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02-20-2011, 12:16 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Detroit, MI | |  Been playing for 20 years, never bought an amp
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Here is my dark shame.
I have never purchased an amp in my life.
When I graduated from high school, I inherited a really ****** Randall RB 125 combo that I still have; it has to be over 20 years old by now, and worst of all (and this is a totally true story):
I inherited it because it had been submersed in water for two days, let dry for 2 weeks, and been replaced with all brand-new gear from the insurance settlement. A buddy of mine just gave it to me because it still worked and he knew I needed an amp.
So yeah; it's a hunk of ****.
At any rate, I could never afford an amp, and stopped playing for a while, and lost interest.
Point being: I know nothing about amps. I've never had to buy one.
So what's good? What are the popular brands out there? I've been trolling music stores lately and of course I am seeing Orange amps everywhere, because well, they're bright orange and they look insane. I also have seen G-K.
I have a budget of about $500. I am not a gigging player; I'm just getting back into playing after a few year hiatus. I want something that is somewhat portable because I may move it around if I start jamming with friends; the RB-125 is like 100lbs and it's huge and doesn't fit into my little car. I want something much more portable that actually sounds good.
My basses are a 6-string Aria Pro and a 5-string Ibanez SR-305. I play funk and also noodle around melodically (solo-bass style). I want something that can do clean and soft but also really bright and funky. My next bass purchase is an EBMM Bongo 4HH if that helps.
I don't play metal and I'm not interested in crushingly loud skullthumping.
Any help or recommendations will be appreciated!
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02-20-2011, 12:19 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Phoenix / Kansas City | | | Look into the MB combos from Gallien-Krueger. They get mostly awesome reviews, most of them fit your budget, and should you ever decide to gig most can handle that as well. |
02-20-2011, 12:20 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Woodinville, WA | | | I would say, go to your local store(s) and play a ton of gear. Figure out what it is that you like and don't like, and then come back and ask again. |
02-20-2011, 12:21 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Detroit, MI | | Right, I got that, but I'd like to narrow my search to a couple of specific brands. I'm a single dad with two kids and two full time jobs, so I don't have a lot of time to mess around in music stores. When I go into a store, I like to have a basic idea of what I'm there for 
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02-20-2011, 12:24 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Woodinville, WA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by primesuspect  Right, I got that, but I'd like to narrow my search to a couple of specific brands. I'm a single dad with two kids and two full time jobs, so I don't have a lot of time to mess around in music stores. When I go into a store, I like to have a basic idea of what I'm there for | Ok cool. With your price range, I'd say GK is an awesome recommendation. If you decide on a higher budget I'd say Markbass would be another brand to look at. I'm also a fan of Eden. |
02-20-2011, 12:25 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Detroit, MI | | Appreciate the recommendations
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02-20-2011, 12:29 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Maryland, USA | | Quote: |
I have a budget of about $500.
| Buy a GK combo (MB115 or 112). About 30 lbs. You can easily get lots of tones from it. With the leftover money buy a VT Bass pedal.
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2004 Fender USA Precision (Butterscotch, maple)
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Last edited by Chrisk-K : 02-20-2011 at 12:31 AM.
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02-20-2011, 12:31 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Los Angeles | | | |
02-20-2011, 12:38 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Los Angeles | | | Hey, wait a minute here. Randall has made some cool stuff over the years - remember, this company is a spin-off from Fender. If your amp was submerged, but has now emerged from the flood and has been usable by you, how truly s#!++/ can it be - sounds like a sturdy survivor to me!
Just go to a GC or local music shop with your regular bass and see what you like. Things have certainly moved on, especially in the way of solid-state amps that sound or feel more like tube amps. But let's show some respect for a unit that has survived some serious S#!+.
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02-20-2011, 12:40 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Detroit, MI | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Joebone Hey, wait a minute here. Randall has made some cool stuff over the years - remember, this company is a spin-off from Fender. If your amp was submerged, but has now emerged from the flood and has been usable by you, how truly s#!++/ can it be - sounds like a sturdy survivor to me!
Just go to a GC or local music shop with your regular bass and see what you like. Things have certainly moved on, especially in the way of solid-state amps that sound or feel more like tube amps. But let's show some respect for a unit that has survived some serious S#!+. | Fair point! 
I agree; it's pretty spectacular that it survived what it did and still carried me through all these years. No disrespect intended to the RB-125; it's just way too clunky and heavy and, well, it sounds like ass 
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