Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

[mst]

Hello guys!

a few lines to explain what I am asking to you bass gurus out there!
as a guitar player of years i recently introduced myself to bass, loving every minute!

So here I am for my first bass amp: i would like to ask advice to you for a hidden jem thing! u know what i am talking about right?
something maybe not so on the map, but extremely good sounding and therefore cheap. I dont'care about resell valure, i just want to have a great sound!

to make a guitar comparison, there are lots of great hidden jems amps ( peavey penta, windsor) pedals ( digitech bad monkey IMHO) and stuff out there that have reached a point when they are a bit old but still awesomely sounding. As guitar player I recognize that many times is the name and the age of the gear that makes the price and the desirability ( And that is sad ). I would like to not make the same mistakes as a ( beginner ) bass player!

Great - Cheap - Used - Small ! make your suggestions!


and thank you all of course!

 

[Adieu]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Small as in light/portable?

Lol yeah good luck with that, unless you splurge on a neodymium speaker swap

If it weighs less than 60lbs, consider yourself lucky

 

[mst]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Small as in light/portable?

Lol yeah good luck with that, unless you splurge on a neodymium speaker swap

If it weighs less than 60lbs, consider yourself lucky

Not necessarily light, just small ( like small bass heads). Then of course , there is a minimum weight needed....

 

[Adieu]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Not necessarily light, just small ( like small bass heads). Then of course , there is a minimum weight needed....

The head portion of an SS bass amp, shells aside, weighs maybe 5 - 7kg (if that)

It's the speaker cab or combo that will give you a hernia if it's of useable size

 

[Securb]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Are you looking for something that sounds good for home practice or something to play with a band? For home practice, I have a Peavy Micro Bass that sounds great. It is 20 watts with a 8-inch speaker, I paid $50 for it used. If you are looking to play with a band there are lots of higher wattage small bass amps with a 12 inch or 2x10 speakers but you are going to pay a premium for the wattage. You are looking at anywhere from $500 - $1000+

 

[Adieu]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Are you looking for something that sounds good for home practice or something to play with a band? For home practice, I have a Peavy Micro Bass that sounds great. It is 20 watts with a 8-inch speaker, I paid $50 for it used. If you are looking to play with a band there are lots of higher wattage small bass amps with a 12 inch or 2x10 speakers but you are going to pay a premium for the wattage. You are looking at anywhere from $500 - $1000+

2x10 or 1x15 combos start around $150-200 used though

 

[mst]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

tahnk you guys, actually after reding your suggestions i believe the Small ( but powerful) head and a ( maybe) single speaker cabinet could be a solution.

I could bring the head only to reharseals, using headphones at home , and the 1X 15 ( or 2X10??) speaker when needed

any suggestions?

wouldnt be bad to purchase two small cabinets ( identical) and leave one at reharseals and one at home, moving only the head

 

[chadd]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

We use an MXR M80 direct into the PA for rehearsals. If I need to use something around the house, I plug it into a powered monitor.

 

[Adieu]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Cheapest smalles rehearsal solution for bass amplification is an overdrive or distortion set to minimum gain, volume and tone to taste, plugged into a PA

Don't knock it, even a Boss DS-1 is half-decent in a pinch

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

I'm going to recommend the Fender Rumble 100 combo, its 1×12, reasonably sized at 18.5×16.5×14in, and only weighs 22lbs. And enough power for rehearsals and small gigs (depending upon the size of the band).

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Forget used older stuff, when you have the Rumble 40 out there for $200 new (i.e. with warranty). Perfect small/quiet bass amp, costs very little, takes up no space, weighs nothing (I can literally lift it with a single pinky finger), has great e.q. section, built in dirt (if you want it – easy enough to ignore if you don't), headphone jack, 1/8" aux input (to play along with stuff when using headphones), XLR output. You can't get a better used small bass amp for what these cost new.

I have "better" bass amps...but I own a Rumble 40, because it is such a huge bang for the buck, and it's the right tool for the job sometimes (at-home practice, headphone practice, learning songs from digital files, recording direct, low-volume gigs and practices, playing along with acoustic instruments).

If you need the same features, but more headroom and a bigger sound, you could go for the Rumble 100 instead. It's as good as the Rumble 40...just bigger and more expensive.

If you need one you can really gig with in most situations, you need to go to the 200 IMO. Bigger still, and more expensive still...but still a large bang for the buck, and weighs very little.

 

[mst]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Forget used older stuff, when you have the Rumble 40 out there for $200 new (i.e. with warranty). Perfect small/quiet bass amp, costs very little, takes up no space, weighs nothing (I can literally lift it with a single pinky finger), has great e.q. section, built in dirt (if you want it – easy enough to ignore if you don't), headphone jack, 1/8" aux input (to play along with stuff when using headphones), XLR output. You can't get a better used small bass amp for what these cost new.

I have "better" bass amps...but I own a Rumble 40, because it is such a huge bang for the buck, and it's the right tool for the job sometimes (at-home practice, headphone practice, learning songs from digital files, recording direct, low-volume gigs and practices, playing along with acoustic instruments).

If you need the same features, but more headroom and a bigger sound, you could go for the Rumble 100 instead. It's as good as the Rumble 40...just bigger and more expensive.

If you need one you can really gig with in most situations, you need to go to the 200 IMO. Bigger still, and more expensive still...but still a large bang for the buck, and weighs very little.

is a great suggestion! I'll check it out!

 

[mst]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

guys what about something with compressor included?

 

[idsnowdog]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

I think the new Acoustic bass amps look pretty good. A decent size 1x12 or 1x15 speaker, small, light and not a lot of wattage.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

The Fender Rumble amps are great for the price. The older versions (not the new silverface) versions are going dirt cheap. I practice through the small older 15 watt model at home all the time.

 

[mst]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

Guys thank you, going to get the rumble! and let u know...

 

[Aceman]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

I have heard a bunch of bass players with nothing but love for Fender Rumbles

 

[donaldr]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

1- Trace Elliott Elf head with TE 2x8" cab or Ampeg SVT210AV cab
2- GK MB210 combo
3- Ampeg BA112 or BA210 combo

Personally I'm using an Avid Eleven Rack with an EV ZLX12P powered PA cab. Using for both guitar and bass (but I added an EV Zxa1 sub lately). I'm also using an Ampeg SCR-DI preamp pedal direct to the EV cab with great result for home practice and small jams with friends. Not using my bass amp anymore (I am bass player first and guitar player on occasion). If you have a powered PA cab with DSP (mandatory or there's a good chance the speaker will fart), then just add a bass preamp pedal (Tech21, Ampeg, MXR, etc), very surprised with the result.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

I have a Hartke KB12, it also comes in a 15 version. Lightweight (ply cab, neo spkr), enough for smaller gigs on its own, and has a direct out if you need to run into the PA. Hartke lists it at 500 watts, but my understanding is they're using peak output. I think that idling it's 250. Still, a good amp.

$450 new for the KB 12, a , so if a Rumble can handle your needs, that would save you a fair amount.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Great - Cheap - Used - Small bass amp ( hidden jem)

What style of music are interested in OP?

-for a smoother more connected and rolling sound -you want 1x15 speaker -Yorkville were pretty much the greatest secret in the Bass world IMO -they dont make bass stuff right now though

any used Yorkville 90s 200b and 00s BM200 are just amazing -and $100 to $200 on reverb

for punchier and tighter more accurate bass tones (yet less smooth and very revealing and for a beginner you will sound worse lol) you want 10" speakers

I'd probably go with an older Yorkville, Gallien Kruger or Hartke combo for $100 for $150 used on Reverb