• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Cheap amps used that I can gig with?

HawldieMPB

HawldieMPB

Guest
Sep 5, 2013
210
209
Portland/Eugene, Oregon
#1
Hey so I may be joining a new group (for really the first time in 10 years) and I may need an amp I can gig clubs with very soon. I'm looking used and cheap. Like less than $300 and ideally less than $200. Any suggestions? I don't need a ton of headroom as I like to drive my amps a bit. Thanks!!
 
#4
yeah. Just get some Peavey stuff from the eighties.
Cheap, sounding ok and tough.
I still have an old peavey top from '82 that has seen a fair share of use and abuse, spent two winters in a sub zero attic, gathered about a ton of dust, was covered in sawdust once, nearly drowned on another occasion and was heavily gigged, chipped and thrown around before i bought it in '95.
But one thing that never happened was that it stopped working.
I once read somewhere here on the board that after the nucelar holocaust, the ones of us that survived will crawl out of their shelters and play on peaveys - the only amps nbound to survive even that.
 
#10
don't know if you have a lot of them there. But our peavey equivalent on this side of the pond for sturdiness and reliability are warwicks.
My profet 5.2 once fell from an 810 on a concrete floor and kept working like a charm. only chipped a bit of paint
 
#13
Peavey....on their own they don't sound great but live they cut through extremely well. And don't worry about the wattage the old tko (75 watts) an TNT (150 watts?) are very very loud. Oh and as others have said you really can't break them.

Another choice is an older Fender combo. For pretty much the same reasons as Peavey.
 
#15
jonnybass1 said:
Peavey....on their own they don't sound great but live they cut through extremely well. And don't worry about the wattage the old tko (75 watts) an TNT (150 watts?) are very very loud. Oh and as others have said you really can't break them.

Another choice is an older Fender combo. For pretty much the same reasons as Peavey.
Click to expand...

Just seems that you haven't heard peavey amps for a longer time... :bassist:

lots of people like the older amps, like a Mark III or Mark IV. This amps are fine if you like some kind of vintage sound.

I still use my good old reliable TMax besides a GenzBenz GBE 1200 and an Ampeg SVP Pro + poweramp, and there is no need to replace the Peavey. It sounds really similar to Ampeg solid state stuff, and even better when the pramp tube is driven hard.

I use three stacks because I play in three bands, and I use the same cab with every amp. So I have three identical Tecamp L 810 cabs. I can't tell you which amp sounds the best, because I love the sound of every amp.
 
#16
In my experience, old Peavey's (I still regret selling my TNT) are the best for durability and reliability. Not the best for sound, but it's a matter of individual taste.
My GK 150 combo still works fine after almost 20 years, but it's not a high-power amp (I use it for small jazz gigs, mostly with double bass), The new GK combos (NOT the Backline serie!) seem to me very interesting, If you find a used one could be a bargain.
 
#20
No matter which amp you end up purchasing, be sure and tilt it back at gigs so the sound is going directly to your ears to avoid low stage volume/blasting FOH volume.

Good luck with your band. :)
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back