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First bass amp suggestion
- Thread starter Marcin_3005
- Start date
The used market is your friend. It's your really, really good friend.
The Rumble 100 is closest to what you are looking for. If I were in your shoes, that is what I would buy, especially if I can find a used one.
I have successfully rehearsed with a box/drums/guitar/bass rock band with the Rumble 40.
That said I own and normally use the Rumble 500. It’s a bit bulky, but would not be impossible to bring to every rehearsal and gig and bring home to use for practice in between. It also sounded way better in rehearsal than the 40.
A third thing to consider. Pretty sure at least one TB’er gigs with a pair of Rumble 100’s, using the preamp out of one into the power amp in of the other. Pretty sure this is a viable strategy if you get the 100 now and need more volume for gigs later.
I have successfully rehearsed with a box/drums/guitar/bass rock band with the Rumble 40.
That said I own and normally use the Rumble 500. It’s a bit bulky, but would not be impossible to bring to every rehearsal and gig and bring home to use for practice in between. It also sounded way better in rehearsal than the 40.
A third thing to consider. Pretty sure at least one TB’er gigs with a pair of Rumble 100’s, using the preamp out of one into the power amp in of the other. Pretty sure this is a viable strategy if you get the 100 now and need more volume for gigs later.
Figure four times the wattage and twice as many speakers to compete with any given guitar amp...seriously. Think about classic rock...100 watt Marshall stacks (8-12") vs. a 300 watt Ampeg SVT with two cabs (16-10").
I'd suggest something bigger.
'I want to play in a band as soon as possible'
. . . . and . . . .
'I live in an aprtment and it can't be too loud'
. . . . are two trains running in opposite directions.
There's nothing worse than showing up in a band situation with a little bass amp that gets drowned out immediately by the guitar amps. Something big enough to keep up has that knob on the front that says 'Gain' and at home you just keep it turned down as to not disturb your neighbors. Get this backwards, and it just doesn't work.
'I want to play in a band as soon as possible'
. . . . and . . . .
'I live in an aprtment and it can't be too loud'
. . . . are two trains running in opposite directions.
There's nothing worse than showing up in a band situation with a little bass amp that gets drowned out immediately by the guitar amps. Something big enough to keep up has that knob on the front that says 'Gain' and at home you just keep it turned down as to not disturb your neighbors. Get this backwards, and it just doesn't work.
I’m not so sure what your budget is, but a couple things I would suggest to look for is one, a headphone out for playing in your apartment, two, a media input Jack so you can play along with prerecorded material, finally, a Jack for an extension speaker cab for when you need more decibels (get louder).
As others have posted 100 watts is a little light for work with an R&B band. For example I play in a 11 member R&B band with horns, singers and a four piece rhythm section. I’m running about 250 to 400 watts into one or two 210 cabs depending on the size of the venue, and we have FOH support.
Anyway, best wishes for your future!
I'd suggest at least 200 watts and a good 112 or 210. A Rumble is probably a good place as any to start auditioning gear.
Whatever you buy make sure it can handle your loudest requirement, ensure it has an extension cab output socket, so you can expand if you need to.
Will it be too loud? That's what the volume controls are for! My home practice rig is an 800 watt amp and 2 110's. They are quieter than normal conversation level.
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I use my Rumble 200 for practice in my study which is a bedroom. I can turn it down as much as I want or use headphones. It's always been enough to keep up with my band, but we're not a loud punk band. Keyboard, two saxophones, two guitars, bass & drums. Check out the Rumble club. The Rumble 100 gets a lot of love there. And, if you need more power later on, you can buy a second rumble and daisy chain them together.
If your beagles are anything like mine, you need every bit of that 700 watts when they’re awake! Beagles are the best!!
Joe
Either amp will be too loud if you crank it up as loud as it will go. Just keep the volume down and play with headphones if need be and you should be fine. As for being able to play at band volume with a drummer, I would say that you need at least a Rumble 200 but I'm sure someone will tell that they are playing in a some sort of speed metal band with a Rumble 100. It has been my experience that it is better to have too much amp then not enough. You can always turn it down.
Guitar Center Acoustic B200
With headphone jack for silent home practice and aux-in jack.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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The Rumble should have a headphone out. That's about as quiet as it gets, besides not plugging in.
I'd go with at least a 15" combo though. If you plan on playing with others, go for something that will do that job, as well as home practice.
General rule of thumb for a amp that can gig is 300 solidstate watts and/or has a extension speaker output with a suitable di with pre/post EQ switch and ground lift if you can't find one in your budget with 300 watt be sure to atleast get one with a di as atleast then you can plug into a pa
This^^^^^ is good advice. Save until you can get a 500-watt rms (not peak) amp and a 210 cab if you're into separate head and cabs. If you absolutely want a combo, then wait until you can get the Fender Rumble 500. That will put out 300-watts into the 210 speakers and will be good for small and medium venues. When you need to do large venues, then you need to buy the Rumble 210 cab as an extension speaker. Stack them together and you have a 500-watt 410 rig. The extra 8Ω cab will let the amp in the 500 combo produce all 500-watts and will send 250-watts to each cab. You should be good with that until you decide to get an 800-watt set up at which time you need to sell your Rumble 500 combo to get the 800.
Or...you could get a 500 watt head now and get a 210 now, which will put 250 watts or more into an 8Ω cab and get another 210 8Ω cab later.,,or a 410...or a 115...etc., which will drop the ohms load to 4Ω so you can access all 500-watts. Or get the head and then the 410 now so you don't have to wait. I have run into problems bringing a 410 int small venues though. So now I take my 210 in. Nobody looks twice at a bass player bringing in a 210 cab. Eden's TN501 is a really nice Class D 500-watt rms amp that puts out 250-watts into 8 ohms and 500-watts into 4 ohms. Price is around $649.
Coming from Europe too, where I know the majority of gigs are small pub type venues, and as you're looking to use the Amp for practice as well as gigs, I'd say go for a decent combo rather than separates. I've used combo amps for all my gigging career and never had problems. I'd recommend something with at least 100w and a DI out in case you ever play larger gigs. Remember, you only need to be as loud us the acoustic drums, as after that everything will be in the pa anyway. Have a look at Thomann. The Warwick Bc150 looks decent, and the Cort CM150B gets good reviews, both around the same price as the Rumble
Good luck!
Good luck!
With a few exceptions, I played all my pub gigs in Japan with a MM Stingray through an SWR Working Man's 12. Was plenty loud enough in a funk band. 120 watts into a single 12. No PA support.
The exceptions? I used a 25 watt Ampeg BA108 tilted back on a chair as a monitor and DI into the PA.
The exceptions? I used a 25 watt Ampeg BA108 tilted back on a chair as a monitor and DI into the PA.
