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Looking for a really good practice amp

C

Catlord

Jan 18, 2009
4
0
New Jersey, USA
#1
First post here on TalkBass.. Heya! I've been a drummer now for 16 years and recently felt a very strong urge to also learn how to play bass. Bass has been my rhythm counterpart for a very long time now, and I felt it was necessary for me to learn it in order to advance my musicianship. A few weeks ago I bought myself a Fender Victor Bailey Jazz.

Now that I'm starting to take bass lessons, I'm looking to buy a very good practice combo amp for under $1000. It doesn't have to be loud- tone quality is what I'm looking for. The most important consideration is that I need an amp that I can also use with headphones for silent practice.

I've been browsing the forums, and I have heard brands like MarkBass, Mesa Boogie and Gallien-Krueger as some of the better amp makers. However, when I go to their sites to look at products, they really don't mention the ability to switch over to a headphone output.

So I decided to tap into the vast knowledge of TalkBass, as you have a lot of product knowledge from a personal standpoint. Please give me some earnest recommendations, thanks!
 
#5
Thanks! I'll research each amp that people mention. The Roland Cube looks pretty nice- I just watched two videos that demonstrate the features of the Cube. I also used a variety of Roland's electronic drum products through the years, so I can vouch for their technological craftsmanship. Please keep the recommendations coming!
 
#7
I would recommend checking out the MiniMark. I was amazed at the tone that comes out of these. It does not have a lot of bells and whistles but it does have a headphone jack and an aux input. Also you can hook up an external speaker to bump the wattage from 150W to 250W.

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#9
Catlord said:
Now that I'm starting to take bass lessons, I'm looking to buy a very good practice combo amp for under $1000. It doesn't have to be loud- tone quality is what I'm looking for. The most important consideration is that I need an amp that I can also use with headphones for silent practice.
Click to expand...

Welcome to TB, we have a lot of fun around here a good group of guys. You know Cat, you've tossed a budget out there of under $1000 but for just $150 more than that you could have an Acoustic B600H and B810 cab from GC. Sure its not just a practice amp but one with really good tone for the price and enough power to play out in almost any situation.

Headphones is just a little trick after the fact a $30 headphone amp.

BOB
 
#10
I like my Hartke Kickback 10" (120W). I can carry it in one hand, with a bass in the other, and cables in a backpack - one trip from the car to rehersal room. Has headphone out (and a DI out so you can use it as a monitor/DI package). Loud enough for practicing with a drummer.

I'd be tempted to check out the 12" though...
 
#13
bassman1987 said:
Ampeg has some pretty solid combos in the 100-200 watt range that sell for $400-$600.
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Ampeg is a name that I've heard a lot of, especially when it comes to vintage bass amps. From browsing these forums, it seems that the Ampeg is to bass amps is what Marshall is to guitar amps. Like guitar amps, lots of people herald technological progress to the point of recommending alternatives like MarkBass over such traditional choices. What is your opinion?
 
#14
I've been happy with my Line 6 Studio 110 for with-the-band practice purposes. I like that it's pretty full-featured (75W, optical compressor, DI, amp modeling) in one cubic foot and 24 lbs. It has a line-in as well as a headphone out. I bought mine for $250 new.
 
#17
My favorite way to practice is with my Cafe Walter headphone amp and AKG studio 'phones. Instrument input is mono 1/4" plus it has a stereo input for audio in from any audio source and you can adjust both volumes to match perfectly. Even runs on a battery.
 
#18
I recently picked up a Traynor Dynabass 50 (DB50), and am pleased with it. 50 watts, 1 - 10" speaker, 18 pounds. About $200 new.

There is also an DB100 with 100 watts, 1 - 15" speaker, 28 pounds, and more features, for not a lot more money. About $275.
 
#20
Best small amp combo on the market in my opinion is the Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout.

Buy used and you'll spend under a grand.

Other amps are some of the Markbass combos I've tried though I don't like their speaker enclosures.

Roland makes some good ones and I really like my Cube 30.
 

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