Bass kit

GreenKnee · Post by **GreenKnee** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:42 am

So I've just started playing bass in a mate's band, and I need to sort myself out some kit!

I have been using some no-brand jazz bass and a little horrible line6 bass amp, but now we've got some gigs booked I want my own stuff really. When I played bass previously, I had a Mexican Jazz bass, which was nice, but I want something a little more different.

This is the sexiest bass I think I've ever seen, but I don't think I'd be a fan of the big fat hambacker, and the price is a tad too much.

Anybody got any recommendations for good basses and amps? How are the Squier Mustang basses?

Jack

robert(original) · Post by **robert(original)** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:47 am

personally the mexican fender jazz bass can still be had for a good price second hand and they are well worth it, i had mine for... 12 years, gigged it all over the place, recorded with it, and kept it stock minus the pg and a vol knob that pooped out on me.
as far as amps ive never owned a very good bass amp, but while with the ronald raygun i had the pleasure of using an 1x15 combo amp. it kept up with aens twin and the other guitar players 4x12 hotrod and a drummer that sounded bigger and louder than GOD.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:48 am

Depending on budget I'd always recommend the TC Electronic bass stuff, I play with a few different bassists and they've all started moving towards this brand. Their stuff is super lightweight and sounds awesome.

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:15 pm

I have a Laney RB9 head and a Ashdown 4X10 cab. Loud and sounds good. The head has a EQ on it, which is nice. And both were really cheap.

damienblair17 · Post by **damienblair17** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:05 pm

Check out the Ampeg BA115 (1x15 combo amp) or the Ashdown Mag series (combo or head/cab). Acoustic makes some good stuff too and would probably be the least expensive of the three brands.

As far as Basses go, how much do you want to spend, and what type of sound are you looking for? Jazz Bass should cover you for most things, but if you're looking for a P bass sound, or a soapbar sound, there are other options.

GreenKnee · Post by **GreenKnee** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:55 pm

I've no idea what sort of sound I want haha, which is strange cause I'm so picky with my guitar sound!

We recorded an album last year http://petrock2.bandcamp.com/ where I just used the GarageBand amp sims and things for the bass sound.

From practicing with a cheap j bass rip off, and using one in a previous band, I want to try something different. I might try out a squier mustang bass as I've read good things about them.

Thanks for the TC electronic tip, they've got really good reviews and are a decent price so I'm definitely going to try them out

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:30 am

Amp wise, the Ampeg Portaflex 500W version and 210 are a good value, I think.

Bass-wise, until you get a chance to really go test things out I suggest getting a Squier Jaguar SS; they're SUPER cheap and great playing, decent sounding basses. With $200 down (taxes in), you'll be impressed, and if you find something you like better later, it's cheap enough that if you want to replace it, it won't be much of a cash hurtle.

Mattsican · Post by **Mattsican** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 4:59 am

I'm buying that bass in a week.. so fucking legit looking and plays great. I'd say for amps though, anything Ampeg. It's impossible for it to sound bad. I the portaflex stuff seems like a good value, as is their Micro VR mini half stacks. If you get a tech 21 bass sansamp you can basically run thru anything and make it sound good. I've one of the 3 channel programmable ones and i've ran it straight thru my buddy's power amp into a 1x15 cab, i've used it stand alone into the PA of the venue and not even used an amp. Usually is what i do it i've a ampeg cl-350 (solid state) head and an ampeg 4x10 HLF cab i use with the sansamp in front of it. I plug the DI into the PA and thats what the sound guy uses and my amp is basically there just as a stage monitor.

ProcessedMeatMan · Post by **ProcessedMeatMan** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:12 am

I'm a huge fan of pretty much any bass Fender has produced. Japan, Mexico, USA, production place doesn't matter. They all sound pretty damn good. I'm partial to Jazz basses myself.

Overall though, I love me some Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray/Sterlings. They can be a bit pricey. There are some cheapo Korean made ones Sterling by MusicMan (SUB), iirc. They're in the $400-500 range, I think.

James · Post by **James** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 10:17 am

ProcessedMeatMan wrote:There are some cheapo Korean made ones Sterling by MusicMan (SUB), iirc. They're in the $400-500 range, I think.

SUB on ebay UK - I saw this looking for something else and put it on my watch list just to see the price it goes for.

Here are a few others from my watch list.

Cloud Bass - This has been listed at least twice at Â£299 w/ best offer. I imagine it's pretty good but being an unknown make is a bit of a risk. The most recent listing ended in the last half an hour, but you could probably contact the seller with an offer if you like it.

70s Yamaha - The guitar versions sell for about Â£380, I imagine the bass is worth around the same. Never played one but based on other things from that time it's likely to be great for the money.

90s RI Yamaha SBV only 3.5 hours left but still cheap, I would guess it will sell for Â£200-250

jagsonic · Post by **jagsonic** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 1:31 pm

I love my squier mustang bass. It's the black one and it sounds amazingly good. The neck is in a natural finish, very nice to play. And the weight....

is a featherdream.

Go for it.

If not, check a classic vibe jazzbass. Very good sounding thing. Or if you have a little more money to spend, go for a modern player jazz bass (if your band is a little bit noisy). This thing bumps your guitarists away

GreenKnee · Post by **GreenKnee** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:35 pm

Thanks for all the advice

Played a gig last night using our drummers American P-bass and it sounded lovely and was a delight to play. I've always chosen jazz over precision in the past, but it seems I've been swayed on to the other team.

If he'll let me buy it I will, otherwise ill buy my own, along with a tc electronic amp

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 2:47 pm

I much prefer p-basses but I like the look of jazz basses more. If I were to get one for myself though I'd probably pick up a MIM P-bass cheap on basschat.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:38 pm

stop being a dick.

squier vintage modified jazz bass.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 12:11 am

Mattsican wrote:I'm buying that bass in a week.. so fucking legit looking and plays great. I'd say for amps though, anything Ampeg. It's impossible for it to sound bad. I the portaflex stuff seems like a good value, as is their Micro VR mini half stacks. If you get a tech 21 bass sansamp you can basically run thru anything and make it sound good. I've one of the 3 channel programmable ones and i've ran it straight thru my buddy's power amp into a 1x15 cab, i've used it stand alone into the PA of the venue and not even used an amp. Usually is what i do it i've a ampeg cl-350 (solid state) head and an ampeg 4x10 HLF cab i use with the sansamp in front of it. I plug the DI into the PA and thats what the sound guy uses and my amp is basically there just as a stage monitor.

this is the best advice.

My sansamp is usually enough for me at most shows as long as I have a monitor on stage with my original band, and with my cover band I just plug into our PA and I stand near a speaker and I can hear myself fine. It also sounds awesome running straight into a power amp or cheaper amp into a nice cab. If you're going for a head and cab rig, make sure you get a nice cab, you can get by with a decent head and a sansamp. I've had friends with the solid state Ampeg 350h with a sansamp running straight into the power amp so they're really only using the ampeg as power and for volume to push their cab, and their rig has sounded pretty much identical to my all tube ampeg SVT 2 pro head! If you want a combo amp, the TC electronic stuff is pretty cool, sounds great, and is really lightweight and not too expensive as far as brand new bass amps go.

Mattsican · Post by **Mattsican** » Sun Feb 03, 2013 2:13 am

Billy3000 wrote:
Mattsican wrote:I'm buying that bass in a week.. so fucking legit looking and plays great. I'd say for amps though, anything Ampeg. It's impossible for it to sound bad. I the portaflex stuff seems like a good value, as is their Micro VR mini half stacks. If you get a tech 21 bass sansamp you can basically run thru anything and make it sound good. I've one of the 3 channel programmable ones and i've ran it straight thru my buddy's power amp into a 1x15 cab, i've used it stand alone into the PA of the venue and not even used an amp. Usually is what i do it i've a ampeg cl-350 (solid state) head and an ampeg 4x10 HLF cab i use with the sansamp in front of it. I plug the DI into the PA and thats what the sound guy uses and my amp is basically there just as a stage monitor.
this is the best advice.

My sansamp is usually enough for me at most shows as long as I have a monitor on stage with my original band, and with my cover band I just plug into our PA and I stand near a speaker and I can hear myself fine. It also sounds awesome running straight into a power amp or cheaper amp into a nice cab. If you're going for a head and cab rig, make sure you get a nice cab, you can get by with a decent head and a sansamp. I've had friends with the solid state Ampeg 350h with a sansamp running straight into the power amp so they're really only using the ampeg as power and for volume to push their cab, and their rig has sounded pretty much identical to my all tube ampeg SVT 2 pro head! If you want a combo amp, the TC electronic stuff is pretty cool, sounds great, and is really lightweight and not too expensive as far as brand new bass amps go.

I run my main EQ flat, and the other EQ off. EVERYTHING else is Sansamp.