hi, brand new here. i've played for about 25 years or so but after some traumatic family stuff, pretty much just gave up and haven't played at all in several years. my son recently got interested in bass and wants to use my stuff but one thing i don't have any more is an amp. i have 2 ampeg 15's and a carvin 410 cab (not used together) but nothing to push them with. i've been out of the game for long enough to need a little direction in what's what these days and really only have $300 - $400 to spend. he really loves mastodon, gojira, the sword and elder. any recommendations or advice would be golden and highly appreciated. it would feel good to rattle the windows around here again...
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in need of a new amp
- Thread starter douglas78
- Start date
You're going to get a lot of opinions. There are separate head and speaker cabinets, and there are combos. You have the speaker cabinets, so you need an amp head. I would recommend going to the nearest mom and pop music store or Guitar Center and try/ hear what they have. In the world of bass heads, there are all solid state, all vacuum tubes, and solid state with one or more tubes in the preamp. Your budget will narrow down the choices. Other resources are on-line stores like Sweetwater Sound and Reverb, which sell new and used equipment. For a son just starting out, it's not going to make a huge difference what you wind up with. The bass heads will basically (pun intended) all sound the same. YouTube has a ton of reviews of everything to further help you. Others will chime in too. Happy hunting. Don't get carried away with the price- it will only lead to diminishing returns.
Warwick Gnome heads are in that price range.
You didn't say whether or not your son is playing in a band, but with your budget, I would start by looking at what's available on FB Marketplace near you and decide if there's anything that's a better value than buying a TC Electronic BQ500 from Sweetwater and a Joyo Double Thruster pedal.
Phil Jones Bass BP 200
Also GK MB200, Peavy mini max along with Warwick Gnome mentioned before
If you want to consider used may open up more choices in your price range
Also GK MB200, Peavy mini max along with Warwick Gnome mentioned before
If you want to consider used may open up more choices in your price range
Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
When my grandson was in the same position, I told him to do some homework, and select a few different amps that he liked. I asked if he wanted any help from me, ,e.g., pointers, resources, how to select gear, etc. I told him I was available to help him test drive amps. I even told him the street prices for each of my amps, so he'd have an idea about cost versus quality.
Then I told him my budget, and made it clear that no matter which amp he selected, or its price, he would have to pay, at minimum, 50%.
He did his homework, narrowed the field, took me with him to play through different amps, saved his half of the payment, and we went together to buy the amp locally. He became very involved and told me, about a year later, that the process we'd gone through together had been one of his favorite adventures with me.
Good luck!
Best solution in my opinion is to buy something used from the TalkBass classifieds. I am assuming that since your cabinets are older, they probably take 1/4" speaker cables rather than Speakon connectors. There are two good deals in the classifieds at the moment:
https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/trace-elliot-elf-micro-head.1684898/
https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/fender-rumble-500h.1676973/
https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/markbass-big-bang-head.1677228/
Any of these would get him going without a big investment on your part. New stuff pops up all the time -
https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/trace-elliot-elf-micro-head.1684898/
https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/fender-rumble-500h.1676973/
https://www.talkbass.com/classifieds/markbass-big-bang-head.1677228/
Any of these would get him going without a big investment on your part. New stuff pops up all the time -
Bugera BV1000M Mosfet (non tube) model. Slightly over $300.
Let me scan the classifieds here and see what I can come up with.
I'd honestly grab a GK 700rbii (or 1001rbii) and have him shake those 2 x115's or the 410.
Power to cost ratio and an amp they can grow with.
if later they need more cab, for $500 could find them a fridge all day.
I'd honestly grab a GK 700rbii (or 1001rbii) and have him shake those 2 x115's or the 410.
Power to cost ratio and an amp they can grow with.
if later they need more cab, for $500 could find them a fridge all day.
My favorite affordable head is the Peavey MiniMax. Lightweight, compact, powerful, and LOUD. My only caveat with it (I have the v.2 version) is that its fan is noisy, but that's only an issue if you want to use the amp to record with. If only used for live playing, the noisy fan is a non-issue.
I considered suggesting this, but I really think there probably needs to be some space in the budget for a couple of pedals, given the bands he likes.
Pedals are easy saves and also wonderful Christmas/ birthday presents. Food for thought.
Used Gallien Krueger 400rb Mark-iv Rackmount Bass Amplifier Head 40015-S000343725
Used Gallien Krueger 400rb Mark-iv Rackmount Bass Amplifier Head Greenfield WI
musicgoround.com
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
1. Used in the classifieds here.
2. Fender Rumble.
3. Peavey Minimax.
In that order.
2. Fender Rumble.
3. Peavey Minimax.
In that order.
And almost always inappropriate to the question being asked. Never fails.
In that price range the used market is where you'll get the most value for your money. FB marketplace can be a crap shoot (dealing with flakes and/or scammers) but if a seller is responsive and doesn't seem like an idiot you're likely to be okay. Used heads are usually pretty affordable.
Looking here in the TB classifieds is also a good bet and your odds of finding gear in good condition and an honest seller are better.
Looking here in the TB classifieds is also a good bet and your odds of finding gear in good condition and an honest seller are better.
What if you sell one of these to raise more funds for the purchase?
