. & C) Won't make you want to throw yourself off of your dorm roof if you come back to your room and it ain't there. Enjoy your time at college, young padawan...

I'd say Ibanez.

Thank you for the compliment. I realize that bass playing will take a backseat to academics, and even a lot of the clubs/activities (THON!) that PSU offers, but I just want to maintain it as a hobby. If I'd have to guess, I'd say I'd spend <20% of my week actually playing the bass.

And thanks for the advice; I think the Ibanez is the bass that fits the criteria.

Thank you again, master.

 

[wisconsindead]

As someone who plays a shortscale hollowbody, its hard not to say the gretsch (the gretsch may be too specific of a tone, but then so is my guild starfire lol). But I think the Ibanez is your best bet. Definitely not the acoustic fender. If you want in on the music scene you need an electric, well in most cases at least.

Have fun out there and stay off the drugs lol.

PS: I love your TB name

 

[verycoolname]

As someone who plays a shortscale hollowbody, its hard not to say the gretsch (the gretsch may be too specific of a tone, but then so is my guild starfire lol). But I think the Ibanez is your best bet. Definitely not the acoustic fender. If you want in on the music scene you need an electric, well in most cases at least.

Have fun out there and stay off the drugs lol.

PS: I love your TB name

Hmmm, so if it wasn't you who voted for the Gretsch? I for one love the tone, but I do agree it's not as vanilla (in a good way) as the Ibanez, which is useable in pretty much every scenario.

And yeah, the acoustic Fender (while being the runner up in the polls currently) would only be useful at coffee shops...which I would love playing, but not all the time.

As for the drugs, I'll try my best to stay away.

PS: thanks!

 

[spanndrew]

Ibanez.

I did this same thing last year. I bought an acoustic for the dorm, and instantly regretted it. Jamming wasn't an option, only practice.

 

[verycoolname]

Ibanez.

I did this same thing last year. I bought an acoustic for the dorm, and instantly regretted it. Jamming wasn't an option, only practice.

Thanks for the input. That's my only worry with the Fender; I couldn't care less about it being damaged/stolen (okay, I'd care a little, but not much), but it would inhibit my ability to join a band/jam with my peers, which is something I want to do.

No fun just practicing with yourself.