Looking for a relatively quiet, higher quality amp

[micahwc]

I'm looking for an amp that is lower wattage and volume, but is higher quality than the typical low watt beginner offerings from most companies. I'm thinking around 150 watts or less. I specifically don't need or want loud stage volume. Basically something I can use for indoor rehearsal (by myself, sans drummer or guitar player) but higher quality than the typical 50 watt amp sold for beginning bassists.

A DI is a plus.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

 

[abarson]

I'm not sure what "higher quality" means to you.
Just about any amp in the > 100 watts realm is going to be a step up from a beginner's amp, and it's going to have a DI.
That leaves a huge open field of possibilities.

 

[Killing Floor]

PJB.
Thread can basically be closed now.

 

[Geri O]

LOL.

I'll suggest the Mesa Subway D350.

 

[micahwc]

PJB.
Thread can basically be closed now.

I haven’t looked into those before; honestly they seem to be about perfectly what I’m looking for.

 

[el murdoque]

PJB.
Thread can basically be closed now.

I haven’t looked into those before; honestly they seem to be about perfectly what I’m looking for.

You are both correct.

 

[Marko 1]

I'm looking for an amp that is lower wattage and volume, but is higher quality than the typical low watt beginner offerings from most companies. I'm thinking around 150 watts or less. I specifically don't need or want loud stage volume. Basically something I can use for indoor rehearsal (by myself, sans drummer or guitar player) but higher quality than the typical 50 watt amp sold for beginning bassists.

A DI is a plus.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

All quality amps have volume knobs that can be turned down.

 

[Killing Floor]

I haven’t looked into those before; honestly they seem to be about perfectly what I’m looking for.

Yep. That’s their whole thing. They engineer bass amps to perform and sound like full sized rigs in a very small scale and lower top end volume. They make some that are definitely enough to gig with but those mini amps are their sweet spot. I have a Double Four and it’s plenty to jam with a guitarist and a drummer with self control. But it’s not enough to match dimed guitar amps of course. They make a handful of great options. Good luck. There’s no best.

 

[micahwc]

All quality amps have volume knobs that can be turned down.

My last amp was a Rumble 500 head and two 15" rumble cabs. I really got tired of never having the volume above 1.

 

[Marko 1]

My last amp was a Rumble 500 head and two 15" rumble cabs. I really got tired of never having the volume above 1.

Sounds positively exhausting.

 

[Ggaa]

Rumble 200 head. Ran 1 or 2 GK 115s, covered small indoor gigs, lots of outdoor stuff.

 

[ole Jason]

Pretty much anything on the market will work for this, just pick something and get to playing. There isn't really a market for low wattage boutique bass amps because they serve very little practical purpose.

 

[lucas303]

I'm not sure what "higher quality" means to you.
Just about any amp in the > 100 watts realm is going to be a step up from a beginner's amp, and it's going to have a DI.
That leaves a huge open field of possibilities.

The only thing is that at lower volumes fan sound becomes more noticeable, so a higher power amp may not be suited for consistently low volumes if (and that's a big "if" that certainly doesn't apply to ALL high power amps) the fan sound becomes distracting.

 

[stigbeve]

Fender ACB 50?

 

[paskisti]

My last amp was a Rumble 500 head and two 15" rumble cabs. I really got tired of never having the volume above 1.

Use only one cab and it will be easier to maintain lower volume levels.

 

[Grinderman]

Sounds positively exhausting.

 

[micahwc]

Use only one cab and it will be easier to maintain lower volume levels.

That's what I ended up doing with it but it was still too loud. I ended up selling it for a few reasons and I don't currently have an amp. I play almost exclusively through IEMs at home right now and I'd like an actual amp.

 

[RGerhart]

If you're looking for something strictly for rehearsal, why not just get an amp with a headphone out and aux-in? Or better yet, get one of the Phil Jones Bighead headphone amps? The PJ Bighead was one of the best investments for me, as I prefer practice with headphones, and this little wonder has pristine audio quality. To this day, I can hear things in songs that I couldn't hear before with the headphone amp. It's a remarkable practicing tool.

 

[micahwc]

If you're looking for something strictly for rehearsal, why not just get an amp with a headphone out and aux-in? Or better yet, get one of the Phil Jones Bighead headphone amps? The PJ Bighead was one of the best investments for me, as I prefer practice with headphones, and this little wonder has pristine audio quality. To this day, I can hear things in songs that I couldn't hear before with the headphone amp. It's a remarkable practicing tool.

I’m currently using IEMs through a Line 6 Helix; I want a small amp so I don’t have to wear the IEMs all the time.

 

[J Wilson]

I saw this and immediately thought of a Demeter preamp and a Crown D150. Shop smart used and sit on a good cabinet, won't get any more quiet or higher fidelity than that. Look for a used Demeter with the optional Jensen transformer XLR out.

Power amps and a lot of rack gear can be very reasonable on the used market, and I'd hold out for very clean examples.