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Can you guys recommend me a combo amp under $500?

#2
400-500 watts is alotta fire power for a combo. Some combos in your price range I'd look at are

Fender Rumble
Hartke Kickback or Hydrive series
Ampeg BA115
Acoustic B200

Honestly I think anything over 200 watts should give you plenty of volume for most situations. Good luck!
 
#4
BillyIVbass said:
400-500 watts is alotta fire power for a combo. Some combos in your price range I'd look at are

Fender Rumble
Hartke Kickback or Hydrive series
Ampeg BA115
Acoustic B200

Honestly I think anything over 200 watts should give you plenty of volume for most situations. Good luck!
Click to expand...

GK MB112. Just got one of these for Christmas, $339 new. Try to find one used if you can, chops about $100 off that price. Very nice 200 watt combo with some straight-forward features, and much lighter weight than most amps in this price/power range. I did about a good year of research before going after this amp, and I couldn't be happier :bassist:

If you wanna spend a little more, the 500 watt GK 210 is a great option too (they'll run you $350-$450 used)

The other options BillyIVbass suggested are great contenders too. If I didn't get the GK, I was gonna probably go with the Acoustic B200. The Fender Rumbles have good set of basic features (including a decent sounding overdrive setting if that's your thing).
 
#5
BillyIVbass said:
400-500 watts is alotta fire power for a combo. Some combos in your price range I'd look at are

Fender Rumble
Hartke Kickback or Hydrive series
Ampeg BA115
Acoustic B200

Honestly I think anything over 200 watts should give you plenty of volume for most situations. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Depends on how loud you play. I play a Kickback 15 (120W) and I've yet to encounter a situation where it won't be sufficient. 200W is certainly enough for a typical 2x10 or 1x15 configuration. Pay more attention to the speakers.

I strongly suggest getting one with a wedge shape. You'll be able to hear yourself so much better.
 
#6
Why a combo specifically? If you want power, are concerned with size, and are on a budget, then shop used. There is a whole slew of new gear being announced, and that is good news for you. Not because you want to be looking at the new gear, but the used stuff that will be getting sold to fund new stuff. I bed you will be able to pick up a decent micro head and a 210 neo cab in a little while that will sound great and be in your budget. The real point of staying away from that combo, is some day you will most likely need more, and you can just add another 210 cab.
 
#7
Here's what I would do. Pick up a good used Peavey TNT 115. You should be able to find one in a pawn shop or craigslist. That should cost you less than half your budget. Then try it out and if you still need a little more volume then grab another TNT 115. You'll have the convenience of a more portable system since you can take 1 or both and you'll be able to get crazy loud if needed. You should also come in under budget and you can always offload a Peavey TNT 115 at a later time and be able to get out of it what you had put in.
 
#11
xed said:
Here's what I would do. Pick up a good used Peavey TNT 115. You should be able to find one in a pawn shop or craigslist. That should cost you less than half your budget. Then try it out and if you still need a little more volume then grab another TNT 115. You'll have the convenience of a more portable system since you can take 1 or both and you'll be able to get crazy loud if needed. You should also come in under budget and you can always offload a Peavey TNT 115 at a later time and be able to get out of it what you had put in.
Click to expand...

I always think I should get one of these. Every time I play one in a GC or other store I get very close to plunking down the bucks. The thing is loud and boomy!
 
#13
xed said:
Here's what I would do. Pick up a good used Peavey TNT 115. You should be able to find one in a pawn shop or craigslist. That should cost you less than half your budget. Then try it out and if you still need a little more volume then grab another TNT 115. You'll have the convenience of a more portable system since you can take 1 or both and you'll be able to get crazy loud if needed. You should also come in under budget and you can always offload a Peavey TNT 115 at a later time and be able to get out of it what you had put in.
Click to expand...
I'm Pro-Peavey but the thought of lugging two of them around...OUCH! Maybe they've shaved weight since my 45 watt TNT I bought in the late '70's, it weighed about 80 pounds!

Just sayin'
X8
 
#14
rtslinger said:
You maybe over thinking the wattage a little you are not going to need a 400-500 watt combo amp unless you are planning on playing outside every gig? 300 watts is more than enough head room you will find many in your price range at this wattage. 400-500 watt combos new for under 500.00 I haven't seen myself?
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300 watts is overkill. Not many people sit in a room with a STV and 810 rig cranked and go, "dang I cant hear that guy playing bass..."

Any amp 300+ watts or so will be powerful enough, just have to have speakers to be loud enough.
 
#17
I like the Carvin MB15 and MB210 for the simple fact you can add an extension to them for a gig-able 250w stack. By themselves they’re plenty for small gigs/rehearsals. They sound great and have loads of EQ and DI options too, better than anything in their price range. For a few bucks more though you can get a 4 ohm Carvin BR115 with a BX250 head. This is gig-able while only hauling one cab, although it won’t produce quite as much volume/clarity as the combo with an extension.
 

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