Double Bass Amp for School under $500

[Michael Drost]

Folks,

The school I work with is looking to buy a new amp for the jazz area. Preferably an amp that can double with electric and upright bass.

Would you please offer suggestions for a reliable amp under $500? Preferably around the 200-250 watt range. It will be used in rehearsal settings, and concert settings with big band and jazz combos.

Thanks!

 

[Ric Vice]

Folks,

The school I work with is looking to buy a new amp for the jazz area. Preferably an amp that can double with electric and upright bass.

Would you please offer suggestions for a reliable amp under $500? Preferably around the 200-250 watt range. It will be used in rehearsal settings, and concert settings with big band and jazz combos.

Thanks!

The Fender Rumble Series has recieved high praise for it's sound if you're looking for a combo amp.

Ric

 

[Michael Drost]

Yes. A combo amp is preferred. Will the 200 watt 1 15 be ok for upright?

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Yes, although at our school even the 100W version is plenty. I would go with this.

 

[Michael Drost]

Chris,

So, you think either he 15 or 12 version will be cool? Is the 12 enough for big band work? I think I will leave my Fdeck at school to enhance the upright tone.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

I've played the rumble 100 amps onstage at the Aebersold workshops and it's got a lot of juice for its size. It's what I recommended that we buy here for rehearsals for a school amp. Sure, the 15 is more powerful and can take more abuse, but I really liked the Rumble 100 combo as a good all purpose amp. Would I play a stoopid loud rock gig on it? Probably not, but for jazz it's great.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

And a 15" is slower and can sound more muddy than a 12".

I used a 185 watts 10" for big band as my monitor and for the drummer and guitarist to hear me, the winds were in the other end of the stage and didn't hear me, but we got monitor support in later concerts which also contains a bit of bass.

I would say no less than 100 watts, more is better, but 120 or 150 is not a big difference. The sensitivity of the speaker/cab is more important, since a low sensitivity eats power.