Combo amps, where is the cutoff between toy and tool?

[subdude67]

Every amp I played that was advertised as practise amp sucked. They were all cheap around 100$, they all sounded terrible, some had hum from external power supplies, distorting, farting out at low volumes etc....
What should I be prepared to spend on a combo amp for practising at normal volume?

 

[rockear]

There are probably a few exceptions, but I think a 10" speaker and 30-50 watts is the minimum viable for a practice amp that will be at least somewhat satisfying to play through. That's gonna be $200+ from a reputable manufacturer these days. Fender Rumble 40 is probably the most commonly recommended. There's also a lot of very lightly used amps out there in that category for great deals, if you're willing to explore that market.

 

[gtirard]

Every amp I played that was advertised as practise amp sucked. They were all cheap around 100$, they all sounded terrible, some had hum from external power supplies, distorting, farting out at low volumes etc....
What should I be prepared to spend on a combo amp for practising at normal volume?

Good question.

I love my Phil Jones Double 4 but it's pricey compared to what you've had.
I'm sure that the Phil Jones Nano Bass (1x4) is excellent too if you play alone, but it's also pricey for what it is.

The Joyo BA30 is a very affordable alternative, and despite its size and price (<$100), it's said to sound like a real bass amp (not a toy) at low volume. That would be my recommendation.

 

[Mastermold]

This 12” combo is 300 watts and cost me $1,500 over a decade ago. Definitely not a toy.

 

[djmay]

For practicing I use Beyerdynamic headphones (dt-990 and dt-770). For rehearsals I use Phil Jones C2 cab with TC Electronic BQ-500.

 

[el murdoque]

It's as much about cost as it is about price.
My practice amp is a Phil Jones Double Four, which is smaller than most of the super cheap 8" combos, yet sounds great - even with a low B.
My favorite small cabinet would be the barefaced one10. It sounds absolutely huge at bedroom volume levels - and you can pair it with any head you like.

Some people will claim that any bigger amp works because they all come with a volume knob - but when I sold my barefaced one10 and bought a Super Compact, I found that the Super Compact is too loud for quiet home playing - it surely does go down to bedroom levels, but there is a point where it "wakes up" and sounds rich and full, and at that point, the chinaware in the cupboard opposite already rattles. The one10 sounded much better at lowest volume levels.

If you're looking for budget solutions, I'd say the not-the-lowest-price-tier 1x10" combos work for four string; for a five, a 12" might be the better choice.

 

[Krakmann]

Salud!

I don't expect tone from a practice amp, just a bit of volume so I can practice the "real amplified dynamics" of playing. I'm somewhat surprised of how I like the tone in my 25 watt Fender Rumble more with each passing day.

 

[BassChap]

I'm sure that the Phil Jones Nano Bass (1x4) is excellent too if you play alone, but it's also pricey for what it is.

I have one and it is great. Wonderful bass tone and good volume to practice. I never use it at max gain and volume.
It also serves as a HiFi Bluetooth speaker for music and podcasts.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I have/had many combos and to avoid the farting of low notes, my bare minimum is my Ampeg RB112.

It’s just enough robust to bring it everywhere with you although an equivalent from GK or Mesa would survive longer.

 

[ardgedee]

What should I be prepared to spend on a combo amp for practising at normal volume?

That depends a great deal on what you consider a normal volume. For me, a small 30 watt practice amp is more than enough. For others it isn't. If I was performing I might want something bigger.

Your profile says you're in Kenya. Do you know what's available there? It can help people recommend things you have access to.

 

[SC Bassboy]

Every amp I played that was advertised as practise amp sucked. They were all cheap around 100$, they all sounded terrible, some had hum from external power supplies, distorting, farting out at low volumes etc....
What should I be prepared to spend on a combo amp for practising at normal volume?

minimum 10" speaker and around 50 watts is the smallest I would try to use in any kind of practice setting. My little Acoustic B50C is nothing to write home about, but it gets the job done and has always worked. Great little practice amp.

 

[Guitalia]

Like what I would guess would be the majority of bass players, I've never used an amp to practice. But I gradually downsized my amp as I wound down my gigging career and ended with what many would consider a practice setup: a Carvin MB10 Microbass 1 x 10 combo amp. 200 watts RMS,, 250 watts with one of my Rocktron 1 x 12 extension speakers. Any gig where that would be insufficient, I'd be DI'ing into the PA anyway.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

I have had practice amps in the past and found them to be very disappointing, so I simply plug headphones into my Rumble 500 for practice. One amp for all purposes. Works well for me.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

My son played a Rumble 30 in his high school Jazz band with drums and horns in church sized auditoriums with no lack of volume, and I think its a 1x8, plenty loud enough for bedroom practice, so by no means a toy. You can spend a lot more for some pretty minimal gains. More power than you or your neighbors can stand to listen to in your house isn't necessarily a good thing, but a Rumble 40 would give you a bit thicker tone.

 

[Rich-Cincy Kid]

It's as much about cost as it is about price.
My practice amp is a Phil Jones Double Four, which is smaller than most of the super cheap 8" combos, yet sounds great - even with a low B.
My favorite small cabinet would be the barefaced one10. It sounds absolutely huge at bedroom volume levels - and you can pair it with any head you like.

Some people will claim that any bigger amp works because they all come with a volume knob - but when I sold my barefaced one10 and bought a Super Compact, I found that the Super Compact is too loud for quiet home playing - it surely does go down to bedroom levels, but there is a point where it "wakes up" and sounds rich and full, and at that point, the chinaware in the cupboard opposite already rattles. The one10 sounded much better at lowest volume levels.

If you're looking for budget solutions, I'd say the not-the-lowest-price-tier 1x10" combos work for four string; for a five, a 12" might be the better choice.

I have both the phil jones double four and the single four. For practicing in our condo, I almost always use my PJB single four , as it also has bluetooth (run IrealPro through it). I purchased it from Pro Audio for $275 brand new.

Well, that’s my 2 cents worth…….

 

[Nebadon2000]

Your profile says you're in Kenya. Do you know what's available there? It can help people recommend things you have access to.

There have been a rash of post from out of US some from Timbuktu

They almost all never mention that in Original Post(many not obvious in profile)

Then after members spend the time to read and offer their thoughts, opinions and recommendations about a day or so later OP post I live in (fill in blank) and don't have access to any of your recommendations

 

[el murdoque]

I have both the phil jones double four and the single four. For practicing in our condo, I almost always use my PJB single four , as it also has bluetooth (run IrealPro through it). I purchased it from Pro Audio for $275 brand new.

Well, that’s my 2 cents worth…….

How would you compare those two? Is the single driver model endowed with the same rich sound, only less volume on tap?

 

[gtirard]

 

[KenSmithFan]

Hmmm, a cheap am doesn’t sound good. Who knew?

 

[TheDuff]

Salud!

I don't expect tone from a practice amp, just a bit of volume so I can practice the "real amplified dynamics" of playing. I'm somewhat surprised of how I like the tone in my 25 watt Fender Rumble more with each passing day.

My Rocket Bass 10” 50 watt combo has good tone but not much performance at high volume.

Not much headroom when pushing the volume, bass, or playing the bass with more force going directly into the strings with increasing efficiency.

The more fluent player delivers more effective energy directly into the string. Less or no player noise. Therefore the extra energy causes the speaker to flub out even at lower volume if playing into the strings with greater effective energy. Hard playing even at lower volume can cause clipping of the speaker protection.

It seems that a strong player needs a stronger amp or will need to play more gently when using smaller bass combos like my RB110.

My RB112 does not clip out under hard playing at any volume and this is the better amp overall for home use by a rocker, in my opinion.

Because the RB112 is a much stouter amp. It can handle higher volume playing and fast forceful staccato playing without flubbing out or clipping. The RB110 flubs and clips under forceful delivery of energy to the strings combined with fast playing. Anything involving strong input energy bursts.

Moving from a 50 watt combo to a 100 watt combo (rms) is probably a good dividing line between a strong practice amp and a bass amp that might not be able to perform without problems under forceful intense fast playing or invigorated practice without clipping and cutting out.

A 100 watt rms combo amp is most likely going to be able to handle most practice skills for even advanced players and should be good for most players in general as a practice tool. In my experience.