Yorkvilles are sweet, if you can find one used for $200 a great amp. If that is really your price point, just shop Craigslist for gear without having to pay for shipping, and play the amps without committing to buy. But if you are getting a low wattage amp just for the DI, just buy a Sansamp DI new for $199 and use the stage monitors.
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Best combo under $200
- Thread starter Doublesixes
- Start date
It's been years since I played that TNT but have a faint memory that it was very strong but hard to dial in. It's been sitting in storage for almost 20 years! EQing that thing was a science.
I'll be playing a MIJ Fender PJ Lyte which has lots of tonal variation, being active and all. Never owned an Ampeg but as a kid I always coveted one after a buddy let me borrow his SVT
Just keep in mind on those Yorkvilles that they are no longer in production - and they are twice the weight of other comparable amps these days. Used for a great price - I still wouldn't touch one.
I have a Crate BX100 that I got new for just over $200 some years ago. It is surprisingly good for what it is. 15" speaker, 100 watts. Loud enough for a small rock & roll band, good tone shaping ability, XLR direct out.also has a speaker extension jack. They can be had used for $150 or less.
$200.00 isn't going to give you a lot of options but here are a few that you may get lucky to find in that price range.
Used Ampeg BA115HP play this first if you can. Some are louder then others. I own one and it's not very loud. Only good for smaller coffee house type gigs and as a stage monitor.
Used Peavey:
1. Combo 115 (these will drive a 4 ohm 1x 15 or 2 x 10 extension cabs)
2 TNT
3. Combo 300 (older version of the Combo 115)
All of the Peaveys are HEAVY
Used Ampeg BA115HP play this first if you can. Some are louder then others. I own one and it's not very loud. Only good for smaller coffee house type gigs and as a stage monitor.
Used Peavey:
1. Combo 115 (these will drive a 4 ohm 1x 15 or 2 x 10 extension cabs)
2 TNT
3. Combo 300 (older version of the Combo 115)
All of the Peaveys are HEAVY
I just picked up a Hartke Kickback 12 for $200 at a local shop. Used of course.
Pretty nice shape.
Sounds great, certainly a keeper.
Pretty nice shape.
Sounds great, certainly a keeper.
Jesus, don't buy another TNT, those things suck.n Clearly if yours has been in storage for 20 years, there's a reason for that.
$200 is still pretty hard to get anything decent. It is possible but you really have to ride craigslist daily and be on the lookout for undercover deals. I picked up an older Carvin PB-200 combo (1x15 w/tweeter, 160w) maybe 3 years ago for $180 (guy was asking $200 or $220). It wasn't anything special, but it wasn't too heavy (60 pounds maybe?), was compact, and was plenty loud enough for rehearsals and small gigs. I ended up selling it recently for $220.
But yeah, really if you get up into the $300-400+ range, your options open WAY up, especially if you are still scouring CL for deals and hop on them fast. Just search for "bass" and look at every ad that pops up.
And do some research, FFS. That's what we have the internets for. Figure out which of your available options seem like strong contenders, and then you can ask here about pros and cons of each and what people would go with in your situation.
The people that have the most success with gear are the ones who don't NEED others' help because they find out as much as they can on their own FIRST, and THEN ask for opinions to tip the scales one way or the other.
$200 is still pretty hard to get anything decent. It is possible but you really have to ride craigslist daily and be on the lookout for undercover deals. I picked up an older Carvin PB-200 combo (1x15 w/tweeter, 160w) maybe 3 years ago for $180 (guy was asking $200 or $220). It wasn't anything special, but it wasn't too heavy (60 pounds maybe?), was compact, and was plenty loud enough for rehearsals and small gigs. I ended up selling it recently for $220.
But yeah, really if you get up into the $300-400+ range, your options open WAY up, especially if you are still scouring CL for deals and hop on them fast. Just search for "bass" and look at every ad that pops up.
And do some research, FFS. That's what we have the internets for. Figure out which of your available options seem like strong contenders, and then you can ask here about pros and cons of each and what people would go with in your situation.
The people that have the most success with gear are the ones who don't NEED others' help because they find out as much as they can on their own FIRST, and THEN ask for opinions to tip the scales one way or the other.
Like others have suggested, hitting all your goals at under $200 is a real challenge, even used. That said, I was able, several years ago, to score a used SWR workingman's 15 combo for 150 dollars, and that does pretty well working with 3 piece rock band as long as you dont dial up too much bass. You want extra volume or extra bass, it's time for an extension cabinet regardless of what combo you start with.
Go to Guitar Centers website, search bass combos, refine for used, sort low to high, and you will find any number of usable combos for under $200.
This will be so much better than spending $200 on a combo with an 8" speaker. IMO if you are playing with a drummer and an electric guitarist the bare minimum is a single 12, a 15 or 2X10 would be better. Guess what there are so many combos that fit that description used at Guitar center right now. Even with shipping there are some you will be able to get for right around 200.
This will be so much better than spending $200 on a combo with an 8" speaker. IMO if you are playing with a drummer and an electric guitarist the bare minimum is a single 12, a 15 or 2X10 would be better. Guess what there are so many combos that fit that description used at Guitar center right now. Even with shipping there are some you will be able to get for right around 200.
The Ampeg BA115 is looking better by the minute. From the online reviews I read, most people swear by it and only a small fraction hated it. I like the tilt back design too.
MF has a used one for $299 but I'd rather pay the full price ($380) for a new one after reading about a few horror stories.
In the end I will heed the advice of most of you that suggested an entry point of $350 to $400 for giggable gear. Thanks a bunch to all.
MF has a used one for $299 but I'd rather pay the full price ($380) for a new one after reading about a few horror stories.
In the end I will heed the advice of most of you that suggested an entry point of $350 to $400 for giggable gear. Thanks a bunch to all.
And here's a Kickback 15 that went for the same:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hartke-Kick...731?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d38a8dafb
Kickback 15 does justice to a B string, let alone an E.
If you need something NOW that may be true; if you're prepared to look around for the right deal then of course you can do just fine for $200.
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We might have different gig levels.
You might find an old Peavey Mark III head and a 2*15" for around $200 on craigslist or a similar "local trader" newspaper. You might find one at a pawn shop. But then you still are spending $20 for a speaker cable, $30 for an instrument cable, if you are running effects, bass, other back up gear.
I know you want to get out there, but maybe getting a bigger budget will help get a rig that will be with you a little longer.
I was at an open mic blues jam last week Middletown Connecticut (Cypress Restaurant), and the house band bass player had that exact amp... as well as a sweet Roscoe!
If you're willing to go up to $400 then take a look at the the TC Electronics BG250. 250 watts into a 15" speaker with a TubeDrive and Toneprint options. It's light, loud, and great tone! It will kick the BA115 to the curb all day every day and twice on Sundays! (Just playin' here, don't get your undies in a bundle
You can usually find deals through one of the many online vendors and get it for a decent discount.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/tc-electronic-bg250-250w-1x15-bass-combo-amp
You can usually find deals through one of the many online vendors and get it for a decent discount.http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/tc-electronic-bg250-250w-1x15-bass-combo-amp
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
When I first started in 1963, this little 1948 Philco tube radio was my ampnot expensive, at least back then! 
If you're willing to go up to $400 then take a look at the the TC Electronics BG250. 250 watts into a 15" speaker with a TubeDrive and Toneprint options. It's light, loud, and great tone! It will kick the BA115 to the curb all day every day and twice on Sundays! (Just playin' here, don't get your undies in a bundle
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/tc-electronic-bg250-250w-1x15-bass-combo-amp
That amp looks great, it's $400 (twice as much as originally intended) but rated at 250W and all those nice features.....hmmm..back to drawing board to do some more research..
Terrible amp. I owned one for 2 weeks once and was shocked that Ampeg put their name on that crapbox.
Weak, farted out easily when trying to get volume out of it and the tweeter hissed like an angry snake - with no way to turn it off.
Look for a used Carvin or Hartke Kickback or, save another hundred and get something more realistic.
I will vouch for the Mb115 over the BA115. I used them both on the same stage, same FOH, etc. GK all the way. Not to say the Ampeg was bad, I loved the tone, but not very loud.
