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Good sounding practice amp

Sirev7

Sirev7

Guest
Apr 25, 2016
17
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35
#1
Hi guys 1st post here,

I'm looking for a practice amp that sounds a bit more substantial than my current Ashdown tourbus 10 which hums and I think sounds a bit tinny. I don't need a 1000 watt monster as I'll be playing exclusively in the house at a lowish volume. I just want something that sounds better, as in "bassier" for lack of a better term. Currently I've been looking at the Warwick BC20 and Gallien Krueger MB108. If anyone has any recommendations or thoughts on these amps I'd be keen to hear them. I'll be playing my Sire Marcus Miller V7 through the amp.
 
#4
I use M-Audio AV-40's.... a few different input options, and a nice full range output. Use them for your pre-recorded music, bass, video games, TV, computer..... you aren't tearing down walls with them, but certainly loud enough for the house. Dual 1/4" and RCA input, 1/8" in and out on front, bass boost... All inputs will work simultaneously.
 
#5
basscooker said:
I use M-Audio AV-40's.... a few different input options, and a nice full range output. Use them for your pre-recorded music, bass, video games, TV, computer..... you aren't tearing down walls with them, but certainly loud enough for the house. Dual 1/4" and RCA input, 1/8" in and out on front, bass boost... All inputs will work simultaneously.
Click to expand...

Would practising through studio monitors not damage them? Sorry if that's a silly question. What sort of sound do you get through them? I kind of like the idea because I guess I could also use them for listening to music and also they'd be a good deal lighter than a dedicated bass amp
 
#6
Well, lighter or easier to carry around? Neither, actually; compared to something like the Rumble linked above. They're MDF, and don't have handles; plus there are two. They are meant for semi-to-permanent install. I like them and recommend them because they have so many uses.

Studio monitors' drivers are a bit more robust than your regular stereo speakers. Within reason, there's not too much of a concern for the damage you can do to non-pro audio full range speakers with live instruments. They are designed to take the uncompressed signals like pro woofers (they're for monitoring the signal going into the console or out of).

As far as the tone, they're going to give you what you put into them... it's their job to be as uncolored as possible. I do use the bass boost on mine (the only tone control, BTW).

My $0.02
 
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#7
basscooker said:
Well, lighter or easier to carry around? Neither, actually; compared to something like the Rumble linked above. They're MDF, and don't have handles; plus there are two. They are meant for semi-to-permanent install. I like them and recommend them because they have so many uses.

Studio monitors' drivers are a bit more robust than your regular stereo speakers. Within reason, there's not too much of a concern for the damage you can do to non-pro audio full range speakers with live instruments. They are designed to take the uncompressed signals like pro woofers (they're for monitoring the signal going into the console or out of).

As far as the tone, they're going to give you what you put into them... it's their job to be as uncolored as possible. I do use the bass boost on mine (the only tone control, BTW).

My $0.02
Click to expand...

Cheers dude. I get that their studio monitors. How would you rate the sound quality out of them, obviously their flat and quite neutral. But subjectively do you think they "sound good"? If I was going to get them I'd be setting them up in my lounge where I used to have my little hi-fi. Since there powered i guess I wouldn't need an amp for them. Do you do much in the way of listening to music on them?
 
#8
with a conventional bass amp, i'd aim for at least one ten inch speaker, better a twelve if you're playing a five string/ low B.

I use a barefaced one10 cabat home which is small and super light, but has a very rich sound and massive bottom end for it's size.
I mostly play a Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 (18w guitar tube head), or Aguilar TH500 into it, and i really love what i get out of it.
This setup does not come cheap, especially when it's mainly for practice - but i practice more than i actually play, and i want a cool tone in my home.
With the TH on top, it's a one hand carry and lighter than my pedalboard bag.
 
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#9
Oh, yeah I love them for everything.... I use them for my phone when I just want to listen to music, I use them for the TV (and video games), and of course play through them along with prerecorded music. I think they sound great. Plus like you said, they're powered, so no need for any more than the phone charger and an outlet for the speakers. They're in my bedroom, so space is at a premium, and "amps" have been banned.... they just look like regular speakers, so win-win.
 
#11
Sirev7 said:
Hi guys 1st post here,

I'm looking for a practice amp that sounds a bit more substantial than my current Ashdown tourbus 10 which hums and I think sounds a bit tinny. I don't need a 1000 watt monster as I'll be playing exclusively in the house at a lowish volume. I just want something that sounds better, as in "bassier" for lack of a better term. Currently I've been looking at the Warwick BC20 and Gallien Krueger MB108. If anyone has any recommendations or thoughts on these amps I'd be keen to hear them. I'll be playing my Sire Marcus Miller V7 through the amp.
Click to expand...

I too have a Sire V7, and it really sounds great through a Barefaced One10 (which el murdoque has recommended) and a GK MB200 head for practice and smaller gigs. A One 10 will run about $499 and an MB200 will be about $240; not cheap as a package but this would certainly double for practice and modest sized gigs where you don't have a crazy loud drummer; and it will sound genuinely awesome. And the whole thing will weigh 17 pounds. Right now I have my One10 pole-mounted (extra $50 option for the tophat) on a short stand with the MB200 on top, enjoying that arrangement a lot for practice and for upright bass gigs.
 
#13
Thanks for all the replies so far guys. I should have mentioned I live in the UK. So not all the stuff you guys recommend is easily available like the barefaced and Carvin stuff. I guess my budget would be around £300 so around $440. If I could get a lightweight head + amp for that it would be great but otherwise I guess I'd be limited to combos
 
#17
Sirev7 said:
My mistake the One10 looks pretty nifty specwise as well as being relatively compact and light. I don't suppose there are any music shops in Manchester that stock them are there?
Click to expand...

We mostly sell direct but one of our three dealers is in the Manchester vicinity, The Great British Bass Lounge.
 
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#19
If you can afford it, I would go with a higher powered amp even for at home. Since that is your main playing situation I assume you want to sound as good as you can. Note that lower frequencies take tons of power to reproduce and, as a result, I think that a lot of lower power amps incorporate a high pass filter so that they don't use all their energy on the really deep frequencies that you feel as much as hear (like 50-60 hz and below).

I use 500 watt amps for practice, not because I need to be that loud but because I think the tone is much better. As a side benefit, the same amps can be used for gigs. No need for separate practice and gigging amps.

I personally like Markbass but have also used some GK stuff. One thing to know on GK is that when the tone controls are set flat there is a mid scoop. Crank both mid controls to around 2 o'clock to get a flat tone that is comparable to Markbass or other neutral voiced amps.
 
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#20
I use a MarkBass Mini CMD 121P and it is pretty awesome.

So awesome I bought a MarkBass New York 121 cabinet and I use it for smalls gigs also.

I know it has 400w (500 with the added cab), but it is small, light and compact and does fit the criteria of a 'practice' amp. Plus MarkBass is too awesome.
 

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