Advice on small bass combo

[Garry Sharp]

I need to buy a small (30W - ish) bass combo for practice and home recording, with a line out so I can DI it for gigs. (So far I've just been DI-ing into our home PA for practising and I want more control over the sound).

Will look at both second hand and new - budget (I'm in the UK where things are more expensive - think £ for $) is about £200 or so.

Any advice or suggestions would be gratefully received.

Thanks, Garry

 

[DeadPoet]

Behringer seems to be accepted by the HR.com basscommunity. (don't know them myself). Cheap, portable and should do the trick. Maybe if you invest in a D.I. better than the one that comes with it you could get by for a couple of hundred bucks.


Herwig

 

[Garry Sharp]

Herwig - yeah, the BX300 seems to be well received. With questions like this people always advise going into shops and trying them, but I hate doing that (I'm very shy!) and anyway that setting doesn't really give you much of a feel.

 

[DeadPoet]

True.

In the end is the amp the least determining factor of your rig. When playing with P.A. it's only there to be able not to depend on monitors (which don't have that punch bass players like to hear).
Having a good DI in it is cool, but most engineers prefer working with theirs anyways. (I know, I have to convince them everytime again that the tube DI in my swr head is not going to hiss or have a ground loop hum ....)

No matter what amp you have, the bass and your playing is most determining to your sound. (though having a great amp is a blessing of course, it's easier working like that)

Don't be shy going into shops and asking around. I see you live in London, plenty of choice there! Just play and try them out. I went for an amp that sounded great when having all sound knobs at 'zero'.

Good luck.


Herwig

 

[complexprocess]

I think he meant shy as in embarassed to play out loud in the shop with everyone listening.
You migth consider bringing an experienced bass player friend who's playing you're familiar with, and whatever bass you'll be playing, and have him or her test amps while you listen. You won't get the same exact sound as your friend (they say it's in the fingers) but you'll see how the amps controls color (colour to you ) your friend's sound.