Newbie - looking for first bass amp

[JimmyAZ]

Hi all,

This place was helpful choosing my bass. Still can't play it but teacher arrives Saturday and with a guitar background I think I'll hit the road running.

I don't need an amp in a hurry. I have a Spark 40 (which isn't working but who knows maybe they'll tell me how to fix it) and Blues Jr I can use for bedroom learning. Of course as a guitar gear freak I will need something better and am starting research. Here are my preferences:

Combo. I hate head/cab so it has to be a combo.

I'd prefer something I can carry easily so no 4x10s

I doubt I'll ever be a rock star so I don't need a 100 watt tube amp. Probably 300-500 solid state is acceptable. I like tubes but doesn't seem like a lot of bass amps go that route.

I want flexible. No specific style or tone I am seeking.

I would really like to stay under $1000.

I am also considering building a 5F6-A style from a kit. Not seeing one with a combo version and like I said I hate head/cab setups.

I am probably 2-3 months of deciding so this is a starting point. Mention your favorite amp in this range and I'll add it to the comparison chart.

Thanks for all the help here. Life is good.

 

[Killing Floor]

Fender Rumble comes in a few “sizes”. It’s a good line. The new Ampeg combos are very nice too. There’s no best. But if it were my money I’d avoid the very smallest models because you’ll outgrow the level fast. Unless you look at Phil Jones Bass amps. They’re fantastic and small.

 

[gtirard]

Many options: Fender, Ampeg, Markbass... Everybody's going to advice with their favorite brand, but you should try them really.

 

[ChrisB2]

I have a Fender Rumble 500w 210 and have never been happy gigging it. Plenty of power but not my tone and - IME - the bottom gets lost in a medium-loud setting. There's a lot of love here for Rumbles, and mine is fine for practicing but so is my old v1 Rumble 100w 115.

I like head/cab so I can't tell you what my favorite combo is...

Edit- if I were looking for a combo, I would def go Ampeg but that's for a certain tone goal and you said you didn't care about that, but as another suggested Markbass would be good for flexibility.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Ampeg combos sound great with almost no effort from you. Real easy eq, the BA line and the new RB both. GK MB 115ii is also awesome, but for me, the Ampegs are a little easier to use - I have a BA08 that sounds sweet and tasty all by itself.

 

[JimmyAZ]

Thanks all. Yeah Rumble was on my list. Already learned something here cause I never heard of Markbass. have to research that. I will learn a few riffs on the bass and try before I buy. Keep em coming.

 

[tgriley62]

Just my .2 cents but, don't go and spend a ton right now. Buy a good used set up either a head or power amp & preamp and a cab or two or a combo. Lots of very good used gear on this site. What ever you choose try to get at least something that will put out a minimum of 500 watts. This will usually get you heard in a band mix unless you decide to get into absurdly loud music

 

[SJan3]

Hi all,

This place was helpful choosing my bass. Still can't play it but teacher arrives Saturday and with a guitar background I think I'll hit the road running.

I don't need an amp in a hurry. I have a Spark 40 (which isn't working but who knows maybe they'll tell me how to fix it) and Blues Jr I can use for bedroom learning. Of course as a guitar gear freak I will need something better and am starting research. Here are my preferences:

Combo. I hate head/cab so it has to be a combo.

I'd prefer something I can carry easily so no 4x10s

I doubt I'll ever be a rock star so I don't need a 100 watt tube amp. Probably 300-500 solid state is acceptable. I like tubes but doesn't seem like a lot of bass amps go that route.

I want flexible. No specific style or tone I am seeking.

I would really like to stay under $1000.

I am also considering building a 5F6-A style from a kit. Not seeing one with a combo version and like I said I hate head/cab setups.

I am probably 2-3 months of deciding so this is a starting point. Mention your favorite amp in this range and I'll add it to the comparison chart.

Thanks for all the help here. Life is good.

For me, MarkBass. The most impressive lineup of combo amps on the market.

 

[Katoosie]

Because of the prices of everything going up, I would definitely look into a used market first and foremost to maximize what you'll get for your money.

Cab and amp separately might be easier to upgrade later down the line, but I understand its all subjective. Just food for thought.

Good luck!

 

[Stewie]

Fender Rumble or Ampeg RB. Either 200 watts and a 15. Or 500 and a pair of 10s. Go to a Guitar Center and choose one.

 

[Hounddog409]

Hi all,

This place was helpful choosing my bass. Still can't play it but teacher arrives Saturday and with a guitar background I think I'll hit the road running.

I don't need an amp in a hurry. I have a Spark 40 (which isn't working but who knows maybe they'll tell me how to fix it) and Blues Jr I can use for bedroom learning. Of course as a guitar gear freak I will need something better and am starting research. Here are my preferences:

Combo. I hate head/cab so it has to be a combo.

I'd prefer something I can carry easily so no 4x10s

I doubt I'll ever be a rock star so I don't need a 100 watt tube amp. Probably 300-500 solid state is acceptable. I like tubes but doesn't seem like a lot of bass amps go that route.

I want flexible. No specific style or tone I am seeking.

I would really like to stay under $1000.

I am also considering building a 5F6-A style from a kit. Not seeing one with a combo version and like I said I hate head/cab setups.

I am probably 2-3 months of deciding so this is a starting point. Mention your favorite amp in this range and I'll add it to the comparison chart.

Thanks for all the help here. Life is good.

Go to a music store and try out different ones. Tone is subjective. Only you know what you like.

Fender Rumble is a good amp. I will never own another because i hate the tone. I prefer Ampeg and Hartke combos for the tone i like. Mesa for head/cab.

Play through a bunch and buy your favorite. Other peoples opinions dont matter

 

[jdjk7]

Hi all,

This place was helpful choosing my bass. Still can't play it but teacher arrives Saturday and with a guitar background I think I'll hit the road running.

I don't need an amp in a hurry. I have a Spark 40 (which isn't working but who knows maybe they'll tell me how to fix it) and Blues Jr I can use for bedroom learning. Of course as a guitar gear freak I will need something better and am starting research. Here are my preferences:

Combo. I hate head/cab so it has to be a combo.

I'd prefer something I can carry easily so no 4x10s

I doubt I'll ever be a rock star so I don't need a 100 watt tube amp. Probably 300-500 solid state is acceptable. I like tubes but doesn't seem like a lot of bass amps go that route.

I want flexible. No specific style or tone I am seeking.

I would really like to stay under $1000.

I am also considering building a 5F6-A style from a kit. Not seeing one with a combo version and like I said I hate head/cab setups.

I am probably 2-3 months of deciding so this is a starting point. Mention your favorite amp in this range and I'll add it to the comparison chart.

Thanks for all the help here. Life is good.

For bass, I would heavily consider rethinking your aversion to the head/cab setup. A modern Class D head is so lightweight that it's a non-issue. Nothing like big boxy guitar tube heads. Even for my non-Class D GK head, it's barely an issue.

IME, I used combos for a long time but recently moved to head/cab. Flexibility/modularity is a good reason to do this, but the main reason for me was actually size and weight. A combo amp is convenient in the sense that you're dealing with one box instead of two, but... the issue for me is that the combos I have are all bigger and heavier single items. The combo I was really wanting to gig is just slightly too big in all dimensions to fit in my trunk, which really annoys me. Head and cab has just been a more convenient solution, because splitting that bulkier 1 item into two smaller items was actually the way to go. My chosen setup is lighter, smaller, sounds better, and gets louder, which is really nice. It's so much less of a hassle that I'm bringing my rig to rehearsals now, which I wouldn't have dreamed of doing previously.

As far as combos go... Fender Rumbles and Ampeg Rocket combos aren't bad. I'd go for the Ampegs myself. The Rumbles are fine, I've just lost my taste for them.

If I was going to get a new combo though, I would heavily consider Gallien Krueger, specifically the MB212. It's over your limit, but not by a whole lot. They're good amps, and when I've encountered the MB212 or MB115 at jams, I'm always impressed.

However, I also agree with the assessment that you should buy used. There's good value in the used market atm, because new prices are always going up.

 

[BobKos]

I have a TC Electronics BG-250 115 and I like it a lot. I believe it is discontinued but if you see one used it will be cheap and it is a decent amp. I own a bunch of decent amps but I keep the BG too.

 

[Shooz]

Hi all,

This place was helpful choosing my bass. Still can't play it but teacher arrives Saturday and with a guitar background I think I'll hit the road running.

I don't need an amp in a hurry. I have a Spark 40 (which isn't working but who knows maybe they'll tell me how to fix it) and Blues Jr I can use for bedroom learning. Of course as a guitar gear freak I will need something better and am starting research. Here are my preferences:

Combo. I hate head/cab so it has to be a combo.

I'd prefer something I can carry easily so no 4x10s

I doubt I'll ever be a rock star so I don't need a 100 watt tube amp. Probably 300-500 solid state is acceptable. I like tubes but doesn't seem like a lot of bass amps go that route.

I want flexible. No specific style or tone I am seeking.

I would really like to stay under $1000.

I am also considering building a 5F6-A style from a kit. Not seeing one with a combo version and like I said I hate head/cab setups.

I am probably 2-3 months of deciding so this is a starting point. Mention your favorite amp in this range and I'll add it to the comparison chart.

Thanks for all the help here. Life is good.

I’ve had a Fender Rumble 200 with 112 extension cab, great rig for not a lot of bucks, very reliable, light weight, and sounds great. I currently have the Markbass cmd 121 with the NY 121 extension cab, even lighter, smaller, and sounds amazing. You can not go wrong with either of these set ups. Good luck!

 

[Isaac_James]

There are lots of fine options out there. If you're strictly looking for combo amps, I don't think you'll find any 4x10 or tube options - those are all in the head and cab world for bassists. The largest combos usually have a single 15 or two 10s, 500W is the highest wattage you'll typically see though the Fender Rumble line has an 800W option if I'm not mistaken.

If you want something that will hold up to a drummer, your range of 300-500 is good. I always advice more power, you will never wish you had less clean head room but you might wish you had more if you go small.

In larger combos like this you usually won't get the full 500 watts without attaching a separate speaker cabinet, but it'll probably be loud enough for most situations without the extension cab.

Different brands have different baked in tones, there really isn't a wrong answer. You can play any genre of music with just about any type of amp, but each will have its own tonal characteristics that may or may not appeal to you. That's really what it comes down to - of you can find some amps to try at a local guitar shop, give a few different brands a whirl and see what makes your ears happy.

 

[Wfrance3]

Fender Rumble or GKMB. I have both and like them both. They’re each different but also special in their own way.

 

[jdjk7]

or tube options - those are all in the head and cab world for bassists.

The only new production, non-boutique tube combos I can think of are the Ampeg PF-20T/50T (which are in essence combos) or the new Fender Adam Clayton... which may as well be boutique given its cost.

 

[salmon256]

Thanks all. Yeah Rumble was on my list. Already learned something here cause I never heard of Markbass. have to research that. I will learn a few riffs on the bass and try before I buy. Keep em coming.

What's great about TB is the many users who know so many brands. I learnt about so many different bass amp brands from all over the world!

 

[salmon256]

I agree with the crowd of going with a Fender Rumble. I see you dislike amp heads and cab, I was the same but recently after finding affordable heads and really nice quality smaller cab sizes, I changed my mind. But if you are dead set on combo which I understand Rumble is great! If you are just using this to practice then I see it's great for what it is, if you wanna gig there's some great tips and I personally find the Rumble 500 loud, some others need a cab. There's some cool amps like PJ but that's a totally different story or I personally like Bareface audio for tiny light cabs but those aren't combos. Good luck OP!

 

[BGroovy]

Rumble is a safe answer, but since you mentioned liking tubes and it’s within your budget - I’d look for a Mesa Walkabout Scout 15 (12 would be fine too). I’ve seen a few pop up in classifieds here and on Guitar Center used recently.