Incentive to complete the course

Gear
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So back in the day (early 80s) I played bass (poorly) in a 60s cover band. I’m using all my old gear (which I haven’t used since about 1986) but I plan on buying the amp of my dreams, probably a (used) Ampeg RB-115 or RB-210 once I complete the course and am a certified Baddass. The teenage dream of an SVT with dual 8x10 cabs was crazy then and more so now, I do not want an 80 pound amp head!

I’ve got a Cort Steinberg clone from the mid 80s (a gift from my wife for our first Christmas after we were married) and a 30w Yamaha bass amp that I bought in high school almost 50 years ago (God, am I old or what)?

Anyone else staving off the gear lust as incentive to put in the work?

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Welcome @jcupp ! This has been an idea common to many who have taken the course. While a little younger, I still have my 1987 Charvel Model !B bass from back then. I started out with a 30w Gorilla GB-30 amp but that’s long gone!

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First off: Welcome to the best bass forum on the planet! (yes, we are nicer people than on Reddit).

I got myself a Blackstar Unity Pro Vass U500, a 500 watt amp that’s not too heavy, but still packs a punch to do some gigs here and there.

Plus it comes with decent built-in effects:

  • Chorus
  • Octave
  • OD/Dist/Fuzz

Saves you a lot of backpain compared to big cabs and bass heads :slight_smile:

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The best incentive to finish B2B is to actually learn how to play bass. Gear comes in a far second place to that.

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Not really. February will be a year for me and I just got my third bass. Albeit the first was an inexpensive Donner off Amazon. Also have upgraded from a Rumble 25 to a 100. Figured if I waited until I was good I may never get to buy anything cool :rofl::sign_of_the_horns:t2:

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Just an update, I failed completely resisting buying a new amp. Got a great deal on an Ampeg RB-210 on Reverb that I just couldn’t pass up. I’m very happy with my new growly friend. My old 1977 vintage Yamaha amp just sounds boring compared to the Ampeg.

Ampeg + Cort
Ampeg + Cort1800×2400 1.49 MB

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Love my Rb-210. Even closed up in a garage with a drum kit, I only took it to about 4/10 on the volume knob.

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Congrats! I have a lead on a used RB-210 myself that I’m about to go check out.

I had been holding out on upgrading my amp until I finished the course not so much as a reward, but to make sure I was going to stick with the bass, and to give me time to learn what I actually need.

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I like the SGT adjusted so that I get some grit when I really dig in but a clean sound at normal effort.

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Next weekend I might drag it down to my shop so I can let it loose to see what it will do without giving my cats and my wife a heart attack!:innocent:

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I bought 2 more basses shortly after starting the course. I’m in module 15 now and the end is in sight. I’m trying to decide what my participation trophy will be :). I might, ironically, get a guitar as I’d like to have one for S&Gs. I’m also planning out upgrades to my cheapy Amazon Leo Jaymz. Body and neck is great, pickups are mid, and pots are fairly junk. I’m not sure if one of them is working or not. The pups I’m looking at will cost more than the bass.

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I’m in the same boat, looking to upgrade once I complete the course into something that is catered to my needs. Right now, I’m just muttering curse words as a noodle Billie Jean, so the knock-off pbass is good enough.

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