College dorm bass amp?

ric4682 · #1 06-13-2011, 10:54 PM

So I'm going to be attending CMU in the fall and I need a small amp that doesn't sound small... Being a graduated high school student I don't want to spend a ton of money on this thing. So far I've found three possible options for me right now. If I missed something please by all means enlighten me

My three amps I've found so far are these
- Ibanez Promethean 1x10 Combo
- Acoustic 260 combo
- Ampeg mini svt or whatever it's called
What are the pros and cons of each? Has anyone compared these side by side? What other possibilities are there? Also, I should probably mention that having the MP3 input and headphone output are vey important too.
Take it away!

jtc_hunter · #2 06-13-2011, 11:09 PM

GK MB112 would be a good choice. Go to rmcaudio.com and ask for a quote. I got mine brand new for $224 shipped. Thats $144 less than GC (they charge tax too).

ric4682 · #3 06-14-2011, 12:03 AM

Thanks! I'll have to check that out too. How does the sound compare to larger amps and what's the overall character of it? Is it more dark or scooped or flat or warm..those kind of things.

**JxBass** · #4 06-14-2011, 04:29 AM

Ric, you may be thinking of the Ampeg Micro-VR stack, a good choice. The Ampeg BA112 is also worth consideration for dorm room setting, thought the micro stack will get you further in terms of band and jam use.

Count Bassie · #5 06-14-2011, 04:45 AM

Look into a Hartke A100. It sounds loud and full enough (nice bottom end) for a band rehearsal or small gig; also it has a headphone jack, and a line-in you can plug your iPod into. Play along and don't bug your mates... Just go easy on the limiter- it's a squasher if you get past a certain point. But it's a great amp- it has surprised me for its usefulness as a real bass amp!

I find the Hartke amps seem to get into a room well- even the bitty old Kickback 10 handled a reasonably loud country gig.

And it's an easy carry! Bass, amp- one hand/shoulder each.

coreyfyfe · #6 06-14-2011, 06:00 AM

My first suggestion is shopped used (especially here on the TB classifieds

), there are some good deals. Second, of those, the only one I've tried is the mini-VR but it's a pretty decent amp. The input/headphone out jacks are great for practicing and the amp has enough output to get by in most practice/gigging situations. At ~7lbs it's super light and easy to lug around, though a combo could be one handed instead of hauled in two parts. Then again, having the little head does give you more flexibility in terms of cabs.

Hawkbone · #7 06-14-2011, 06:04 AM

I'm a big fan of the Genz Benz Shuttle combos

Toastfuzz · #8 06-14-2011, 06:15 AM

When I was in college dorms, I used an old 80's guitar amp going into a 8" open-back speaker cab. It sounded like garbage if you had the bass knob on the amp past half way...so it produced a very round yet trebly bass sound with pretty much no low end. The BASS frequencies are what's going to cause you noise problems in a dorm setting, so any small bass amp that actually gets into deep low frequencies is going to ruff some feathers. Cheap small guitar amps are a dime a dozen.

Generally the people who will complain will live below you, since those bass frequencies fly right through the concrete in your floor / their ceiling. Make good friends with them, and you won't have as many problems

Inverness · #9 06-14-2011, 06:52 AM

+1 to Toastfuzz.

I got some complaints... well, just about everywhere I lived. For in-bedroom headphone playing and practicing, I have a Sansamp PBDI going into a 2-channel ART mixer, but really, any bass combo with a headphone out that defeats the main speaker will work just fine. And go used!

For the record, I had an Ampeg B-50R combo that's still with me.

masterFlash · #10 06-14-2011, 07:02 AM

What are your requirements? Just something small to practice with, or do you need to busk on weekends for beer money?

For the smallest lightest, if you have an ipod, use the amp emulator apps and a good pair of headphones.

If you need to jazz it up on the corner, the ampeg micro is sweet, but I'ld go with the ampeg ba115 instead (less to carry)

Count Bassie · #11 06-14-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inverness

+1 to Toastfuzz.

I got some complaints... well, just about everywhere I lived. For in-bedroom headphone playing and practicing, I have a Sansamp PBDI going into a 2-channel ART mixer, but really, any bass combo with a headphone out that defeats the main speaker will work just fine. And go used!

For the record, I had an Ampeg B-50R combo that's still with me.

You can't disconnect the speaker and just use the amp as a line-out jig? No Line-Out or fx loop idea on back?

I don't know that amp, but it seems like the modern standard to have loops and outs...

Count Bassie · #12 06-14-2011, 07:04 AM

I'm tellin' ye, the Ampeg stuff is great, but the Hartke A100 is a very good all-around, useful, nice-sounding jig. Not a loser in any respect.

richtea · #13 06-14-2011, 07:29 AM

my GF got this ashdown 515 mini rig for her flat. Its not as big as it looks. One of the best, nope THE best tone I have ever heard from a practice amp. It totally flattens my cube 30, in sound quality and volume, and cost less. It is a must try. Every time I turn the thing on it impresses me.

i_got_a_mohawk · #14 06-14-2011, 07:35 AM

I used a Line6 GX and some decent headphones will living in halls.

Granted, at the time my only other options were my Ampeg SVT or Peavey Firebass with a 2x15 or 8x10!

Inverness · #15 06-14-2011, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Count Bassie

You can't disconnect the speaker and just use the amp as a line-out jig? No Line-Out or fx loop idea on back?

I don't know that amp, but it seems like the modern standard to have loops and outs...

The B-50Rs are sealed. There is a line-out on the back underneath, but it's in such a painful spot that I doubt it was ever meant to be a serious component. Only right-angle jacks can really get in there. The headphone jack (as far as I can remember) doesn't defeat the speaker. If I weren't in the midst of a move, I'd go check right now. I still use it for smaller practices/auditions when I don't want to lug around my big Ampeg SVT-II.

I'm much happier with my current set up, since the PBDI takes up, I dunno, a few square inches? The ART mixer allows me to blend the headphone out of my computer with the PBDI, so I can rock out into my headphones without bothering anyone.

klejst · #16 06-14-2011, 09:06 AM

I live in a apartment and I use a Fender Rumble 15 to practice here. It still gets loud at high volume, but I never have it full blast to avoid pissing off the people around me. It works and is small and I bought mine used for $40.

zachoff · #17 06-14-2011, 09:16 AM

crappy <$100 amp (with headphone outs) and a good set of headphones. I had a 15W 8" combo in my dorm and it bummed people out. Eventually got headphones and cured the problem.

Pilgrim · #18 06-14-2011, 09:53 AM

Buy used, and assume that you'll have to use headphones at all times for practicing. Not fair to neighbors in a dorm to fire up the speaker in a bass amp.

thereturnfc · #19 06-14-2011, 06:48 PM

I would recommend If u happen to gig alot buy higher watts but keep volume low would be easy to get nice tone in practice area

I used my old guitar with bass turn off ( soun like crap but worth sometime sped in the dorm room only) now I moved to basement , got tc rh450 and a 12' cab , play with joy even at midnight no complains

Count Bassie · #20 06-14-2011, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inverness

I'm much happier with my current set up, since the PBDI takes up, I dunno, a few square inches? The ART mixer allows me to blend the headphone out of my computer with the PBDI, so I can rock out into my headphones without bothering anyone.

This is perfect if you just want a dorm-rig for practice. Takes no space, sounds like you want it to (in a mix, etc). If you need to gig, well you cater to the shape of your life I guess! But if you don't need an amp on-deck, this is great.