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Post subject: Better to spend more on guitar or amp?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:42 am
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I'm a guitar player and happy with my current rig, but wanting to get into playing bass as well. Not being as familiar with bass gear as I am guitar gear, that is my question:

Should I spend more money on the bass, or spend more on the amp and get a starter bass that's really cheap?

I have about $400 I can spend right now and let me stress, I am looking for good starter gear, but also don't want to waste money on stuff I can't get rid of later when I move up.

thanks!


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:50 am
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I'm no expert, but can't you also hook up your bass to your guitar amp?
I think you should focus on the instrument, so you can learn how to master that, and when you know your way with the bass, you'll probably have enough money again for a better amp.

so... 250 Bass, 150 Amp

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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 11:58 am
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Since I've always viewed the instrument as more of a "work of art" than an amp, I would put my money into the guitar first.

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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 12:20 pm
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If I were you I'd get a $250-$300 bass and the rest on the amp. Because it's kind of pointless if you have a nice amp with a terrible playing and sounding bass. Plus when you get some more money in you can trade in the practice amp and get a nicer one.

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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:18 pm
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You don't to run that bass through your guitar amp, it's very easy to blow your speaker. Guitar speakers are not made to withstand the sudden, loud pops a bass will commonly do. I've used a guitar amp with a bass for gigs, but I've played bass a long time, and know exactly what NOT to do on an amp. Even then, I didn't like doing it. I'd advise against it.

$400 for a bass AND bass amp? If you spend $200 a piece for a bass and amp, they won't be good quality. Sure, you'll be able to sell those to anyone later, but low quality stuff depreciates fast, and you won't get anything near what you paid for it.

I'd say a higher quality bass, like a MIM Jazz or Precision, will be good enough quality to keep the value somewhat, be able to take your playing about as far as you'll want to go, be gig-worthy, and is something you can have for life if you want.

I'd say to get a MIM bass. Save up later for a similar "good" quality amp, not cheap, but around $500 or so at least. You don't want a junk budget rig that really doesn't do anything for you and is no inspiration for your bass playing.

If you're serious about it, buy the best you can afford, and then some. And with a bass, you can play it without an amp for quite a while to get your skills up. By that time, you'll have saved up something for an amp.


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:21 pm
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Initially I'd put more money into a guitar because a crappy sounding guitar will sound crappy through the world's best amp...but I guess one could also say a crappy amp will still sound crappy with the worlds best guitar plugged into it too :roll: I'd just get the best of what you can pay in full for. I know people do it, but I just cannot see financing a guitar or amp purchase, a car or house yes, but not an instrument...but maybe thats just me. Its not about how much your gear is though, its how good you can play it. I still believe that most of your favorite professional players, whoever that may be, will still play like themselves and still sound good whether they are playing on a $10 guitar or a $10,000 guitar. Back in the day, Michael Jordan could probably still slam dunk like no other whether he was wearing his shoes or someone elses...in a way its the player just as much, if not more, than the gear itself that depends on how something will sound.

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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 1:26 pm
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Initially I would put more into the guitar. as a few have stated, your gear chain is only as good as its weakest piece.(In my chain that's me :( )

The reason to focus on the guitar first would be that generally more expensive means better quality.Especially at the price level you are at.
While this applies both to the amp and the guitar, you are holding and handling the guitar. A higher quality instrument is definitely more enjoyable to play.


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 2:16 pm
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Purchase a MIM Jazz or P Bass and you'll have a great instrument. I bought a Standard Jazz Bass for my son this Christmas and it's really nice.

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Post subject: To Fret or Not To Fret? that is the new question!
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:10 pm
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Thanks to all who responded. Advice is noted and I am proceeding on that course now. I was just at my local store that I buy all my gear from. He's a fender dealer but MAN he was really pushing the ibanez basses on me. They are nice (well one was, one had razor blades for frets!) and they are well built for such a cheap price. but they all have that alien life form look. I'm more into the traditional style like the P and Js.

So in upping the price, I picked up a MIM wine colored P bass that was $450. played nice, comes with gig bag. Dealer will sell me NOS fender molded case for $50.

Of course my favorite was the arctic white with tortoise guard USA model with SKB case for $1099...can't go there....yet!

But then I picked up a black and white fretless jazz bass and fell in love. It was like I knew how to play, felt so good in my hands. I was hitting all the notes just fine (years of guitar i'm thinking helps that) and that i've got a good ear. It was just like butter! A little more in price, $30. But when I started to get serious about it, they both talked me out of it.

A little background, I buy all my gear from them, I trust them, they have been around since 1975 and they are great guys. So i can't imagine them leading me astray.

But I wanted to know, what do you guys say? Is buying a fretless for my first bass a bad idea and why?

THANKS to everyone!!!


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:17 pm
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Bought my son (16) a fretless jazz MIM, and it is an excellent addition.......

outstanding for the price- Got the floor model at GC a year ago for $350 OTD......


Fender rumble 100 amp made a stunning sound.....


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:35 pm
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okay, just spoke with the guy who runs the place I take lessons (that's all they do is lessons on guitar, bass, drums for kids and adults, plus jam sessions and rock school for the kids). I asked him about playing fretless first, he also recommended that I not do it.

So it looks like if I can cough up the extra money to get the P bass with the case, and a $100 amp, then i'm good to go!

Thanks for all your advice again! I'll post pics of it when it happens!


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 4:36 pm
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BLUESHACK wrote:
Bought my son (16) a fretless jazz MIM, and it is an excellent addition.......

outstanding for the price- Got the floor model at GC a year ago for $350 OTD......


Fender rumble 100 amp made a stunning sound.....


Wow, sure wish I could get that price. Plus tax this one without case is going to be over $500! IS that too much!? Wish I could find a deal!


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Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:13 pm
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Don't worry about salesman, they often work for commission, and I feel this sometimes influences their sales pitches. I often also think that if they are pushing some certain brand over and over again, they may be getting some sort of incentive other than a commission to do so. For example, Every sales employee of the store that sells the most of (insert brand here) for a given month will all get a free name-branded jacket...Just go with whatever feels AND sounds the best to you...

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2009 8:29 pm
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I would avoid the fretless as a first bass. Having the frets will make you a faster and more precise player. If you want a second bass, go for a fretless once you are more practiced.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jan 07, 2009 8:34 am
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thanks on the further advice against the fretless. they are fun to play but in a learning situation, and a part-time one (playing guitar mainly) at that, a fretted one is a better investment for me, I feel.

Right now my choice is a LN but used 2001 shoreline gold squier jazz bass with EMG pickups and gig bag for $225 shipped

or just go for the gusto with my dealer and order a new 2009 upgraded fender MIM standard in lake placid blue with maple fretboard for $449 with gig bag. I'll be buying an amp, strap and new strings (flatwounds) so he said he'd throw in the NOS fender molded SKB case. Which brings me exactly $200 more than my budget, but I'm thinking that is the best use of my money, my dealer is there to back me up if there is trouble and they will do all the set up, nut cutting (going to a 105 on the E and 45 on the G), neck adjustment, etc. Plus the fender name and the fact that I won't have to keep doing this, i'll have good resale value, and a nice neck to learn on.


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