Bass Amps under $250

[somebrains]

$300 gets you a Markbass head, $200 gets you an SWR Goliath in my area.

I'd go with a $200 400rb and whatever random cab was on Craigslist this week that was a good deal.

 

[Bass V]

find a nice used Roland CUBE 60 XL BASS combo, it's the Swiss Army Knife of small amps
I went for the 60 instead of the 120 to get the Power Squeezer which in essence gives you an entire 2nd amp to re-utilize the myriad tonal / shaping features into whole new sounds. it's quite the bang for your budget's buck. It's rather small, light, and of course built like a tank, plus it kills for guitar.
Roland Introduces New Cube-XL Bass Amplifiers

Roland Cube XL Amp

 

[Sephiroth 420]

find a nice used Roland CUBE 60 XL BASS combo, it's the Swiss Army Knife of small amps
I went for the 60 instead of the 120 to get the Power Squeezer which in essence gives you an entire 2nd amp to re-utilize the myriad tonal / shaping features into whole new sounds. it's quite the bang for your budget's buck. It's rather small, light, and of course built like a tank, plus it kills for guitar.
Roland Introduces New Cube-XL Bass Amplifiers

Roland Cube XL Amp

Will do. I'm currently thinking I'll get a Fender Rumble amp, but we'll see (assuming I can find a cube).

 

[Bass V]

Will do

I think you'll be happier, the plethora of sounds includes all things Fender-ish while allowing sexier low end than the typically shallow bottom Fender stops at. let your ears be your guide!

 

[GreyBeard]

I would start with Craigs List

 

[Bill ONeal]

Will do. I'm currently thinking I'll get a Fender Rumble amp, but we'll see (assuming I can find a cube).

I have many amps including a Fender Rumble 60 that I picked up just for a light portable practice amp. It works great for that and allows me to keep my bigger gigging rigs downstairs so I don't break my back lugging them up steps. It's nothing spectacular and I'd never gig with it or even use it with a band for rehearsal but for practice it does fine.

 

[Sephiroth 420]

I have a Vox VT40X. I'm just now realizing, do I actually need a bass amp? Will playing bass through the Vox damage it (specifically the speaker) over time?