Cheap but good heavy metal amps?
 

I need a cheap bass amp that can be used for heavy metal (I would like to play metalcore and post-hardcore) that has distortion and other effects to it. But I need a cheap one because I don't have much money. Doesn't need to be good just generally cheap, like $100 - $200 (AUS)
Any ideas?

Technical metal huh, GK is very popular for the grind, the old ones are cheap as chips and go great. Get a pedal or three for more overdrive, fuzz and distortion. Learn how to use your fingertips to control your tone.

Sorry for the mistake, I was saying that "I technically play metalcore and post-hardcore" hahahah I can see how it could be mistaken

Which state do you live in? Maybe check Gumtree?

Honestly, regardless of where you live in Aus you would be extremely lucky to do better than a 20w combo for $200 even on the SH market.

The only amp I know of that could do what you want is a 20w Roland Cube which has a built in drive effect. It's still north of $200 though.

Dude, I'm busting your chops, posthardgrindtechnicalcore can make good use of a GK too. Rock on.

If you can show me where you can buy a single piece of GK gear in this country for <$200 I'd be very much obliged. I'd buy whatever it was in a heartbeat.

Ha, I read the edit. $200 Aussie isn't gonna buy much in Aussie my friend. Start saving. You're looking at Peavey stuff. Cheap and reliable. Pluck with fingertips near the bridge.

Yeah, I know :/ I think I'll just keep using my casino amp til I can afford a better one. Thanks anyway

You sound like you're a younger dude. My advice is just to stalk the local ads and such. I was in a band like that and I used a big ol' Peavey combo from the early 90s. Probably worth $80 on craigslist.

Peavey Tour stuff is cheap and reliable.

And again: Look for some used Peavey - stuff. Cheap, rock-solid, sounds good and the amps are built like a tank!

I have an old T-Max, 500 Watt @ 2 Ohm, 300 Watt @ 4 Ohm, 200 Watt @ 8 Ohm. Two channels, one solid state, one with a 12AX7-tube in the circuit.

The transistor-pre has a nice, clear sound, the tube-channel is able to bring in a lot of growl - up to real tube-sistortion. Both channels can be mixed to nice sounds. Simple tone-shaping with one low-and one high-frequency - knob plus a 7-band EQ. Byamp is possible, with adjustable crossover point.

Owning an Ampeg SVP Pro with a poweramp I can say, that the T-Max has the best No-Ampeg - Ampeg-tone ever heard.

FX-Loop, slave out, pre in, you name it, lots of posibilitys. A good DI with all necessary switch-options, ground-lift etc.

The best thing: You can get them for a steal if shown on EBay or somewhere. Mine was about € 200,--, this is about 260,-- USD.

It is a massive amp with a MosFet-poweramp and a huge transformer, it is realy loud and versatile. I keep it as backup, currently it is used in the rehearshall-room of one of my three bands. It is feeding two Peavey TVX 410-cabs. Massive wall od sound!

Have you considered buying a cheap used amp head from the US with a switchable power supply voltage and shipping it over? I think finding a cabinet locally would probably be your best choice.

Good point, I think before anything I'll check at my local music shop (we only have one now because everywhere else shut down!) and if there are none there I'll just check online for second hand amps or second hand cabinets and I'll get the cabinet locally

Totally unrealistic. Not only is your budget way too small - as has been pointed out - but effects generally belong in either 1) a separate digital rackmount unit, or in 2) a pedalboard on the floor. :eyebrow:

MM

You can probably get a complete piece of s**t Crate amp that has effects built in, but it won't:
A) sound good
B) be loud enough
C) be wort your time.

Save up quite a bit more and buy something that you won't want to throw away in 2 weeks.

I'm just gonna wait until my birthday to see if I can afford one, pretty sure I'll have enough money by then

The latest round of Peavey TNTs have all that stuff... Not sure you can get one for that kind of money. If I were you I'd save up to the $500 range and your options will open up quite a bit.

Look for a used Gallien Krueger Backline 600, they sell used for $150. They are loud (300w@4 ohms, 180w@8ohms) and they have 2 channels (a distortion channel and clean channel). The Backline 600 sounds very decent too.

You are kind of screwed... cheap bass amp and metal are kind of an oxymoron. Between a super loud double bass drummer (though maybe yours plays really soft and uses those cotton ball style beaters) and at least one typical too-loud guitarist (100w tube into a 4x12) you need a lot of power and a lot of speakers. Plus, sometimes you need that extra bit of volume to drown out the singer/screamer.

I distrust the Backline or just find it to be exceedingly "dark" sounding. At one time I was having my main head repaired and had to use a "backline" at our rental space... which happened to be of the GK Backline line. I plugged my more a less awesome bass into the Backline and had Backline going through an excellent cab (Mesa PH 4x10). I struggled all evening to get good tone (or actually any type of tone, the controls on it just shifted the mud around) with this rig.

Backline schmackline, they aren't even cheap downunder.

Don't drown out your singer. Give him the chance to control the mic and express himself in more than one level of agitation, rise to fame.