GK MB112-II. It's currently my only amp. Pushes a full 200 watts into a single 12" speaker. Unless you're planning on playing with extremely loud band mates, it will cover most any gig.
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BEST small gig amp
- Thread starter Dividation
- Start date
this.
Used gear can be a great bargain.
just post the yourcity.craigslist.org that applies to you and a bunch of us will automatically jump in and help. It’s not 100% just the joy of being helpful, it’s a bizarre compulsion to find good gear and scrutinise the photos & ad blurb, paint a portrait of the seller and the actual condition of the gear, and estimate a reasonable market Buying Price (to be offered in person, not via email) vs the asking price.
But, there is something to be said of the security of buying brand new gear with a warranty from a large retailer- especially if you don’t have any reputable amplifier repair techs nearby. If you have a guitar center (MODS, I did not put this hyperlink in and I’m more than a little creeped out that it showed up automatically and can’t be removed.) or similar national instrument chain store nearby, just try all of what new amps they have. Ampeg, Fender, Gallien Krueger, Markbass, Trace Elliot and others are apt to have a reasonably headache-free replacement system should your budget amp spontaneously crap the bed as they sometimes do. One of those amp makers will have one that sounds like it’ll be more enjoyable to woodshed at home while you build your repertoire of songs and techniques.
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I have an Ampeg Rocket Bass RB 112 and really like it a lot so if it’s loud enough, I would recommend without hesitation.
The Fender Rumble 100 is also a good choice and compared to the Ampeg, I would say the Ampeg sounds warmer and a tad less detailed.
The thing you need to know is the RB 112 is loud enough for small rooms with a guitar and/or a saxophone but lacks power when playing hard rock with a hard hitting drummer and a 24 inch bass drum.
The Fender Rumble 100 is also a good choice and compared to the Ampeg, I would say the Ampeg sounds warmer and a tad less detailed.
The thing you need to know is the RB 112 is loud enough for small rooms with a guitar and/or a saxophone but lacks power when playing hard rock with a hard hitting drummer and a 24 inch bass drum.
Love my little mesa subway rig. I have the d-800 and the 115 cab. The subway series cabs are expensive compared to the cost of the heads but it balances out with several other rigs I’ve owned over the years where in those cases the head was much more expensive than the cab. The subway 15 cab is great if you want a big rig sound in a small package. Blows away most of the big name brand 115 cabs on the market. I’ve had 115 cabs from brands like peavey, hartke, and Ampeg. The mesa subway 115 is another level.
Rumble 500 210 combo....and done
Its small and light enough to carry easily, powerful enough to cover most any gig, and you can always add the 210 ext cab later if you need it. I set mine on a kick-back stand that elevates it about 5 inches and angles it upward so i can hear it better. That combo has really been the best bass investment I've ever made
Its small and light enough to carry easily, powerful enough to cover most any gig, and you can always add the 210 ext cab later if you need it. I set mine on a kick-back stand that elevates it about 5 inches and angles it upward so i can hear it better. That combo has really been the best bass investment I've ever made
OP’s budget is $350. Not gonna find Mesa stuff at that price unless its hot and he buys it from a crackhead.
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For small stuff I get by quite well with an Ampeg B-100R Rocket Combo. I paid $350 for mine used and in excellent condition. Extremely versatile EQ section. You can get almost any tone you can think of out of these amps.
The Fender Rumble series is also a good choice. It’s a popular amp. And for good reason. The bang for the buck ratio on these amps is hard to beat.
Both amps have headphone jacks so you can practice at all hours without annoying anyone else you’re sharing living space with.
The Fender Rumble series is also a good choice. It’s a popular amp. And for good reason. The bang for the buck ratio on these amps is hard to beat.
Both amps have headphone jacks so you can practice at all hours without annoying anyone else you’re sharing living space with.
If you can find one of these within your budget, it would be a great option, and better IMO than a Rumble 100. I've used a Rumble 100 for several rehearsals, and it's an excellent combo, but the G-K will have more definition and punch.
I'll toss out another option--Roland Cubes. They might not be easy to find, but a Cube 100 or Cube 120XL would serve your purposes well. They have more features, flexibility, clarity, and punch than the Rumble 100. I have an old Cube 100 (from 2005), and it's an amazing little amp with much more punch than the 100 watt rating would lead you to expect. The Cube 120XL is even better, with slightly more power, a looper, and an on-board tuner, but it's larger. They're great for small gigs.
The downside? They're much heavier than the Rumble 100. My Cube has compact dimensions so it's relatively easy to manage, but the Rumble 100 is much easier, no question.
The Ampeg Rocket models are great options too.
One from TB classifieds:
For Sale - Roland AC-60 | TalkBass.com
There are others that are local pickup, so it depends where you are located.
For Sale - Roland AC-60 | TalkBass.com
There are others that are local pickup, so it depends where you are located.
I can endorse this also. Bonus, it’s great with Upright Bass, too! I had the S model, similar, and it served me well for a number of years.
I have my eye on the Ampeg Rocket 115, mainly because it doesn't include a piezo tweeter. I hate them. Even turning them off affects the sound because the sound is crossed over internally. Give me full range through a decent 15" speaker. But I'm not currently playing bass so I'm resisting the urge to buy an amp until I actually need it.
I've used an Ampeg BA115v2 for about the last 10 years for small gigs. When Ampeg replaced the BA series with the Rocket series, I picked up a BA210v2 for a significant discount (now my gig amp). I've owned a Rumble 100 and had to send it back under warranty, they are great sounding lightweight amps. My experience was that if you push them a bit, they don't hold up (they are great for home practice amps). I used mine a few times for band practice, we're not loud but the amp was pushed to keep up with a drum kit. Anyway I mention the Ampeg BAv2 series because they are built like tanks and sound good, the 15" moves a lot of air, I use mine for band practice. You can find good deals on them used, and the semi wedge cab give you options. The 115 is 150w, the 210 is 275w alone (450w with an extension cab).
The reason I suggest something along the lines of the Ampeg, is you can always turn down for a small gig, an undersize rig is not going to keep up with a band (practice or live). The Ampeg's also have a built in OD circuit (Scrambler) and an XLR DI out to connect to a PA. I picked up a 2x10 cab which does everything I need live with the BA210 amp, plus the cab works with the 115 if I need a bigger sound. There are other comparable amps in this range, but Ampeg is solid name in the bass amp market (even though they are owned by Yamaha now).
A home practice amp is always good to have, I keep a VOX Pathfinder 10w combo in my home office, works great and not too expensive.
Good luck on your search, cheers
The reason I suggest something along the lines of the Ampeg, is you can always turn down for a small gig, an undersize rig is not going to keep up with a band (practice or live). The Ampeg's also have a built in OD circuit (Scrambler) and an XLR DI out to connect to a PA. I picked up a 2x10 cab which does everything I need live with the BA210 amp, plus the cab works with the 115 if I need a bigger sound. There are other comparable amps in this range, but Ampeg is solid name in the bass amp market (even though they are owned by Yamaha now).
A home practice amp is always good to have, I keep a VOX Pathfinder 10w combo in my home office, works great and not too expensive.
Good luck on your search, cheers
There is a bass amp rig for sale here in Connecticut on Facebook marketplace. Two Hartke Hydrive 12” speakers and an L1000 amp.
$400. Small gigs, take one. World tour, take two.
The deals are out there.
$400. Small gigs, take one. World tour, take two.
The deals are out there.
Ditto this. It is shockingly loud for its size and weight. I have the powered ext cab too for mine and rarely ever use it. I think the last time I took the full stack out was an outdoor gig and the single combo still would have been totally fine for the onstage sound. I also like how simple it is--it has just what you need onboard and nothing else.
If you could find a used Traynor SB112 in your price range, IMO that'd be about the best you could do.
Give the Ampeg Rocket combo bass line a look. They're pretty affordable with a lot of features. Size and wattage to taste.
Hard to find a bad amp these days. Go with what sounds best to you.
Just dont buy a new Peavey. The owner is an assbag and their service sucks.
Sad to see a once good company destroyed buy the owner with his head firmly implanted in his ass.
