I just bought a acoustic bass guitar and now I have a question about amps

[Valk0010i]

I was wondering what would be a good amp for the acoustic bass that can also play electric basses. I do plan to sometime in the next two years to get a electric bass. But If I do decide to even get a electric bass, I don't want to have to now by two different amps. So what are your suggestions.

[JimmyM]

There are so many good amps out there that you just need to try a bunch in your price range and get the one that suits you best. But any amp that works for electric will work for acoustic. They're not any different.

[funkstag]

A Fender Rumble amp is cheap and still quite good.

[playerunk]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

But any amp that works for electric will work for acoustic. They're not any different.

i always wondered this.. is it the same ? I am asking because i see amplifiers for guitars and amplifiers for acoustic guitar. What gives ? [i overheard a conversation once that had the word 'feedback' used very often ]

[fingerbun]

Originally Posted by playerunk

i always wondered this.. is it the same ? I am asking because i see amplifiers for guitars and amplifiers for acoustic guitar. What gives ? [i overheard a conversation once that had the word 'feedback' used very often ]

Hmmmm. If you want the same sound the same amp will do both, but if you want different sounds you might want different amps. And yes I would expect an acoustic bass to feed back more easily than an electric.

If you can only have one amp I would be looking at a modelling amp. Roland Cube is what I use but I think Line 6 have some nice stuff too.

[vin*tone]

I would get something with a good semi-parametric EQ. ie one where you can shift the pitch and level of your EQ.... such as the Eden 550wt or Mesa Walkabout. This is really handy when you want to control boomy feedback issues on stage with your acoustic.

[Cohacq]

Electric guitars amps often have a lot of distortion, which usually isnt what you want on an acoustic. But bass amps are almost universally clean sounding, and don't have the same need to have separate amps.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Cohacq

Electric guitars amps often have a lot of distortion, which usually isnt what you want on an acoustic. But bass amps are almost universally clean sounding, and don't have the same need to have separate amps.

That's how I feel, too.

[will33]

Originally Posted by vin*tone

I would get something with a good semi-parametric EQ. ie one where you can shift the pitch and level of your EQ.... such as the Eden 550wt or Mesa Walkabout. This is really handy when you want to control boomy feedback issues on stage with your acoustic.

Good point,

Either that or something with a 7 or 9 band graphic would have enough controls in the right spots.

IME the 2 main problems you can have with acoustic basses is boom and feedback. Doesn't mean yours will have these problems, just they are the common ones. Having eq adjustments to remedy that is nice. That same amp will work fine for any electric bass.

[SurferJoe46]

Just get an acoustic sound hole plug like Planet Waves. It's firm black rubber - avoid the louvered wooden or plastic ones - and you'll remove almost all the potential for feedback.



I use one for my AEB10 and it works very well. That and the onboard EQ and Presence adjustments are important. The phase reversal doesn't seem to make too much difference though.

[prd004]

Find a used Ampeg B-100R

[fingerbun]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

That's how I feel, too.

But then Jimmy why do you lug your Ampeg rig around when surely a small PA speaker would do the same thing?

Most bass amps change the sound of the instrument.

[gbarchus]

+1 on the used Ampeg B-100R

Gale

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by fingerbun

But then Jimmy why do you lug your Ampeg rig around when surely a small PA speaker would do the same thing?

Most bass amps change the sound of the instrument.

Well first off, upright bass is as close to acoustic bass as I get. Second, because my Ampegs are especially stellar. Third, because I don't buy into the "tube bass amps are only for dirt" conventional wisdom that seems to have cropped up over the last 10-15 years.

[fingerbun]

Hi Jimmy....second things first, I am in no way impugning the honor of Ampeg :-)

To my ear most good bass amps color the tone of the instrument. If OP likes what an Ampeg or some other amp does, then good choice. I threw in the cube because it's versatile (including emulating a couple of Ampegs!) but if OP wants a natural sound he probably wants a PA.

Your first sentence was the best possible advice...try a few amps and decide what he likes.

I agree that tubes aren't only about dirt. To me they sound warmer, but less hifi (this is obviously a great big generalisation, each amp is different)

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by fingerbun

Hi Jimmy....second things first, I am in no way impugning the honor of Ampeg :-)

To my ear most good bass amps color the tone of the instrument. If OP likes what an Ampeg or some other amp does, then good choice. I threw in the cube because it's versatile (including emulating a couple of Ampegs!) but if OP wants a natural sound he probably wants a PA.

Well we really don't know what he wants But whether he gets an SVT or a Cube or a small PA system, he can play both acoustic and electric on them.

I agree that tubes aren't only about dirt. To me they sound warmer, but less hifi (this is obviously a great big generalisation, each amp is different)

Gotta say I 100% disagree. I've DI'd my Ampeg tube heads through the speaker out into stellar PA systems many times, and run them in a couple very nice 2 and 3 way cabs that would be considered "hi fi," and when I run them clean they sound more hi fi than any other rigs I've played.

[Adam Bomb]

Originally Posted by playerunk

[i overheard a conversation once that had the word 'feedback' used very often ]

LOL. I play both EB and ABG through the same amps, and feedback is def. more of an issue with the ABG. So I usually use the pad or active bass input for the ABG. I hear that the active input is a tone suck, but I don't hear it.

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Just get an acoustic sound hole plug like Planet Waves. It's firm black rubber - avoid the louvered wooden or plastic ones - and you'll remove almost all the potential for feedback.



I use one for my AEB10 and it works very well. That and the onboard EQ and Presence adjustments are important. The phase reversal doesn't seem to make too much difference though.

This is a great tip. I play the same bass. Thanks!

What settings do you like on the onboard EQ?

--Bomb

[fingerbun]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Gotta say I 100% disagree. I've DI'd my Ampeg tube heads through the speaker out into stellar PA systems many times, and run them in a couple very nice 2 and 3 way cabs that would be considered "hi fi," and when I run them clean they sound more hi fi than any other rigs I've played.

Ain't gonna argue with you on Ampeg. But why would you put the head into the signal chain if it doesn't affect the sound? Educate me o wise one :-)

[iiipopes]

I will post a complete review after I've really put it through the paces, but I just got a Carvin MB12 that I plan on gigging with electric bass, (with an extension 1X15 cab) double bass (w/ or w/o the cab, depending on the gig) and acoustic guitar.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by fingerbun

Ain't gonna argue with you on Ampeg. But why would you put the head into the signal chain if it doesn't affect the sound? Educate me o wise one :-)

Hi fi sound doesn't mean flat response. It means a high quality of sound.