• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Amp advice

A

ashacado

Mar 24, 2009
9
0
#1
I'm fairly new to the bass, I started playing about 4 months ago. I recently played a three-week tour using a bass rig lent to me by a friend (100W fender bassman head and two vintage marshall 15'' speakers).

Now I'm shopping for an amp of my own. I've had some recommendations from bassplaying friends but they are gearheads who do not take budget into consideration.

I play some rock, some blues. I would like to be able to gig in small to medium sized venues.

What is a reasonable budget? What do you guys recommend?
 
#4
Thats a realistic budget, it depends on what you are looking for though, a lot of bass players these days are going with the smaller more lightweight stuff as opposed to the whole stack idea. So its up to you, your age, and what you are willing to contend with as far as weight is concerned. It also depends on if you want to buy brand new and get the warranty or get some used stuff that is a bit higher quality for the same price as the new items.
 
#5
Honestly, I'm looking for a good sound. If lightweight means more expensive, I will contend with the weight.

I was thinking of going used but I can't seem to find what I need in my area.

Ampeg is what most people have been suggesting but that stuff is pricey.

I was also thinking of going for some GK stuff new but there are no dealers in Québec City and the online sites that I found ship everywhere in Canada except Québec.
 
#6
My advice would be to check out the markbass stuff or the aguilar stuff, their stuff is awesome and sounds great, if you can get some used stuff from them, that would be really nice. Yea most people these days aren't feeling ampeg, I love ampeg, I play a full ampeg stack, with an ampeg 4 pro, and I love it, Im young so I don't mind the size and weight. My advice though for the medium sized gigs is getting a 410, or maybe a 212 4 ohm cab that would be decent. A lot of people like the GK stuff, especially for bi-amping, I, myself have never been a big fan of their stuff, but you might want to try it out, but i would suggest finding a good 410/212 cab, and then from there look for a head that will fit your price. I run a sansamp BDDI, and that has been everything I play through sound amazing, btw.
 
#7
500-700 can get you a lot on the used market depending on where you live.

A seperate head and cab will give you flexibility down the road if you need to add/subtract cabinets - or swap around different combinations to try to find your sound. However if you buy new, this might be stretching your budget a little.

You can probably find a very nice combo used or new in that price range.

Hartke, Ashdown, GK, & SWR all make decent stuff in that price range. I would stay away from stuff like Behringer, Peavey, and lower rated Ampeg products. The price is usually right, but you might suffer with other problems.

Fender seems to have stuff in that range too, but I don't any experience with thier newer gear.
 
#8
SVTDOUBLEBUCK said:
My advice would be to check out the markbass stuff or the aguilar stuff, their stuff is awesome and sounds great, if you can get some used stuff from them, that would be really nice. Yea most people these days aren't feeling ampeg, I love ampeg, I play a full ampeg stack, with an ampeg 4 pro, and I love it, Im young so I don't mind the size and weight. My advice though for the medium sized gigs is getting a 410, or maybe a 212 4 ohm cab that would be decent. A lot of people like the GK stuff, especially for bi-amping, I, myself have never been a big fan of their stuff, but you might want to try it out, but i would suggest finding a good 410/212 cab, and then from there look for a head that will fit your price. I run a sansamp BDDI, and that has been everything I play through sound amazing, btw.
Click to expand...

Outstanding advice. The only thing that I would do different is to get an 8 ohm cab. That way you can add another 8 ohm later if you wish. I don't think MB makes a 2 ohm head, but I could be wrong.
 
#9
Peavey aint so bad. It does weigh alot, but you also get an amp that is quite durable. The sound is so-so, but you can put a pedal like the sansamp stuff or the cheaper behringer copies such as the ADI21. They are not near as durable, but they sound good and cost about $40cdn and will do okay as long as you are not rough with them.

Some have had good luck with behringer amps, but their record of breaking down aint so great.

Then maybe get either a 115 (or a 410 if you can afford it) and add to it later. You'll need a minimum of 300w for your amp. If you buy an 115 it will likely be 8 ohms. Two 8 ohm cabs are ideal as that gets you a total of 4 ohms, which is what most amps will give you for power.

Alot of guys run an 8 ohm 115 and a 8 ohm 210 so that seems to be popular. The GK 700rb or 800rb also seems to be good value for the money.

Best bet is to cruise your local Craigslist or the TB classifieds. Buying local will save you tons in shipping though.

Since your in Canada you might want to check into the yorkville stuff. Pretty good quality for the price.
 
#10
::::BASSIST:::: said:
Peavey aint so bad. It does weigh alot, but you also get an amp that is quite durable. The sound is so-so, but you can put a pedal like the sansamp stuff or the cheaper behringer copies such as the ADI21. They are not near as durable, but they sound good and cost about $40cdn and will do okay as long as you are not rough with them.

Some have had good luck with behringer amps, but their record of breaking down aint so great.

Then maybe get either a 115 (or a 410 if you can afford it) and add to it later. You'll need a minimum of 300w for your amp. If you buy an 115 it will likely be 8 ohms. Two 8 ohm cabs are ideal as that gets you a total of 4 ohms, which is what most amps will give you for power.

Alot of guys run an 8 ohm 115 and a 8 ohm 210 so that seems to be popular. The GK 700rb or 800rb also seems to be good value for the money.

Best bet is to cruise your local Craigslist or the TB classifieds. Buying local will save you tons in shipping though.

Since your in Canada you might want to check into the yorkville stuff. Pretty good quality for the price.
Click to expand...

All very good advice. I should have expanded on Peavey, but this guy is correct. It will last forever, it's cheap, but they typically don't sound good.
 
#12
I checked around local listings of used stuff.

I have a couple of options that fall within my price range(ish):

Peavey BAM 210 Combo, it's a 350W. Used but like new for 800$. (List price on this is 1600$)

Then there is a Yamaha BBT-500H head. Again, used but like new for 350$. (List price here is 950$). This guy also has a 4 x 10 Ashdown cab Mag 410t for 350$. I'm betting I could get both for 600$.

Thoughts anyone?

I'm going to go check them out to see what they sound like but beyond cracking sounds and other obvious defects, I don't know a good sound from a bad sound really.
 
#15
ashacado said:
I checked around local listings of used stuff.

I have a couple of options that fall within my price range(ish):

Peavey BAM 210 Combo, it's a 350W. Used but like new for 800$. (List price on this is 1600$)

Then there is a Yamaha BBT-500H head. Again, used but like new for 350$. (List price here is 950$). This guy also has a 4 x 10 Ashdown cab Mag 410t for 350$. I'm betting I could get both for 600$.

Thoughts anyone?

I'm going to go check them out to see what they sound like but beyond cracking sounds and other obvious defects, I don't know a good sound from a bad sound really.
Click to expand...
That 210 combo for $800 sounds a bit pricey to me.

If you can get the yamaha head and ashdown cab for $600 that would be decent. Both are respectable brands. If you can, bring someone who is famaliar with music equipment. Maybe the guitarist in your band?
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back