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Bass Amp suggestions
- Thread starter Daddylouc
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- bass amp advice
JeezyMcNuggles
Inactive
- Feb 23, 2018
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- I suck, but nobody really notices
If you prefer markbass CMD 121P tone , the alternative choice are EBS classic session 120 combo and Tech21 VT200 bass combo.
I own Fender Rumble 200v3 and Hartke KB15 in past before I found the Tech21 VT200 combo. Rumble just bommy-scoop and Hartke has rattling and fan noise.
I choose VT200 over ebs because weight , louder, no cooling fan and flexible tone shape.
Hopehelp
I own Fender Rumble 200v3 and Hartke KB15 in past before I found the Tech21 VT200 combo. Rumble just bommy-scoop and Hartke has rattling and fan noise.
I choose VT200 over ebs because weight , louder, no cooling fan and flexible tone shape.
Hopehelp
With 3 guitar player, it’s doubtful you are going to hear the fan...LOL.
I have a CMD 121p (12”) combo, and the extension NY 121 cabinet. It’s really quite a beast! I’ve also tried the CMD102 combo (2x10”) at a blues jam a few times. It was fed into a massive PA, but that experience kinda sold me on Markbass.
I’ve found over the years that I can make just about any brand of amp work for me, so long as the specs and features are what I need. So I advocate to not get too hung up on brands. Most amps will “do the job” if those criteria are met. The baked-in sound is there, but it’s a small variable. best to taste-test if you can, but not the end-all, be-all.
Some of your decision may revolve around how flexible your band mates are. If you talk about reasonable volume levels, a 210* should be fine for rehearsals. (And gigs with a PA line, frankly.) If they wanna go nuts at rehearsal, and play lots of DIY “vocals only in the PA” shows- then 2x210 would be the way to go.
And subsequently, your budget comfort level will help you decide too. If you find a Markbass 102 (or 151) combo used for $800, and don’t mind waiting/ spending more on a cab later if needed- sure, go for it! If you wanna buy new, get rolling ASAP- Rumble 500 will certainly do the job.
*I chose 12” speakers because my bands are pretty low volume. I think a 210 or 115 is a better “all-purpose” choice
all IMHO, of course
In that price range, I'd also suggest a Fender Rumble 500.
I have no Fender amplification and am not a fanboy, but we played in an open house earlier this year and the house rig was a Rumble 500. I had never tried one and had no expectations going in, but I was really pleased with how I sounded playing through it. Our drummer and I stayed for the whole thing so I got to hear every other bass player that night playing lots of different basses and lots of different styles of music. All sounded great through it and I came away pretty impressed.
FWIW, it sounds like your band style is similar to ours and we even though we only have one guitarist and one keys/guitar player, our drummer hits pretty hard. So I suspect it could work well for you.
Also, our singer/BL has a Markbass 210 combo (forgot the model) that I use for rehearsals at her house. I think it sounds pretty good, it has reasonable power, can take an expansion cabinet, and I like the tilt back cabinet. But I think it sells above your price point new. It might be in your range if you find a used one, though.
I have no Fender amplification and am not a fanboy, but we played in an open house earlier this year and the house rig was a Rumble 500. I had never tried one and had no expectations going in, but I was really pleased with how I sounded playing through it. Our drummer and I stayed for the whole thing so I got to hear every other bass player that night playing lots of different basses and lots of different styles of music. All sounded great through it and I came away pretty impressed.
FWIW, it sounds like your band style is similar to ours and we even though we only have one guitarist and one keys/guitar player, our drummer hits pretty hard. So I suspect it could work well for you.
Also, our singer/BL has a Markbass 210 combo (forgot the model) that I use for rehearsals at her house. I think it sounds pretty good, it has reasonable power, can take an expansion cabinet, and I like the tilt back cabinet. But I think it sells above your price point new. It might be in your range if you find a used one, though.
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Another vote for the Hartke kickback - serious bang for buck there. My gig rig is a TX300 and a TX600 through three HD112s now, but I plan to get a KB soon for the house, I was seriously impressed when I played through one at the Bass Lounge in NYC (it felt like all the Sadowskys and Foderas were gonna fall off the wall...) 
Honestly, if i let go both my practice room VT200 combo and Band practice Tech21 VT500+410 cab, i will get the MB CMD 121P + Xtent Cab and never look back.
Well, I honestly can't say how the PBJ C4 would holdup in a loud setting but it is a 400 watt cabinet. I think the C7 would be a better choice for volume but I'm quite surprised by how loud and deep the little thing is. Keeper for sure!
My main rig is a Genzler 800 sitting on top of a Genzler 15 and Genzler 210. It's my dream rig. I had a nice Markbass rig with the same 15 and 210 config. I hadn't owned the MB stuff and wasn't looking to change it but had to switch when I played through both side by side. No disrespect to my MB brothers btw...all said with peace and love!
Finally, I actually picked up a Hartke combo with a 12" aluminum speaker in it. No idea on the specs but I got it for something like $35 on a Goodwill auction. It was hardly played. I don't particularly like the sound of it but it's loud as f***, heavy as it is loud and ugly. But for $35 it stays at my synagogue where it gets trotted out once a month (pre-Covid of course).
So, I have a collection of things that will never be complete but it sure is fun to shop. And in these times, why the hell not?
Enjoy the journey my friend!
As you’ve seen by now, everyone on TB has an opinion and they’re all convinced they’re right! You need to check these all out on your own. Two things that I’d add to the mix though based on what I’ve read. At your budget point, you can probably rule out MarkBass and Phil Jones. Many players (myself included) see MarkBass as quite overpriced for what you get. I’ve owned their gear and thought it was ok, but looking at what you’d pay nowadays for a decent MarkBass rig, I’d be looking elsewhere.
As for Phil jones, my experience is that they are underpowered and again, quite costly for what you get compared to other makers.
Where are you located? One thing that you haven’t mentioned is the possibility of used gear. You can do quite well if you are open to that route. But you need to know what you are after, and be very patient.
For my money if you need to buy new, you cant beat a Rumble 500 @ 35 lbs with a 2x10, for under $600. Or a GK MB210 at $800, just over 30 #. Maybe there will be some big savings on Black Friday??
As for Phil jones, my experience is that they are underpowered and again, quite costly for what you get compared to other makers.
Where are you located? One thing that you haven’t mentioned is the possibility of used gear. You can do quite well if you are open to that route. But you need to know what you are after, and be very patient.
For my money if you need to buy new, you cant beat a Rumble 500 @ 35 lbs with a 2x10, for under $600. Or a GK MB210 at $800, just over 30 #. Maybe there will be some big savings on Black Friday??
I agree...the Phil Jones cabinet I bought was used. It was about half the price of a new unit and it was in perfect condition so I snapped it up. I wasn't looking for it and had only been mildly curious (PJB-curious?) about them. I actually saw them as kind of an oddball player. And I don't have experience with their amps at all, either in combo or standalone form.
But the purchase of the PJB C4 caused me (forced me really) to pick up the TC BAM200 head (they can be had for about $160 brand new). As a practice/backup/small gig solution I'm thrilled. For everything else I don't think it could stand up to a loud guitar gig. And I've quenched my curiosity too! (By the way, their support staff was very responsive and friendly even though I was buying used kit!)
I also agree that you can't beat the value of a Fender Rumble. I had a little 30 and it was surprisingly loud and full for a 10 with a small amp. I imagine the 210s with a 500 watt amp would be very loud.
There are deals to be had out there, especially if used gear is on the table. Ampeg combos aren't terribly expensive. The 210 with a 450 watt amp is only $499 leaving you room to add a second cab if you need.
Have fun!
--David
They run a few bucks more but a used Mesa d-800 and a Mesa subway series speaker are good sounding, they are light and powerful plus you can add another speaker if needed
I tried a couple GK combo amps and they were way to mid forward for me. I couldn’t get the low end i wanted without losing definition in the mids and highs. If i set it where the mids and highs sounded good the low lacked any balls at all. I’ve got a used Rumble 500 and it works fine but i’ve only had it out of my brothers home studio a couple times to play with a hillbilly string band so i can’t speak to what kind of volume it’s got against a drummer and a couple of electric guitars. Unless you couldn’t afford it i’d look for a good (minimum) 500W head and a good used 410 or 215. Used examples are dirt cheap these days and i’ve used both in loud band situations and both allowed me to be heard.
What are you using now amp-wise? I'd hold off until I get a better feel for what volume wars may ensue. On a brighter note, these guys might be fairly sophisticated and have a PA which will accommodate a line-out from a bass amp.
Riis
I use the Ashdown ABM 600 with Ashdown cabs. (Different Configs) but I have tried the combo amps as well and they are great!
OP: Get a decent hand cart and get the Ampeg or Rumble! Weight sucks, but it isn't clear to me if you will get what you need in a light box. Cabs are heavy because the wood and the magnets. As someone said earlier, the amplifier itself doesn't weigh much.
P.s. I love to spend other people's money@
p.p.s. You wont' go wrong with any of the advice posted on this thread.
P.s. I love to spend other people's money@
p.p.s. You wont' go wrong with any of the advice posted on this thread.
I have the Blackstar Unity Bass U30. It's a nice amp but at 30 watts it gets lost in the crowd easily. Blackstar has a powered extension cab that I can plug into it. It has one 15" speaker and delivers 250W, but I'm concerned about not having enough horsepower for down the road AND it weighs 43 pounds which is more than I want to lug into and out of practice every week. Don't want to sink another 450$ into a solution that won't work for me longer term.
I hope you update the post in the future with pics of what you got and your initial impressions! I wish I had a good excuse to get a new amp. I have no need.
