Your Rig - where's your biggest cost?

[43ManSquamish]

Bought a new Ric 4003 in 2015 that set me back about $62,000.

$60,000 of that was a completely remodeled kitchen. She got a new kitchen and I got a new bass.

Therefore, for me, the bass is the most expensive part of my “rig”.

I usually say that my next bass will be my most expensive since it will probably come with a divorce.

Actually, my lovely wife and I have an agreement: she doesn't ask me how many basses I have, and I don't ask her how many mermaid tails she has. We both let our freak flag fly in different ways.

As to the biggest cost, it's the bass. Rics don't come cheap. My next expensive was just under a grand. Amps would be next at about $600.

 

[BaltBass5]

I tend to play high end basses (Lakland USA, Fender Custom Shop Jazzes, Spector. Since it’s hard to spend that much on amps and cabs it’s just the way it works out.

Average cost of my basses is about $2k each.

Amp heads average about $1K each

Cabs average about $1k each

All pedals combined about $1K total

 

[Plectrum72]

It's easy to spend $500+ on a good amp and $500+ on a good cab (assuming all are bought new). A GK MB500 and a couple 212 Neos will set you back about $2K. MOST brand new Fender basses are under $2K. Heck there are a lot of quality basses available new for under $2K.

My GK setup (described above) cost more than any individual bass I own, have owned, or aspire to own; however, I'm a sucker for high-quality/low-to-mid-price basses. My Peavey VB-2 & VB810 setup were acquired used for about $600 total which is about equal to some of my gigging basses and lower than other basses I gig with. So, I guess it depends on the gig.

Side question: Do wireless instrument systems count as part of the amp setup or part of the pedal setup? Or does it depend on whether it's rackmounted or on the pedal board?

 

[nostatic]

If you post this in the effects forum, you'll probably get very different results

 

[Jeff Scott]

I have a fair amount into my amp and cabs, but my bass(es), even one of them, exceeds that, so bass it is.

 

[kesslari]

If you post this in the effects forum, you'll probably get very different results

I had that same thought. But I figured that this would be a broader cross section. More "effects guys" post in basses than "non-effects guys" do in FX, and that's a good thing IMO.

 

[Kmonk]

I play MIA Fender and Spector basses through a U.S SVT head and either a U.S made SVT 810 or U.S. made 410HLF depending on the venue. I also have a backup U.S. made SVT head and 410HLF but in total, I have more invested in basses than amps. However, in a one on one comparison, my bass amp is worth more than any of my basses are individually.

 

[Mike.C.]

2x12 cab.

 

[Mordamir]

I like buying beat up junk and fixing it, all my guitars were under $200 each (even my beloved Spector). But I've got about a grand in my amp. Thankfully I traded for the amp when my friend was trying sell it.

 

[Bass'd on a true story]

Beer.

 

[CTBassGuy]

Overall, about 50% of my spend is in basses, 40% in amps/cabs and 10% in pedals.

For the rig I am going to use tomorrow for our show, about 40% in the bass, 35% in the amp and cab, and 25% in the pedals (not counting backup bass, amp etc...)

 

[wildman2]

Voted amp.My amp and cab SVT cl head and 810 cab were quite a bit more than my used stingray 4hh.

 

[juancaminos]

View attachment 3185863

Either of those Rickenbacker basses individually were higher cost than the amp - got the 8x10 used and the PF-800 was like $400. Adding the costs of the pedal board was actually more than the amp. And my IEM setup was also more then the amp, but less than the bass.

Hey that's at The Beaver Bar! Michael (Beaver) and Tammy (Roz) are great friends of mine (Tequila John). Just saw The Visitors there last week end.

 

[Positive Light]

Interesting thread! Simply by coincidence, amp, cabs,and bass all come in at around $500 a piece (give or take). Didn’t plan it that way...it just “is.”

 

[Funky Ghost]

the highest cost could be anywhere..depending on what you are after..but its almost a numbskull issue..just like the thread that was asking about wood types in an instrument..you can google items like that and get plenty of info..

So what you're saying is you didn't get the idea of the thread.

Got it.

 

[elgranluis]

My bAss is almost always my biggest cost because I only play the “old, expensive stuff”.

If I didn’t , then my money goes to the amp , because I only play the all tube svt. The old one , too.

 

[2cooltoolz]

I'm a little bit heavier in on my amp rig than any single bass, but it's close. On the other hand, I have WAY more invested in basses than amps.

 

[hondo4life]

Lots more money in my amps, but lots more time building/modifying/setting up my "cheap" basses. Time is money, right?

 

[Nephilymbass]

the most expensive single piece of gear I own is my dingwall. But I guess it depends on if you include the pedalboard as part of the “rig”or not. I know for me a lot of my tone comes from my pedalboard

The dingwall gets the most action at gigs. Love that bass, especially for the deep low b and drop A stuff. I actually play my cheap made in China fender acoustic the most at home lately. It’s so easy to just grab and play without having to plug anything in and i won’t leave an expensive bass out for the kids or cats to mess with.

My pedalboard is laughably expensive considering how tiny it is. Not even adding it up I’m pretty sure it’s over a grand and I really only turn the DG pedals on and off lol. The other two are always on. The Darkglass pedals particularly the Alpha Omega weren’t cheap, the shure glxd was the most expensive. The compressor and Cioks power supply underneath weren’t too pricey. I used to have a bigger board with a lot of cheaper pedals but eventually went the quality over quantity route because over the years I found at least for the music I play with the band that I use a couple effects a lot and others very rarely. For example, I had several chorus and delay pedals over the years but I would only use them for one part of one song during an entire gig if at all.

Rig wise my setup is basically just a pedal platform for bass or a good DI with a “bass monitor” however you want to look at it. I got the Avalon u5 after using the Avalon 737 in the studio. Not exactly as great as it’s much more expensive and heavier tube big brother but It has been a good unit that i definitely got my money out of. I run the mic level xlr to foh, the line level out feeds the crown power amp. I picked up the Avalon used for about half it’s new price. I got the crown on sale new for around $300. The Ampeg cabs I bought new and paid full price.

I tend to go back and forth between wanting more gear and trying to avoid me becoming a hoarder lol. But the few things on my shopping list include a new bass for flatwounds, a bass head either as a replacement or backup. And I’ll likely fill the space left on my pedalboard with an octave but I just can’t make up my mind.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

My bass. US Lākland 44-60. Probably done at least 150+ gigs a year with it since 2011. Best sounding bass I've ever touched. Has payed for itself many many times over.