Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

[Cory_Dylan]

Hey buds,

I'm looking to get a bass amp for around 300 - 400. (cheaper is ok, but no more than 400)

I was looking into the Ampeg BA-115 and 112. They seem like nice amps and they're in the price range I'm looking for. BUT since I know nothing about bass gear I don't want to make a mistake similar to when I bought a marshall AVT when I didn't know much about guitar gear.

Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Johnny L]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Looking at the Ampegs, my main beef is that they've only got a 3-band EQ. There are enough other options in the price range - Peavey, Line6, and Fender, to note a few brands - that offer either 4 fixed bands of EQ or a 3-band with sweepable mids. Now, if you're running an EQ pedal, this isn't an issue, but my recommendation is to find one either with more EQ control or to grab the Ampeg and run an EQ in your chain.

Good tone shaping ability with bass is key.

 

[jerryjg]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Talkbass Forums is a great forum. The guys there will have a definitive answer for you. The previous poster sound like he knows waht hes talking about. . What about a good solid state amp with a Sans amp tech 21 preamp? Thats what I have (Peavey CS400 and 800 with Sans amp rack mountable pre ).

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

My buddy's Hartke kickback 15 combo sounded great and put out nice deep bass, enough to jam with a drummer easily. The MF Rogue combo my bro bought on the other hand, was garbage.

 

[beggar_guitar]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Check out on older Peavey TNT series amp. They are not bad amps at all for
the money.

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

The other band at church showed up the other day with a small Hartke. I don't know the exact model, but it was a little combo. I remember thinking, "Man, I wish our bass player sounded that good."

+1 on Peavey stuff, too. During the short time I was a bass player back in the 90's, I borrowed a big Peavey combo - 200 or 300 watts solid state with a 15". Very effective amp in a fairly compact package.

 

[Cory_Dylan]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Very cool thanks for the replies bros!!

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Browsing through eBay, I now think it was only 130 watts. I believe it was a TNT 130, like this one here.

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Crate B15, I gig it with a jazz band regularly.

 

[Cory_Dylan]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Rich I just saw that one on ebay. Too bad it's for local pickup only in florida...

thanks for the tip smileon

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Rich I just saw that one on ebay. Too bad it's for local pickup only in florida...

thanks for the tip smileon

Depending on the bass you have it might not give the best tone, but its durable as your average tank and has a CD input if you want to put it to other use. I use mine to play movies and all sorts of stuff.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Ashdown Mag 300 combo



Just wanted to make sure you saw this amidst all of the Crate talk buy it used, and you're easily in your price range and it's a KILLER amplifier

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Ashdown Mag 300 combo



Just wanted to make sure you saw this amidst all of the Crate talk buy it used, and you're easily in your price range and it's a KILLER amplifier

If you want tone, pure tone, the crate ain't the best, it will get you a decent sound, but if you want cheap, reliable, loud, bass amperage, its fine..

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

I used to play that exact model crate...it's "ok"...but seriously for his price range, the ashdown is one of (if not THE) best amp

 

[Smilemon]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

I used to play that exact model crate...it's "ok"...but seriously for his price range, the ashdown is one of (if not THE) best amp

I didn't read his price range.. yeah, you can do better than the crate.. But I seriously recommend that amp to any bassist strapped for cash

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

i put together a bass rig from random equipment/PA gear in my garage. I run a galien kruger 400 watt amp circa 1980's with a montreaux backstage sticker on it (lol) and a beyma 15 inch that weighs more than an 18 wheeler inside an EV cab with a tweeter.

A friend of mine uses the Ba115 and its very nice. Excellent sound, cant complain with any fender bass.

 

[Skarekrough]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

I spent years playing a Peavey Mark IV head with a Hartke 4 x 10 Transporter cab. I never had the thing hiccup on me and it sounded great. I think the total cost was under $400 for the whole rig.

The only thing I have different now is a GK800RB head that's 400 watts. It's just a little different tonally. The only reason I might replace the cab would be for something smaller.

 

[Hoss]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

Ashdown Mag 300 combo



Just wanted to make sure you saw this amidst all of the Crate talk buy it used, and you're easily in your price range and it's a KILLER amplifier

my thoughts exactly!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

I think Peavey is really the way to go. Their stuff is so durable and reliable, and it sounds good--and you can find some very good deals on used gear. I have a late model Combo 300 115 BW that set me back less than $200. With the patching capability of this amp, I can easily build a bi-amp bass system for very little money that will rattle walls in three counties.

And don't discount a good buy on any piece of used Peavey gear. For example: the old XR600 PA heads make a great bass amp; and there are all kinds of power amps, monitor amps, and speaker systems that, with a little ingenuity, can make for a killer system. Find a PAIR of TNT 130s or Combo 300s for cheap? Hook them together as master/slave units; or use the built-in x-over to build a bi-amped rig. You can even use a small guitar amp like a Bandit, Studio Pro, or Basic to provide the high end in a biamp system.

Think PEAVEY.

Bill

 

[jeremy]

Re: Recommend me a good CHEAP bass amp solution.

if you can find a used ampeg ba15hp that is a great amp. some one commented on the ampegs only having three knobs, that is nothing to worry about. i use the ba15 for many of my bass gigs and it works fine. it would be nice to have the extra power which is why i suggest the hp version.