70-100W Combo amp under $300?

[Mediocrity Man]

I'm a true believer in having that extra headroom but in some cases you don't need as much as you think.

I've tried a few Ampeg's recently. The BA110 I think it was put out surprisingly good tone and was loud enough for a quiet rehearsal.

 

[Yahboy]

Fender rumble v3 100 combo is a great economy stuff, lightweight, vary of tone shape, loud enough, good vibe...... those features is more than it price.
I can't find any reason to hate it.

 

[PeteBass51]

Not too long ago I replaced an SWR 4004 on top of an Ampeg 410 with a TC BG 250. In my main band I have excellent PA support. But sometimes in certain venues, like outside, or big stages I miss the old rig. Nothing worse than dialing in just what I want to hear and having a band member request more volume. The last outside gig I played I carried the TC over to the drummer, put it in his armrest range and listened to the bass thru the fronts. For me this is the way it has to be. Everything has to be light. In my other projects I also provide the pa. I can fit two Mackie Thump 15's, Mackie mixer, and the TC behind the 2nd seat of a Forester. Nothing over 33 lbs.

 

[Big Hoss]

For your budget, not wanting to go with Fender, I'd have to say look used. The Ampeg 100 watt 1x15 should be pretty easily sourced...

 

[josiah goldfish]

I haven't said I won't buy the Fender, I'm just reluctant to buy it if there are other options to consider

Thanks for all the advice,
Joe

 

[Bodeeni]

I love my small Warwick, I would definitely checkout the BC-80

 

[DavC]

Hartke has the HD75 also ... 75 watts , 12" , $249

seems most amps in that range do not have ext spkr jacks ... something which i would want , ... just in case another cab, to move some more air, is needed ...

 

[Big Hoss]

Realism and amp power are rarely used in the same breath on TB. I once made the mistake of posting on TB saying I thought my TC BG250 had enough power, only to discover that TC watts are inferior and I really needed 3 or 4 coupled SVT's with matching 810's to cut through.

You are probably right. 100W is probably enough. But there'll be a bunch of (possibly hearing impaired) folks here trying to tell you otherwise.

End rant.

Depends on who you are talking to, some folks around here seem to believe those paired SVTs / 810s would barely cut it for a small coffee house sort of gig.

 

[Scarey Larry]

Not sure about specific combo's available to you in UK but used broadens the horizon. I had a pretty high end Ampeg combo, not sure about exact model, think it was a 300B10, but tube pre and 300 watt class D amp with 2x10 that used sells for around $300.00. It was around $850 new. I thought it was not so good when the volume went up. Had a Hartke 50 watt 1x12 and was very unimpressed with that one. Currently have a PJ Bass Cub that I am liking as a haul to practice/goof around but new it was more than $300.00.

Since James Watt is from Scotland, part of the U.K. for the foreseeable future, it should not matter whether you have tube watts, or solid state watts, as a measurement of the unit of power. You will be able to utilize U.K. Watts from the country of origin. Much purer than tube or solid state watts.

 

[Kaden Daniels]

Hartke HD Series

 

[Linnin]

Since James Watt is from Scotland, part of the U.K. for the foreseeable future, it should not matter whether you have tube watts, or solid state watts, as a measurement of the unit of power. You will be able to utilize U.K. Watts from the country of origin. Much purer than tube or solid state watts.

James is so busy rating amps for honest companies that some unscrupulous amp companies hire his evil twin brother Malarkey Watts to simply make up wattage ratings out of thin air. Beware Malarkey Watts ratings! You have been warned!

 

[alaskaleftybass]

Did you like the Orange Pix amp? If the price is right and you like the sound, is the size and weight too much for you? It sounds like you're going to need to spend a bit more if you want to add lightness and size with power. Coming to mind is the Gallien Krueger MB200 112. I've seen a lot of love for the GK's here since they came back to US manufacturing. I don't know if you have access, but the new "Guitar Center" Acoustic bass amps are a LOT of bang for the buck. And last but not least, at the risk of getting flamed, both Behringer and Bugera have small combos available. Their Bugera line has of recent been very successful and are often out of stock in stores and online.

Good luck, keep us posted!

 

[Doner Designs]

GC/MF owns the Acoustic brand so they can offer those at a good price. Good value for the money, but their amps are not light.

 

[OctopusX]

+1 for the Fender rumble 100 v3, although I don't own one, I have played through one and they're great.

 

[edbass1]

Check out the ampeg BA series. I have the older version of the 112 and have used it for plenty of gigs. I see that the newer models are even more powerful (75 watts up from 50)

 

[Gizmot]

Its a shame that they're not around any more, but SWR used to make some decent sounding low-powered amps that were inexpensive. I owned a couple of them and found them rock solid. I liked them much better than the Hartke amps (I had a couple of those too).

 

[GregT]

I have the Fender Rumble 100 and 200. Nothing compares to the room filling bass tone they produce for me. Lightweight and powerful. If you ever have the chance to plug into one, you might be surprised. The Rumbles are a solid line of bass amps. There are a lot of good reasons so many of us are recommending them to you.

 

[KeithPas]

The Carvin micro amps are great; I have a 1/10 and a 2/10 both at 250 watts and they are excellent amps for not much money

 

[mc900ftj]

+1 on the Rumble 100 V3. Great little amp for the $$$ (or £££) and I can lift it with one finger.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

I recently bought a used Ampeg B50R for $140 off Craigslist.com. I always go the used route, but that's just me.