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Newbie Amp Questions! Recommendations?

H

Hydro_Storm

May 9, 2022
8
11
#1
Hey guys, I'm new to bass, just bought my first, and I'm looking for an Amp. I was planning on getting something small at first, like an 8" combo amp, but a guitarist friend of mine said I should get at least a 12" combo amp because the smaller ones aren't good enough to play any really low notes on a bass, so now I'm unsure of what to get exactly. The guy did used to play professionally so I'm sure he knows what he's talking about, but I'm also wondering if he's thinking from a live performance point of view and not from a "I'm just now learning the bass at home" one.

I'd like to get some opinions on the matter, and maybe some suggestions on what amp to get. My budget for an Amp is around $200 - $300. The most "action" this amp will see is a living room jazz session with 2 friends that have fairly low end equipment (Ibanez 10w guitar amp & a Yamaha keyboard circa 1999, courtesy of the local Goodwill), and just me practicing at home. 99% of the time I'll probably just use headphones to practice too, so there's also that.

I'd really appreciate the help, I'd like to start learning how to play this thing and I kinda need to hear it to do that lol
 
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#4
While there might be a few combos (amp + speaker in one unit) with an 8" speaker that will sound passable for bedroom practice, they certainly won't hang when other musicians are added to the mix.
I think it's a waste of money to go too small. I would not go smaller than a 10" speaker and not less than 40 watts. New combos that meet that in your budget would be like:
Fender Rumble 40 1x10 40W Bass Combo Amp
Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-110 1x10 50W Bass Combo Amp
Acoustic B100C 1X12 100W Bass Combo with Tilt-Back Cab

Of course you have more buying power if you go used.
 
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#5
Just remember it's not a marriage. You don't have to live with your choice for the rest of your life.

For a first amp it's probably good to pick something:
Secondhand
Mainstream
Easy to sell again
A common choice in those categories is Fender Rumble series.

I tend to agree with the general opinion that the really small cheap and basic stuff that comes in 'Bass and amp starter sets' is worth avoiding, but at the same time beware of advice on the lines of 'need 500W to play with a drummer'. It's wildly exaggerated. Better advice is not to play with that kind of drummer!
 
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#6
mike buzzetti said:
Fender Rumble 100 V3 100-Watt 1x12" Bass Combo Amp | Reverb
12" 100 watts

Ampeg BA-115 100W 1x15" Bass Combo Amplifier | Reverb

Peavey MAX 100 - Used | Reverb free shipping !!!!
Click to expand...
I agree with this list, except I'd substitute the Ampeg BA-112 for the BA-115. I didn't like the form factor the BA-115, which is basically a cube with a corner chopped off; I didn't think the potential performance advantage was worth the extra bulk. I ended up with a BA-112 and a Rumble when I was looking for amps for exactly the sort of situations you've described, both of which I'm happy with. I didn't spend over $150 for either of them, but I was patient and shopped Craigslist for a couple of months. (Plus, that was pre-inflation dollars. :D) @JimChjones's advice is all good: buy used, avoid the entry level stuff, and remember it isn't a lifetime commitment. A used Rumble 100 could easily be had within your budget, I would think. The third-generation version, the "V3" or "v.3" is the one to get, but I can't tell you what the identifying features are.

Welcome to TB, and to the bass in general, if it hasn't already been said. :bassist:
 
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#7
For Sale - Gallien-Krueger MB210-ii - PRICE DROP

Shopping used with a little more budget opens up some more possibilities.

Where are you located, OP?

That example has some caveats, but generally $300 on the used market is about where things start to open up. The more you can get ABOVE the $300 mark, the easier it is to find the "shipping included" and the more mid-level and up units.


Happy hunting.
 
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#9
These come in 25, 50 and 100w versions w/ 8", 10" and 12" drivers accordingly.
I owned the B25c for a few years and it sounds like a proper bass amp. I was always surprised it sounds as good as it does. It won't keep up with a drummer, but it's very good for practice...and affordable.
I sold mine a while back and ended up missing it. I now have the 50w version ;)

Acoustic B25C 1X8 25W Bass Combo With Tilt-Back Cab
 
#11
Welcome to bass and TalkBass. I think you’ve gotten solid advice and recommendations from everyone starting with the guitar-playing acquaintance right up to now. I would add that if you live in North America and either don’t have trouble moving heavy stuff or don’t expect to move the amp often, you can find a selection of older Peavey combos readily available which should all do the job (if you hold out for one with a headphone jack) well within your budget, with various iterations of the TKO probably fitting the bill best. Some Guitar Center locations suddenly seem to think clunky old TNTs should now sell for $400—I suspect watching them collect dust for months will disabuse them of this notion, but who knows?—but the Microbass (possibly too small and underpowered), Minx, and TKO seem more or less unaffected by the current wild spike in asking prices for used anything. You could find plenty of other good options from the pre-class-D era among other brands as well, but you almost definitely have an old Peavey combo currently looking for a home near you (again, in North America).

To reiterate: go with a known brand, at least 40 watts, at least 10” speaker (some 8” or even 6” models can thump satisfactorily, but most don’t), and remember that you don’t have to keep it forever.

Happy hunting :thumbsup:
 
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#12
Try to get something with a 15" if possible. This gives you a lot of room to do a small gig while letting you move enough air.

Sometimes used bass cabs can be really cheap too. A used 210 and a 100-200 watt head might do the trick.
 
#14
To reiterate some of the stuff that's been said here...

I went to a street festival thing this weekend... there was a Jazz duo... bass and sax, and they were using tracks... but the bassist was playing through a Peavey Max 150 (12" / 150 watt $400 new) and that thing on its own had some serious volume, sounded good, and seemed very rugged. They had some basic PA support (also, Peavey) with a sub, so the sound wasn't 100% amp, but that thing sounded *really* nice. I'd imagine you could find a used one within your budget, and if not, a Max 100 would probably be right up your alley.

Over the years I've had Fender Rumbles (heads and combos), a few different Ampeg's (heads and combos), a Hartke combo, a Hartke cab, a couple of Peavey combos, some David Eden cabs, and a nice GK combo.

For a person starting out, I'd argue that buying the biggest/best Peavey bass amp you can afford would be about the best decision you can make. They sound good, they're built like tanks, and they're just a great value. Pay attention to how much Peavey gear (PA's / Mixers / Power Amps / etc) you see out in the wild, being used in venues and by gigging musicians. You'd be downright surprised at how much Peavey gear in out there today. They've carved out a niche for themselves, and for good reason.
 
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#18
The Fender Rumble 40 is a great amp and there are plenty of players in the Fender Rumble Club here on TB that regularly use them for smaller gigs. It has a ten-inch speaker and gets great reviews on all the sites. It is on sale right now at Sweetwater Sound for only $199 ($50 off) with free shipping! In my opinion it is probably the best bang for the buck on a bass amp for just starting and perfectly usable on a small gig or jamming with other players! You don't need a 12 or a 15-inch speaker to produce the bass notes; you need an amp with a good speaker designed for the amp. And we will welcome you into the always friendly Fender Rumble Club after you get it.

If you really need the 12 and more power, the Rumble 100 is what I have. That, and a Rumble 200 with a 15. The 100 is one of the best bass amps on the market today.
 
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#20
Your friend is right (even if he does play guitar). A combo amp with an 8" speaker is a practice amp, and not a very good one IMO. Not only will it not get loud, it will likely not even faithfully produce the sound of your bass at any volume.

I see someone has already suggested getting at least a 12" combo. I think this is right. And many have suggested that you buy used. That is absolutely right.

Welcome to bass guitar! I've been playing for forty years and I've loved every minute of it.
 
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