Recommend me a bass amp

[mr_goodbomb]

Under $800 used. I don't mind used at all, I generally prefer to buy used.

I currently have an Ampeg V4BH. It's a great amp, but the master volume is always all the way up, and I use the gain the control the volume. Sometimes, in some settings, it has to be too muddy to be heard.

I am in two bands. One is a very song-oriented indie rock band... by "song oriented" I mean most of the songs were written acoustic, and then add bass and drums, and sometimes lead guitar (often times, it's written acoustic, as well). So, most of the songs are based around chords, and they use a capo for almost everything. So, in general, the bass lines are fairly simple, I'm not a very technical player, just there to add rhythm and low end. You can hear examples at www.myspace.com/thegoddamnhills

The other band is almost a pop-punk band, but because of the singer's voice, the heaviness of the drummer, and the guitar tone (a Fender Bassman 10 with fuzz pedals or a Rat, and a semihollow), we generally get seen as more of an indie band. I guess think somewhere between old Green Day/Weezer and The Thermals. This is a three piece, so I need a very prominent bass sound that really takes a lot of ground, if that makes sense, being that there's just guitar, drums, and bass. I'd really like a sort of early Green Day bass sound.

Here are my basses:

- Gibson Grabber (being repaired, seems more suited for the first band)
- Fender Jaguar (seems more suited for the second band as it's more midrangey)
- P-bass with EMG P (just got it, haven't tried it)
- Hondo P-bass ish with Duncan Quarter Pound 51 P-bass

I play with a pick, always, I don't play slap bass, and not to offend anyone here, but if I'm going to put the bass part "out there" and push it to the front so it's heard, it's something more like Thrice's Stare at the Sun or the really melodic early Green Day bass lines, not slap bass or funk bass or anything wanky. I'm originally a guitarist, and I never learned a real guitar "solo," I just played, learned, and wrote songs.

(I hope that doesn't insult anyone, I'm basically just saying I'm not into "lead bass," or slap or anything like that. I'm basically a guitarist playing chords and melodies an octave down.)

Any recommendations? I'd love a Mesa 400/+, but can't find one in the price range.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Used GK 700RB?

[mr_goodbomb]

I should have mentioned... While I understand there's a big difference between GK Backline and the high-end GK stuff, I have a friend's GK Backline head and cab, the cab is fine, but the head is broken for absolutely no reason. I just don't trust them.

I also have very little experience with Eden, and not too interested in Hartke for some reason.

[Deluge Of Sound]

Used 80's Peavey?

[62bass]

Try the GK RB series amps such as the 800, 700 or 1000. Plenty of power, reliable, great sound. There are a lot of them available used at good prices.

I've been using GK for over 20 years and never a bit of trouble.

[mr_goodbomb]

I'd also prefer not to crank out nearly a grand on a Peavey.

I've come across a few Mesa 400s for $700-800, a number of SVTs, and my V4BH was $600 with a flight case. I just don't know what to look for other than the difference between all tube and hybrid, and power/wattage, but even then, I'm sure the hybrids sound good, and wattage all depends on whether it's tube or solid state, how much headroom you want, whether you wanna shell out almost as much as you paid for the amps to retube, etc etc etc.

[Crystalman85]

Originally Posted by mr_goodbomb

I should have mentioned... While I understand there's a big difference between GK Backline and the high-end GK stuff, I have a friend's GK Backline head and cab, the cab is fine, but the head is broken for absolutely no reason. I just don't trust them.

I also have very little experience with Eden, and not too interested in Hartke for some reason.

The backline series is more suitable for beginners. if you're an advanced bass player, I would advise purchasing a gk 700rb-II. if you're also in the market for a bass cab, I would say save money on either a gk rbx cab or a gk neo bass cab.

I tried hartke amps before and in my opinion they sound pretty cool. I haven't tried the LH bass head and the hydrive cabs but I hear good thing about them.

[baron665]

how about this? http://www.zzounds.com/item--HTKLH500AK115
Or look for a used Peavey TNT combo amp. I had one, and it was pretty bad ass.

[mr_goodbomb]

Originally Posted by Crystalman85

The backline series is more suitable for beginners. if you're an advanced bass player, I would advise purchasing a gk 700rb-II. if you're also in the market for a bass cab, I would say save money on either a gk rbx cab or a gk neo bass cab.

I tried hartke amps before and in my opinion they sound pretty cool. I haven't tried the LH bass head and the hydrive cabs but I hear good thing about them.

My point is that I don't trust HK because of my previous experiences with them. So I'm not interested in purchasing one.

Originally Posted by baron665

how about this? http://www.zzounds.com/item--HTKLH500AK115
Or look for a used Peavey TNT combo amp. I had one, and it was pretty bad ass.

As I said, spending that much on a Peavey seems a bit silly. Also, I'm looking for a head, or rack, as I have three cabs (8x10, 4x10, 4x12), so a combo would be a bit silly.

And, as I said, Hartke doesn't interest me.

[Marginal Tom]

I've never used GK, but if your poor experience with the Backline head shouldn't keep you from trying one of their higher-quality amps. If you had a bad experience with a Squier Affinity bass, would you refuse to play a Fender P or J?

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by mr_goodbomb

Sometimes, in some settings, it has to be too muddy to be heard.

snip

(I hope that doesn't insult anyone, I'm basically just saying I'm not into "lead bass," or slap or anything like that. I'm basically a guitarist playing chords and melodies an octave down.)

You might want to ponder your technique along with your gear. A bass is not a guitar...

[mr_goodbomb]

Originally Posted by Marginal Tom

I've never used GK, but if your poor experience with the Backline head shouldn't keep you from trying one of their higher-quality amps. If you had a bad experience with a Squier Affinity bass, would you refuse to play a Fender P or J?

If the ONLY experience I've ever had with a P-bass was a Squier that I owned and it fell apart, I wouldn't rush out to buy an American P-bass on a recommendation.

I'm not sure why that's unreasonable. I'm not looking for GK, Hartke, or Peavey. I appreciate the suggestions, and you can suggest them if you like, but it's not what I'm looking for.

Originally Posted by nostatic

You might want to ponder your technique along with your gear. A bass is not a guitar...

It's served me fine for several recordings, several bands, and the two current ones I'm in. I'm sorry, but what's wrong with using a pick? All I meant by that statement was:

- I use a pick, so amps that'll sound best with finger-style or slap aren't going to do much for me
- I don't play showy stuff, so an amp that's going to really push a slap bassist out into the forefront and make them the center of attention isn't my interest, either. It's just like saying "I play chords and melodies, I don't need a floyd rose."

I'm not saying I LITERALLY play chords. I'm saying, when our guitarist plays a verse that has a capo on the 2nd fret and he plays a G, a D, and an A chord, you can expect I'll be mainly playing the root notes, a walk based around them, or a melody built around them.

[Boombass76]

If you are in for a more portable amp, you should check out the TC RH450. I know it's not a true tube amp, but it has the TubeTone that sounds pretty cool. And since you use different basses, the presets will come in handy, and I think they go for less than $800 on ebay.

[RickenBoogie]

The OP doesn't mention what cab he's using with the V4BH. Having enough speaker with that amp is vital if you intend on gigging it, and that's where I'd begin the quest , here. With the right speaker cab, that amp has been known to do quite well, and the tone is beyond awesome.

[PSPookie]

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

The OP doesn't mention what cab he's using with the V4BH. Having enough speaker with that amp is vital if you intend on gigging it, and that's where I'd begin the quest , here. With the right speaker cab, that amp has been known to do quite well, and the tone is beyond awesome.

+1

I used a V4BH with a pair of Bag End S15-Ds with very good results. However, I still ran out of clean volume on occasion.

A used Markbass Little Mark II/III could be a good way to go depending on your cab situation. It's lightweight (7.5 lbs), powerful (500W @ 4 ohms), reliable, and sounds great.

Right now, I'm flogging a Peavey VB-2 and loving it. 225W of all-tube power and can be found used for around $500.

Happy Hunting

[coreyfyfe]

Originally Posted by mr_goodbomb

Any recommendations? I'd love a Mesa 400/+, but can't find one in the price range.

I'm sure you could if you looked around. Or maybe a Mesa D180.

[KsPiNeSh]

Mesa M-Pulse 600 pops to mind.

[canadian*eh]

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Used GK 700RB?

Used Man you can Get a New GK1001rb II for just about that price!! All I have used for the past 10 years has been GK heads Starting with the 800 then 700 fallowed up by the 1001 rb MKI and now to my newest Baby The 1001 rb MKII... And i have to say never ever ever had a lick of trouble with them!!! all great Head and can just about do anything i call upon them to Do!! I am a true GK fan and will probably have my amp buried with me when i leave this world in hopefully more the 60 years from now...lol

[Sav'nBass]

How about this Shuttle ... 600W @ 4 ohms.. a great amp.. Very versatile.. and for the price you can't beat it. It wont last long.