Newb chick needs amp-buying advice please!

[rtmiss]

Hey everyone,

This is my first post. I've really only started playing bass seriously in the past six months, after having joined a band being only able to play basic stuff.

Anyway, long story short; I've gotten much better at playing, the band's started recording and gigging and I need an amp.

At the moment I'm fairly strapped for cash, so I'm looking for a decent second hand amp, and I've found a few in my price range, but to be honest I haven't got a clue what to look for - bearing in mind that I'm pretty much a newb to the bass world.

Also because I'm new I don't want to fork out for a new amp just yet anyway, not until I know I want to stick with bass.

So. I've found three combo amps in my price range:

a Roland Cube-100w amp, which is actually pretty banged up and ragged looking, going for $399 Aussie;

a Fender Bassman Sidekick 110w for AU$350 which was recently serviced; and

a 2 year old Hughes & Kettner Bassforce XXL 300w for AU$500

I need the amp to be fairly beefy; even though we're really only playing small gigs at the moment, I want to know that I can really crank it if I need to.

With all the research I've done, I like the sound of what the Roland can do but it did look pretty old and half-dead...

The Fender reads as though it'd be good, but the guy said it's a good "practice amp" which put me off a bit - as I said I want something that I can crank up.

And the H&K well, I've not been able to find ANY info on that specific amp!! But I like that it's a 300w - that I *know* I can crank... even if it might be a little excessive :P

Can anybody give me opinions, things to look out for... suggestions, a crash course on bass amps... anything?

I don't know if it helps, but we play heavy, bass-driven stoner rock kind of stuff, influenced by Sabbath, Kyuss and the like, and sometimes go into grungy, riff-driven funky stuff like Rage Against the Machine so the bass sound is fairly integral.
Oh, and I'm a chick, and as such I don't wanna be lugging around giant amps that I can't even lift :P

[knucklehead G]

For use with a band, 300W isn't excessive at all. Can you find any used Gallien-Krueger combos? Your H&K head you mentioned should be around the same price as the MB210 or MB212 used, both put out 500W and will last you as long as you need to keep them. GK also holds its value so if you decide to quit later you can sell it easily. They are both lightweight too, there's photos I'm too lazy to dig up of a guy holding one by his pinky finger.

EDIT: Checked your eBay, something like this would do you proper also: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Ashdown-Bass-...item19c50b8b22

[type C basses]

I don't have experience with this, but I've hear problems about the long-term performance of the Bassman's speaker.

I really enjoy the sound of the Ampeg BA210 but I can't speak to it's max volume capabilities.

[perogato02]

When playing in a band and doing gigs, you'll need the 300 watts ...

Try buying used, you'll save quite some cash.

Look for used Peavey's, Hartkes, GK's, Crates, Ashdowns. Those are the more budget friendly amps.
Behringer is cheap too ... but if you are going to lug it around to and fro gigs, you want to have something sturdy and Behringer has a lot of plastic on it so it is bound to break if used intensively.

Maybe consider buying a head and cab, something in the 300 watt range and I suggest a cab with 4 x 10 inch speakers ...
For example: a used Hartke 3500 with a (used) Peavey TVX 410 should be fairly cheap, is a good all round starting set but on the heavy side.
But hey, chicks can grow muscles right

[vin*tone]

Good suggestions here. GK is great value for money. Ashdown or Trace too.

Ashdown Bass Combo 300W MAG C210T-300 EVO II | eBay

[treekiller]

It depends on what you have for PA support, but you might want to invest in a Sansamp DI. IIRC, Geddy Lee used to use one. You could still use a combo on stage, but you wouldn't need to drive it to extinction to keep up.

[IvanMike]

I can't really comment on your local availability in OZ, so I can't give you brand specific stuff. I would say try to avoid a combo amp rather than getting a separate head and cabinet. More than likely you're going to end up wanting to expand the size of your amplifier, and with a combo you have to start back at square 1, but with a head and a cabinet you can always change one or the other, or get a second cabinet.

I would go to the FAQ sticky in the top of the amps forum and read a bunch of the threads there. Learn about ohms & impedance and how you can use a head rated for 4 ohms with two 8 ohm cabinets, as well as other amplifier basics such as why watts aren't the only determining factor in how loud you can be, what they are for, etc.

I would definitely try to go used if you can as you can save a lot of money and get more bang for your buck. You do need to bring someone along who really knows about BASS amps (a guy who knows just about guitar amps doesn't cut it, trust me). Used speaker cabinets require more thorough testing to make sure they're OK. I would also cultivate a relationship with more than one local bass player in your area who gigs and isn't a salesman for a music store. Find out what they use, why they use it, go see them play, find out what the "requirements" are in your area. Take lots of notes. It's a big purchase and too many times people buying for the first time get an amp that turns out not to be satisfactory in terms of volume or tone or something else.

What kind of music you play, how loud your band is, and the size and type of the gigs you'll be playing are also important.

Finally, there is a bit of a reality check. Bass requires some size and mass in the speaker cabinets to sound good and cut it in a band. It's not unreasonable for a bass amplifier to be 4 to 6 times as large as a guitar amplifier in order to be just as loud. Two smaller cabinets will be more expensive than one larger one in most cases, but they will be lighter and easier to transport. There have been great advances in the bass amplifier world, so speaker cabinets and amplifier heads are available that have less mass than they once did. However, with a budget you may have to resign yourself to some heavier stuff for a while.

[MNAirHead]

Not to be judgemental --- As a lady, the weight/size may be a consideration.

I own huge amps.. it still sucks to be a tall, fat and strong guy to lug them around.

I like the suggestion above to search for a head/cabinet.

-----

At this point, a smaller (100w) budget combo (preferably with kickback and DI) will serve you very well for many gigs and practices.

Tim

[tdub0199]

Check out a Gallien Krueger MB combo.... MB115, MB212 or a MB210.... good bang for the buck....

[rtmiss]

Wow, what an overwhelming response!! Thanks everyone - I'm gonna read through all the comments and jot down everything. This stuff is priceless. Really appreciate it

[oldcatfish]

I have a Roland cube 100. Overall, it's a great amp. It's versatile, easy to dial in, has a good DI out, and is very reliable. It's also moderately light, at just under 40 pounds.

But...it's probably not going to be the right amp for a loud rock band. I use mine at one of the churches that I play at, when we have one of the "quiet" drummers. Even then, I have to push the amp a little to keep up. For louder gigs, I would definitely need to use an extension cabinet.

I agree with the GK combo suggestion. Lightweight, and good volume.

[lomo]

I agree with the separate head aand cab. I'd look for a head with at least 300 watts into 4 Ohms, even if you have to rent a cab initially. For a usual rock band, think 300 watts and a 410 or pair of 12s to get it done comfortably in most indoor situations.

[Downunderwonder]

The H&K seems a good deal. According to this Hughes & Kettner Bass ForceXXL 300W Bass Combo | NZ Musician | New Zealand Music Magazine
you would need a distortion pedal or something to get hard out dirt going.

[Super D]

I am in a simliar situation myself. I bought a GK mb112 a couple weeks back, now playing with my band I had it maxed out last night. So needless to say I need more. While I love the mb112, it has its limits. I would recommend atleast the mb210 or mb212, as I feel the mb115 may not be quite enough seeing that it is only 200 watts like mine.

[u84six]

I guarantee that you won't be happy with anything under 300w. Bass is tricky when trying to cut through the whole band (especially if you're playing with a loud guitar and drummer), and you can't always rely on PA support. I'd shoot for 300w or more, and you might want to consider a separate head and cab. Two trips with light equipment is better than one trip that's difficult to move.

[My name is Mudd]

Out of the three amps mentioned originally, I'd go with the H/K. Is Acoustic available Down There? They've got some nice stuff for not a lot of money.

[Downunderwonder]

Crash course on bass amps?

Can you spell bass? Then can you spell heavy? Put = in the middle, you taught yourself lesson #1. Until you get into neo driver cabs, which you can't afford, bass cabs use heavy drivers in bigger boxes than guitar cabs

For your style of music you really need some firepower. Your budget is 500 bucks? That's a little skinny for head + cabinets that you would call heavy duty. See how that heavy word came back?

The H&K could well get you by for awhile and it's "only" 32kg. It's probably got a neo driver in it. My 15 bin weighs around 40 kg. At that price I'd jump on it.

If you can spring for over 1G then you might convince a certain ebay seller in Melbourne to split his Trace rig + bass guitar auction for you.

[LAPetrarca]

Another vote for the GK MB series. Just picked up an MB112 last week. It kicks some SERIOUS ass and it's light as a feather! I'm picking up the big brother (MB115) next week.

Seriously, I've been doing the bar and wedding circuit for 40 over years and have NEVER had a need for more that 200 watts. If you need more than that, you're most likely gonna' need PA support.........IMHO based on my experience.......YMMV.

[MNAirHead]

There was a less than stellar comment about 4ohms. This greatly limits you in the future

[Downunderwonder]

Originally Posted by LAPetrarca

Another vote for the GK MB series. Just picked up an MB112 last week. It kicks some SERIOUS ass and it's light as a feather! I'm picking up the big brother (MB115) next week.

Seriously, I've been doing the bar and wedding circuit for 40 over years and have NEVER had a need for more that 200 watts. If you need more than that, you're most likely gonna' need PA support.........IMHO based on my experience.......YMMV.

Earth to USA. Prices in Australia are hyper inflated. 500 in Aussie dollars will buy you, best guess, about 300 worth of used gear in US