Best amp for 500$?

OctoRock · #1 11-14-2010, 05:49 PM

I have a 500$ amp budget and my small 30W one is going on me. I saw a 50W one for 400$ and was wondering if thats how much a new 50W amp should cost or if the music store was just cheating me. The guy said the with 500 bucks I will only be able to get a 50W one and I am fine with that but I just want to know what is the best possible amp I can get for 500$.(if it helps the price range I live in canada.)

~Rock On

JimmyM · #2 11-14-2010, 06:02 PM

for $500 go find a used gk or hartke head and a used 410. that's a rig you can do pretty much anything on and it's not ridiculously big.

acedabone · #3 11-14-2010, 06:06 PM

I've always liked these every time I've heard them used...

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....Amp?sku=584203

ducknturtle · #4 11-14-2010, 06:08 PM

Jimmy gives excellent advice above, except that I would add Peavey to the list of possible head makers.

Roadkill · #5 11-14-2010, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OctoRock

I saw a 50W one for 400$ and was wondering if thats how much a new 50W amp should cost or if the music store was just cheating me.

The latter for sure

!

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....0001+338536+10

TK4261 · #6 11-14-2010, 06:20 PM

The MB12's from Carvin are very nice for the $$ and 250w. they also have a 1x 10inch & 1x 15inch Micro Combo...And they ship to Canada

http://www.carvinguitars.com/product...p?product=MB12

http://www.carvinguitars.com/product...p?product=MB10

http://www.carvinguitars.com/product...p?product=MB15

Alabass · #7 11-14-2010, 06:26 PM

What everyone else said. But for 500$ I think your best deals will be the used market. Craigslist, Pawn Shops, etc.

neurotictim · #8 11-14-2010, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alabass

What everyone else said. But for 500$ I think your best deals will be the used market. TalkBass, Craigslist, Pawn Shops, etc.

Fixed that for ya. ;-)

Seriously, with $500 you can get a LOT of amp for your money used, especially here at TB.

lmfreeman9 · #9 11-14-2010, 06:35 PM

Jimmy's right. BUY USED!

If you get a new $500 amp today and you don't like it tomorrow, you be lucky to get $300. Don't give the $200 away. Buy from someone else who is giving $200 away.

Example: I once bought an Ampeg BA115 from a college student in Miami who had quit playing for $175. Made in US, 4 years old, like new with receipt and manual.
I used it for 2 years and sold it for about the same price.

OctoRock · #10 11-15-2010, 08:27 PM

Thanks! I will definitely NOT be buying that amp I saw at the music store and look around in pawn shops, and over the internet. Also thanks to Roadkill for the link.

Gizmot · #11 11-15-2010, 08:40 PM

You'll find plenty of interesting deals out there if you look hard enough. If possible, play what you're interested in and listen to it carefully. Buyer's remorse can be funky.

kosmicwizard · #12 11-15-2010, 09:22 PM

Traynor and Yorkville are good Canadian made stuff too if you can get it cheap?

**Ronny49** · #13 11-15-2010, 09:27 PM

Look for a used Hartke LH500 and a HyDrive 410 cab. I will say that Guitar Center's used site has them. There is a used Hartke LH500 for $199 and a 410 HyDrive cab for $350.

used.guitarcenter.com

Field search Hartke and select AMPS from the drop down and do a national search. Call the GC store and have them ship it to you. Good Luck!

Growly Lytes · #14 11-15-2010, 09:39 PM

Dude really for $500 you can get some seriously good stuff if you look in the right place & even try to knock the price down if its more than $500 say its $750 offer them $500 it sometimes works because they just want to sell the stuff.Other times people dont realize what they are selling & let it go for cheap. You can get a 300watt amp with two 410`s for that money off the right person !

Alex1984 · #15 11-16-2010, 02:09 AM

If we're talking strictly heads, you can get MUCH more than 50 Watts with $500, don't let him BS you.

If you're want tubes, and you get REALLY lucky, you might be able to find a YBA-200, but the TB market place is awesome too!

pedroims · #16 11-16-2010, 02:27 AM

I was selling my Hartke LH500 and an Aguilar S410 both in great condition for $500... this so you can get an idea what you can get if buy used.

Growly Lytes · #17 11-16-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pedroims

I was selling my Hartke LH500 and an Aguilar S410 both in great condition for $500... this so you can get an idea what you can get if buy used.

See there you go for $500 a Hartke & a good 410.

zachoff · #18 11-16-2010, 04:55 PM

yeah, dude... No need for a combo. I see Peavey Firebass/410s go for under that on cragslist all the time.

BigOldHarry · #19 11-16-2010, 04:57 PM

used used USED.

New amp = rip
Used amp = non rip.

blastjv · #20 11-16-2010, 06:14 PM

Yeah, the guy at the shop was trying to screw you. And while everyone on here is trying to help and giving genereally good advice, a better place to.start is with what type of music you play, what type of bass sound you're looking for, what type of playing you will be doing (practicing by youselfin your bedroom, or regular gigging at 20,000 seat arenas).

No offense, but you don't sound like you know much at all about this stuff. That's not a judgement of you, we were ALL there at one time, and we're all hopefully still learning. My advice is to read as much as you can on TB, ask questions, browse CL and the classifieds here and google anything that looks interesting. Come back here and ask about anything you're thinking of buying, and be patient!!!

-JV