Bass head or power amp?

[bassboy1076]

So, what do people prefer here for amplification right now? I'm currently using a Orange Terror Bass through a 2x10 Mark Bass cab, but I'm hearing a lot of people getting their tone from fx and preamps and using a flat power amp. I want to change my set up and was looking for something small and light. What do y'all like?

 

[Bodeanly]

I still think the bass head is favored by the majority. I use pedals to enhance my tone through a bass head. Of the bass heads that I use, I can bypass the built-in pre by feeding the effects into the return and just using it as a power amp (but I don't).

 

[BassmanPaul]

It depends on what your aims are. I’ve been using a Pre/Power rig off and on since the Sixties. When I bought my Acme cabinets I needed a fair amount of power so I bought a lead sled power amp, Mackie 1400, and built a pre-amp to push it. As I aged I replaced the power amp with a Class D unit, Carvin HD2000, that can push 1KW into the two cabinets I usually gig with. My cabinets are 4Ω each and that limits my choices of regular bass heads.

 

[GregC]

Unless you need a ton of power--say, 1000+ watts--I'd go with an integrated amp head, particularly since you're looking for small and light. There are many options these days that are 6 lbs. and under and put out up to 900 watts or so, and they're almost all under $1K, too.

 

[Jim Carr]

If you need a lot of power, and have a pre-amp in mind, the Crest Pro-lite non-DSP power amps are a nice choice. They are light, clean, not too expensive, well-made, and have 8, 4, and 2 ohm capability unbridged. They also can be bridged into 4 or 8 ohms. I use them for 2 rigs in difference places on the planet. Perfect for fEARful 15/6/1 or other "need power" applications.