You sure got a point there!if you struggled to play fretless after playing fretted it might be because you had to undo (work through) your 'fret dependency'. if you never become dependent on them in the first place = not the same experience!
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This is a great thread and should be stickied. The fact links are required to back up claims makes this thread great for noobs and vets alike.
wintremute
mediocrity at its finest
- Oct 16, 2014
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Math question. Do they take the 8% off of the original price, or off of the new price?
For example, if you buy something that costs $100, after the 15% off it's $85. If the 8% is applied at this time, then it's $78.20 (8% of 85 is 6.8), so the total is 21.8% off.
A 40 watt amp ain't gig worthy!
Squier Bronco (assuming they are still made).
Not sure about an amp, as: 1) I would almost certainly recommend going used for that (way more bang for the buck), and 2) I'm not all that familiar with what's out there in the world of cheesy-yet-serviceable bass amps.
I had a Bronco for a while. I picked it up used like new off of Craig's List. I had plans to convert it into a Bass VI type instrument, but I ended up liking it as a regular bass. I used it for several gigs, and it was totally serviceable as stock (the stock strings were the only real weak point). I only sold it because it was a bit redundant, and I really was on a downsizing binge. I didn't let it go far, though; my sister-in-law bought it.
Not sure about an amp, as: 1) I would almost certainly recommend going used for that (way more bang for the buck), and 2) I'm not all that familiar with what's out there in the world of cheesy-yet-serviceable bass amps.
I had a Bronco for a while. I picked it up used like new off of Craig's List. I had plans to convert it into a Bass VI type instrument, but I ended up liking it as a regular bass. I used it for several gigs, and it was totally serviceable as stock (the stock strings were the only real weak point). I only sold it because it was a bit redundant, and I really was on a downsizing binge. I didn't let it go far, though; my sister-in-law bought it.
my picks:
YAMAHA TRBX174 $199
paired with:
PEAVEY TOUR TKO 1X15 400WATTS $499
Good expandability, good base power, flipback and excellent feature
So, my rig is at $700. I think it has great quality and longevity though. Solid rep on the Yamaha bass, and the bridge pickup gives useful versatility. The amp will drive another cab with plenty of power (one hopes).
I would also add though some kind of multi-FX / compressor to complete the palette, like the VOX STOMPLAB that runs $70 new.
YAMAHA TRBX174 $199
paired with:
PEAVEY TOUR TKO 1X15 400WATTS $499
Good expandability, good base power, flipback and excellent feature
So, my rig is at $700. I think it has great quality and longevity though. Solid rep on the Yamaha bass, and the bridge pickup gives useful versatility. The amp will drive another cab with plenty of power (one hopes).
I would also add though some kind of multi-FX / compressor to complete the palette, like the VOX STOMPLAB that runs $70 new.
Over here in Europe there's at least 20% tax on purchases so prices are higher.
I'd go either the Harley Benton PB-50 or the JB-75. I've owned both,definitely gig worthy.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_50_sb_vintage_series.htm £96.29
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75mn_sb_vintage_series.htm £121.91
The PB-50 I prefer with flats and the JB-75 weighs 12lb so recommend a padded strap.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomastik_jf344.htm £37.10
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_guitarstrap_padded_black.htm £17.49
This Ashdown combo should be loud enough for most gigs being 300 watts
https://www.thomann.de/gb/ashdown_toneman_c115_evo_iii.htm
The JB-75,padded strap and Ashdown can be bought as a bundle for £437.29 inc delivery and 3 year warranty.
PB-50,TI jazz flats and Ashdown combo come to £441.71 inc delivery and 3 year warranty
I'd go either the Harley Benton PB-50 or the JB-75. I've owned both,definitely gig worthy.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_pb_50_sb_vintage_series.htm £96.29
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_75mn_sb_vintage_series.htm £121.91
The PB-50 I prefer with flats and the JB-75 weighs 12lb so recommend a padded strap.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomastik_jf344.htm £37.10
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_guitarstrap_padded_black.htm £17.49
This Ashdown combo should be loud enough for most gigs being 300 watts
https://www.thomann.de/gb/ashdown_toneman_c115_evo_iii.htm
The JB-75,padded strap and Ashdown can be bought as a bundle for £437.29 inc delivery and 3 year warranty.
PB-50,TI jazz flats and Ashdown combo come to £441.71 inc delivery and 3 year warranty
Hey Joe!!
I could see hitting a club w a Fender Rumble and a Squier Affinity PJ... wouldn't be ideal, but it would certainly work, and possibly even well.
At $200 a piece, that's a $400 giggable rig (cheaper than some of my pedals ). Not to bad...
I could see hitting a club w a Fender Rumble and a Squier Affinity PJ... wouldn't be ideal, but it would certainly work, and possibly even well.
At $200 a piece, that's a $400 giggable rig (cheaper than some of my pedals
). Not to bad...
$200 for a setup? Who's your luthier?Include one to two hundred more for a proper setup for that bass. Without a proper setup the player is going to get discouraged
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
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Well you are specific cost me very on shipping but I'm going to give my cost.
SX Ursa 3 RN 3TS Alder. $169.99 after shipping to Coastal Texas. Add another $50 for strings and a setup at a shop.
That Peavey Max 115 that was mentioned in the first post would probably be my bottom dollar choice for a gigable amp however I would seriously consider spending some extra money 4 an Ampeg BA210v2, or a fender Rumble 500 combo. Yes those are considerably more expensive but at least in my book there considerably better amplifiers.
SX Ursa 3 RN 3TS Alder. $169.99 after shipping to Coastal Texas. Add another $50 for strings and a setup at a shop.
That Peavey Max 115 that was mentioned in the first post would probably be my bottom dollar choice for a gigable amp however I would seriously consider spending some extra money 4 an Ampeg BA210v2, or a fender Rumble 500 combo. Yes those are considerably more expensive but at least in my book there considerably better amplifiers.
With new strings, the nut filed properly and frets dressed it could run north of $100 no problem. I do my own and generally don't change out the stock strings immediately so free for me
. But I think it's unrealistic to expect a noob who hasn't played a note yet to learn first to do setups 
. Nothing consigned a new instrument to the closet faster than being hard to play .
Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,454
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- Disclosures
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With new strings, the nut filed properly and frets dressed it could run north of $100 no problem. I do my own and generally don't change out the stock strings immediately so free for me
The first lesson I was given when I first picked up a base was how to change strings and set intonation period before I even plucked a single note! I don't think it's unreasonable 4 an instrument that left the factory with maybe some iffy strings 2 need new strings and intonation setup but everything else should more or less be smooth on. I haven't had to touch the truss rod on any of my SX instruments. My Squier finally needed a tiny tweak after what's it been 4 years? So yeah I think the Squire has needed more fiddling than the sxes although the strings that came on it we're certainly better I did have to polish the Fret ends to get them the way I like them and I did have to set the action as it was a little high from the factory for my taste however the way I have it set a friend of mine who plays as well hates hello my action is he always sets his action pretty much where Fender had it set.
That is the only proper P-Bass pup configuration. What a paradox. Leo's greatest invention and one detail being his greatest error.
good choice
but to be gigable it has to be red!!!!!amps can be had B stock (some killer deals!!!) with a full warranty (3 years!)
Wise(b)ass
I must have been lucky. I have never felt the need to "fix" a new bass, including the cheapish Squires I played for a lot of years. Good enough for me, out of the box. And probably good enough for someone just picking up the bass as well, otherwise help him with a few minutes of adjusting the string heights.
I'm going to take an alternative route to "cheap" - interest-free financing. Get a Sweetwater card, and then...
Yamaha BB234, $299 = $13/month for 24 months.
Yamaha BB234 - Vintage White
Peavey MAX115 (agreed, not seeing a cheaper amp with enough power to gig with): $299 = $13/24 months.
Peavey MAX 115 1x15" 300-Watt Bass Combo
And just for whiz-bang let's do effects and throw in a Zoom B3, where Sweetwater is currently selling their demo model for $179 ($8/month):
Zoom B3 Bass Multi Effects
By my calculations, that adds up to $787 total, but paying $34 a month for two years.
Yamaha BB234, $299 = $13/month for 24 months.
Yamaha BB234 - Vintage White
Peavey MAX115 (agreed, not seeing a cheaper amp with enough power to gig with): $299 = $13/24 months.
Peavey MAX 115 1x15" 300-Watt Bass Combo
And just for whiz-bang let's do effects and throw in a Zoom B3, where Sweetwater is currently selling their demo model for $179 ($8/month):
Zoom B3 Bass Multi Effects
By my calculations, that adds up to $787 total, but paying $34 a month for two years.
