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How much should a beginner spend on an amp?

Y

ysk

Guest
Oct 13, 2014
13
3
30
Toronto, Canada
#1
Hi,

I've been playing guitar for about 6 or 7 years now, and I've been losing interest in it. I just don't like the way guitars naturally sound, as much as I love the way the bass sounds. But, what I want to talk about now is this: is 500 too much to spend on an amp, as a beginner? I can spend like 300-500 on the bass, so the total budget is around 1000.

Thanks
 
#3
+1 for Munji's post.

Also, you can stretch your money by buying used. I've bought used here on talkbass, craigslist, and ebay with mostly good results. And a lot of folks are moving to lightweight equipment freeing up some mighty fine heavier rigs.

Have fun!

=wr=
 
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#5
It's your money, you decide how much you want to spend.

As far as any advice beyond that, I guess it depends on what the amp is for. If it's just for practicing in your bedroom, you can get a perfectly adequate little practice amp for under $200. If you'll be playing in a band or gigging out, yeah, you probably should expect to spend in the $500-700 range at least. But then for all I know you may want the full experience of an Ampeg tube head through an 8x10 in your basement just because you want it. Up to you.
 
#7
There is nothing more useless than a practice amp that can't be heard at a gig. I'm lucky I bought a proper puny practice amp, leaving no remorse when it came time to get a real rig, but the couple of times I brought what I had left no skin on my fingertips.
 
#11
ysk said:
I've always loved that huge, deep sound one can get from four strings...
Click to expand...

Ahhh BUT!! Five strings are better again and six? Holy Moly!! :)

Buy what you can afford. The better amp you buy the better you'll sound. The better bass you buy you'll find it easier to play and richer sounding.

If you are in North America, take a look at Carvin.com. They produce excellent instrument and amplification at a great price point. My avatar shows my LB76WP which is my favourite fretted bass. I also own an LB76 and an LB76F lined fretless.
 
#12
BassmanPaul said:
Ahhh BUT!! Five strings are better again and six? Holy Moly!! :)

Buy what you can afford. The better amp you buy the better you'll sound. The better bass you buy you'll find it easier to play and richer sounding.

If you are in North America, take a look at Carvin.com. They produce excellent instrument and amplification at a great price point. My avatar shows my LB76WP which is my favourite fretted bass. I also own an LB76 and an LB76F lined fretless.
Click to expand...

The only way I would want a 6 string is if it was tuned F#, B, E, A, D, G. :woot:
 
#17
I'd say a reasonably nice used bass & gig-worthy amp (~ 300 watts @ 4 ohms)/cab (115, 210, maybe 212 or 410) would run in the $600 neighborhood.

If you want to go combo, you can pick up a spankin' new powerful Genz Benz Contour 115 for $359 shipped. Very, very good value. And you can add another 8-ohm 115 if you need/want at some point to give yourself a 215 rig.
 
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