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Post subject: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please...
Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 10:09 pm
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There is a used Bassman 200 advertised locally. Would this be overkill for someone starting out?

This is what is on its way (seller's pics):
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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 11:09 am
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I am a total newbie...

40 years old and finally pursuing this. I do have an old acoustic guitar I have hacked around on but essentially I am a total newbie. I have some beginner Bass DVDs and the bass for Dummies book. I also plan to take some lessons.

For the most part it is just going to be me practising by myself, taking the amp to lessons and occasionally jamming with my old bandmates (in the 1980s I was the singer).

If I ever got good enough to to gig then I could upgrade the gear then. Essentially I need something decent enough to get a good tone out of and also be somewhat portable.


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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 11:50 am
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I guess a budget # would help as well. Somewhere between $200-$400 should do the trick. The Bassman 200 I am looking at is $450 used (CDN).


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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 1:28 pm
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Here's a reasonable review I found:
http://www.epinions.com/review/Fender_B ... 5376802436

The review suggests that the 200 is a couple steps above beginner, but that's okay in your case. You're older likely to be dedicated and may soon be jamming with others. You'd quickly outgrow a small, pure practice amp (like my Acoustic B20); so if you can afford only one, and that includes the 200, I think it would make a very reasonable choice.

I have a Bassman 210/250 and my comments would be about the same: for all around sound, a good choice and more than adequate for home, rehearsal and small gigs.


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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 1:34 pm
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Thanks for the feedback. If I can get decent enough I would love to join a local band at some point and play some of the small pubs and venues around here. The Bassman 200 sounds like it is capable of being able to work in smaller venues.

65 lbs is not exactly "portable" but most of the units I have been researching seem to be anywhere from 45-65 lbs anyways. Even the Rumble 75 seems to be fairly hefty.


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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2011 9:13 pm
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philip602 wrote:
The review suggests that the 200 is a couple steps above beginner, but that's okay in your case. You're older likely to be dedicated and may soon be jamming with others. You'd quickly outgrow a small, pure practice amp (like my Acoustic B20); so if you can afford only one, and that includes the 200, I think it would make a very reasonable choice.


+1

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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Mon Jan 10, 2011 7:57 pm
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How about a Fender Pro 400? I found one locally for not much more than the Bassman 200. :)
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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 7:55 pm
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I have three used options available at present.

Marshall B150:
Image

Fender Pro 400:
Image

Fender Bassman 200:
Image

Of these three which one would you recommend and why.


Thank you.


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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:01 pm
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The Fender Pro 400 is a newer platform which means repair parts -- if they ever become necessary -- will be more readily plentiful. As well, it's a more powerful rig with more features -- thus, it offers "growth potential" as your playing matures and you become more confident in your skills and more sonically-aware of your tone.

JMO, HTH

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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:58 pm
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Thanks for the feedback. From reviews I have read the 400 is a pretty good unit. My only concern is that it weighs over 80 lbs. I guess I would not be lugging that out of the house for bass lessons!


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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2011 2:52 pm
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Zoodles95 -

Just a thought - but this may work out for you for awhile...

The Squire P-Bass has a fairly high passive output. If your home stereo system has a stand alone subwoofer, you just may be able to use that for awhile without the expense of an actual bass amp... just until you get somewhat familiar with things. This is done all the time. I have a Bassman 250-210 as well as a Rumble 100, but for home-practice, I use the Sony subwoofer from my home theater system and it works as well as my Rumble 100... in fact, the open low E is better on the Sony SA-WM250 subwoofer than it is on the Rumble 100 (room acoustics at work). Also, a teacher will usually have a bass amp at the classroom so you don't have to lug one around.

If you just wish to practice and get fairly good before you make the next investment, this may be something for you to consider. Most subwoofers use an RCA input jack, so all you have to do is make up an adapter with a female jack for your guitar cord on one end and a male RCA plug on the other end of the adapter to get into the subwoofer input.

Best of luck.

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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:52 pm
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fasjb wrote:
Hey Zoodles95; Do anything on an amp yet? By the way, you're bass looks really great.


Hi!

Actually the Mrs. and I have been in Aruba all week. I will re-visit this when I get back in the saddle on Monday. As for the other poster who made an interesting suggestion about using a subwoofer... Sadly, I am so "old school" that my main stereo is still "2 channel".

I saw a phenomenal bass player last night in a band my wife and I saw at a pub close to our hotel. He had a nicely worn Fender Jazz Bass and I enjoyed listening to him.


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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:49 am
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I have a Bassman 400 that I am quite fond of, but I never use it. With the volume set at 2, it rattles my windows. I occassionally let a friend use it as a guitar amp. I am head-over-heels with my GK head and SWR cab. They sound phoenominal and are so incredibly loud, full, and bassy that they will make your BONES vibrate. :twisted:
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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 6:20 pm
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Zoedles95, unless you're paying for boutique brands, are instrument calls for heavy duty amplification. If you're buying boutique brands, you're spending lots more than the $200 - $400 range sir. Try out Mark Bass, they're pricey, but middle weight of the bunch. Hartke combos are decent weight too with a good price. fjbass just got a Hartke Hydrive combo, maybe he can give you an idea how heavy the Hydrive combo is.

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Post subject: Re: Just bought my first bass... Amp recommendation please..
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:52 pm
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If you think you'll stick with it and can afford it then no I'd get it if it sounds good. You'll want to get an amp for gigs, this one, and a small one for practicing. I have a couple of Fender tube Bassman amps and I love them.


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