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Which would you upgrade first? An amp or a bass?
- Thread starter StrudelBass
- Start date
I've got an argument that will hold up.
It's sort of simple if you look at the order of components in the chain. And I'm not going to make the ridiculous comparison of a Zon through a Fender Champ. I would rather assume that the bass and the amp you now have are matched to some extent and that changing either would be a step up.
First comes the bass. This is your main tool. This is where the hands meet the tone. You will practice on it daily, learn it's nuances and discover more new territory on this piece than any other equipment. You will sleep with it, dream of it and fall in love with it. Don't laugh it's true. If it were to be ripped from you (by accidental damage or theft) you will be lost for a time and dread finding another to fill the void.
Second comes the amp. Once you've found one to your liking and you've found the proper settings for your bass, you will set it and forget it. Then you'll plug in and sound just like you want over and over. But you don't practice with the amp! As you get better and better and your tone and technique develop, it's the bass that really changes you and your sound.
Hold on!...I've forgotten something. If my argument were taken to the nth degree, it should be the player that gets changed first, then the bass, then the amp. Yeah, that's it! Get a new player first!
It's sort of simple if you look at the order of components in the chain. And I'm not going to make the ridiculous comparison of a Zon through a Fender Champ. I would rather assume that the bass and the amp you now have are matched to some extent and that changing either would be a step up.
First comes the bass. This is your main tool. This is where the hands meet the tone. You will practice on it daily, learn it's nuances and discover more new territory on this piece than any other equipment. You will sleep with it, dream of it and fall in love with it. Don't laugh it's true. If it were to be ripped from you (by accidental damage or theft) you will be lost for a time and dread finding another to fill the void.
Second comes the amp. Once you've found one to your liking and you've found the proper settings for your bass, you will set it and forget it. Then you'll plug in and sound just like you want over and over. But you don't practice with the amp! As you get better and better and your tone and technique develop, it's the bass that really changes you and your sound.
Hold on!...I've forgotten something. If my argument were taken to the nth degree, it should be the player that gets changed first, then the bass, then the amp. Yeah, that's it! Get a new player first!
If the bass has poor playability, I would replace that first, no question.
If the bass has reasonably good playability, I would replace the amp first.
If the bass has reasonably good playability, I would replace the amp first.
It feels wierd to agree with the mob but the amp is the way to go if you are playing in front of people.
Once again I can only offer my experience as a cautionary tale.
When I got out of the service I had a real P.O.S. bass and only a headphone amp ( I had been living on an aircraft carrier) So first I got a decent bass and worked to get my chops back. Then once I could get around on the neck a bit I got a combo amp for garage playing.
Sure enough then I found a band to play with. But now the combo wasn't enough for we were getting gigs. So I played through the PA andused my combo as a monitor. It still was not enough. So I bought an Acoustic head and a Randall 2x15 cab. Loud but mud. Then I added an Acoustic 2x10 cab.Loud and clear.
So now I had lots of sound but only a so-so bass. So I got a better bass. Then I got a fretless. Then I traded in the 'better' bass for a 'still better' bass. This process continued longer than my actual playing years. My current main fretted is only two years old. My main fretless is the same one I got in '90, just with a better bridge and EMG's
What does this come down to?
1. Get enough gear to learn and practice with.
2. Get enough volume to be heard.This is the big amp phase
3. Find your sound on the amp and then leave it alone.
4. Then get the bass of your dreams.
Once again I can only offer my experience as a cautionary tale.
When I got out of the service I had a real P.O.S. bass and only a headphone amp ( I had been living on an aircraft carrier) So first I got a decent bass and worked to get my chops back. Then once I could get around on the neck a bit I got a combo amp for garage playing.
Sure enough then I found a band to play with. But now the combo wasn't enough for we were getting gigs. So I played through the PA andused my combo as a monitor. It still was not enough. So I bought an Acoustic head and a Randall 2x15 cab. Loud but mud. Then I added an Acoustic 2x10 cab.Loud and clear.
So now I had lots of sound but only a so-so bass. So I got a better bass. Then I got a fretless. Then I traded in the 'better' bass for a 'still better' bass. This process continued longer than my actual playing years. My current main fretted is only two years old. My main fretless is the same one I got in '90, just with a better bridge and EMG's
What does this come down to?
1. Get enough gear to learn and practice with.
2. Get enough volume to be heard.This is the big amp phase
3. Find your sound on the amp and then leave it alone.
4. Then get the bass of your dreams.
Originally posted by JoeRules00
The next day, my Crate BX-100 arrives. I still play it with my Squier P-Bass.
Joe is happy!!
id have to say amp to...o and by the way joe...i have the crate bx100 and i am happy to
First I had my HM4 and a fender frontman B15.....the sound is alright for that size amp, but I wanted something that made me sound more REAL. I spent 730 bucks on my rig, and I have a feeling it will last quite a while in my hands.
But like everyone said, it depends on the situation.
But like everyone said, it depends on the situation.
I voted amp, but back when all I had was a little Hondo, I went out and bought me a MIM Jazz. Well, even though it sounded better through my pos amp, 4 days later I went out and bought a better amp. I guess that's why I chose amp.
*(wow, there's really no moral to this story is there?)*
*(wow, there's really no moral to this story is there?)*
I was going to post this alone until I re-read the thread and saw Fuzzbasses's's answer:
"If tone was the next upgrade, I would get a better amp. If playability was the next upgrade, I would get a better bass."
I'd get a new amp first, unless your bass is so bad it is dragging down your playing (warped neck, worn frets, etc..). When I got my SVT, it made my cheapo Univox sound pretty decent. However, if I had bought a nice Fender bass and a cheap Crate amp, my sound would have sucked.
Also a good rig can highlight exactly what sounds bad about a bad bass.
just like how .mp3s sound fine through computer speakers, but put them on hi-fi audiophile speakers, and then they sound like crap.
just like how .mp3s sound fine through computer speakers, but put them on hi-fi audiophile speakers, and then they sound like crap.
I've gone with Bass over Amp so far. I originally had a pretty beat up Washburn bass, with a really bad amp. One Christmas/Birthday (same day) I got a new Peavey amp, because I had decided I really did like bass and wanted to continue. After a while, I upgraded my bass to a prett nice (at the time) Ibanez EDB605. I was again happy. I found a good deal on an Amp, so I bought that, and was much more impressed witht he sound i got out of the bigger amp (35 watts to 100 watts)
Then I was determined to get a warwick. I found one and sold the ibanez and got the Warwick Corvette I have now. Once again I was much happier.
Now I'm in the same situation again I just couldn't stand the Ampeg (BA115 combo) with the warwick. I had a good bass, but I don't think it sounded as good as it should through what I had. So now i'm back to upgrading the amp/cab I just bought an Avatar 4X10 with the money I sold the ampeg for. Now I just have to get the amp. Hopefully that'll solve my GASing for a while. 
Then I was determined to get a warwick. I found one and sold the ibanez and got the Warwick Corvette I have now. Once again I was much happier.
Now I'm in the same situation again
I just couldn't stand the Ampeg (BA115 combo) with the warwick. I had a good bass, but I don't think it sounded as good as it should through what I had. So now i'm back to upgrading the amp/cab I just bought an Avatar 4X10 with the money I sold the ampeg for. Now I just have to get the amp. Hopefully that'll solve my GASing for a while. 
Had OK bass and weak rig. Got new rig, still had OK bass. Got new better bass, along with new rig. Better.
Now upgrading skills.
Now upgrading skills.
I'd say good bass/bad amp rather than the opposite. The instrument is what you play, what your hands need to get used to. The amp is important too, but sometimes you perhaps play through a PA and only use the amp for monitoring, other times you perhaps want to record the bass. In those scenarios your nice amp is of no value and you stand there with your "***ty ass bass".
