Good bass amp for a beginner?

[Gamer123e4]

Hello, I'm new to electric bass and would like to know, What type of amp should I buy? Thanks!

[Slowgypsy]

That's a very broad question... sort of impossible to answer. But if you're just starting out I'd suggest a small combo amp with at least 100 watts of power. It's not enough power for a full band, but it's a perfect practice size and you'll use it for years to come for just that purpose. I'm positive others will follow this post with all sorts of specific brands and models. Any idea of how much $ you'd like to spend?

[waleross]

Fender makes nice combo bass amps. Look at a Rumble 100 , new they are $349, so you can get a good deal on a used one, I'm sure...............................

[BrettTheThreat]

The Fender Rumbles are pretty snazzy and have a lot of features for the money. Keep an eye on Craigslist or Kijiji in Canada, and if anything catches your eye, just do a little research on here!
Anything by Fender, Peavey or Roland should be reasonably priced and suit you well. (that list is by no means complete. Look around your local classifieds and post what you find, we'll help you out.)

[sloasdaylight]

Get an Aguilar DB750. Perfect beginner amp.

[billoetjen]

Anything that says "Bergantino."

[billoetjen]

Rumbles have a rep for poor reliability.

[Mrdak]

Look into the Acoustic B100 or B200 combos.... Great little amps for the $$
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Acoustic...LAID=439934311

[gtaus]

Originally Posted by Gamer123e4

Hello, I'm new to electric bass and would like to know, What type of amp should I buy? Thanks!

My 0.02 cents worth here. If you are unsure of your commitment to playing bass long term, then just buy the cheapest practice amp you can find. If you find that bass guitar is not your thing, then you don't lose a lot on equipment that you won't use, or maybe can't sell for anywhere near the price you paid for it.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone who wants to play bass, but as a musician who plays bass, guitar, keyboards, saxaphone, and bangs on the drums every once in a while, you might find yourself being pulled in other musical directions also. I would not personally invest lots of money in equipment at a beginner's level. If you invest your time and effort into learning how to play bass well, you will be much better off than worrying about what bass amp to buy. Chances are, the bass amp you buy now will not be the one you want later anyway.

For the past 3 years, I have been playing bass "professionally" (getting paid) on weekends but I still use my el cheapo 120 watt Rogue bass amp I got from Musician's Friend on clearance for $89.00. However, my bass amp is only used as my stage monitor. My main sound comes from my Digitech GNX4 XLR output straight to the live mixer. Most bass players around here have some kind of direct output to the mixer and most of their bass sound comes from the band's front speakers and subwoofers - not from their bass amp. So my suggestion is to look into direct boxes and effects pedals for the bass guitar that send out a direct line to your live mixer. That way, you can dial in many different cabs and models for a fraction of what a real amp would cost you. My bass sound from the GNX4 direct out sounds professional, and I can chose a number of different amp models to play.

FYI, I play in a rock cover band. IMHO, a 100 watt bass amp is no where near powerful enough for my band. Having said that, a 100 watt bass amp is more than enough as a stage monitor if you send a direct line out to the FOH mixer, which is what I do. That way the soundguy mixes in the best bass level for the overall mix and he controls everything out front.

Recently I purchased a Behringer Ultrabass BB410 1200W 4x10 Bass Cabinet http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....net?sku=600606 for $299.00 and the BX4500 head http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....ead?sku=481090 for $229.00. It pumps out 450 watts of power and sounds good enough to use as a stand alone bass amp if you don't have a good PA system. I think it's about the best deal in the sub $600.00 range for a 410 stack/head combo. Lots of good reviews on that package. IMHO, again, you would have to spend lots more money to get something that sounds even just a little bit better.

But I don't expect to be using the 410 stack much at the small venues we normally play at. My 120 watt Rogue with the GNX4 direct output is just a better option for me. If budget is a concern for you, I'd suggest looking at getting a better direct out box and going cheap on the amp.

If you don't plan on gigging with other musicians, and just want a nice practice amp at home, a friend of mine bought the 30 watt Fender B-Dec and she loves it. Unfortunately, that model is discontinued but you might find a used one for sale. The 30 watt amp is loud enough for her practice at home, and she can also take it to small gigs and open jams because the amp itself has a direct line out for the live mixer. Also, a smaller, portable amp, or good effects pedal, is much easier to take with you than a 410 or 810 stack. When I go to open jams, I just take my GNX4 and jack into the venue's PA. I don't even bother with bringing any amp at all.

Probably too much to read, but I had some free time tonight to lay down some thoughts. Take my suggestions with a grain of salt if you want. I have only been playing bass guitar for 3 years. If I would have known at the start that I would still be playing bass in a band after three years, I might have bought my dream Ampeg 810 stack and head from the start. I could not use it at most of our gigs, but it would be sweet to have just the same.

[Bmorefoozler]

Go as cheap as possible until you are ready to play with others. Then get a GK MB Combo.
For example I got a Peavey 126 10 watt 1x6.5 combo for $50 used at GC. It amplifies bass.

[Andysalt01]

+1 to the last 2 posts - I think i started with a 30W laney hardcore combo and squire bass of some description cost me about £120 in total , until I decided I was going to continue for sure...... of course if you're going to be gigging straight away or playing with others, then you might need more.

I guess a little more info on what you're planning on doing would also be useful.

[OOZMAN]

Originally Posted by billoetjen

Anything that says "Behringer."

Fixed it for ya.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I'd go for a Peavey amp, used is a pretty safe bet with them too.

[FireSlash]

I was using a Kustom KBA16 for a while for practicing on my own... in the end I found an amPlug sounds better and is a lot cheaper.

When I'm not feeling like rocking headphones, I just run it through another speaker system (Computer speakers work great, or with the right cable you can hook it up to a home theater system).

Plus I can just toss it in the gig bag with a set of earbuds when it's not use, so it's always handy.

[dalkowski]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

I'd go for a Peavey amp, used is a pretty safe bet with them too.

Yep. TKOs go cheap on CL all day long. Built like tanks and weight as much, too.

[Jimmy Stump]

Originally Posted by Gamer123e4

Hello, I'm new to electric bass and would like to know, What type of amp should I buy? Thanks!

This is a tough question to answer, you haven't given us your budget, style of music, whether you are in a band or not, etc.

That said, how about a used combo, maybe Markbass, Gallien-Krueger; you would have a choice of 10", 12", or 15" speakers. These brands are generally pretty good quality/tone.

Behringer will be one of the cheaper brands you encounter. Be aware, you usually get what you pay for.

[gtaus]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stump

...Behringer will be one of the cheaper brands you encounter. Be aware, you usually get what you pay for.

I have bought a lot of Behringer equipment over the past 3-4 years. Never had a problem with any of the gear. If you are on a tight budget, like me and most musicians around here, Behringer gives great value for the money. Lots of younger groups around here gear up with Behringer gear. You can pay lots more for other brands, but I am not convinced that their quality is any better, or worth the extra cost. Read the customer reviews on whatever musical gear you are considering to purchase and see what fellow musicians think. Quality, and customer satisfaction can vary even among the same brand depending on when, and where, the unit was made.

+1 with the suggestions on maybe even just getting a headphone amp as you start out. They offer the best option for late night practice, ultimate portability, and low cost. Even though I have been playing bass for 3+ years now, I am just now looking at bass trainers like the $159.00 Tascam MP-BT1 http://www.amazon.com/Tascam-MP-BT1-...4418626&sr=1-1 and the $171.00 Tascam GT-R1 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846. They offer the advantages of looping, tempo change, pitch change, bass cancellation/enhancement, and loading them up with hundreds of songs to play along with. Those are usually features you will never see on most bass amps.

For learning new songs, I use the tempo change and looping all the time. Also, pitch change is important for me because we might play a song in a different key from the original to accommodate our lead singer. I currently use my Tascam DR-07 as my bass trainer because it has the loop, tempo, and pitch features. But the DR-07 is primarily a field recorder so I cannot jack my bass guitar directly into the unit and play along with it. Also, my DR-07 does not have the bass cancellation/enhancement feature. So, in a way, I'm going backwards now looking at these bass trainers for my practice.

I think I would have been better off with a bass trainer to start with, and then have bought an amp after I got into gigging with some guys. I really don't need any of my bass amps for practice at home. I usually put on headphones for practice anyway.

[Slackerprince]

I think for the money, that Fenders are overpriced.
I think the Acoustic brand would be good, and I've seen them used on craigs.
Lots of Peavey suggestions, and those would work.
Good idea above to get a practice amp to see if you like playing bass, and better yet, fall in love with playing bass. Then, you can get into 300 watts or so, so you can play with your buddies.
Good luck, and don't forget the lessons.

S.

[ninerfan]

Sadowsky SA200 with a Bergantino NV610!!!! After a month or two pick up a NV215 to go with the 610!! That'll keep you gas free for a little while at least.

If you don't have $4,000 - $5000 to drop right now go for a used combo somethin' or other or a cheap head and 410 cab.