Double Bass Best 100wt Bass Amp?

[DoubleMIDI]

Don‘t forget that solid state amps do hard clipping at the limit which results in a highly distorted sound. A limiter might keep this off the floor but then you have a sudden dynamic limit.

Valve amps do a soft clipping and don‘t sound unpleasantly distorted beyond their specification (different harmonics and slowly increasing), so you can get more out of the same wattage without sounding unpleasant.

But since nobody wants to carry a heavy full valve amp these days, light class-D solid state amps are more common and need the higher wattage to avoid distortion using loud sound levels.

 

[Joe Tully]

A different tack: If you had $700 to spend on a bass amp, what would you get?

 

[TroyK]

Head and cabinet or just head?

What and where will you be playing and what else is in your signal chain? (pickup, pre-amp, etc?)

This is an easier question to answer.

 

[Joe Tully]

Well combo unit or yes head and cabinet. I have DB, double wing bridge pickup and K&K pramp mounted on tailpiece.

 

[Joe Tully]

Well combo unit or yes head and cabinet. I have DB, double wing bridge pickup and K&K pramp mounted on tailpiece.

Golf course rec room venue for starters.

 

[TroyK]

This would probably work pretty well:
For Sale - Gallien-Krueger 700RB/112 Biamp Bass Combo

If I were going that way, though I would probably look for something like this instead:
gallien krueger mb150 | eBay

I think you'd be very happy with this:
For Sale - Markbass CMD 121P 300W 1x12" Combo - - Price Drop!

This would be killer for small quiet rooms, but you would definitely out-grow it:
For Sale - Phil Jones Briefcase - Boston 0+shipping.

This is a great cabinet, but you'd need a head:
For Sale/Trade - EA Wizzy 12 and cover

I haven't tried these, but I trust the Gollihurs on it:
For Sale - Traynor SB 110 Bass Amp 9 + shipping

You could buy a new one from them in a few different configurations for < $500:
Amps and Preamps for upright bass amplification



I don't see much browsing used right now, but for $700 I would try to put together an EA system, because that's what I like they are really, really great.

Here's a head: For Sale - EA iAmp 350 - excellent
Here's a cabinet that was withdrawn, but it and the head would have come in under you budget and you would have never wanted for anything else.
No longer available - EA Wizzy 12 - 4 ohm - Euphonic Audio

Here's a 10" version: No longer available - Euphonic Audio EA Wizzy 10" w EA Bag
I have one as well that not in use, and I could part with, but you'd need a head.


Genz Benz Shuttle series was really popular a few years ago, but I don't think they exist anymore, you'd need to locate one.

If you're buying for the golf room and not worried beyond that for now, there are killer DB amps to be had with a $500 budget and plenty of others (used) that would work just fine, maybe including something from the Fender Rumble series. The old SWR California Blondes were really good DB amps if you can find one. Small and light + giggable = expensive. If you're not getting to gets on public transportation or parking blocks away from a downtown venue, there are lot of options that come into play.

 

[elberon]

Grab a used Mesa Boogie Walkabout, the 12” one with the down firing passive radiator. It’s the best of both worlds, you can use it as a combo or pull the amp out and match it with a 15” for more punch if needed. You probably won’t though.

 

[Joe Tully]

Now I'm thinking Fender Rumble. But the 200wt because of the 15". Anyone play a db through one of these?

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Joe,
That GK MB150 has been a good option for around 30 years. Of the options Troy listed, it would be my choice. Lots of players in town like the MarkBass as well.

 

[AGCurry]

Now I'm thinking Fender Rumble. But the 200wt because of the 15". Anyone play a db through one of these?

I have not used any Rumbles... but why do you think a 15" speaker would be better? None of the recommendations given above have involved fifteen-inchers.

For the money, I like the Traynor SB112. Light, powerful, and adequate tone shaping capability.

 

[Joe Tully]

Would a 15" be better for a DB? I have only played through a 12".

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Would a 15" be better for a DB? I have only played through a 12".

No, too much low end (a pickup gets more lows than radiated acoustically compared the other frequencies) and less mids/highs, so harder to hear intonation. A 12“ is good, even a Good 10“ or double 10“ works. Frequencies below 80 to 100 Hz should be reduced anyway to keep the sound clear. At least with a bridge mounted piezo.

 

[nogbert]

Would a 15" be better for a DB? I have only played through a 12".

i've always heard the opposite: that smaller drivers are better for DB. I think it is all irrelevant/imperceptible to most people. All i can say is that I have extensively used the Fender rumble 500W (2x10) and it's great for DB. it's not the most transparent amp (tonewise) out there, but it is easy to EQ and the price and weight can't be beat. my biggest complaint is the size; it can be a bit cumbersome. another benefit is that this amp will sound great with EB in case you ever do any doubling; the same cannot necessarily be said about the boutique upright amp makers.

if the budget is $700 I would just get the fender rumble 500W or just keep an eye out for a used Acoustic image head (i've seen them anywhere from 450-600 used for the series iii models), and then buy a cheapish cabinet.

 

[TroyK]

Generally speaking 15" drivers are not preferred for DB. With single driver cabinets, I have found 12" to be the best in single driver cabs.

 

[Joe Tully]

Gosh in the old days I bought and then sold second hand whatever came along. Fender Bassman, Peavy, an 18" in a giant cabinet with a tube amp. My second hand stuff is old and no-one around here works on them. I will buy new this time, it is an agonizing decision, too many factors. Ok 12" ok more than sufficient wattage. Hardke Kickback 12 sound ok? I have heard it has a noisy fan though.

 

[TroyK]

Talk to Bob and Mark about the Trayners. Read some reviews. Buying new for DB @ ~$500, I think that's going to be tough to beat.

Hartke might work, but in general, what works well for BG does not tend to work as well for DB. At the very least, you would need an impedance buffering pre-amp to approach a sound that you're happy with on the Hartke.

 

[Joe Tully]

Like a K&K pure preamp?

 

[TroyK]

Like a K&K pure preamp?

Probably. Sorry if I missed that you had one.

Still, I don't know any jazz DBist who use Harke on purpose. My best advice is to steer you toward combos that were voiced for it. If you are looking for something that will work well for both DB and BG, then that Markbass combo or something from EA would be the ticket. Maybe the Mesa Subway that someone recommended, I don't know.

Of course, in the end, it's your choice and you should get what you think will make you happiest.

 

[Ric Vice]

Gosh in the old days I bought and then sold second hand whatever came along. Fender Bassman, Peavy, an 18" in a giant cabinet with a tube amp. My second hand stuff is old and no-one around here works on them. I will buy new this time, it is an agonizing decision, too many factors. Ok 12" ok more than sufficient wattage. Hardke Kickback 12 sound ok? I have heard it has a noisy fan though.

Joe,
You won't be happy with a Kickback, at least I never was when I had to use one. 15" speakers in Fender's, Ampeg's and Peaveys were generally pretty high quality. Usually JBL's, Altec's, CTS, or Electro Voice. Currently, 12's, 10's, and even 8's have taken their place.

 

[nogbert]

you should definitely take your bass to a guitar center to at least try some of the "off the shelf" amps including the fender rumble ones.