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

[cheapbasslovin]

Question...too...vague.

If they're both good enough for what you are doing, but you want something shinier, then it's up to you. If you can't keep up with your band because of volume, then it would definitely be amp or cab (or both). If you hate your bass, it would be the bass. The question is too vague, I vote carrots.

 

[Dash Lashes]

the bass itself doesnt make a whole lotta noise, so i vote amp. amp makes the noise. bass is just interface.

 

[tonemachine]

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.

Bass with good pick-ups.

 

[Boom762]

I have a pathetically bad SX fretless that sounds like a playable instrument when plugged into the right amp.

I also have a crumby, burning out 60 warr amp that NOTHING sounds good through.

Amp first.

 

[JustSomeDude]

I posted on this a long time ago but feel led to do it again....

I often play through cheap Behringer or Peavey amps. And Mic them.
I play a good Bass with good intonation with good technique and good note choices which all results in (what I think is) good tone.

People come up after shows and want to know what I was playing through

If you aren't putting a Mic on the amp or using its Preamp to the house, it is only there for you to hear.

If your Bass isn't playable or out of tune....EVERY ONE hears that

 

[wmhill]

a great amp can make a lesser bass sound great...... a cheap amp will sound crappy no matter what you play through it

 

[Chrisk-K]

Play a cheap Chinese Fender copy through, say, a GB amp and a fEARful cab. It'll sound pretty decent.
Play a $9,000 Fodera through an el cheapo combo amp. It won't sound decent.

 

[A. D. Fairhurst]

Bass. Why? Because...
a)I don't like my current bass
b)I'm fine with my current amp
c)I prefer to look cool (well, at least attempt to) than have the absolute perfect tone
d)My tone is easier to get than the flu in Canada. (Low 75%, Mid 100%, Treble 75%. P bass with slightly old roundwounds and tone and volume both set to 100%. Done!)

 

[Bruce_M]

I think it depends on your needs/requirements. If you are not having any real issues with sound, then upgrade the bass first. If there are sound issues, for instance, you are playing with a loud guitarist and/or drummer, then you should upgrade the amp first.

 

[Tommythebass95]

I'll say bass, everytime, no buts, nothing. I asume that the situation is that of someone with no gear/crap gear because the question doesn't make much sense otherwise. In this case scenario you want to get a good bass and let me tell you why:

With a good bass and a crap amp you're gonna sound poopie. Dat true
With a crap bass and a good amp you're gonna sound ok/decent. Dat also true
Now, with a poopie bass you are never gonna reach your full potential, that's a fact. I've you never played a good bass you can't know what sounds good and what doesn't because your crap bass only lets you see one aspect of the instrument. Also, if that left you unconvinced think this, with a good bass you can use good amps because: A, people will see that you are serious and will be more willing to lend you their amp if you share stage; B:you can always rent a decent amp from someone at a pretty low price. Let me see you arriving at a gig with a Aguilar valve cab and a chinese fender and ask someone to lend you their Fodera.... yeah exactly

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Bass. Run a line out to the pa or mic it.

 

[Gashouse]

it's a belly button question but...if you take care of both, a crappy bass will last longer than a crappy amp. upgrade amp 1st: my vote and opinion.

 

[NortyFiner]

A $10K Fodera played through a no-name starter amp will sound like a no-name starter amp. An Affinity P played through a good amp will sound like a good amp. Amp first, always.

 

[Ron Johnson]

I would say amp, because I've already made the cheapest of basses work for me.

 

[Lee Kirkham]

You need to start from the ground up. First comes the bass, then the amp. It's that simple the majority of the time.

For gigs I have used Squier P-basses for awhile now, and with little modification, they can sound very good. I have made wiring upgrades and tuner upgrades with fantastic results at minimal cost. Now it's time to get a decent amp to support the sound I coaxed out of the Squier basses.

 

[Ninevolt]

Amp.

 

[AshInAmsterdam]

I answered amp because in theory that is my answer... which is blown out of the water by the fact that I recently upgraded my bass before I got a new amp... but the fact is you can play any guitar and get out there, even a €50 plank, but with a bad amp you're not going to be doing a lot of good music.

If you have a weedy sound even with the best amp in the universe, but otherwise love your guitar you can always upgrade the parts for a lot less cash than a new instrument.

 

[el murdoque]

easy.
if you are more of a bedroom player, get the bass.
if you are giging and practicing a lot with one or multiple bands and your amp is crappy because it's a 112 combo set against a hard hitter on the drums, then the new amp is the way to go.

 

[Ninevolt]

Your speaker is only as good as your stereo is only as good as your speaker. If you have a half decent bass, upgrade the amp.

 

[keyofnight]

You can make a bass sound any way you want with a soldering iron, some cheap components, some YouTube instruction, and a little time. I cannot do that with most amps without a fair bit of (expensive) equipment and a whole lot more knowledge.

Buy a new amp first.