recommend bass amp around $500

[muscmp]

my nephew has taken up the bass and is actually getting quite good at it. he presently has a low quality, low wattage, 10" speaker, bass amp and wants to upgrade to either a combo or cabinet/head.

i'm a guitar player more than bass so i'm not in the know about bass amps. it seems, tho, that a lot of people like the eden, gallien-kreuger, ampeg and swr. it appears that fender, acoustic, ashdown(due to the speakers) and peavey are not as highly thought of. of course these are generalizations, so i want to thank everyone for their recommendations!

play music!
mikeB.

[sammyp]

fender rumble series combo for that budget ...can't go wrong! you can get the lad the 350 watt one for pretty much that price!

or maybe the ampeg 100 watt combo ....there are a few models

the head and cabinet thing usually runs you a good deal more than your budget!

[pgolliher]

GK MB15, $400. Sound very good, very light, loud enough for a band and still portable. For $600, the MB210 gives you the option to use another cab for 500wts. I use the MB210 and love it. A friend of mine borrowed my amp and got the MB15 for himself. I got rid of my Ampeg head and cab and I am totally happy.

[tabdog]

I want the GK MB15.

Just my 2 cents,

Tabdog

[Chef FourString]

Ampeg BA115
100 watt combo, 15" speaker, tone select, level blend around $375 brand new. It's a pretty good amp. Heads and cabs will push you to a grand and more.

[CL400Peavey]

For $500 you can pick up a wicked used half stack. I would skip the combo and get a 410 cab with a head that pushes 300 watts at the correct resistance of the cab.

[jschwalls]

Peavey Tour TNT 115 | Sweetwater.com

LOUD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

good tone.

[rilindmc]

For a stack I would suggest ampeg, gk, or peavey. I like ampeg and gk combined (ampeg head and gk cab). I have a peavy tour series in my bands studio which is nice. If you get peavey id suggest all peavey and no mixing. All ampeg sounds good, I personally dont like gk heads that much. I have tries swr a few times and theyre pretty good. Id personally say go for an ampeg (craaigslist.usually has really good deals but can be sketchy.. Always try the amp out). I wouldnt say to get tube yet, but if hes really serious about it definantly consider it.. Tubes are worth the extra buck

[Martin89]

GK Backline 600 and a 410, I did it under that budget and it has a good tone and is plenty loud.

[muscmp]

thanks to everyone for their input. you've really given me some great choices!

play music!
mikeB.

[Tvrtko]

Acoustic B200. Period.