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First combo to play only at home

#21
I will add, having read the thread 'backwards' that I respectfully don't agree on the 'cheap combos' :
-The sound of small speakers has improved.
-Not all are equal.
This video will show you that at equal volume/size not all are equal :
If you can stretch to about 150€ used you have many more options including a Fender Rumble 40W (159€) or the Roland microbe RX (130€).
 
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#22
I have a new style Fender Rumble 40, and an older generation Rumble 15. To be honest, the old Rumble 15 surprised me. It's smaller than the 40, but still has good low frequency extension, and sounds decent. Considering that they are always for sale used for $50-$75, I think they're a great option. I wouldn't worry about buying used. Solid state amps rarely fail, so if it works when you buy it, it'll work forever.
 
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#23
Jim85IROC said:
I have a new style Fender Rumble 40, and an older generation Rumble 15. To be honest, the old Rumble 15 surprised me. It's smaller than the 40, but still has good low frequency extension, and sounds decent. Considering that they are always for sale used for $50-$75, I think they're a great option. I wouldn't worry about buying used. Solid state amps rarely fail, so if it works when you buy it, it'll work forever.
Click to expand...

The Rumble 15 really does sound good. When I got married and had kids, and had to switch from my Fender Super Reverb to little 8” combos. I tried a bunch, and even the ones that sounded good made my guitars sound like toys. The first thing I thought when I plugged a bass into the little Rumble was that it sounded like a bass.
 
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#25
welcome to TB Fernando!.so many options out there, especially the used market..But i also vote for the Vox headphone amp and decent headphones if your jamming in your apt. with the kids sleeping..But here's a decent link of some small combo reviews, they are a bit pricey new, but sure you can find them used....Good luck
 
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#26
I've spent an awful lot of time at the Old Town School in Chicago playing through Fender Rumbles of various sizes. I've spent an awful lot of time at home playing through and Ampeg BA-110 and a BA-108. My recommendation is get an Ampeg. I can never quite get a sound I like out of a Rumble. I can never get sound I don't like out of an Ampeg. It's just my opinion, of course, but as a guy who plays Fender guitars a lot, Fender guitar amps a lot, and Fender basses 95% of the time, I just don't think Fender has ever quite made bass amps that sound as good as their guitar amps. There's just something missing in their sound, to my ear.
 
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#29
Hi guys, thanks a lot for all the advices and for making me feel welcome.
I do have a budget problem: in the past 2 months I bought 2 basses (an acoustic Fender and a short scale Squier Jaguar) and I want to keep my marriage, ok? :)
So the deal is this: I’m a beginner and I don’t have “my” sound; I don’t not need volume sound as I live in an apartment, but I want to ear it thru the speaker also because I’m taking online lessons and I need to ear both the class and what I’m doing (an amp with only headphones isn’t enough).
I just eared about Ampeg brand and a brand new BA108 costs 130€ against 90€ of a Fender Rumble 15 witch is almost 40% more; is it 40% better?

In second had I probably get less options than anyone in the States or the UK but in the used market around Lisbon I find an old looking Peavey 20W Microbass for 50€ (looks like an old Peavey logo).
For 60€ I can get an old generation Fender Rumble 15, a Fame 30B, an old Laney Linebacker 30 and a Stagg 60 BA.
For 90€ I can get a new Rumble 15 so I wonder if makes sense to save 30€ and get an used less known brand.
Above that (and above my budget) I could try the mentioned new Ampeg BA 108 but there’s also a Roland Cube 30W for 125€ and a Marshall MB30 for 150€.

A could try to make an offer on one of those to see if they are available to negotiate for a lower price but are they that much better to be worth more 50% investment?
I think I already read reviews in here about all these models and if money wasn’t a problem, I know what I would get but for a beginner who will only play in his living room, does it make that much of a difference or am I just being silly?
 
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#30
Fernando Caeiro said:
Peavey 20W Microbass for 50€ (looks like an old Peavey logo).
For 60€ I can get an old generation Fender Rumble 15,
Click to expand...
First choice Peavey, second choice, Rumble. I wouldn’t even look at those other used amps you mentioned.

My personal preference is the Ampeg BA108, but if the budget is giving you a headache, the Rumble 15 will get the job done.
 
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