Best 400 Watt at 4 ohm Bass Amp Head with FX loop?

[DragonCurse]

Looking for a decent, reputable amp head. Prefer max 400 watts at 4 ohms. Looking for something with an fx loop.

I'm genuinely surprised at the wild variation between heads. Some like the Mesa subway at $700+ for a 350 watt cab with not too many more features than my ELF. Then we have something like the eye brow raising 2000 watt head from burgera for under $300 new.

Wondering if an FX loop pedal would be sufficient replacement for spending time/money just to get a tiny upgrade.

My buddy mentioned the Carvin 500 watt but I'm new to this and anxious to do the dance of having a higher watt head than my cabs.

 

[gtirard]

Looking for a decent, reputable amp head. Prefer max 400 watts at 4 ohms. Looking for something with an fx loop.

I'm genuinely surprised at the wild variation between heads. Some like the Mesa subway at $700+ for a 350 watt cab with not too many more features than my ELF. Then we have something like the eye brow raising 2000 watt head from burgera for under $300 new.

Wondering if an FX loop pedal would be sufficient replacement for spending time/money just to get a tiny upgrade.

My buddy mentioned the Carvin 500 watt but I'm new to this and anxious to do the dance of having a higher watt head than my cabs.

A lot of 350/500W amps have an FX loop, including some that are more affordable than the Mesa D350:

- Markbass Little Mark IV
- Ampeg Venture V3
- GR Bass ONE350

 

[basscooker]

1.What's the goal?
-More power than you have?
-Like your cab but not the amp?
-Current amp is unreliable?
-Current amp big/heavy?
-Just want a change?

2. What's your realistic budget?

3. Does it have to be new?
-How's the used market where you are?
-What is your local brick-and-mortar market like?

 

[agedhorse]

What specifically do you need the effects loop for?

 

[DragonCurse]

A lot of 350/500W amps have an FX loop, including some that are more affordable than the Mesa D350:

- Markbass Little Mark IV
- Ampeg Venture V3
- GR Bass ONE350

thank you! Mark bass and GR look great. I'm hesitant to buy a venture because all I'm finding are returns which makes me question that amp line. I think I'll compare those with the walkabout from Mesa. Appreciate your answer.

 

[abarson]

Looking for a decent, reputable amp head. Prefer max 400 watts at 4 ohms. Looking for something with an fx loop.

I'm genuinely surprised at the wild variation between heads. Some like the Mesa subway at $700+ for a 350 watt cab with not too many more features than my ELF. Then we have something like the eye brow raising 2000 watt head from burgera for under $300 new.

Wondering if an FX loop pedal would be sufficient replacement for spending time/money just to get a tiny upgrade.

My buddy mentioned the Carvin 500 watt but I'm new to this and anxious to do the dance of having a higher watt head than my cabs.

With Mesa you are purchasing a quality piece of equipment with stellar customer support.
With Bugera you are purchasing marketing-hyped "watts", otherwise known as BS.
Carvin has been out of the bass amp business for quite a number of years now.
What cabs do you use?

I'm really not clear on your use of the term "FX loop", or how a pedal is an upgrade. From what?

 

[chiphaleonbass]

With Mesa you are purchasing a quality piece of equipment with stellar customer support.
With Bugera you are purchasing marketing-hyped "watts", otherwise known as BS.
Carvin has been out of the bass amp business for quite a number of years now.
What cabs do you use?

I'm really not clear on your use of the term "FX loop", or how a pedal is an upgrade. From what?

Guessing the OP would want to run some sort of preamp into the return maybe? If you have a preamp that you like finding a power amp would make sense as well

 

[baxter_x]

Then we have something like the eye brow raising 2000 watt head from burgera for under $300 new.

Lol. I don't believe a single second that amp produces 2000 watts.

 

[agedhorse]

Guessing the OP would want to run some sort of preamp into the return maybe? If you have a preamp that you like finding a power amp would make sense as well

That doesn't make any sense because on most amps with an aux input, that's the ideal insert point for a line level external preamp, and this point is generally right after the effects return jack on amps that have an effects loop (which are also usually line level).

This is why I asked the question.

 

[DragonCurse]

That doesn't make any sense because on most amps with an aux input, that's the ideal insert point for a line level external preamp, and this point is generally right after the effects return jack on amps that have an effects loop (which are also usually line level).

This is why I asked the question.

Cool man, thank you!! And this is precisely why I asked the original question. I'd rather learn what's better from guys like this than get a dumb solution to a dumb question because I asked a dumb question that warranted a dumb solution. Appreciate you big dog!!

 

[logdrum]

Behringer is not very good with warranties. Contacting that Las Vegas depot is frustration at its best. I do have some of their synth clones of old gear and they have all been great. I would not trust them on their Class-D amps though.

Although an effects loop is a nice to have, I yet have to see it being used for inserting FX. It's really more for preamp bypassing if there is no power amp/aux in. I have looked at people's setup even in the national level and I rarely see FX inserted, at best maybe a reverb or in some cases they have Wet Dry setup with a tech running all of that complicated business. Watch any Premiere Guitar gig rundown and most of the time the effects is run in front of the amp and occasionally you'll see a 4 cable method but as these modelers have hit the scene that is even disappearing.

if you are complaining about the price of a Mesa D350, getting a line level effect unit is going to be costly as pedals that are line level are usually more expensive. Even if you use an external preamp to bypass the amps preamp, just set all the EQ knobs to their detent. Most of the time it will be bypassed and if there is a baked in sound either live with or use some EQ to counter the bake in sound

 

[DragonCurse]

So.. to answer as many questions as I can in one post:

I'm currently using a Trace Elliot ELF. Before this I had combos growing up, and for the last few years have been playing through a borrowed or a back line so I'm trying to get my first real amp. The elf is nice but it's kind of a joke. I'm looking for more features to streamline my set up.

After reading some previous answers I went back to the rabbit hole and starting looking more at valvestate/hybrid tube 300w. I don't need to go above that really.

The fx loop was just based on something I saw a guitarist doing. I thought about it a bit more and realized my bass pedals are probably more designed to go straight in a power amp but again I don't know a lot.

I understand the fx loop on a bass amp is pretty niche.

So at this point I was looking at things like the Mesa boogie walk about which I know is discontinued but that thing looks pretty ideal. Or the Fuchs 300 watt purple amp. Or even the mark bass little mark which was recommended here looks good and I've used the valve state 800 watt before, which definitely stuck out to me.

Seeing the responses kind of made me think about what I want more, and I think what I want is something that's 300w either tube hybrid or tube, I think it's time to move on from solid state for what I'm looking for.

The cab is going to be an avatar 210 700w and an avatar sb112 with a 400watt kappalite neo At 4 ohms together. So that's why I'm lookin for 300 maybe 350 watt.

I would appreciate more guidance if you guys have any.

 

[wintremute]

Based on other TalkBass reviews and posts, the Bugera Veyron BV1001M is about 500w in reality.

 

[DragonCurse]

Based on other TalkBass reviews and posts, the Bugera Veyron BV1001M is about 500w in reality.

I think I'm gonna avoid that brand, heh

 

[wintremute]

So.. to answer as many questions as I can in one post:

I'm currently using a Trace Elliot ELF. Before this I had combos growing up, and for the last few years have been playing through a borrowed or a back line so I'm trying to get my first real amp. The elf is nice but it's kind of a joke. I'm looking for more features to streamline my set up.

After reading some previous answers I went back to the rabbit hole and starting looking more at valvestate/hybrid tube 300w. I don't need to go above that really.

The fx loop was just based on something I saw a guitarist doing. I thought about it a bit more and realized my bass pedals are probably more designed to go straight in a power amp but again I don't know a lot.

I understand the fx loop on a bass amp is pretty niche.

So at this point I was looking at things like the Mesa boogie walk about which I know is discontinued but that thing looks pretty ideal. Or the Fuchs 300 watt purple amp. Or even the mark bass little mark which was recommended here looks good and I've used the valve state 800 watt before, which definitely stuck out to me.

Seeing the responses kind of made me think about what I want more, and I think what I want is something that's 300w either tube hybrid or tube, I think it's time to move on from solid state for what I'm looking for.

The cab is going to be an avatar 210 700w and an avatar sb112 with a 400watt kappalite neo At 4 ohms together. So that's why I'm lookin for 300 maybe 350 watt.

I would appreciate more guidance if you guys have any.

Do you have a max amount of money that you want to spend?

 

[agedhorse]

You need to define your needs better before buying.

What pedals are you using? If they won't handle line level, they won't work in a line level effects loop anyway.

 

[DragonCurse]

Do you have a max amount of money that you want to spend?

Not really, I'd just like to find the lowest price possible to get something quality within those 250-350 watt valve state. I think the most expensive ones I considered was the b stock scratch and dent Fuchs on z zounds. I think the most I'd spend is like, one of those "if you see it for under 500 get it" kind of deals. I can float in this trace. I'm just wondering if there's anything discontinued or solely used market that I might not even know about.. I'm guessing that continuing to shop will also partially answer this question.

Another thing I'm not set on is the amp tone, I know real traces and ampeg and mesa etc have a very noticeable tone, I'm kinda looking for something more neutral

 

[wintremute]

Not really, I'd just like to find the lowest price possible to get something quality within those 250-350 watt valve state. I think the most expensive ones I considered was the b stock scratch and dent Fuchs on z zounds. I think the most I'd spend is like, one of those "if you see it for under 500 get it" kind of deals. I can float in this trace. I'm just wondering if there's anything discontinued or solely used market that I might not even know about.. I'm guessing that continuing to shop will also partially answer this question.

Another thing I'm not set on is the amp tone, I know real traces and ampeg and mesa etc have a very noticeable tone, I'm kinda looking for something more neutral

For a more neutral sound at a generally lower price, I would recommend the Peavey MiniMAX. It is 600w, though, which is above your threshold.

 

[DragonCurse]

You need to define your needs better before buying.

What pedals are you using? If they won't handle line level, they won't work in a line level effects loop anyway.

I'm using a Mira from Walrus it's an optical pedal, I'm using a dyna-Sor from jam, it's a sustain pedal but really it's a simpler dyna comp. Using a jam rattler bass pedal for distortion. I sold a b7k ultra, waiting til it goes in stock at my store but I will be replacing that with a sans amp bass driver v2. Have a dark glass noise gate and a jam pedals ripply falls for the weirdo stuff. I'm not sure what line level means, this stuff is all new to me.

 

[gtirard]

So.. to answer as many questions as I can in one post:

I'm currently using a Trace Elliot ELF. Before this I had combos growing up, and for the last few years have been playing through a borrowed or a back line so I'm trying to get my first real amp. The elf is nice but it's kind of a joke. I'm looking for more features to streamline my set up.

After reading some previous answers I went back to the rabbit hole and starting looking more at valvestate/hybrid tube 300w. I don't need to go above that really.

The fx loop was just based on something I saw a guitarist doing. I thought about it a bit more and realized my bass pedals are probably more designed to go straight in a power amp but again I don't know a lot.

I understand the fx loop on a bass amp is pretty niche.

So at this point I was looking at things like the Mesa boogie walk about which I know is discontinued but that thing looks pretty ideal. Or the Fuchs 300 watt purple amp. Or even the mark bass little mark which was recommended here looks good and I've used the valve state 800 watt before, which definitely stuck out to me.

Seeing the responses kind of made me think about what I want more, and I think what I want is something that's 300w either tube hybrid or tube, I think it's time to move on from solid state for what I'm looking for.

The cab is going to be an avatar 210 700w and an avatar sb112 with a 400watt kappalite neo At 4 ohms together. So that's why I'm lookin for 300 maybe 350 watt.

I would appreciate more guidance if you guys have any.

Technically, I don't think you should limit yourself to 300W or 350W with a 700W and a 400W 8 ohm cabinets: if you plug a 800W @ 4 ohm amp to these cabs, each one will receive 1/2 of the power (=400W max) from the amp. I'm not saying you need more, maybe 300W would be more than enough for your needs - but you're not obliged to limit yourself just because of these cabs.

Now you think you want or need a 300W hybrid of full tube amps, after reading Talkbass responses, but you should try as many amps as you can. Reading Talkbass is a good way to know what other bassists like, but it won't tell you what YOU will like.

There are so many great amps out there…