What amp to buy?

MasonBass21 · #1 01-26-2012, 11:58 PM

Okay as im a newbie, im wanting to by an amp but dont want to spend hundreds just yet, just a little practice amp to start with.
whats a cheap reliable first amp to buy?
ive borrowed a friends Fender amp and that sounds awesome. but i have to give that back in the next few days

so what are your suggestions people

I play a Maison TB-380 4 string

Stumbo · #2 01-27-2012, 12:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasonBass21

Okay as im a newbie, im wanting to by an amp but dont want to spend hundreds just yet, just a little practice amp to start with.
whats a cheap reliable first amp to buy?
ive borrowed a friends Fender amp and that sounds awesome. but i have to give that back in the next few days

so what are your suggestions people

I play a Maison TB-380 4 string

What's your budget? Buying used will get you more for your money. Have you checked your local CL to see what's out there? If you find something in your budget, post it here for some opinions/advice.

Here's a previous TB thread on the topic to check out: First amp advice

Maybe think about getting a bass trainer to help you learn: Bass trainers/practice w/o amps

Using a metronome might be helpful as well: Metronome info

Jrutt · #3 01-27-2012, 12:15 AM

I've been playing bass for several years now. I started playing on a squier p bass and a old peavey tko. I played it for about a year before I upgraded to an ampeg 410 cab and a ampeg b2re rack mount head. I would recommend a fender bassman or rumble amp to start. Then do some research on bass amps before you up grade. I now play on a fender rumble 350 2x10 combo (ported cabs rock! ). Good luck! \m/

MasonBass21 · #4 01-27-2012, 04:28 AM

Budget is up to $130-$150 i know its not much but its a start, ive been looking in 2nd hand music joints and the like.
The Fender amp i have at the moment is a Rumble 15, i love it but im not sure how much they go for at the moment, also been looking on ebay but you never know how much abuse they have copped without hearing them. thanks guys, i'll check that amp thread out

peace out

MasonBass21 · #5 01-29-2012, 06:18 AM

[quote=Stumbo;12103060]What's your budget? Buying used will get you more for your money. Have you checked your local CL to see what's out there? If you find something in your budget, post it here for some opinions/advice.

Okay, ive got an offer to buy a Peavy Microbass 50W
for $60AUD, but the back of it says 20W? whats the difference?

Also im looking at a Carlsbro for $70AUD but i have to go back and look at the specs of it. are either of these good buys?

please get back to me

Lake · #6 01-29-2012, 06:38 AM

A used Rumble 15 goes for $40 to $50. An Ampeg BA112 would be a good starter amp. Small enough for home practice yet has a 12' speaker and 50 watts if you get some jamming buddies. I've seen them at americanmusical.com on scratch and dent for $199.

**JxBass** · #7 01-29-2012, 06:45 AM

An Acoustic B100 may fit the bill for you. A new one is slightly over your budget at around $230. A used one, if you can find one, would fit nicely IMO. Not sure of your location and whether the Acoustic (Guitar Center) brand is an option.

**JxBass** · #8 01-29-2012, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lake

A used Rumble 15 goes for $40 to $50. An Ampeg BA112 would be a good starter amp. Small enough for home practice yet has a 12' speaker and 50 watts if you get some jamming buddies. I've seen them at americanmusical.com on scratch and dent for $199.

+1, another great suggestion. The Ampeg BA112 is a terrfic little combo and an excellent option if you can find one.

MasonBass21 · #9 02-14-2012, 06:03 AM

Hi Guys, im back

well good news everyone, i got an amp today,
its a Carlsbro Stingray Lead 30, even though i think its a guitar one, the bass that pours out of this is amazing, can anyone give me some feedback on this amp?

klejst · #10 02-14-2012, 08:52 AM

Go the used route, as others have said it can get you more for your money. Great deals are out there, just have to find them and know where to look. As for gear suggestions for new bass players just starting out I almost always suggest looking into used Peavey amps. Probably the best mix of cheap, solid build, great reliability and great performance.

SurferJoe46 · #11 02-14-2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MasonBass21

Hi Guys, im back

well good news everyone, i got an amp today,
its a Carlsbro Stingray Lead 30, even though i think its a guitar one, the bass that pours out of this is amazing, can anyone give me some feedback on this amp?

My opinion??? A very bad choice.

You'll prolly kill it by driving it in bass-land when it was designed to run in guitar-land.

It will have a very hard time complying with the low frequencies a bass makes.

Is this it??? (They come in black too)

DiabolusInMusic · #12 02-14-2012, 09:53 AM

Roland Microcube, built in metronome that does 2,3, and 4/4, with drum beats as well. Plus amp modeling... best practice amp ever!

SurferJoe46 · #13 02-14-2012, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiabolusInMusic

Roland Microcube, built in metronome that does 2,3, and 4/4, with drum beats as well. Plus amp modeling... best practice amp ever!

Good choice! Somewhat expensive though ($250USD+) - but a good choice.

countrybass007 · #14 02-14-2012, 04:46 PM

Unfortunately, there's a reason some amps are guitar amps and others are bass amps. With a few exceptions, guitar amps don't last long playing bass through them. Sorry, but your choice of the Carlsbro may not work out very well. Keep your bass as treblely as possible, as it will be the deep bass tones that will be most disagreeable.

RickenBoogie · #15 02-14-2012, 05:02 PM

+1 buying a guitar combo was a very bad choice, as the speaker will not last long unless you never turn the amp at at all. With a small starting budget, you'd have been much better served with ANY of the suggestions you got for bass combo's.

dog1 · #16 02-14-2012, 05:13 PM

Bummer. You were so excited to get your first amp that you went against the advice of folks who have been around, and bought a tiny guitar combo? Oh well. After you kill it, come back and ask. Then, listen.

MasonBass21 · #17 02-14-2012, 09:46 PM

I got this 2nd hand and it is like the red one in the pic, i was going to buy a Peavy micro but couldnt get it in the end, i also own guitars as well so its not entirely a waste, im still on the hunt for another amp, as i live in a small town it makes it hard to get to the major cities to look at all the excellent shops and buying online kinda sucks because the postage is so much, as my tag says im a newbie, im doing this by myself and i dont have other people around me who play to help, thanks guys