Cheap Amp Thats Aren't Completely Awful

[SheaNC]

used used used
craigslist craigslist craigslist

And ebay

 

[SheaNC]

It's nice to see the love for Peavey. I remember when every band had Peavey stuff. Seemed like, anyway.

 

[hsech]

You might find an old Peavey in that price range.

 

[Mr_Martin]

PEAVEY is the winner

 

[justin fleenor]

i got my yorkville bassmaster 400 for 200 at a pawn shop that generally has outrageous prices *300 for a 250$ laptop* it was the fuzzy blue one besides the blue carpet and the contour being a button instead of a knob its a great practice amp. peavey tko aint too bad either

 

[hopsbb]

I was in your shoes when I first started playing.I had a Squier starter kit with the Fender 15 watt combo.It crapped out on me and I needed another amp.I needed something that would be good to jam with friends with at the time and good for practice.

At first I ordered an Acoustic 200 watt combo online used from Guitar Center. When it arrives UPS had dropped it apparently from a skyscraper and the cabinet was cracked.I took it back to my local GC and got a refund.I paid $175.

While I was there I went and checked out the used section and they had a Fender Bassman 150 combo for $150.So I picked it up and headed out the door.I know both of those are a little above your price range but good deals are to be had used.

The Fender suited all my needs at the time.150 watts was plenty enough for practice and jamming with friends.It will even hold it own nicely with drums as long as the aren't banging away ridiculously loud.Plus once I started to gig I just DI it to the pa and used it for a little while like that and it worked great.

Buying used would definitely be your best option.

 

[buldog5151bass]

What is wrong with your amp for home practice? Why waste another $100? Figure out what you will need, and save for that.

 

[danosix]

All good posts there.. I'd say you have a much better chance with craigslist rather than a store.. If a store has it, they already picked it up used for $X and need to sell it for $X+profit so you're cheapest option is used directly from someone. Be polite about it and you may be able to talk someone down from their asking price. Hopefully you can find a kind soul "thinning the herd" that may be willing to help you out. Where are you located?

-edited to add this -
All things being equal ( which they never are ) get the biggest speaker you can find. Your output volume really comes down to moving air. It's a gross simplification/generalization but more volume can come from just adding speaker area. Two ways of doing that is adding more speakers ( 4x10 or 8x10 ) or getting a bigger speaker.

If you have 2 speakers, a 10" and a 15", lets assume they have the same sensitivity and same x-max, or ability to move forwards and backwards the same distance ) the 15" speaker will likely be louder as it will be moving more air with each vibration.

Keeping things really simplified, the area of the speaker times the distance the cone moves can give you a good idea of how loud a speaker will be. There are tons of exceptions and reasons why this is only a generalization, but I think it's safe to say at your price range, a larger speaker will be louder given roughly the same power.

While you are right that it is a gross oversimplification, a good rule for a first amp is anything with a 15 will be enough (esp since they never make them in less than 50 watts with a 15).
Then you will have time to learn what you want/need and time to save up.
But as I and others have said - anything Peavey is likely good, anything Yorkville/Traynor is also good and tank-like.

 

[Pako]

Buy used. I bought a Crate BX-100 100w combo with a 15" and effects for $100.

I've even used it at large shows with its Direct Out.

It's got decent when not over driven and has been working trouble free for some time now.

Check the local shops so you're not paying freight or other shipping costs.

Good luck.

 

[bassrich]

Sam ash is selling the V1 BA-110 for $99that would cover most all your needs

 

[Not yet]

Played lots of gigs w SWR Working Pro 12

Sounded fine and was solid. And Noone wants them so could find cheap used

Agree w don't buy something you'll throw away in a year or if you start gigging

 

[Right_Butterscotch64]

As someone who was in your shoes 5 years ago, do yourself a favor and save. You will regret not saving up for something you really want. If you join a band just use their PA.

 

[Jack Butler]

Probably not what you want to hear, but your best bet is to get a part time job and save up some money. It's unlikely you'll find anything decent for that price. The difference in what you will get by going from $100 to $300 used is significant.

This really is the best advice. Heck even $200 will get you a lot further than 100, esp. used. To stick with the OP though, I recently saw an 80's Peavey TNT on CL for $120. Wasn't the prettiest amp but the ad said it worked just fine. These things were workhorses back in the day and many a bar gig was played with one.

 

[lfmn16]

This really is the best advice. Heck even $200 will get you a lot further than 100, esp. used. To stick with the OP though, I recently saw an 80's Peavey TNT on CL for $120. Wasn't the prettiest amp but the ad said it worked just fine. These things were workhorses back in the day and many a bar gig was played with one.

I earned money for my first good bass and amp busing tables at a pancake house. Earned money for my next bass and amp by playing music. It's not easy, but you can do it if you want to bad enough.

 

[SteveHeissner]

A used GK Backline 600 is one option. It's $300 new, you might find a used one cheap. I've been using mine as a practice amp almost every day for he last 9 years with no issues.

Good luck.

 

[Big Hoss]

If you need something NOW, look used, a Crate BX-100 or the newer BT-100 can be had for about $100.00. Early Fender Rumble 100 (The "V1" variants) fall in that price range used too. Probably a mess of old Peavey 100 watters as well...

I recently offloaded a Crate BX-100 in excellent condition as a donation but would have been willing to take $120.00 for it. I have heard of guys buying slightly worn examples for less. One member here bought a BX-160 for about $80.00 if I recall correctly... The Crates sound great, have good tone, and are very reliable. I got rid of mine due to a combination of weight and my back problems... If it weren't for that, I would have stayed put with my old Crate. It really was a good amp...

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Shop local, shop used, try to add some money to the pot. A dollar invested into your amp will give you the most return on investment. Learning on an underpowered amp will cause bad habits in playing technique. You'll play with a guitarist and drummer. The guitarist will sound fine with his $100 amp and the drummer's $200 kit will still be loud. So to make up for it you will end up digging into your strings extra hard. IMO, you need ~300W and a 1x15 or 2x10 combo to play in a manner that the amp isn't going to get in the way of your playing technique. Below that, just use a headphone amp.

 

[Big Hoss]

There is a certain amount of truth to what Rich says, but I have to put a little caveat here...

It all depends on what type of music you want to play, and how loud your guitarist and drummer are...

If your guitarist is running a 100w Marshall stack for example and has no qualms twisting the mains up all the way, and / or the drummer learned percussion in a cave on mastadon skins then yeah, you will need as big of an amp as you can possibly get, and get aggressive with that volume...

HOWEVER, if you are playing coffee house type gigs, Jazz, or even classic rock / covers with a band that understands stage volume control, a 100W amp can, and often does work well... Check out what local bass players are using for gigs. There are a TON of 100 watt 1x15 combos out there doing gig duty with excellent results. However a 100 watt combo is NOT going to overcome an overly loud guitarist, or gorilla armed or footed drummer...

Remember a band SHOULD be a team working together to make music, not just a bunch of guys that happen to be together on the same stage...

You need to work with each other to get the best sound...

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Definitely agree. I state 300W because cheap amps usually fudge the numbers.

 

[Big Hoss]

Oh so painfully true... Expensive amps have been known to as well... But yes, cheapies are notorious for giving out I will say very optimistic power ratings.