Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

[ZoSo0789]

Hey, some of ya'll may have seen my thread in the Guitar Shop about me wanting to get into a bit of bass. I'm gonna start shopping around for a decent Jazz bass here pretty soon, and I'm gonna need an amp to go with it. As stated in my other thread, I know literally next to nothing about bass equipment; therefore, I need a bit of schooling. I want to know a few decent cheap bass amp suggestions for around $150. I dont need anything fancy, but I dont want a total hunk of crap either. This will just be a bedroom amp to mess around on from time to time.

Basically I was looking at a few and I was hoping to get some like 20 watts and at least a 10" (preferably 12") speaker..... i do NOT want this thing farting out at low volumes lol. Nothing is worse than a farting speaker. But it will always be played a really low volume (raised-voice conversation levels approximately).

I want something will a vintage-based tone.... I'll be playing mainly blues, 60's rock, jazzy stuff, and very seldomly I might try to Cliff 'Em All lol. For the most part, think some John Paul Jones, Jack Bruce, and Tommy Shannon. So all of that for about $150 bucks, what models should I look for? Oh, and I want to try and keep away from digital modeling btw.... I'd like to be playing more of a straightforward SS bass amp that can cover some ground

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

Despite what you say about low power, you're probably going to want more than 20 watts. That is enough for practice with guitar, but those low frequencies need more power. Something like the Fender Rumble 60 (1x12") would probably do what you want and allow you to turn it up a little too. Unfortunately it's about $100 over your budget, I'm not sure how much they are used. The other thing to do is look on ebay for ~50-60W bass combos from 10 years ago like Peaveys and Fenders, Solid State amp technology hasn't really progressed that much I don't think if you aren't into the modelling.

However, I also remember being extremely underwhelmed by my first bass amp. (SS, Rogue, maybe 50W?) It sounded nothing like those bass tones in my head that were created with full on tube bass amps! That's where the modelling may not be the worst idea. Playing through the POD I'm able to get much better tones than with that Rogue.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

My kid has a Rumble 25 with a 10" speaker and I'm fairly impressed with it. Seems really well-built, and the carpet cover and steel grill mean it will hold up to moderate amounts of transport. My only real concern is the board-mounted jacks, which will probably need to be replaced some day.

I bought it used on eBay, but don't remember what I paid. It or a slightly larger model would do you well.

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

I tried out alot of bass practice amps a couple years ago when I got mine.
20 watts aint gonna do much in a bass amp. I was looking in the $200 range at the time, most of those had 10" speakers and I tried alot in the store with a 5 string bass I tried roland,fender,Hartke,SWR and Ibanez

the Ibanez was the only one with a 12"speaker (in that price range)and it was also the only one that could handle the low B string with out sounding like I was going to destroy the amp.. I ended up buying the Ibanez soundwave65 (65 watts, maybe as loud as a 30watt SS guitar amp)

I wanted to like the SWR but it just couldnt hold up, and as I remember the Roland bass cube would have been my 2nd choice

remember the wattage on a bass isnt going to be as loud as the same rated guitar amp, and its always better to have more power on tap,you can always turn it down. The Ibby soundwave is a very clean and punchy amp with a built in limiter,I love it.It simply will not distort....I use a pedal for that.

*EDIT* just looked on MF, the new ibanez SW65 looks nothing like the model I have,mine is a shorter tiltback design....I bet you can find a real good deal on ebay on older models.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

20 watt bass amp is like a 2 watt guitar amp.

I used to have a 100 watt SWR 1x10 combo that was fairly nice... good tone... made in the USA. Probably well out your budget, even used... For only $200 or so I'd hunt around for a used 200 watt PV or something like that. If you'll never leave the house and won't be playing with a drummer, you could even use a guitar amp.

 

[alex1fly]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

When I played bass in a band I was using a buddy's 40 or 50 watt Fender bass amp. It definitely did not have the tone, authority, or rumble that a good bass sound needs. Just not enough power to be heard over a drummer. If you foresee that happening, or even just jamming with some friends, it would be a bummer to have only a little bedroom amp.

More speakers/a bigger cab helps the sound spread as well. On the modeling end, check out Line 6's Lowdown. If I ever get around to buying a bass amp to match my dusty bass, it will definitely be powerful enough to keep up with a drummer - even if I plan on mainly jamming it myself. I know its easier said than done, but I'll say it anyways: don't limit yourself to quiet bass jams only to save a few bucks!

 

[baritone]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

I use a 60w solid state Fender Bassman 60. It's a 1x12 combo, and it has some cool features, in addition to sounding nice.

 

[PVFan]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

I was very impressed with the Roland Cube bass amp.
Loud, punchy, onboard FX and compression. Pretty sure you could add an extension cab, too. Very surprised, I want one. Sounded great.

 

[Karmadog777]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

oh yeh,my bass sounded really good thru my marshall 30 watt SS guitar amp .
forgot about that

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

So from reading here and looking around a bit, I think I'm gonna try to look at some Peaveys.... maybe one like this one
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Peavey-MAX-112-Bass-Combo?sku=481446

BTW, does anyone know anything about the "Acoustic" brand? I was looking at this amp, and i've found good reviews on it everywhere and it seems worth a glance
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Acoustic-B20-1X12-Bass-Combo-Amplifier?sku=481622

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

and wouldnt a bass basically kill a small SS amp when plugged into it? I have a little 15 watt marshall MG that collects dust in the corner, but I'd have to think the low frequencies would just kill any kind of small SS combo like that

 

[Imp]

Re: Bass Amp Suggestions on a Budget

i got a peavey MK VI (or was it VIII?) head and a TXV210 cab off ebay in seperate auctions.. peavey stuff depreciates like hell from new and frankly does the job very well!

i got 400w out of mine, and i paid £120 for the whole arrangement ($220ish now?)- sounded great with both my basses, but i had EMGs in one and the other was G&L..

all told - look near you on ebay, because shipping is expensive when it gets to the kind of weight you're talking!