Any rec for a new bass amp?

[TheRandomizer]

For a little background, I am 17 and due to my age and school, I have a limited income. And because I'm living at home, I have limited space to work with.

I got my hands on a Yamaha TRBX305 last year for christmas. The problem is that I still have the Fender Rumble 25 1x8 combo that I started on when I was 10, which was fine for my shortscale Ibanez and even my Spector performer, but it distorts quite heavily with the low frequency of the B string and the hot, high-output nature of active pickups. I know this is putting a 9.0 L v16 in your Honda Odessy, but it's what I have at the moment. I had been looking at the TC Electronics BQ250 and 500 because of the price, as well as looking at smaller cabs to go with it like the Ampeg SVT 15E as I really don't have much space to work with, and I could get both for possibly under $500 if I get the cab used.

But now I'm at a crossroad as I've heard some complaints about the BQ500, which aren't exactly surprising all things considered, but I'm a little disappointed. But because of this, I'm a little lost on what to look into next. I really don't want to spend too much money, as bass isn't my primary instrument.

I know you can make almost any amp, especially in bass, sound like another with something as simple as an EQ pedal in the Effects Loop. I know this isn't a hard or fast rule, but I know some people will reply with that very thing, and others will clutch their Darkglasses and SVT's like pearls and scream heresy. I really don't care about the brand or model, I just want something that works and is loud enough to grow with and keep for a long time so that I might be able to use it as a backup rig or to play live for as few as 50 people, or as many as 5,000+ if mic'd. I also know that about 90%+ of the sound when it comes to tone if all other variables are removed is the speaker, but that is besides the point. I would really prefer something like one of those compact heads over a combo due to ease of recording and the ability to run it through different IR's for a different sound, but I am willing to stay somewhat open minded.

I really like playing too many genres to narrow it down, but some standouts include hard rock, metal, funk, progressive stuff like Floyd, Yes, and Rush, as well as even more obsure stuff like Chevelle. Two of my favorite bassists include Eric Bass of Shinedown, Chris Wolstenholm of Muse, and John Myung of Dream Theater (yes, I know his tone is really just a DI track). I want something that can be clean and smooth when I want it, but dirty up and take pedals well when I need it. I know I can achieve some of that bite and tone shift with pre-amp pedals, like those from Darkglass and Tech 21. But I would idealy like to spend less than $500-$600 for the whole thing, head and cab included, if I can help it, as I also am buying a new guitar amp close to the same time. Willing to buy used as well!

If anyone can help me out, thank you and god bless you.

 

[SJan3]

For a little background, I am 17 and due to my age and school, I have a limited income. And because I'm living at home, I have limited space to work with.

I got my hands on a Yamaha TRBX305 last year for christmas. The problem is that I still have the Fender Rumble 25 1x8 combo that I started on when I was 10, which was fine for my shortscale Ibanez and even my Spector performer, but it distorts quite heavily with the low frequency of the B string and the hot, high-output nature of active pickups. I know this is putting a 9.0 L v16 in your Honda Odessy, but it's what I have at the moment. I had been looking at the TC Electronics BQ250 and 500 because of the price, as well as looking at smaller cabs to go with it like the Ampeg SVT 15E as I really don't have much space to work with, and I could get both for possibly under $500 if I get the cab used.

But now I'm at a crossroad as I've heard some complaints about the BQ500, which aren't exactly surprising all things considered, but I'm a little disappointed. But because of this, I'm a little lost on what to look into next. I really don't want to spend too much money, as bass isn't my primary instrument.

I know you can make almost any amp, especially in bass, sound like another with something as simple as an EQ pedal in the Effects Loop. I know this isn't a hard or fast rule, but I know some people will reply with that very thing, and others will clutch their Darkglasses and SVT's like pearls and scream heresy. I really don't care about the brand or model, I just want something that works and is loud enough to grow with and keep for a long time so that I might be able to use it as a backup rig or to play live for as few as 50 people, or as many as 5,000+ if mic'd. I also know that about 90%+ of the sound when it comes to tone if all other variables are removed is the speaker, but that is besides the point. I would really prefer something like one of those compact heads over a combo due to ease of recording and the ability to run it through different IR's for a different sound, but I am willing to stay somewhat open minded.

I really like playing too many genres to narrow it down, but some standouts include hard rock, metal, funk, progressive stuff like Floyd, Yes, and Rush, as well as even more obsure stuff like Chevelle. Two of my favorite bassists include Eric Bass of Shinedown, Chris Wolstenholm of Muse, and John Myung of Dream Theater (yes, I know his tone is really just a DI track). I want something that can be clean and smooth when I want it, but dirty up and take pedals well when I need it. I know I can achieve some of that bite and tone shift with pre-amp pedals, like those from Darkglass and Tech 21. But I would idealy like to spend less than $500-$600 for the whole thing, head and cab included, if I can help it, as I also am buying a new guitar amp close to the same time. Willing to buy used as well!

If anyone can help me out, thank you and god bless you.

Well, you seem to know a lot so why don't you do your own shopping?

 

[TheRandomizer]

Well, you seem to know a lot so why don't you do your own shopping?

I genuinely don't know what's out there is why I'm asking. I was asking because there's bound to be some hidden gems that I don't know about. The only ones I can find that are similar to what I'm wanting in the price I'm looking at are from TC electronics and Mark Bass, but I'm wanting to know if there are others out there that I don't know about

 

[bherman]

With limited funds I’d be looking at used. The TC heads are ok and don’t worry about long term, you’ll be sure to get more gear as your needs change.

 

[Nuisance]

You're on the right track. There are deals to be had on just about any brand of gear. The issue isn't what to get. It's where to get it. Keep an eye on your local craigslist, and Facebook Market place. IMHO the head is the least important in the sound chain. Your cabinet will have a much bigger effect on sound. A good clean head couple with a good cab and some decent pedals will get you 90% there.

 

[JonathanPDX]

The biggest question when it comes to gear purchases is: What is the purpose of this gear? For live performance, there's quite a gap between performing for 50 friends at a basement party or playing a festival for 5,000 people. Also, what you look for in gear is likely to change as you grow into bigger and better gigs. What sounds great at 17 might not be the sound you want when you're 27, or even appropriate for the gigs you have. So, while I understand not wanting a short-term solution you'll outgrow soon, it's unlikely that your next purchase will be your forever rig.

I totally understand staying on a budget, so when I was in your shoes my #1 goal was volume. Sure, boutique speakers and an amp with a lot of knobs and switches is fun, but what really matters is being heard, and you can adjust your tone from there. I'd be watching the used market, especially for big loud combo amps. There are a ton of options, like the Fender Rumble series which you are already familiar with, but most of the big name brands have combo amps in the 200-500 watt range. Ampeg, Peavey, Hartke, Fender, etc.

You can always adjust the EQ on the amp and your bass, and add a stompbox for dirt/overdrive or other tone shaping, but there's no replacement for moving air.

Years ago I had a nice rig with Avatar cabinets (a budget-friendly option if you choose to go cab+amp) and it was super big and loud. Until I had an amp failure at a gig. I rushed home and picked up the rig I used for teaching lessons: a Peavey KB 100 keyboard amp I picked up used for under $100. I yanked my preamp out of the rack and ran my bass direct through a BBE preamp into that beat to crap old Peavey and actually got compliments on my tone, so I gigged with that for a month until I could afford to get my amp repaired!

If you play well and are loud enough for the gig you can get away with a lot when it comes to speakers. You don't need a boutique rig, and you don't want to make a huge investment when you aren't even sure what you need out of it just yet. So, my advice is to watch the used market, find a combo amp in the 200-500 watt range that sounds loud enough for your needs, and see how far that will take you. You might find an old Peavey TNT combo amp that's crazy loud for $200 and gig on that thing for the next ten years!

 

[SJan3]

I genuinely don't know what's out there is why I'm asking. I was asking because there's bound to be some hidden gems that I don't know about. The only ones I can find that are similar to what I'm wanting in the price I'm looking at are from TC electronics and Mark Bass, but I'm wanting to know if there are others out there that I don't know about

I genuinely don't know what's out there is why I'm asking. I was asking because there's bound to be some hidden gems that I don't know about. The only ones I can find that are similar to what I'm wanting in the price I'm looking at are from TC electronics and Mark Bass, but I'm wanting to know if there are others out there that I don't know about

I'm 70 and don't know the half of what you're talking about but you need to go to a music store and try some gear and see what you like. You seem to know enough about gear to explain to a salesperson what you want.
Good luck
P.S. if you can stretch your budget to $700, you can get a NEW Fender Rumble 500 combo that will cover a lot of ground. Go check one out.

 

[Wasnex]

Picking a rig that suits your needs well is very personal. The basic tone varies significantly from amp to amp and from cab to cab. The way the controls on amps work also varies significantly from model to model. So no, you can't just just a random amp and be certain it will give you the sound you want. If you are not in a hurry, go find some gear to play, just so you get an idea about the range of variation. With any luck, eventually you will come across some gear that sound and feels just right.

You can't necessarily trust what anybody recommends because we all have a different idea for how bass should sound. I'll give you a personal example of mine. When I was about your age I needed a rig and I wanted the best. I did some research and everybody seemed to agree the Ampeg SVT and 810 was the best. FYI, this is a big, heavy, and expensive rig. I had my local music store special order one, despite never hearing or seeing one in person.

When the rig came in, the store called and said I could come try it out. Within seconds it was clear I had made a mistake. The rig did not sound anything like I imagined based on the articles I had read. A lot of reviewers had commented on how great the highs sounded, but to my ears the tone seemed extremely dark and muddy. It was so awful I actually wondered if the rig was damaged or possibly a black market fake. But, I have plugged into several SVT over the years and the all sound about the same. So it was fine; it's just not my sound. I eventually paid the amp off, took it home, and made the best of it.

Millions of people still think nothing is better than an SVT and 810. You might love one and you might hate it. Before buying one, it's probably a good idea to find out.

Good luck!

 

[TheRandomizer]

Picking a rig that suits your needs well is very personal. The basic tone varies significantly from amp to amp and from cab to cab. The way the controls on amps work also varies significantly from model to model. So no, you can't just just a random amp and be certain it will give you the sound you want. If you are not in a hurry, go find some gear to play, just so you get an idea about the range of variation. With any luck, eventually you will come across some gear that sound and feels just right.

You can't necessarily trust what anybody recommends because we all have a different idea for how bass should sound. I'll give you a personal example of mine. When I was about your age I needed a rig and I wanted the best. I did some research and everybody seemed to agree the Ampeg SVT and 810 was the best. FYI, this is a big, heavy, and expensive rig. I had my local music store special order one, despite never hearing or seeing one in person.

When the rig came in, the store called and said I could come try it out. Within seconds it was clear I had made a mistake. The rig did not sound anything like I imagined based on the articles I had read. A lot of reviewers had commented on how great the highs sounded, but to my ears the tone seemed extremely dark and muddy. It was so awful I actually wondered if the rig was damaged or possibly a black market fake. But, I have plugged into several SVT over the years and the all sound about the same. So it was fine; it's just not my sound. I eventually paid the amp off, took it home, and made the best of it.

Millions of people still think nothing is better than an SVT and 810. You might love one and you might hate it. Before buying one, it's probably a good idea to find out.

Good luck!

I do love the sound of an SVT plus an 8x10 when it's recorded properly, though even mic placement can change the sound quite drastically. Microphones are fixed eqs, as is the same with speakers and speaker cabinets. Thank you for your input though!

I mainly put out this thread because there are likely people far smarter and more experienced then I lurking around on here, and I was hoping some of them could maybe point me in a direction or down a rabbit hole that I never even considered. Even those who know a lot or have experience sometimes need outside opinions. I'm not claiming to have experience or know a lot whatsoever, but I know there are people on here that do

 

[TheRandomizer]

I'm 70 and don't know the half of what you're talking about but you need to go to a music store and try some gear and see what you like. You seem to know enough about gear to explain to a salesperson what you want.
Good luck
P.S. if you can stretch your budget to $700, you can get a NEW Fender Rumble 500 combo that will cover a lot of ground. Go check one out.

I've looked into the fender Rumble 500 and even their smaller rumbles, but I just can't say I'm a big fan of any Fender amp for the sounds money to get. They certain are not bad, just not what looking for. I've never been a huge fan of how they sounded. Again, thank you for your input!

 

[SJan3]

I've looked into the fender Rumble 500 and even their smaller rumbles, but I just can't say I'm a big fan of any Fender amp for the sounds money to get. They certain are not bad, just not what looking for. I've never been a huge fan of how they sounded. Again, thank you for your input!

Well, you mentioned MarkBass. I think it's good gear. I've used some of their heads and cabinets over the years. But above your budget new. If you can find a low mileage CMD121P that could be a contender for you but it doesn't do dirty on its own. You'll need a pedal.
But the amp has lots of power.

 

[Hot Rats]

There is a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 in the classifieds for $350. I would start with that and then get a nice used cabinet locally.

 

[TheRandomizer]

You're on the right track. There are deals to be had on just about any brand of gear. The issue isn't what to get. It's where to get it. Keep an eye on your local craigslist, and Facebook Market place. IMHO the head is the least important in the sound chain. Your cabinet will have a much bigger effect on sound. A good clean head couple with a good cab and some decent pedals will get you 90% there.

Honestly, I said it myself in my original post. You're absolutely right. All the nuances of the amps are thrown out the window if you EQ them right and you take away any other variables, so I can really choose any clean head I want from almost any brand, new or used. And as long as I pair it with a good cabinet, possibly like the aforementioned 1x15 SVT cab, they're all gonna sound almost the same if there are no other variables. If I really wanted to change the sound a lot, I could get something like the SansAmp or Darkglass pre-amp pedals that would make a MUCH bigger difference than the head itself. Thank you so very much. I might go with the TC after all.

 

[TheRandomizer]

The biggest question when it comes to gear purchases is: What is the purpose of this gear? For live performance, there's quite a gap between performing for 50 friends at a basement party or playing a festival for 5,000 people. Also, what you look for in gear is likely to change as you grow into bigger and better gigs. What sounds great at 17 might not be the sound you want when you're 27, or even appropriate for the gigs you have. So, while I understand not wanting a short-term solution you'll outgrow soon, it's unlikely that your next purchase will be your forever rig.

I totally understand staying on a budget, so when I was in your shoes my #1 goal was volume. Sure, boutique speakers and an amp with a lot of knobs and switches is fun, but what really matters is being heard, and you can adjust your tone from there. I'd be watching the used market, especially for big loud combo amps. There are a ton of options, like the Fender Rumble series which you are already familiar with, but most of the big name brands have combo amps in the 200-500 watt range. Ampeg, Peavey, Hartke, Fender, etc.

You can always adjust the EQ on the amp and your bass, and add a stompbox for dirt/overdrive or other tone shaping, but there's no replacement for moving air.

Years ago I had a nice rig with Avatar cabinets (a budget-friendly option if you choose to go cab+amp) and it was super big and loud. Until I had an amp failure at a gig. I rushed home and picked up the rig I used for teaching lessons: a Peavey KB 100 keyboard amp I picked up used for under $100. I yanked my preamp out of the rack and ran my bass direct through a BBE preamp into that beat to crap old Peavey and actually got compliments on my tone, so I gigged with that for a month until I could afford to get my amp repaired!

If you play well and are loud enough for the gig you can get away with a lot when it comes to speakers. You don't need a boutique rig, and you don't want to make a huge investment when you aren't even sure what you need out of it just yet. So, my advice is to watch the used market, find a combo amp in the 200-500 watt range that sounds loud enough for your needs, and see how far that will take you. You might find an old Peavey TNT combo amp that's crazy loud for $200 and gig on that thing for the next ten years!

A lot of wisdom right here. I recognize that what I need and think sounds good will change as I get older. Right now I really like the sound of something like a jazz bass running through a pre-amp pedal with the blend knob barely on so that you're mostly getting your dry signal, but just a hint of bit and grit, but who knows what I'll like in 10, 15, or even 20 years time.

 

[gtirard]

Harley Benton (on Thomann) offer great "bang for the buck".

 

[JonathanPDX]

A lot of wisdom right here. I recognize that what I need and think sounds good will change as I get older. Right now I really like the sound of something like a jazz bass running through a pre-amp pedal with the blend knob barely on so that you're mostly getting your dry signal, but just a hint of bit and grit, but who knows what I'll like in 10, 15, or even 20 years time.

One thing I had to learn from gigs (I started working as a pro at 16, spent 20+ years doing it as a career) is that live sound is way different from home sound. Tones that I think sound fantastic in my living room can vanish on stage with a band, and frequencies that I don't enjoy when I play solo make the bass cut through the mix and blend nicely on stage with a band.

In the end, though, if you have a good volume level, play well, and don't do anything radically stupid with your tone (IE turning knobs up to 10 or down to 0) in the real world most people can't even tell the difference between okay bass tone and killer bass tone. Sure, bass players and musicians may notice, but people on the dance floor have no idea if I'm playing my custom boutique bass through a $5,000 rig or an off-the-shelf $200 bass into a $200 combo amp. They only know if it feels good and makes them want to move.

A little story about speakers: many years ago Victor Wooten was deciding which speaker company to work with, so he went on a tour and brought along two speakers each from all the major companies. They had 23 speaker cabinets in all. Every night they set up two different rigs, as Vic had Anthony Wellington playing bass alongside him, so they could compare all the various configurations against one another, in the real world, playing the same show every night. You could not design a better way to A/B speakers to compare their qualities.

I saw the band about a half dozen times on that tour, as well as at sound checks, and spent some time talking gear afterward. Vic sounded pretty much the same every single night no matter what he plugged into. Heck, Victor has played my basses in clinics and workshops at his camps and he always sounds like Vic. Whenever he hands me one of his basses I don't sound like him, no matter how much I want to! You'll sound like you no matter what speakers you buy. If there was a speaker that could make you sound like someone else they would have started selling those years ago and every weekend warrior would have a dozen of them by now!

If you play well you will sound good whether you're running through a $200 or a $2,000 speaker. Do your homework on how to dial in a tone and use every tool available (on-bass controls, amp EQ, pedals, technique, etc.) and you can make any setup sound good.

 

[groove pump]

For a little background, I am 17 and due to my age and school, I have a limited income. And because I'm living at home, I have limited space to work with.

I got my hands on a Yamaha TRBX305 last year for christmas. The problem is that I still have the Fender Rumble 25 1x8 combo that I started on when I was 10, which was fine for my shortscale Ibanez and even my Spector performer, but it distorts quite heavily with the low frequency of the B string and the hot, high-output nature of active pickups. I know this is putting a 9.0 L v16 in your Honda Odessy, but it's what I have at the moment. I had been looking at the TC Electronics BQ250 and 500 because of the price, as well as looking at smaller cabs to go with it like the Ampeg SVT 15E as I really don't have much space to work with, and I could get both for possibly under $500 if I get the cab used.

But now I'm at a crossroad as I've heard some complaints about the BQ500, which aren't exactly surprising all things considered, but I'm a little disappointed. But because of this, I'm a little lost on what to look into next. I really don't want to spend too much money, as bass isn't my primary instrument.

I know you can make almost any amp, especially in bass, sound like another with something as simple as an EQ pedal in the Effects Loop. I know this isn't a hard or fast rule, but I know some people will reply with that very thing, and others will clutch their Darkglasses and SVT's like pearls and scream heresy. I really don't care about the brand or model, I just want something that works and is loud enough to grow with and keep for a long time so that I might be able to use it as a backup rig or to play live for as few as 50 people, or as many as 5,000+ if mic'd. I also know that about 90%+ of the sound when it comes to tone if all other variables are removed is the speaker, but that is besides the point. I would really prefer something like one of those compact heads over a combo due to ease of recording and the ability to run it through different IR's for a different sound, but I am willing to stay somewhat open minded.

I really like playing too many genres to narrow it down, but some standouts include hard rock, metal, funk, progressive stuff like Floyd, Yes, and Rush, as well as even more obsure stuff like Chevelle. Two of my favorite bassists include Eric Bass of Shinedown, Chris Wolstenholm of Muse, and John Myung of Dream Theater (yes, I know his tone is really just a DI track). I want something that can be clean and smooth when I want it, but dirty up and take pedals well when I need it. I know I can achieve some of that bite and tone shift with pre-amp pedals, like those from Darkglass and Tech 21. But I would idealy like to spend less than $500-$600 for the whole thing, head and cab included, if I can help it, as I also am buying a new guitar amp close to the same time. Willing to buy used as well!

If anyone can help me out, thank you and god bless you.

If you're looking for a straightforward setup from the used market that could offer a lot of bang for your buck, two options that come to mind are the newer amps from Hartke - the HD series - and the used M-Line combos from Genz Benz.

I was at my local GC about a month ago and spotted a used SWR Workingman's 12 combo sitting next to a much bigger Fender Rumble combo. It was hard to believe how much better the SWR sound was for my ears. I don't have any beef with Fender, but whenever I try to get excited about their amps it just doesn't happen.

I'm a big fan of 2x10 cabs - I might actually switch to a pair of the Hartke 2x10's if I decide to lighten up my rig down the road. Another "used amp" option to look for could be a separate head and a competent 2x10 cab... or maybe a 1x15 if you like those. There have to be at least a dozen different recipes (within your budget) that could give you a very capable amp on the smaller side that will deliver the tone of whatever you plug into it.

You should also expect to get at least some degree of "inherently loud and clear" from Gallien-Krueger. Maybe one of their MB combos.

 

[Kaa]

Buy a used lead sled power amp, and a quality used cab. A blank canvas to paint. I recommend borrowing various flavors of pedals to narrow your focus, such as Ampeg Scrambler, for instance. Hell, buy an Ampeg, a GK, an Orange just to have variety. As funds allow, of course. The power amp provides the juice, the pedals provide the flavor, and you provide the shredding.

 

[Deloofs]

I would start by perusing FB marketplace for bass gear, finding listings in your price range, and reading about them on here to determine if they may meet your needs. That's a good way to learn what's out there.

To help guide you along I'll try to impart some wisdom from my years gigging:

• If you're playing at a venue with a proper PA system then you really only need enough power to hear yourself over the drummer. 250w to 500w is good here.
• If you're playing gigs with no PA support (I once played on a skate ramp in a garage and was thankful to have a powerful rig) you may need more power depending on your tone goals. If you want to blast the audience with 60hz low B then you'll want more power, more drivers, high excursion, etc. As you can imagine this gets expensive fast and I wouldn't recommend this for a beginner and is also really only necessary at a tiny percentage of gigs you may play.
• You'll be thankful for a way to send a DI. This synergizes well with the aforementioned venue PA system. This is much simpler than having to mic your cabinet and cuts out a ton of variables. Many preamp pedals will have this feature.
• If you want flexibility and you want to use preamp pedals then you may consider going with a PA power amp and separate cabinet. Then the amp will be like a blank slate for you to craft your tone on with the pedals.

So that presents several options for you: combo amp, separate amp and cabinet, and pedal preamp with PA power amp and cabinet.

Combo Amp:
Pros:

• Cheap
• Convenient

Cons:

• Minimal flexibility i.e. if you don't like the speakers or the power amp or the preamp oh well - it's all in the same box
• Usually no convenient built-in DI function

Separate Integrated Amp and Cabinet:
Pros:

• Greater flexibility than combo amp since you can change more parts around to fit your sound

Cons:

• Still less flexibility than pedals and PA amp
• More complex to set up than combo amp but not too bad

Pedal Preamp, PA Power Amp, Cabinet
Pros:

• Maximum flexibility - a PA amp will be a blank slate for whatever pedals you put in front of it
• Easy to implement DI
• Great dollar/power ratio

Cons:

• Complicated setup - must be careful with power and impedance matching along with things like input sensitivity

I personally prefer the PA power amp route. I use an analog pedal board, Sansamp RBI preamp, Crown PA power amp, and a standalone cabinet.

For you I would recommend something like a used 4x10 cabinet, a small or medium size solid state power amp like a 2000's Crown/QSC etc, and a pedal preamp like a Sansamp BDDI. That will give you a lot of flexibility for your different styles, should be plenty loud for practice and stage monitoring, and will provide you with convenient and professional DI signal capabilities for live gigs.

 

[Goatrope]

Don't know where you live, but many towns have a "Music-go-round" type of shop for used gear. You'd be surprised at what you find there. Anything like that near you? Where are you? (Generally)

I've seen a lot of used combos out there, like Hartke (HD500 210 combo), MarkBass, some GK200 watt stuff. Used heads, not as much in your price range. Maybe an Ampeg PF500 head under $400, leaving very little for a cab.

If you could pick up a used cab locally then get a lightweight but powerful head off Reverb, that would be ideal. $500 limit is tight.