Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

sloop_john_b wrote:

JakeK wrote:Does a '60s piggyback Fender Bassman sound like the ideal amp for me?

I doubt it! Buying a bass amp is not like buying a guitar amp, in the sense that in the guitar world, the old technology (i.e. tube amps) is still what most guitar players want. Companies like Markbass (personal fave), Eden, Carvin, and many others are making great sounding, inexpensive, reliable bass amps. What's your budget?

+1. In addition to the brands mentioned by JB, GK, Ashdown and SWR all make great amps at a decent ask. I do use a Vox AC50 to get a super-warm vintage sound, but it is a pain to lug (weighs more than my 1x15 cab) and needs to be miked up to be effective at anything larger than a small bar.

A lightweight head and 1x15 box will be a good starting point - there are some compact 1x15 cabs out there very portable. Getting a head and cab rather than a combo will give you flexibility to add cabs (say a 4x10 or 2x12) and change configurations in the future. You also can change heads in the future and keep the cabs if that's your thing. You'll want to start with a head that gives you at least 200 watts into 8 ohms.

Another recomemndation, and this comes from a guitar player who was "drafted" to play bass, get and go through The Beatles Complete Scores. From Please Please Me through Abbey Road Paul McCartney played every style there was to play. He makes the simple sound hard and vice-versa.

Good luck!

Heh, now that this thread has been bumped, how's the bass-playing going, Jake?

Kudos for learning bass. It's almost guaranteed to make you a better overall musician, and may help inspire your songwriting by viewing songs from a different angle.

- Scott

JakeK wrote:

sloop_john_b wrote:Well, that's a really broad question. It all depends on what you're looking to do with the instrument. Are you going to learn songs or are you going to play along with original material? Do you want to learn how to play fingerstyle or are you going to stick with playing with a pick?

Also, pics or it didn't happen.

I want to learn songs. The only fingerstyle I WANT (see how I say "want"? ) to do is the famous "hook" that Duck Dunn of Booker T and the MG's does. How is Duck Dunn's "hook" done, if I may ask, JB? I can learn traditional fingerstyle, too, but I feel I get the most pleasure out of playing with a pick. There's most rock songs (such as Beatles, Petty, etc) that I may want to stick soley pick for, and then there's the traditional jazz and blues with walking basslines that I may want to use fingerstyle for.

Jake, Dunn just played fingerstyle, using his index and middle fingers primarily. Go back and watch some clips of Booker T & the MGs on Youtube and you'll see him going to town with his speed and economy on some great soul instrumentals.

JakeK wrote:About a week ago, I was itching to play bass badly. A few people told me one will always find someone who plays guitar or keyboards, but he's less likely to easily find a drummer, and even less likely to find a bassist. So I picked up a MIM Standard Fender Jazz Bass and a copy of "Bass Guitar for Dummies", but can anyone here also be of assistance to me learning bass?

I taught myself by playing hours every day. I never really had a method. I do know you shouldn't just learn covers!