I need bass gear advice!

[Wes Mantooth]

So finally joined a good band, we finished four songs in one practice and it felt great

I'll be playing bass though which means I need to get some gear as I've always been a guitarist. My plan:

- Use my 90 Watt Hovercraft Andromeda for an amp. I used a 30 watt Fender Rumbler at practice and it kept up pretty well, just lacked umph and clarity. I'll be playing dirty too so a bunch of clean headroom isn't necessary. You think it will keep up for playing shows?

- Get a bass cab. This is where I'm lost. 4x10 with a 1x15 maybe? What should I look for on Craigslist? Found an Ampeg 4x10 Classic for $100 locally, worth it?

- Finally, I need a bass, budget is around just $300-$500, what should I look for?

I should be getting a job offer today with a solid salary (even though I dread starting a 9-5, I have to) so over the months I can add more parts to the rig. The music is just noisy, garage-y surf rock, and I've been using an Eau Claire Thunder to make my bass fuzzy as hell.

[D.o.S.]

Bass cab is entirely due to preference, which you don't have, and how much PA support you're looking at. its hard to beat a 4x10 for a benjamin, assuming it works. ~100 watts through a 4x10 should be fine, but I don't know how much low end the Hovercraft has on tap or how much low end you want to put into your bass tone.

There are hundreds of basses available in that price range, maybe post some sonic samples of what you think of when you think 'good bass tone for this band'?

Also jesus fucking christ change that avatar I almost had epilepsy typing this response.

[Wes Mantooth]

Bass cab is entirely due to preference, which you don't have, and how much PA support you're looking at. its hard to beat a 4x10 for a benjamin, assuming it works. ~100 watts through a 4x10 should be fine, but I don't know how much low end the Hovercraft has on tap or how much low end you want to put into your bass tone.

There are hundreds of basses available in that price range, maybe post some sonic samples of what you think of when you think 'good bass tone for this band'?

Also jesus fucking christ change that avatar I almost had epilepsy typing this response.

Surprised you just noticed it, I've had it for a while. Yeah it's time for a change though...

Anyway, on guitar, the Andromeda has had more than enough low end. I'll try it on bass and if it doesn't cut it I'll just sell it and go for something else. As far as bass sounds go, I'm looking for something that sounds has a similar tone to Fu Manchu or other typical stoner rock bands. I'll be using it for my doom/black metal stuff too.

[coldbrightsunlight]

4X10 alone should do you fine depending on the tone you want, volume wise I don't see it being an issue with 100W.

As for basses... P Bass? It's a classic for a reason! Squier make some pretty decent models.

[bronzetalon]

I was in a similar situation as you but used it as a excuse to finally get a science amps mother and 2x15 cab. On the bass front I would def check out the SUB series basses. They sound great and play great for the price. Their necks are slightly slimmer and thinner than most basses and accommodate guitar to bass players better.

[coldbrightsunlight]

Oo yeah those are pretty decent basses too. Big sound.

[Wes Mantooth]

I was in a similar situation as you but used it as a excuse to finally get a science amps mother and 2x15 cab. On the bass front I would def check out the SUB series basses. They sound great and play great for the price. Their necks are slightly slimmer and thinner than most basses and accommodate guitar to bass players better.

That's perfect, I have small hands as is.

Thanks for the suggestions so far everyone! Definitely will be using my bass playing to eventually get some really nice loud fucking amps but I'll have to save a bit first

[frigid midget]

I don't have a ton of experience with bass gear, but I do know that ,just like with guitar gear, you don't have to spend a fortune to get a killer bass tone.

Even more so than with guitars, if a bass *feels* good unplugged, there's a small chance you'll be dissapointed.

I doubt any adience would hear the difference between a SBMM Sub series stingray and its pricey MM cousin. Great basses imo, with slim necks if that's what you're after. Can't beat a giid jazzbazz either though, and the same rule applies imo. Anything out of the mim Classic seris is a great, if not better, bang for the buck than USA fenders.

I really had to keep my budget in check when I was shopping for a bass rig back in the day. I figured I'd start off modest, and upgrade later on as my bank acount and bank progessed:)
Never felt the need to upgrade anything, I'd probably look for the exact same stuff if my rig ever got stolen or anything.

I'm rocking an older Gallien-Krueger RBIII head with a totally beat up 410HLF ampeg cab. Used ampeg cabs aren't too hard to come by, and they will get the job done, no matter what nay sayers or snobs or whatever tell you about ampeg. I don't really give a shit about their business ethics or marketing strategies or whatever, I just know they make a decent bass cab for not too much money. $100 for that ampeg 4x10 is a steal imo, especially if it's the HLF version. Keep in mind btw, the HE version is 8ohm.

[BassIsBad]

I personally think the best bang for your buck bass rig is the Hartke LH1000 (or 500) amps with the Hydrive cabs, if they are within your price range. However, it may not be the sound you are looking for. If you are looking for a very bright, hi-fi sound they rock. Also, try to get your hands on some used Carvin gear. They usually have very affordable used prices. The BX line of bass amps sounds really good.

[wdinc01]

For that price range, you could check out the used section of your local Guitar Center or other guitar shops (assuming there's a good one where you live) and see what they have and what feels good to you. I would suggest checking out a G&L if they have any. For some reason they're always relatively cheap whenever I find one at a Guitar Center. Other suggestions: old MIA Peavey basses. The T-40 might be out of your price range (and is a boat anchor from what I hear), but you might be able to find a decent one at a pawn shop. Just keep your eyes peeled!

[greyscales]

It sounds like you'd need a P-bass over a Jazz, if you're into Fender/Squier basses. I can't really see a Jazz Bass working well for black metal.
Good Squiers are definitely in your price range. And they're solid instruments. You would even have money leftover to use on another cab/pedals/mischief. No experience with Musicman/Sub basses personally.

For the variety of genres you want to play, I'd say go with 10" speakers over a 15". But maybe both would be even better?

[KaosCill8r]

It sounds like you'd need a P-bass over a Jazz, if you're into Fender/Squier basses. I can't really see a Jazz Bass working well for black metal.
Good Squiers are definitely in your price range. And they're solid instruments. You would even have money leftover to use on another cab/pedals/mischief. No experience with Musicman/Sub basses personally.

For the variety of genres you want to play, I'd say go with 10" speakers over a 15". But maybe both would be even better?

Definitely check out the squier basses. If they are anything like their guitar counterparts, they are awesome when you are on a budget. I recently bought a squier vintage modified h/h jag. Switched the stock humbuckers with genuine duncan humbuckers. Switched the tone caps out for some soviet P.I.O caps, gave it a good setup and it plays and sounds fantastic. Would put it up against a mim fender any day of the week.

[MEC]

- Finally, I need a bass, budget is around just $300-$500, what should I look for?

http://ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=41379

[Bassus Sanguinis]

4X10 is perfect. If You plan to play shows regularly, it's more convenient - IMHO - to have separate two cabs than a huge with more than four elements. Cabs with neodymium magnets cost a bit more but they don't weight and with four elements Your back will thank You. ALSO, it has to have two handles, unlike some huge 15" Peaveys I've had. Unless You ca afford a stage hand. Or the guys in the band lift weights and enjoy carrying around Your cabs

If the amp has a good low end, You might want a 15" element cab, too, or 18" for clarity (or BOTH, if You're mad and like to carry heavy cabs :P ). Especially if You're using a 5 string bass or tune below E. A mad fuzz lover will probably however get away with a 15".

Besides my Hughes & Kettner Quantum 600 stack I've regularly used Peavey 5015, Laney Klipp 100, and Marshall JCM900 for bass amp, too. Only the Laney Klipp has that seriously massive low end but then again there's nearly always been mor than one bass player in my bands and I'm more known as that guy with ear piercing highs

For a first bass... perhaps a prescision or a jazz? Especially if You plan to gig around and if You play clean, since those are the basses the sound guys are ALWAYS familiar with. Many basses have J & P pup combination that can be a nice way to have both. And with distortion there's a considerable difference between them. Also, if the bass has active preamp, it's nice to have a switch to turn it off because not all pedals handle them and I'm sure You'll be stomping on them. Unless the preamp is really cool. (like MusicMan preamp that I just love - but as said, I'm a treble guy)

When trying the instrument out, You can tell a lot about the sustain by the weight of the instrument and how it sounds unplugged - even more than with guitars I think. A wide strap and a good playing posture helps if it weights more than 9lbs.

Oh, and J bass has a really tight string spacing but some guys who started as guitarists say it's more appraoachable.

Also jesus fucking christ change that avatar I almost had epilepsy typing this response.

SO SOOOOORRRRYYYYYYYYYY

[Deltaphoenix]

- Finally, I need a bass, budget is around just $300-$500, what should I look for?

http://ilovefuzz.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=41379

That is a sweet bass.

I wrote a really long reply over an hour ago…now I don't see it.
Same with JWAR's reply...