Cheapest gig worthy bass and amp setup for bars. SHOOTOUT!

#41
Joe Nerve said:
This thread isn't for me, but rather for the newcomer - and for the rest of us have a little shopping fun without actually spending any money! Was inspired by another thread. I thought we could put together the best bargain package thread for people just starting out. I know I wish I had one of these early on :).

Rules!
  1. Must be new (so that all equipment is warrantied and returnable).
  2. Must be available at price stated (and links would be nice).
  3. Final price at bottom of post.
  4. If any discounts might apply, they need to be mentioned and figured in.
  5. Please include tax and shipping (I'd have gone with an SX in my choice, but I"d have to add that)
Any other thoughts, comments, input welcome.

My contribution:

I'd go with Musiciansfriend, and first sign up for their emails and Backstage Pass program. They'll send you coupons for 15% off, and you'll get an addional 8% from the BSP program. That's 23% off.

Peavey Max 115 II - $299. 1X15, 300 watts. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/peavey-max-115-ii-1x15-300w-bass-combo-amp

View attachment 3005841

Ibanez TMB100. $199.99. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-tmb100-electric-bass-guitar?rNtt=ibanez tmb100&index=1

View attachment 3005849
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Nice looking bass, and Peavey amps cannot be killed by mortal weapons. I had good luck with a Harley Benton for dive bars, so a Harley Benton P might be worth looking at too.
 
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#42
hrodbert696 said:
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
View attachment 3006677

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
View attachment 3006678

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
View attachment 3006679

By my calculations, that adds up to $787 total, but paying $34 a month for two years.
Click to expand...

You could go with one of the cheaper Zooms, but the B3 is certainly going to be easier to use than some of the other options.
 
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#43
kodiakblair said:
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
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My concern about the amp is that the Ashdown tone is not for everyone, and having had an earlier version, it was not the greatest of lifts out of a car with just a top handle. Long term, I'd budget for adding some additional handles or something.

Also a foldable trolley for £20 is handy gear, plus a decent gig bag, and a bag for cables and so on (a baby's nappy holder backpack can be good value, as they are padded and have several sections).
 
#44
RoadRanger said:
Include one to two hundred more for a proper setup for that bass. Without a proper setup the player is going to get discouraged :(
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Joe Nerve said:
A free membership to Talkbass to learn how to do a setup yourself is better.

:)

Plus you can get a setup at any music store for $50 or less.

I'm trying to encourage, not discourage new players here :).
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RoadRanger said:
IME most new nuts need filing - I don't see that covered here much. Also dressing any sharp fret ends.Around here they usually insist on new strings too.
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Joe Nerve said:
I buy an average of 6 new basses a year. For the past 20 years. From $100 to over $2000. I never had to file any frets or nuts, and I never had to spend more than 15 minutes getting the bass set up to play like a dream. Only reason I'm arguing is because as mentioned in my previous 2 posts, I'm really only looking to have some fun and help out a newbie. A newcomer not knowing anything about bass might easily be turned off by the thought of, "In order to get this right I need to make a serious investment." They don't. 95% of bass players that I've interacted with buy a bass, set it up in 15-30 minutes themselves, and live happily ever after.

Not saying there's anything wrong with getting a bass "perfect," but most people I know aren't that meticulous about their instruments.
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RoadRanger said:
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 :chicken:. Nothing consigned a new instrument to the closet faster than being hard to play :( .
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You really don't want to let this go do you Road Ranger.

I bought the Peavey Max 115 the same as in Joe's OP for a bargain and its going strong 4 years or more later. I also got a Jag Short Scale and it was giggable right out of the box. No nut filing necessary. I did tweak the intonation a little and after a year or so put half rounds on but that's it.

The only time I've ever touched a nut was my fretless when i wanted it a bit lower than normal........ oh... and when i scratch my balls.
 
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#46
Joe Nerve said:
Rules!
  1. Must be new (so that all equipment is warrantied and returnable).
  2. Must be available at price stated (and links would be nice).
  3. Final price at bottom of post.
  4. If any discounts might apply, they need to be mentioned and figured in.
  5. Please include tax and shipping (I'd have gone with an SX in my choice, but I"d have to add that)
Any other thoughts, comments, input welcome.
Click to expand...

I modified the setting a bit: The rules as stated apply, but instead of asking for a friend, I chose equipment I'd play a gig with. Additional Rule: You get to place that order, have the venue you play as the delivery address and must not bring any gear with you when you show up. Everything you use has to come out of the box they shipped.

As a European, I went with thomann:

Amp: Peavey Max 115. 300 Watts and enough speaker surface to push some air, not much competition for that price.

Bass: Marcus Miller M2 5. I simply prefer to play an active 5 string bass. The Marcus Miller M2 has gotten a lot of praise for the quality of the preamp and is one of the cheapest active 5 bangers on thomann's website, so I took that one.

Accessories:
-Warwick clip tuner. Less than five bucks, solid tracking, even of the low B, next to invisible on the headstock.
-Planet Waves strap (simply the cheapest non leather strap that looks like it can hold a bass)
-Fender California Cable (18')

Total including shipping and tax: €749,70


As long as there are working batteries in the bass, I'd be all set and could play that night.
 
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#47
-Asdfgh- said:
You could go with one of the cheaper Zooms, but the B3 is certainly going to be easier to use than some of the other options.
Click to expand...

What I like about the B3 and G3 is that they simulate having an actual pedalboard where you can click individual effects off and on, rather than most multis where you have to scroll through preset combinations of them or program your own.
 
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#49
Joe, 15% off is a discount. 8% back in store credit is not a discount. Your total of 23% in discounts is technically not accurate. If you buy a $300 amp and get 15% off you pay $254.15. MF will then give you 8% bonus points in store credit to use 45 days after the initial purchase.
$254.15 will earn you $20.33 credit off of your next purchase, in 45 days after the BSP is eligible.

So I figure if you purchase a $299 amp with 15% off you will pay $254.15. 8% for BSP is $20.33. Your Talman bass with 15% off is 169.99. Purchase the bass 45 days after the amp and take an additional 20.33 off of your 169.99 and you get $149.66 price for the bass. So I come up with a total of $403.81 when you buy the amp first and sit around for 45 days looking at it before you can purchase the bass with your bonus points.

If you purchase the amp and bass at the same time the friend will probably give you 15% off of both you would pay $424.14. BSP earns you $33.93 off of your next purchase in 45 days.

Your total of $384 is not correct.
 
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#50
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#51
Joe Nerve said:
This thread isn't for me, but rather for the newcomer - and for the rest of us have a little shopping fun without actually spending any money! Was inspired by another thread. I thought we could put together the best bargain package thread for people just starting out. I know I wish I had one of these early on :).

Rules!
  1. Must be new (so that all equipment is warrantied and returnable).
  2. Must be available at price stated (and links would be nice).
  3. Final price at bottom of post.
  4. If any discounts might apply, they need to be mentioned and figured in.
  5. Please include tax and shipping (I'd have gone with an SX in my choice, but I"d have to add that)
Any other thoughts, comments, input welcome.

My contribution:

I'd go with Musiciansfriend, and first sign up for their emails and Backstage Pass program. They'll send you coupons for 15% off, and you'll get an addional 8% from the BSP program. That's 23% off.

Peavey Max 115 II - $299. 1X15, 300 watts. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/peavey-max-115-ii-1x15-300w-bass-combo-amp

View attachment 3005841

Ibanez TMB100. $199.99. https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/ibanez-tmb100-electric-bass-guitar?rNtt=ibanez tmb100&index=1

View attachment 3005849

url


Final price with discounts:

$384.00
Click to expand...

I think you are right on the money. I play a Peavey MiniMax head and it is pretty good. And the bass, part P and part J, is everywhere you want to be. I’d add in a Zoom B1-ON and you’ve got the foundation for a gigable, versatile rig.
 
#53
RichSnyder said:
View attachment 3006729 View attachment 3006727

View attachment 3006728
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I like the choice of the 11c calculator, but I already have a 15c that I bought 34 years ago ( and still gig it regularly ).

Back on topic....

Like Joe, I'd also go with the TMB 100 at $200

but for an amp, I'd go with a Fender Rumble 100 for $300
OR,the TC BG250 just to give the new player some effects to play with as well. At $330 you get a good combo with two easy to use effects from a wide library - a cool way to experience some decent effects without having to shell out excessive $$$ for boutique pedals or a multi that takes too much fiddling and time away from your actual playing of the instrument.
 
#55
Have I missed something regarding Peavey amps? For the past year I've read countless threads extolling the virtues of just about every other brand, but now with this thread I see nothing but love for Peavey. Are they good or not? PS- my first electric guitar and amp were Peavey back in 1986
 
#57
Ima go cheapest I'd WANT to gig with.

MIM Precision black with maple - $600
Fender Standard Precision Bass - Black with Maple Fingerboard

Fender FB620 gig bag - $60
Fender FB620 Electric Bass Gig Bag - Black

ProCo 15' cable - $18
Pro Co EG-15 Excellines Instrument Cable - 15'

Snark ST-8 headstock tuner - $16
Snark ST-8 Clip-on Super Tight Chromatic Tuner

Levy's DM1 3" padded strap - $34
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ther-face-with-padded-back-guitar-strap-black

Fender Rumble 500 2x10 - $600
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Rum500C--fender-rumble-500-2x10-inch-500-watt-bass-combo

$1328 shipped. Figure you can get 15% off on sale... $1128.
Still quite a bit for a starter package.
BUY USED!!!
 
#58
foolforthecity said:
Fretless for a "newcomer"? Hmm... not so sure about that
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If it's a lined fretless, there should be no problem and might even be better for a newcomer.

I bought my first bass back in June (2017), a Squier VM Jazz Fretless for around $260-$270. Haven't gigged with it (still learning the basics) but I expect to. Wanted to get a Rumble 100 but ended up with a Rumble 500 because I play drums on a rock band and I know the 100 would not be enough against drums and guitars. But the VM Jazz and the Rumble 100 combo would go for around $500, which is pretty good IMO.

A few months later I bought a Fender Mustang P/J because I wanted to try a short-scale, wanted to try a fretted bass, and also wanted a to try a P-bass. I was going to get the Squier Jaguar SS, but orange Mustang caught my eye. Well, I do love the Mustang but I think I prefer a lined fretless. There's really no reason to be scared of them. My wife is learning violin and trust me, a lined fretless bass is easy peasy.

Also, I've haven't had my basses set up. I did mess around a bit with the truss rod on the VM Jazz to try to lower the action a bit, but that's about it. Of course, I know nothing and the basses might still be unplayable for a pro, but the bass player in my band (who used gig professionally) has used my basses on various rehearsals and he says they're alright. I asked him if they needed a setup and he said no. My bass teacher also thinks there's nothing wrong with the way my bass is set up - then again, he also plays double bass so he probably thinks that people who obsess about "action" are sissies.
 
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#60
Burwabit said:
Ima go cheapest I'd WANT to gig with.

MIM Precision black with maple - $600
Fender Standard Precision Bass - Black with Maple Fingerboard

Fender FB620 gig bag - $60
Fender FB620 Electric Bass Gig Bag - Black

ProCo 15' cable - $18
Pro Co EG-15 Excellines Instrument Cable - 15'

Snark ST-8 headstock tuner - $16
Snark ST-8 Clip-on Super Tight Chromatic Tuner

Levy's DM1 3" padded strap - $34
Levy's DM1 3" Leather Face w/Padded Back Guitar Strap - Black

Fender Rumble 500 2x10 - $600
Fender Rumble 500 2x10" 500-Watt Bass Combo

$1328 shipped. Figure you can get 15% off on sale... $1128.
Still quite a bit for a starter package.
BUY USED!!!
Click to expand...

Great advice. Buy used! ESPECAILLY for a new player. Then as you get better and actually make money at it, save it (what a novel concept), and upgrade as time, talent, and finances dictate. If you loose interest and quite playing, you can get most of your money back out of it.
 
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