New bassist looking for a good practice amp.

[Moofknock]

I just got the Acoustic B20 It is a great practice amp! 20 Watt - 12 inch speaker!

 

[Poetic Maggot]

The Ampeg looks really, really nice! Cheers.

 

[GladToBeBack]

Have you listened to the Peavey TKO or TNT 115? they're decent. I've also heard an SWR Working Man and it sounded nice.

 

[JimmyM]

in the cheap range, it's tough to beat the ba115. i haven't heard anything as cheap that beats it. and a 115 or a 210 is about as small as you would want to go for gigs and jams. i've tried going smaller, even with very nice stuff, and i just couldn't deal with it. but you can gig with a 115 and 100w. won't be the loudest guy in the room but you can hang as long as you don't go nuts with volume. a practice amp is cool to have, but it's ultimately not going to satisfy. there are some other very good amps that have been mentioned in this thread as well. if you can find a deal on one that you like, get it. but i'd at least get 100w and a 115 or 210.

 

[Poetic Maggot]

Thanks again all The Peavey has sooo many buttons and knobs seems really daunting. And I think the light-up logo is a bit over-kill. And JimmyM, thanks! There was a guy here with a ba112. Still looking for a 115 :\

 

[JimmyM]

ba112 is a fantastic amp for what it is. still, i'd feel a little less confident with it on a gig as i would the ba115.

 

[WoodyG3]

Just some random ideas: A used Hartke Kickback 12 would be a nice choice if you can find one. I like the parametric mids on that amp. I've played the Acoustic combos at Guitar Center, and while they certainly have a specific tone that you may or may not dig, they are worth a look. Some of the little GK combo amps have seemed nice to me in the past, so that's another thing you might keep an eye out for.

Try lots of stuff, if you can. Amps are a pretty personal choice.

 

[degroove]

If you can save $300, you can get a light 1X12 Gallien Kreuger combo with 200 watts. Musiciansfriend is selling them for $300. This amp would be solid for small gigs and rehearsal. If you get this combo, you will be set and not have to find a used amp. It should not take too long to save $100 more bucks.

 

[ebonalley]

I just got the Acoustic B20 It is a great practice amp! 20 Watt - 12 inch speaker!

+1, Just picked one up for $95 on craigslist. 100% adequate for practice and would suffice for a small coffee house kind of gig.

 

[melsean824]

Hey Poetic... I'm not sure what all everyone else has suggested so far, but I have a 10watt Acoustic practice and a 200watt GK MB-200 head with cabinet. I LOVE the warmth of that lil 10watt Acoustic amp. Acoustic is Guitar Center and Musician's Friend in house brand. I paid like $129 for mine, and that was with a 2 yr warranty for full replacement if something went wrong. The nice thing about it, when I do small intimate venues, the 10watt is usually mic'ed as well and it sounds SO good. I never thought I's say this, but I am seriously thinking about selling my GK gear and switching over to Acoustic. Sven from The Black Crows plays Acoustic as well. Check it out and stop by your local Guitar Center to test one out!

 

[Poetic Maggot]

Many thanks once again I definitely shall take a look at those amps. I am planning on going down to the local Guitar Center to try some out but can't do it yet because I'm sick

But wow, definitely something to look forward to! The Acoustic B20 looks like a very fine amp! Thanks!!

 

[jazzyitalian]

The BA115 is a great amp. But it's maybe too good and too large for practicing. I mean those will work in a small venue live. But if you are living in smaller spaces or are in an apartment where too much noise is frowned upon, the 35 W Crate or Orange amp will fit the bill.

Both are under $150 and travel easy to places that might not be so accommodating on space. I take my Crate to the cabin and we have a nice little porch jam. Perfect....

 

[Rob Martinez]

The Ampeg BA112 is a great amp. I use mine for practice and gigs all the time.

 

[vanessamonster]

A little 10 or 15 watt is fine for starting out. Before spending a lot of money on a bigger amp, play for a while, and figure out what sound you want to go for. When I practice, I don't want the whole neighborhood to hear my mistakes, or hear me playing the same thing over and over. I currently have an Ibanez practice amp (10 watts) I picked up used for $25 recently. It's pretty simple, and sounds very clean, which is what I like. If you want a bigger practice amp, I might suggest finding a used Crate BX50 or BX30.

 

[JimmyM]

A little 10 or 15 watt is fine for starting out. Before spending a lot of money on a bigger amp, play for a while, and figure out what sound you want to go for. When I practice, I don't want the whole neighborhood to hear my mistakes, or hear me playing the same thing over and over.

i can understand that type of thinking, vanessa. but all these bigger amps do come with a volume knob