• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Which would you upgrade first? An amp or a bass?

Which would you buy first? An amp or a bass?

  • Amp

    Votes: 1,211 48.2%

  • Bass

    Votes: 995 39.6%

  • Carrots

    Votes: 308 12.3%
  • Total voters
    2,514
#342
A bad bass through a good amp sounds better than a good bass than a bad amp. That said, I think a better bass is more important regardless. Your bass is your tone, your amp is just a representation. If you're recording, bass is almost always taken direct (and can be reamped if a more "live" sound is needed.) If you're playing live, it's still taken direct most of the time (and here you can absolutely mitigate your tone issues with a good DI - much cheaper than a good amp.) Your bass is also how you physically interface with the music. Finding the neck width, string type, and pickup arrangement you want in a bass is always a rewarding experience.

ETA: one exception to this rule is when you're just starting out. If you have a $200 bass pack that includes a junky bass and practice amp, and you want to join a band, you should buy the most respectable amp easily available to you (100W, 1x12" at a minimum.)
 
#343
ozacrot said:
A bad bass through a good amp sounds better than a good bass than a bad amp. That said, I think a better bass is more important regardless. Your bass is your tone, your amp is just a representation. If you're recording, bass is almost always taken direct (and can be reamped if a more "live" sound is needed.) If you're playing live, it's still taken direct most of the time (and here you can absolutely mitigate your tone issues with a good DI - much cheaper than a good amp.) Your bass is also how you physically interface with the music. Finding the neck width, string type, and pickup arrangement you want in a bass is always a rewarding experience.

ETA: one exception to this rule is when you're just starting out. If you have a $200 bass pack that includes a junky bass and practice amp, and you want to join a band, you should buy the most respectable amp easily available to you (100W, 1x12" at a minimum.)
Click to expand...

A big +1 to this.
 
#344
ozacrot said:
A bad bass through a good amp sounds better than a good bass than a bad amp. That said, I think a better bass is more important regardless. Your bass is your tone, your amp is just a representation. ...
Click to expand...

I vote amp. The main things that affect tone are pickups, strings, pre-amp, and cab. Keep the bass and give it a good setup for playability, and upgrade pickups. Upgrade the amp.
 
#345
I chose to upgrade my bass. My amp is fine for what I need it to do. My bass was as well, but I decided I wanted to play really nice basses - especially as most of my gigging is done via DI.
 
#350
If you have a decently working bass/amp, but looking to get to next level, suggest upgrading to an amp that's loud enough to jam with a few friends. When you begin to play with others you'll start to identify what qualities of sound you want, where you prefer to be in the mix. This could help educate many choices, everything thing from what is a suitable bass for you, type of strings (flats vs rounds), technique (pizicato vs pick), etc.

Playing with other people is invaluable, dont be discouraged if more difficult than playing along to CD's at first, even after a few times you will notice improvements -- use your ears, lsten to everyone not just you.
 
#351
StrudelBass said:
Well basically lets say you already have both, but they're not exceptionally good, and you could only choose one. Would you opt for a new bass or go for a new amp? Opinions needed. Replies welcomed.
Click to expand...

Sorry but I have to quote the OP to answer this and not get into a debate. I will preface this to say that I'm from the have a killer rig, and adequate bass school. I once played through a Walter Woods head, SWR Goliath II with a Yamaha RBX270 and kicked major booty. This to me proved that the rig was more important than the bass. I'm not implying that a crappy bass won't sound crappy but with what's available today most starter basses are really cool basses these days.

However, based on the OP's words above where both are not exceptionally good, I repeat, where both are not exceptionally good,I would get a decent axe first. If you have at first for example a 78 P-bass this is not what the OP states. Again we must read the question where both are not exceptionally good. IMO a 78 P-Bass is an exceptionally good bass to start with. Obviously if you have something like this you could move on to an amp. But starting out with both, where both are not exceptionally good. getting a decent axe would be the first move. If you already have a P-Bass, you have a decent axe to start with.
 
#352
Hey OP it would help if you identified what kind of bass you have to start with and what kind of amp you have. I see comments about guys having Squire P-Basses etc, but IMO these basses are not crappy basses. I see responses from guys who have decent sounding basses already who are hinting at getting an amp. I am from the school of having a better amp than bass but what throws me off is when you say both are equally crappy.
 
#353
the amps and basses have different price vs quality curves.

as the price goes up, how much quality will you get from each new dollar?

A $500 bass will be a noticeable jump in sound quality vs a $100 bass, less so for $1000 vs $500 basses.

But an $500 amp will absolutely destroy a $100 amp, and $1000 will almost destroy a $500.

With amps you get more for each additional dollar. I voted amps.

(all generally speaking, excluding outliers and rare used finds of course...)
 
#354
In my case, I upgraded my amp first. I had been using a headphone amp exclusively, and the cables kept getting tangled up with everything and generally being a pain in the hiney. 90% of the time i didn't even bother plugging in because it was such a hassle. So I decided that if I enjoyed being able to hear my notes I'd practice more often and then I could justify upgrading my axe.
 
#356
I know the amp can be even more important in a gigging situation, but even so, I just get more excited about a new bass than a new amp.

I'm very fortunate that all of my gear can be considered giggable so I can kind of pick and choose when I have the disposable income but for the excitement factor- its always the new bass that really gets me pumped.

I think a big part of it is the fact that a new and different bass is much more readily apparent to others than an amp or cabinet. After all, I'm holding the bass in front of the crowd when I play it. My amp and cabs are somewhere in the semi-darkness behind me so people really cant see the difference. I'll know if I have a new head or cab back there, but chances are that other than my bandmates, no one else probably would.
 
#358
Another vote for a new amp. A great amp gives you two rays of critical guiding light:

1) It exposes your bass's limitations and potential which is good data to have if you decide to go elsewhere for a new instrument.

2) It removes all doubt of where you may be developmentally as a player.
 
#360
For me, I started out with a cheap peavey bass and amp and the first thing I upgraded was the bass. It was extremely hard to stay motivated and have fun playing with a crappy bass.. Needless to say, it didn't take me long to want to buy a nicer combo afterwards :p

The second time around, I upgraded my amp to a head + cab. now I want a new bass :spit:


∴ carrots
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back