Hi howard! Here I am again with a few doubts related to GAS and I think this question is just right for you. I spend all my bass time by myself in my home office and my biggest problem is volume. I can’t turn up my Laney RB2 combo amp enough to get a decent tone at such low volume and I end up using my basses mostly going from my SansAmp programmable bass driver into Garageband, an U-Phoria UMC202HD into my Macbook and a pair of Presonus Eris E5 although I don’t really enjoy depending on my computer.
I started looking into practice amps that sound good at low volume and the Phil Jones Double 4 seems to be at the top although it is expensive, $650 USD here. The Fender Rumble 25 is cheaper option but I can’t find any info on how it performs at very low volume. And as far as tone is concerned, I’m definitely a SVT and Fliptop fan. I also returned a Zoom B1 Four because I didn’t like the sound.
My question is as follows: I like the Ampeg SGT-DI, the Boss Dual Cube LX bass and the Phil Jones and any of the three would cost the same $650 here in Mexico.
Could I get a really good sound and tone of a SVT and Flip-top with software and the gear I have? And with GarageBand…
What would you recommend? Would you recommend a different APK + a particular set of SIMS or is GarageBand OK with certain plugins? I mostly use Garageband with a clean DI Track but I don’t really use the amp and cab sims very much since I’m dialing in the tone on the SansAmp.
Or do you think that one of the amps could solve my problem and only use GarageBand to record? I hope it’s not too much trouble and thank you and anyone else who would like to add in advance.
I think you have a good combination and all you really need to get is a good amp sim and cab sim and use it in GarageBand or Reaper. What I would recommend you do is buy Amplitube 5 Max, which happens to be on sale right now for €79, as it has a wide variety of bass amp and cab sims and effects.
Then, buy a set of headphones - good ones. You can get excellent headphones in the $100 range and lots of people here will give recommendations. (I like Beyerdynamics )
That should cover you. You can still use the SansAmp with the amp sim as well, it will sound awesome. Or you can skip it and just use it while noodling if you don’t feel like booting the computer.
Thank you so much, howard. I appreciate you taking the time. I’m going to look into it in a couple of hours. I appreciate the advice because an amp might look nice in my studio but I’m not trying to gather gear.
As far as my headphones are concerned, I have the AKG K240 Studio. Can’t say I have any experience with other brands or models. I have heard so much about the classic Sony MDR-7506.
I own a pair of MDR-7506 and they are good; however I do prefer my Beyerdynamics DT990Pro though. That said, your AKG’s are just fine and are in fact what I was going to recommend. You’re all set there.
First of all thanks to the many people who gave me advice and suggestions on my birthday GAS. Can’t say I followed it strictly but it sure helped me to decide on what I want, what I don’t need to replace and what I don’t want …and how much I want to spend on this GAS.
I knew my visit to the music store would have consequences and it sure did!
I went to look at the new Broncos with the idea of making a MOD project out of one or try out a Squier CV Mustang since I really like small and light short scale basses.
And then I decided to try out the Rascal HH. Instant crush. Man those humbuckers are deep and strong! So that’s my present to myself. One doesn’t turn 60 just like that and I don’t regret my GAS, besides it’s the first time I buy a new bass in a store.
First impressions:
Out of the three basses I have it is the largest and heaviest bass. It’s larger and heavier than my P-bass. It barely fits in a case I have. Seriously. If you want to travel with a smaller and lighter bass this is not it.
The quality of the one I got is impressive and the basic adjustment they did are perfect. Frets are smooth, the neck feels nice. I was sitting in a room full of MIM and US Fenders and actually compared it with a few.
How does the moved bridge feel? Well, actually when I rest my arm in the usual position I’m picking on top of the bridge pickup. I think in this case this is good for the tone I’m after on this particular bass.
You can’t always have what you want… but you can get a melting pot of what you were curious about…
I had never had a bass with an offset/JB style body and it feels nice.
I wanted humbucker pickups to contrast my two PJ’s.
It’s my first string through and Mustang/ style classic bridge as well as matching headstock bass.
The changes of color in the wood of the neck give it a lot of character, or that’s at least how I see it.
This bass was sponsored by a bass I was never able to bond with.
This bass sounds like a bunch of the music I really like.
The green model is completely out of stock until next year.
I’m really excited about it and I had to share it.
PS: @howard I did look into the software and it looks really interesting but I honestly prefer the learning curve on bass and don’t feel like adding one on the computer. I spend most of my day at the computer.
Hey! I didn’t know you have one! I agree, really fun to play. I had to choose between… there was only one in black available.
So far the strings it comes with are ok. What strings do you have on yours?
all of the sudden these pedals are everywhere it seems, and they are pretty damn cool. HOWEVS, that guy in the first demo video (the looping one) is breaking what i call my modern english rule, which is simply don’t make a video if you have an uncovered disgusting open sore on your arm that we all have to stare at. which, btw, i think for almost 40 years i have been the only person to have noticed it (around 1:15ish). eww.
Any recommendations on settings for this combo? Also, my bass has an active pre-amp, should I adjust on bass and booster or just rely on booster for eq?
Well you can use your infinity for EQ to be honest. It’s really extensive (I had the photon). EQ on bass is nice if you want some quick controls during playing, but I would rely on the presets of the infinity over that.
I would just play and see what works best for you. The booster is a bit more subtle, but that is also what I like about it.
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