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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
#601
The key phrase I'm picking out of the op is 'not exceptionally good' suggesting you have good, not great gear.

Hmm tricky one. So if I'm in a situation with a bit of cash, average gear and a bout of GAS I'm gonna splash on a new (or at the very least, new to me) amplifier/cabs etx and get my average bass a proper set up, I'm then gonna sell my less that stellar amp to go towards either pedals or a second bass.
 
#602
Renegade bass said:
The key phrase I'm picking out of the op is 'not exceptionally good' suggesting you have good, not great gear.

Hmm tricky one. So if I'm in a situation with a bit of cash, average gear and a bout of GAS I'm gonna splash on a new (or at the very least, new to me) amplifier/cabs etx and get my average bass a proper set up, I'm then gonna sell my less that stellar amp to go towards either pedals or a second bass.
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FYI, OP started this thread in 2002
 
#603
I'm gonna go with the Carrots please. I LIKE Carrots. :thumbsup::woot:

images.jpeg
 
#608
J-Mags said:
It depends which one is most wanting. You can spend perfectly good with a Squier into a Rumble 200, but eventually one of them is gonna grate on you.

A lot of the limitations of a cheap bass can be dealt with piecemeal on the cheap. That's not as true of amps.
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I avoided the bass "bug" quite a few times in order to get a solid rig. So glad I did! I don't need $1,500-$2,000 basses. Amps? Hell ya!
 
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#614
I like how long after OP left, this has become a 31 page general discussion on the topic. :D

Of course so many variables, and it really depends on both what you have, and what your goals are.

A few circumstances I can think of would warrant a bass upgrade:
-so sorry it can't be setup
-extreme specs causing discomfort; neck specs, over-weight, under-weight (neck dive), scale, etc
-ABG if you ever wanna get out in a band.
-if you need a 5 (or other bass that's offering something new).

But in most cases, it's the amp. Not necessarily a better amp, but a bigger amp will open more doors to play with others. Now, an at-home player may never need more than a 25watt amp.

If we're taking about a Squier PJ pack; I can tell you I could do anything I'm doing now with any Squier I've tried- but that baby Rumble would hafta get upgraded!
 
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#615
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.
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Familiarity of instruments before increased amplification was my path.

I acquired my three Fenders while making do with a Phil Jones Double Four for practice and sending files to bandmates. I previously had a Peavey combo that died an early death. Now I'm upgrading to an Ampeg PF-50T paired with a Mesa Boogie Subway SW115. Same tasks, bigger footprint.
 
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#616
CallMeAl said:
I like how long after OP left, this has become a 31 page general discussion on the topic. :D

Of course so many variables, and it really depends on both what you have, and what your goals are.

A few circumstances I can think of would warrant a bass upgrade:
-so sorry it can't be setup
-extreme specs causing discomfort; neck specs, over-weight, under-weight (neck dive), scale, etc
-ABG if you ever wanna get out in a band.
-if you need a 5 (or other bass that's offering something new).

But in most cases, it's the amp. Not necessarily a better amp, but a bigger amp will open more doors to play with others. Now, an at-home player may never need more than a 25watt amp.

If we're taking about a Squier PJ pack; I can tell you I could do anything I'm doing now with any Squier I've tried- but that baby Rumble would hafta get upgraded!
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————————————-
Lol-But I still get notifications and people still comment on it like a year later so I can't bring myself to close the thread even though I've acquired two basses since then (so next step is a better amp…Probably Next Fall…) :-)

Thanks! \m/
 
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#617
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.
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A better amp will make any bass sound better.

A better bass, will never make your amp sound better.
 
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#620
rickbass said:
I'm glad you said "opinions" because different aspects are more important to different people, just like some people rather have a fine ride and a crummy house because they spend more time on the road than they do at home.

I go the amp, anytime. A good preamp on an amp can make up for a lot of instrument deficiences. And being able to move a lot of air can impress.

Some of the knowledgable techies agree, too. Here one quote -

"Even the best guitar is not going to display its potential when played through an inexpensive, tiny, solid-state practice amp with an eight inch speaker. On the other hand a really good amp can make even an inexpensive guitar with weak pickups sound much better." - www.guitarnuts.com
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Agreed
 

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