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Cheap-ish, 50-ish watt amp recommendations?

#22
don't forget to look at the Fender Bronco....40 Watts but has a great DI if you need , lots of fun effects, recording software, built in tuner...plenty loud for home practice , small coffeehouse type gigs.will hang with a controlled jazz drummer, rocker not so much

and damn I wanted that 50w Orange back a few years ago....the guy at the store talked me out of it, got the Bronco...v. happy...then got a 200W Traynor SB200H...v v happy, could be your go to head if you get a decent cab....I also got lucky and picked up the Orange TB500 for a great $$ (from the 1st music store above, different guy) v v v happy
 
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#23
I'm using an Egnator Tweaker 40 (2x6L6 power section) into a Bag End D12 (2x12). Sounds awesome to me at home... if you don't mind some grit and your drummer can play with volume control, it works in a band fine. I use 4, 5, 6, and 7 string basses... passive and active.

I've jammed in a band with the 50 watt Ampeg BA-112 with surprising results... again with players that know how to limit volume. I won't play with guys that need to bash and crank it to 11
 
#26
tjh said:
.. interesting analogy Dr J ... I have often expressed similar (with slight variance)... 200 watts the new 50, 350 the new 100, and 500 the new 200 ... yours might be more accurate, at least for those on here ;)
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...and 800 is the new 200!
 
#27
inthevelvet said:
I have a GK MB112 that's 200 watts and keeping up with a a fender deluxe and a rock drummer is only possible if they restrain themselves somewhat.
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But it's not the wattage, it's the small box and small speaker. 40 years ago, people were gigging with 50-100 watt solid state amps but they were using refrigerator cabinets with them.

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This is only a 100 watt amp! But the cabinet is 3-15" and the stack is deafening.
 
#28
Where are you located? I've got an old 40 watt crate I'm trying to get rid of. It's loud enough for rehearsal, but probably not a gig unless you mic or DI it.

Either way, I agree with the others that you need more power or speakers to mix well with a drummer. If you want a cheap half stack, get a used cab and head. Or, you can get a new 300 watt Behringer head for just 150$. Despite the bad things people say about that brand, it serves very well for me on top of my 410 cab.
 
#32
Without more details, Muddslide, it won't be as easy to make a recommendation, but as you can see it's also not stopping anyone!

Here's a couple:

Fender Rumble 40 that mostly satisfies your requests; good home practice amp with old-school vibe and an XLR out, incredibly light, and under two bills. My pick.

Or bring back the days of yore with a new Peavey Max 112 combo amp. 200 watts (supposedly), XLR out, a single 12" speaker, and a few nifty features for $250. Not as light in weight as the Rumble, but then there aren't many who are.

Give us a little more detail about your needs and desires, don't worry about wattage as much, and don't forget to enjoy the hunt along the way.

Good luck!
 
#33
James Hart said:
I'm using an Egnator Tweaker 40 (2x6L6 power section) into a Bag End D12 (2x12). Sounds awesome to me at home... if you don't mind some grit and your drummer can play with volume control, it works in a band fine. I use 4, 5, 6, and 7 string basses... passive and active.

I've jammed in a band with the 50 watt Ampeg BA-112 with surprising results... again with players that know how to limit volume. I won't play with guys that need to bash and crank it to 11
Click to expand...
that tweaker looks like an interesting amp. how does it do for bass? i know 40 watts is enough for me. i use the ashdown lb 30 also.
 
#36
alaskaleftybass said:
I'm surprised Jimmy didn't beat you to this one! :D But yeah, an Ampeg BA-112 would be nice.
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I was working tonight and just saw it now.

Ya, BA112 is very strong. I've got the new one which is 75w and it kills. But the older 50w versions are pretty nice, too. I disagree with those who say 50w isn't enough for your situation. I think it totally is, unless you're looking to jam out with metal bands in the future. But I play in a medium loud oldies band with a horn section and will often show up with my BA112 v2 and it's never gotten drowned out and the bass is nice and present in the mix.
 
#38
Muddslide said:
Okay, I am probably being way over-ambitious when thinking of a truly giggable 50 watter. But are there small amps in the 50 watt range that could hang in a practice situation you think?

Let's put gigging aside for now. I don't know if or when that will ever happen again for me, and if it does I have rigs I can either borrow or I'll put something together when the need arises and I can afford it.

So basically, a good, decent, not-too-pricey 50 watt amp for home use and occasional practice room jams?
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What is the dollar amount you are thinking?

Cheap-ish to me means $100-200. In other words, not going to break the bank but also not an insignificant amount of money. If that is in fact somewhere around your range then there are all sorts of used options in that range that are very good. Most of these options will be over 50 watts but they all have volume knobs so you can turn them down. The up side is there are tons of good 12s and 15s with this sort of wattage that can hang with a drummer (Hartke, Ampeg, GK).
 
#40
Whoa. Well, thanks so much, and I am sure open to more advice and suggestions. You've all given me a lot to think about.

Let me say the reason I came up with the 50 watts was because I figured I could find a used one cheap and that it might be able to hang in a practice situation w/ other players. Also, the portability factor.

After reading all of this, I've pretty much decided to forego a smaller amp like this and dig around for a larger used combo or, as some suggested, maybe find a good head and a small cab that I can expand down the road.

To start out, I don't know if I can go to much more than $200 and I am going to be looking for something in a lighter weight range. My back still remembers hauling that Peavey TNT around and I'm considerably older and achier nowadays.

I do have a tiny practice amp that is fine for home use when I'm playing alone. It's a piece of horse dung really, but it works and even has a headphone out. Instead of going to 50 watts, I think you all are right...I should bypass that idea and go for something that would really serve to play in a jam situation or even live. It might take me more than one purchase to put it all together.

As for Behringer, I have no problem with their stuff (although I've never tried their bass amp gear.) I've played through a few Behringer guitar amps and some of their fx pedals and they may not be mindblowing, but they are serviceable. I have a buddy who bought a Behringer bass synth pedal for $50 and it's a pretty cool little device.

I know I sound cheap, but it is very, very rare for me to be able to purchase gear and I am also trying to score a decent bass. I have one bass now, but I'd probably get laffed off the forum if you knew what it was. It's also a real bear to play and weighs like it's made out of collapsed neutron star material. So I am seeking a lighter, easier-playing P bass. (I have a line on a couple of decent-looking MIMs and am going to be shopping around in some music stores this weekend too.)

Anyways, local CL has some head options and I'll be looking at some shops and local pawnbrokers as well.

I would invite more discussion / help / suggestions if anyone else wants to chime in. I really do appreciate it greatly.

I'll keep everyone posted when / if I score some rig equipment or even just a combo...
 

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