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New Bass Player - Practice Amp Advice Requested
- Thread starter mvekob
- Start date
looks like the v3 rumble 40w with xlr would be a good starting point. still look at getting an ampeg ba108 (not v2) though, it is a nice little amp. GC should still have some to test drive.
I'm with Bulldog. The Tascam is a great device. I have one. Great for silent practice and learning songs from CD's
+1 on what jefff100 said about Jersey Guitar and Bass. I'm halfway across the country from them but when I found myself in NJ once I walked over 3 miles to check this place out. (Walking 3 miles .. no big deal out west where I am, BIG deal in NJ) .. and it was worth every step.
Tiny shop but has plenty of bass gear, new and used, and basses too
Loved the place .. nice folks, lots of nice gear. If you are anywhere close (and if you are in NJ, you are close) you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Website usually shows what they have, or call.
Tiny shop but has plenty of bass gear, new and used, and basses too
Loved the place .. nice folks, lots of nice gear. If you are anywhere close (and if you are in NJ, you are close) you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Website usually shows what they have, or call.
buy used on craigslist. You should be able to find at least a 30 watt amp for less than $70. Make sure you buy a bass amp though, you don't want to blow out a guitar amp.
I had to sell my Café Walter. It hurt to do that. Add good closed headphones. You'll hear every little flaw in your bass and your technique. Merciless.
Loving a lot of these suggestions, I am thinking I perhaps need to really scout the used market. I would love a Fender Rumble as I am not looking to ever really gig and it would really only ever be used for in my room by myself. When I jam it's just with my brother and 2-4 friends i've known since grade school. It's very casual and the need for this purchase to ever "gig" is nonexistent. The idea of a 25-50W amp though used under 100 would be ideal. Is there a gem of a brand perhaps that I should consider for value/quality ratio being reasonable for person of a more modest budget.
I do see though a small 10W amp on craigs list used for 20 bucks a town over, perhaps I purchase that as a little hold me over so I can watch and make the right purchase without the feeling of a rush. I really dislike the iRig as it's just literally all guitar effects and amps on garageband it seems.
I do see though a small 10W amp on craigs list used for 20 bucks a town over, perhaps I purchase that as a little hold me over so I can watch and make the right purchase without the feeling of a rush. I really dislike the iRig as it's just literally all guitar effects and amps on garageband it seems.
I wouldn't over think it. 79 or 40 dollars, whatever. A good little low dollar practice amp with a headphone jack will be a great investment. I dislike the effects as well. Then if you need an amp to play shows with, spend some real money. I have some pretty big bucks into my gig rig, but still use a little cheap amp to practice with after all these years. Personally I've always like those little Rumbles, I don't know about the rest.
Yup.. another vote for 'other' and I definitely recommend going USED on your local CraigsList or similar. You really don't need much at all to practice... I've used those little squier guitar amps with no problem. I don't expect much out of it, and it delivers!
I use one every night even though I have a 'practice amp' and a nice 'real' stack as well. I can watch TV a little with the wife and not disturb her.
I actually have two of these CD models, the first with corroded batteries stuck in it. Bought an eBay back up just in case one failed.
I owned and used for practice the Fender Rumble 15 combo when I lived in my apartment about three years ago. It worked good for that and actually got pretty loud too. Limited tone controls but for generic practice it worked. Bought it used for $40 I believe it was.
I have an Acoustic B15 and LOVE the tone. It's a little on the hi-fi side, but in a corner, I can still rattle the windows. I didn't know a 1x8 could thump like that.
I also agree with going used. Just today (in my town) on CL, there are (under $200)...
Ampeg B3 ($200)
Rumble 100 ($150)
Crate DX212 ($100)
And cheap practice amps in EVERY pawnshop in town
Rumble 15 ($40)
Acoustic B15 ($40)
Ampeg B108 ($50)
Get thee hence to a Guitar Center for the Deal of the Century! http://www.talkbass.com/threads/lets-get-ready-to-rumble.1079155/ 
I own this rig, and even used it's quite a bit more money. For someone just dipping their toes in, a full-on gig-rig is a tough purchase.
I think there's a lot of combo amps that will get him there for less money, or if he doesn't care about portability, there are tons of head/cabinet combinations that cost a lot less.
This is a great deal, and this a much better compromise than the low powered practice amps, IMHO.Get thee hence to a Guitar Center for the Deal of the Century! http://www.talkbass.com/threads/lets-get-ready-to-rumble.1079155/
Headphones or even a 25w rig is sufficient for practice, but as soon as you mentioned jamming with friends...
+1 for a giggable (coffee-house) rig.
What is the instrumentation of the other jammers? What size is the jam space? You probably need a 100w-200w head w/ 1x10" cab if there's any e-guitar or drums involved.
The Rumble deal would be great for you, if the sale is still on and supplies are available.
I started off with a giggable rig and didn't (and for the most part still don't) see the point of a teensy-weensy polka dot sounding low wattage practice amp; later I wound up with a practice amp because a gig required it: battery-powered Roland MicroBass Cube RX. It's fun, can keep up with an acoustic guitar and a fiddle in some situations (such as the aforementioned gig requiring it).
What's good for myself and others may differ from your exact needs. Good luck finding what's right for you.
Look on Craigslist. Buy used like so many here have suggested. Take your time. If you find a Fender Bassman 25 combo, snap it right up! I paid $45 for one used. Doesn't sound like a practice amp (thin and struggling). Sound full and thick. Small combo about 30 Lbs. I use mine to gig with regularly in a jazz trio.. Its THE one you want.
Here's some thoughts. They are in no particular order.
A bigger speaker is better than a more powerful amp. I'd rather have a 50 watt amp with a 12 or 15 inch speaker than a 300 watt amp with a 8 or 10 inch speaker.
I have a several large, heavy cabs that I run with big, powerful amps. They are great for jamming with friends or on stage. What do I use at home? A Vox Bass Amplug ($50 retail, cheaper on sale) into a decent pair of headphones. It's easier and lighter than even a small combo, bothers no one when you're playing, and you can use it outside, at the beach, wherever. Vox is just one brand, any headphone amp or one of those Tascam bass trainers would also work.
If you're going to buy a practice amp, but it used. Check your local Craigslist, check http://www.searchtempest.com/, check ebay for local sales.
If you can't but it used as mentioned above, check Link Removed and http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedGear/index.cfm. Yes, used gear from Sam Ash or Guitar Center will be more expensive than used local. But it will also be cheaper than new, come with a 30 money back return policy, and they will ship it to your local store from anywhere in the country, free, where you can pick it up, try it out, and return it if necessary.
A bigger speaker is better than a more powerful amp. I'd rather have a 50 watt amp with a 12 or 15 inch speaker than a 300 watt amp with a 8 or 10 inch speaker.
I have a several large, heavy cabs that I run with big, powerful amps. They are great for jamming with friends or on stage. What do I use at home? A Vox Bass Amplug ($50 retail, cheaper on sale) into a decent pair of headphones. It's easier and lighter than even a small combo, bothers no one when you're playing, and you can use it outside, at the beach, wherever. Vox is just one brand, any headphone amp or one of those Tascam bass trainers would also work.
If you're going to buy a practice amp, but it used. Check your local Craigslist, check http://www.searchtempest.com/, check ebay for local sales.
If you can't but it used as mentioned above, check Link Removed and http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedGear/index.cfm. Yes, used gear from Sam Ash or Guitar Center will be more expensive than used local. But it will also be cheaper than new, come with a 30 money back return policy, and they will ship it to your local store from anywhere in the country, free, where you can pick it up, try it out, and return it if necessary.
