Help finding Bass Amplification for around $800

[bigbaconclassic]

New to bass amplification and want some advice from the real experts out there.

I’ve played bass on home recordings, but never onstage, so I’ve never owned any amplifiers. I just bought a new Lakland Skyline 44-64 bass and am looking to start playing bass in bands. I’m looking to spend somewhere in the $800 range for amplification. Could go higher for the right fit, but not any more than $1,000.

I like indie rock and melodic alt-country type bands. Not seriously loud stuff, but I need a presence from my amp that makes me feel confident. I don’t play a lot of notes typically, and just need a sound that’s solid and reliable, but not irritating. I tried out some combo amps at Guitar Center and honestly wasn’t thrilled (Fender Rumble and GK MB-212 are the ones I recall). They just didn’t make me feel confident. I found them to be boomy and unclear.

I mostly play with a pick, but sometimes will play with my fingers. I want reliability, so I’ve got no problem with SS in the power stage. Will consider combos or head and cabinet paired together. I don’t care about weight. New or used – doesn’t matter. I just want to have enough power to hear myself onstage in medium (and occasionally large) size clubs. Having a line out to the front of the house would be nice too.

Honestly, I don’t understand a lot about wattage and ohms, but am doing some reading. From what I can tell, I think I’m looking for something in the 300 watt range. Not sure.

I’ve learned a lot from reading all the posts here at TB, but thought I’d post with what I’m looking for specifically. Does anybody out there have similar playing needs or know someone who does and has had some real success with their amplification? Any advice is much appreciated. I’ve finally got the bass I want, just need to pair it up with something that will work well in a band setting and make me feel confident. Thanks for reading!

[Caca de Kick]

I would avoid buying anything new. You can find practically everything used and usually on your local craigs, or here on talkbass. I hate buying new, and only will when the one thing I want is simply never available, which is rare.

A nice GK head can be had, and plenty for a good effecient cab. $800-1000 will go a very long way.

[bigbaconclassic]

Right there with you, man. I'm hoping to find someone ready to unload something for a real good price. Thanks for the heads up on the GK head. I'm a big fan of Steve Kilbey from The Church and I know he's played those for years.

[kesslari]

Check your local craigslist, and the classifieds here.
You can pick up a very nice head and cabinet for $800

[Ncognito]

I think you can't go wrong with a used Ampeg SVT-4 Pro. I've used them for years and you see them on backlines everywhere. I have one for sale in the classifieds too!!

[Caca de Kick]

The GK was just an example of something good and plentiful. Last year I sold a Mesa walkabout here for about 475, and that was a great amp to last a lifetime. But you can find Ampegs all day long too. In a nutshell it's easy to find great 300-500w amps for about $500 bucks. Then you can find a nice 4x10 or 2x12 and have a great rig that you can expand on later if you really need to.
Right now someone has a killer newer Mesa 2x12 powerhouse in the classifieds here. To me that would be the ideal cab right there. Throw that TC Electronics 450 on there or work over the guy selling the Walkabout, and it would be one sweet sounding rig.

[RickenBoogie]

Best thing would be to look around locally, and play with anything that's for sale. Try to end up with at least 300 watts, and spend more on your speaker cab than you do on the amp. A good 2x12 would work well, or a 410, but don't go with a single anything, or a 210, bigger is always better, especially when you're starting out without a PA to practice with. Used gear is ALWAYS the better deal, folks love trading gear around.