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

[Jackie Clark]

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.

I'd play the bass through a different amp to see if improves...if your bass feels good and has a decent sound,you'll know to get the amp and keep the bass.

I wouldn't risk the search for another bass if you have something that's playable,sounds decent, and just needs a little boost here or there.

Good luck!

 

[The Davil]

I was on the fence about this at one time. I just let Craigslist and random chance decide. I decided that my budget was $xxx and I had a short list of basses and amps that I liked. I figured the next one, either bass or amp, that came up on Craigslist that really flipped my switch I'd buy. I got an amp that time. Sometimes ya just gots ta roll them bones...

 

[ZenG]

Well....if you're gigging etc....the amp is going to be real important....

But if you don't gig much and spend most of your time composing at home, recording at home etc etc.
then the bass itself would be more important...

in fact I did just that...went to a better bass rather than an amp because I am still
a card-carrying noob on the bass.....

I could gig but I would rather get way way better on it first......

My amp is o.k. for practising but not for gigging.

I would rather practise on a good bass through an acceptable amp than be practising on a stunning amp with a POS guitar.....

Down the road when I improve a lot more (and I'm my own worst critic.....it either gets real good or it isn't going out the door) then I'll be buying a gig amp...

 

[456Spectwick]

I vote carrot all the way. I recently made the mistake of upgrading both. I was tired of the squier and combo amp. Been playing a lot of years, mostly wandering from band to band. Saved up a decent amount of money and now I have a Warwick $$ 6 string fretless and am about to grab Ampeg PF-500 Portaflex and PF-115HE Stack. Thanks, money. It was fun while it lasted

 

[Jeff Bonny]

A 12 year old thread where the OP hasn't logged in for 5 years. Awesome.

 

[Dug2]

I'd go with the bass. To me, that's kinda where it starts. And sometimes at home I don't plug into the amp. Just my 2 cents

 

[tbasstreble11]

A bloke playing my area plays a really class, expensive bass through a really average, affordable combo - the other night he had the best sound I've heard in ages. His combo was DI'd, so, credit to the sound guy I suppose. Upgrade the bass

 

[groundhog]

Can't play without a bass, so I would upgrade it first.

 

[rtslinger]

Went with amp as did many others you can sound alright with a non expensive bass in the hands of a competent player an a great rig but nothing can save a amp that sounds like garbage not even a expensive bass

 

[Christian Joseph Allbee]

IME, it's better to upgrade the amp than the bass.
I started out with a Behringer BT108 and everything sounded the same with it (and not even in a good way). I recently upgraded to a Peavey Max 110 amp and my basses actually sounded distinct from each other (in a great way).

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

If a bass doesn't play well, you won't play well. So a bass is key for playing / learning.

If you play okay but don't sound good, an amp is key. An good amp can make a mediocre bass sound good.

 

[truecanadian04]

Amps come and go but a bass can last forever.

 

[Helaskold]

Amp for sure. You can make a crappy bass sound okay through a good amp, but not the other way around... and being heard over a drummer is a lot more important than having a wenge fretboard IMO.

 

[RED J]

I can make most basses the best they can be and sound good. Amps that rot are doomed, and so is my sound. I learned that the hard way.

 

[SuperSubSonicRainboom]

Probably.

Amps definetly make a huge difference. Ive played alot of crappy basses through good rigs and a lot of great basses through crappy rigs, and OIve found that the amp makes a bigger difference than the bass,

Peace
Nick

...what he said.

 

[David Jayne]

Amp for sure. You can make a crappy bass sound okay through a good amp, but not the other way around... and being heard over a drummer is a lot more important than having a wenge fretboard IMO.

This, a thousand times this. UNLESS the bass is unplayable or otherwise so screwed up it just makes crappy noises.

 

[wolfkeller]

For my 1/2 a cent I'll go with amp. For example playing my Spector through a crappy back line amp just sucked. Crap tone, distorting due to low power trying to keep up with band. On the other side I can plug in a crappy rogue or average squire and get a killer sound, power and feel. What has been said is true, you'll see a lot of pros using crap basses and good/great amps and the sound is always there.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

amp.

 

[Jim Campbell]

I can make most basses the best they can be and sound good. Amps that rot are doomed, and so is my sound. I learned that the hard way.

yeah, id go with the amp.....even a 200 dollar squire will play well,and sound good..... you can always swap out pickups....you need an amp to be heard either way and a good one will last and hopefully have enough sock to use in all kinds of venues ,while you save up for your usa fender.....

 

[aquamentus]

I play a $300 bass through a $1,500 amp. I'd rather do that than a $1,500 bass through a $300 amp. The amp is the difference. That is as long as you can set up the bass well enough.