A small amp for office practice?

yehongxiang · #1 08-09-2010, 03:53 AM

I'm planning to buy a small practice amp for the office. Nothing too fancy, and sturdy enough for me to put my feet on.

Not too concerned about volume as well, as I'll be practising alone with this. However, I'd really appreciate a good tone out of the amp. Something vintage, warm and smooth would be great.

Anyhow, I'm restricted to a budget of about $250 for this. I'm also limited by the fact that I live in Singapore, and good online dealers in the States generally do not ship things over. That's why nice brands like Yorkville and Acoustic are out.

I've narrowed down my choices to these based on what I've read online (not in order of preference):

New

1) Ashdown After Eight ($174 at Musicians' Friend)

15W into 1x8" speaker

2) Ibanez SWX35 (US$199 at Musicians' Friend)

35W into 1x10" coaxial speaker

3) Hartke A35 ($210 at a local dealer)

35W into 1x10" speaker

4) Orange Crush CR50BXT ($249 at Musicians' Friend)

50W into 1x12" speaker

5) Vox Pathfinder Bass 10 ($77 at a local dealer)

5W into 2x5" speakers

6) Carvin MB10 ($329 at Carvin Direct)

200W into 1x10" speaker

7) GK MB112 ($299 at Musicians' Friend)

200W into 1x12" speaker

Used

1) Peavey Max 115 ($220)

50W into 1x12" speaker

2) GK Backline 112 ($220)

100W into 1x12" speaker

I will be going around shops to test these out, but I'd really appreciate the opinion of my fellow bassists prior to that.

If it was up to you, which amp would you go for?

jordie65 · #2 08-09-2010, 03:56 AM

how about that new tiny markbass? the micromark i think its called!

yehongxiang · #3 08-09-2010, 03:59 AM

The Markbass Micromark 50W here?

It's almost double my budget!

**mikeddd** · #4 08-09-2010, 04:04 AM

The Micromark is $480. Way above the "about $250 budget", unfortunately.

OP: I'm in the same boat as you right now...except I'm in the states and thankfully have a better selection to choose from. I'm looking for a small practice amp but not a piece of junk. Have you checked out the Carvin MB series? http://www.carvinguitars.com/bassamps/microbass.php They're brand new on the market and there's only one review out there (right here at TB...see the Carvin MB thread) but they sure look to be the answer to our needs. Though a bit out of your price range, the MB10 looks like a whole lot of amp for not too much money. While it's 200 watts is too much for "quiet office practice", that's what the volume control is for. Plus, it's a small amp that you could gig with, at least at a small gig.
Additionally, the GK MB112 will be in stock at MF later this month. It too looks like a great amp for the money. Just some thoughts.

**mikeddd** · #5 08-09-2010, 04:10 AM

You should put the Carvin MB series and the GK MB112 in your poll.

I'll be watching your thread as our situations are pretty much identical.

#6 08-09-2010, 04:13 AM

I use a Fender Rumble- good for this kind of thing. You can get one new for under $100.

yehongxiang · #7 08-09-2010, 04:13 AM

@mikeddd - The Carvin and GK seem interesting, and I definitely would not complain about the additional headroom! However, these are pretty new products and based on my past experiences, the local dealers here take a really long time to bring new things over.

Can't seem to edit the poll, but added them to the list of options.

@pltnny - Was there an update to the Rumble series? I remember playing through a few of those, and those were bad memories.

**mikeddd** · #8 08-09-2010, 04:16 AM

Carvin ships overseas (or I'm sure they have a dealer in Singapore that can get it for you)

I think Musiciansfriend ships OS too.

yehongxiang · #9 08-09-2010, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeddd

Carvin ships overseas (or I'm sure they have a dealer in Singapore that can get it for you)

I think Musiciansfriend ships OS too.

Just checked the Singapore page of the Carvin Direct website - the MB10 is going for SG$992, or US$730! Probably has shipping costs factored in, but it's still way out of my budget.

Unfortunately, MF only ships a few brands overseas and GK isn't one of them.

Foz · #10 08-09-2010, 04:44 AM

One vote for the GK MB112

I played through one at an informal jam - was set on top a road case so it was up nice and high and then ran a DI out to the small PA. I was amazed at how good a job it did as a montior for me - nice tone that I could dial in as I desired [pretty thick low end for such a small box] and it kept up with a pretty loud Pearl kit [at least for my ears standing right in front of it - though drummer said he couldn't hear me till we added a bit of bass to the side fills]. The DI feed for the PA worked as expected. Nice bit of kit IMO - would work fine as a lo-budget practice rig.

**mikeddd** · #11 08-09-2010, 04:58 AM

Thanks for the mini-review, Foz. What's your opinion on the Carvin MB series? (You may have posted in that thread, but I can't rmemeber off-hand.

bruiser1964 · #12 08-09-2010, 05:02 AM

I voted Orange although I don't have one I have the guitar version and its great value for money. I have an Ashdown After 8 and it's really underpowered.
What I wanted to know was how dya get away with practicing in the office? I'm the boss and I wouldn't manage it!

yehongxiang · #13 08-09-2010, 05:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bruiser1964

I voted Orange although I don't have one I have the guitar version and its great value for money. I have an Ashdown After 8 and it's really underpowered.
What I wanted to know was how dya get away with practicing in the office? I'm the boss and I wouldn't manage it!

I stay late in the office regularly, sometimes as late as past midnight. There wouldn't be anyone around by then so I cannot be a bigger annoyance than I already am.

Probably helps that the chief executive himself plays the guitar too!

**JxBass** · #14 08-09-2010, 05:49 AM

+1 for Peavey Max series. Great value, good tone, headphone jack, office-friendly footprint.

MyMusic · #15 08-09-2010, 05:51 AM

I've been using the Ibanez SW35 for the last couple of years and it's been wonderful. It's light, solid, dependable and sounds good (to me anyway).

lomo · #16 08-09-2010, 06:03 AM

I vote for a Korg Pandora and headphones. It'll fit in a drawer, has the tuner and a drum machine to jam with all built in to a package about as small as a camera and is well within budget. It's great to travel with as well.

MNAirHead · #17 08-09-2010, 06:35 AM

Vox Amplug .. only like $40 USD

The AC-30 works for bas

moonshinegtrs · #18 08-09-2010, 06:40 AM

+1 for the Orange 50 watt. Nice tone and I am really impressed with the amount of volume this thing has. Also has a built in tuner. Not bad for $250.

Moonshine

#19 08-09-2010, 06:47 AM

yehongxiang- I'm not sure if the Rumble series was updated. I don't think it's a particularly great amp for tone, sound, etc. but it does just fine for something that is cheap and easy to transport for use in the office and such.

yehongxiang · #20 08-09-2010, 07:22 AM

@lomo - Went through the specs for the Pandora and I must admit that it looks really interesting. However, I'm used to playing my bass without any effects so I'd essentially be buying tonnes of features that I do not need. Plus, I'm not too keen on a headphone set-up. Volume isn't really an issue and the way I see it, I could get a decent amp for the additional money I'd spend on the headphones.

@MNAirHead - Tried out the Amplugs once, and yes, they are really great value. However, I'm not really keen on a headphone set-up.

@pltnny - The couple of Rumbles I came across all had similar problems - hissing, bad QC etc. Would probably still try since they're at the same dealer with the Ibanez, but the bad experiences kinda stick.

I'm actually surprised that no one voted for the GK Backline! I remember seeing it mentioned positively here a few times, and I thought that the price here is actually quite reasonable.