Practice Amp???

medgeking · #1 03-05-2013, 05:11 PM

I've got a Peavey Combo 300 amp in my garage which I'm currently playing both guitar and bass through very happily (despite a couple quirks), but the thing is a monster in size, weight and volume, so I don't move it. It's just there for jamming with friends and band practice.

I'm looking for a small practice bass amp that I can have in my living room next to my Fender Mustang I guitar amp. I don't need lots of volume, but I'd like good tone. In particular, I like control over the low mids. I'm trying to decide on whether or not I should invest in a Carvin MB10, or just get something smaller and cheaper.

If I have to pay $200 for a cheap crappy amp and can get something like the Carvin for $100 more, then I'll probably spend the $s for the Carvin (or other), but I thought I'd check to see if there are any other less expensive options you guys would suggest. I've actually been intrigued by the Fender Bronco modeling amp, but haven't played one.

One additional comment is that I've played through a bunch of bass amp offerings from Acoustic and I think they sound terrible - boxy and they are obviously cheaply made. This is the type of thing I'd like to avoid.

Let me know what you think.

gregmon79 · #2 03-05-2013, 05:16 PM

Only having experience with GK and yorkville, I'd say go for and RB or MB combo. Lightweight, awesome tone for I think around $400. But that may be too rich for your blood possibly?? I have no experience with Carvin, but gallien Kruger make spectacular products. Just this guys opinion. I am obviously biased though.

gregmon79 · #3 03-05-2013, 05:17 PM

GK RB or MB I mean.

medgeking · #4 03-05-2013, 05:24 PM

fair enough, I haven't looked at the GK stuff yet . . .

RxFunk · #5 03-05-2013, 05:34 PM

I would recommend the Ampeg BA108. It's a fantastic practice amp, it has25 watts, a stereo CD/MP3 input, a headphone output, and an 8" speaker. Great sound, a quite a few TBers use one as their bedroom type practice amp. Plus, they only cost $100 brand new.

Mugwump · #6 03-05-2013, 05:42 PM

I just picked up the Ampeg 108. Great tone and more than loud enough for practice. But it is large for a practice amp. It's fine if it's just for moving around the house.
But I think I'm going to keep looking for something with similar tone but half the size. I need it for lugging around the city to lessons. It's just too obnoxious for the trains and buses.
But that may just be a pipe dream.

medgeking · #7 03-05-2013, 06:22 PM

I'll have to consider that 8" Ampeg . . .

Art Araya · #8 03-05-2013, 06:30 PM

ampeg 50 watt combo. good tone for a practice amp.

seamonkey · #9 03-05-2013, 06:32 PM

If you already have an iPhone use it, or an Older generation iPod touch can be had cheap.

This and headphones makes a great practice rig. For hauling to lesson's, take two headphones.

You can plug you bass into the ipod, at the same time you plug the ipod into your stereo to jam along with songs and tracks.

Check out iRealb.com for practice band for iPod.

fordkisskrazy · #10 03-05-2013, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Araya

ampeg 50 watt combo. good tone for a practice amp.

+1. I've been using my BA112 now for 2 years at home and sometimes out. Has great sound and with the shape shift knob you can really get alot of sounds and it does change the mids some.

Art Araya · #11 03-05-2013, 06:48 PM

yup the BA112 is the one I was thinking of. anything less is going to sound rinky dink.

JB36 · #12 03-05-2013, 07:17 PM

If I were going with the Carvin, i'd grab the 2x10 for few bucks more. I would rather have a larger 2x10 cab than a single. I have a Promeathean combo and head always get used with a 2x10 as opposed to a single cab combo. It just has a bigger/fuller sound whether it's band or bedroom practice.

JimmyM · #13 03-05-2013, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Araya

yup the BA112 is the one I was thinking of. anything less is going to sound rinky dink.

I've had good luck with the BA110 and 108 as well. The BA112 sounds better but the BA110 doesn't sound rinky dink. Neither does the BA108, although rinky dink being in the ears of the beholder, YMMV.

Art Araya · #14 03-06-2013, 07:05 AM

Rinky dink has not made the TB glossary yet so it certainly is subjective.

Id trust Jimmy on this more than myself. Hes got more experience with all of these models than I do.

mac94 · #15 03-06-2013, 07:18 AM

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CubeBs20XL

I use a Roland cube for practice

wcoffey81 · #16 03-06-2013, 08:21 AM

have you though about one of the "new" peavey Max amps? just last year they redesigned the whole line of 1x8, 1x10, 1x12 and 1x15 amps. plus i think they have a 5 year warranty.

medgeking · #17 03-06-2013, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcoffey81

have you though about one of the "new" peavey Max amps? just last year they redesigned the whole line of 1x8, 1x10, 1x12 and 1x15 amps. plus i think they have a 5 year warranty.

That's very tempting . . . now I'm just confused.

medgeking · #18 03-06-2013, 12:44 PM

OK, I'm down to the Ampeg BA108 and the Peavey Max 158.

I checked in with my Sweetwater Sales Engineer and he thinks I should go with the Ampeg because he said he played through one recently and was really impressed with the sound.

BUT . . . I kind of like the specs of the Peavey better. I like the onboard tuner (I use that feature on my Fender Mustang I all the time for playing guitar). I also like that the Peavey has an 1/8" input instead of the L/R CD input. Finally, the Peavey is a little smaller and it's lighter.

Anyone here have experience with both of these amps? If the Ampeg has significantly better sound, then I'll go with it. If they sound similar though, I think I'm going for the Peavey . . .

Let me know.

gregmon79 · #19 03-07-2013, 06:35 AM

I could be wrong but I do believe that they will sound significantly different. I've always loved the ampeg sound too. I still have a smaller practice amp by ampeg I use from time to time and love it's tone. Never really used peavey though. I think mine is from the older rocket bass line though. Still a great little amp.

5 Wire · #20 03-07-2013, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcoffey81

have you though about one of the "new" peavey Max amps? just last year they redesigned the whole line of 1x8, 1x10, 1x12 and 1x15 amps. plus i think they have a 5 year warranty.

I can personally vouch for the MAX 112. I bought it for acoustic but it works well with electric too - surprisingly well.

Not a fan of the Ampeg BA series. Cheap junk.

The Carvins are a great little combos. Before I settled on the Peavey I was seriously looking at the MB112. The design is intriguing.