• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Nice starting amp?

Sunset Shalom

Sunset Shalom

May 9, 2016
1,702
1,150
#1
So I am entirely new to bass and have been having trouble deciding on an amp. I have a decent PA so I was originally considering just playing right into that to practice on but now I am thinking of getting a nice couple hundred dollar amp head to use into the PA.

So what would you guys recommend?

Just learning on my PA regardless of how it sounds?

Buying an amp head or pre amp to use with the PA?

Or getting a combo amp or a head and cabinet?

The Carvin BX500 the amp I am leaning towards right now as it would be 355$ including shipping and a warranty and has a lot of good features/ tonal possibilities for the price. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any help!
 
#2
Sunset Shalom said:
So I am entirely new to bass and have been having trouble deciding on an amp. I have a decent PA so I was originally considering just playing right into that to practice on but now I am thinking of getting a nice couple hundred dollar amp head to use into the PA.

So what would you guys recommend?

Just learning on my PA regardless of how it sounds?

Buying an amp head or pre amp to use with the PA?

Or getting a combo amp or a head and cabinet?

The Carvin BX500 the amp I am leaning towards right now as it would be 355$ including shipping and a warranty and has a lot of good features/ tonal possibilities for the price. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance for any help!
Click to expand...
The BX500 is very high on my GAS list.
I think for about the same money, you might pickup something like a Fender Rumble 100, or perhaps a GK combo with a 10" speaker.
If you haven't already, you should check the -for sale- section here. There are a lot of good amps and you can stretch your dollars buying used.
 
#4
What is a GAS list?

There is a fender rumble 200 for sale for 325 on Craigslist here, so your saying a decent combo like that would be the way to go?

My first guitar amp was a really cheap peavey which was fine to learn on so I will have to check out their bass amps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Okstatefan
#9
That is why I was thinking the carvin would be nice, I usually don't care about having a warranty but it seems handy if I have any issues or want to send it back.

Thanks for the welcome, I had been meaning to join a music related forum for awhile and figured this would be a good way to ask questions and learn from more experienced people.

I was originally leaning towards a cheaper amp to start but I am considering waiting/ saving up and just getting a nicer used rig.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GregC, Plutonium244 and S-Bigbottom
#10
Hi Sunset Shalom,
First of all, G.A.S. is just a humorous acronym - it stands for "Gear Acquisition Syndrome". It just means the habit most musicians have of always wanting another amp or bass... that's all. Just good-natured fun!
As to your question, it's fairly well known that with regards to bass amps, the general rule is more watts of output = better. That's because it takes so much power to create low frequencies without distorting.
That being said, not ALL high-powered amps sound good. But in my opinion, you should set your sights on an Ampeg B-100R. They turn up regularly on eBay. I have one and I gig regularly with it. It's widely regarded as a rugged, medium-powered amp that just sounds fantastic. Another good choice that you would likely be happy with would be any of the Fender Rumble series amps.
Hope that helps!
 
  • Like
Reactions: joker820, Okstatefan and Sunset Shalom
#11
Sunset Shalom said:
That is why I was thinking the carvin would be nice, I usually don't care about having a warranty but it seems handy if I have any issues or want to send it back.

Thanks for the welcome, I had been meaning to join a music related forum for awhile and figured this would be a good way to ask questions and learn from more experienced people.

I was originally leaning towards a cheaper amp to start but I am considering waiting/ saving up and just getting a nicer used rig.
Click to expand...


My advise is to make sure the amp has a aux input for your smartphone, tablet , pod, to play music thru your amp and especially a headphone jack to practice quietly
 
  • Like
Reactions: joover, Plutonium244, Yigal83 and 1 other person
#12
Sunset Shalom said:
Thanks for the welcome, I had been meaning to join a music related forum for awhile and figured this would be a good way to ask questions and learn from more experienced people.
Click to expand...

No problem! This is a great forum and a heck of a lot of experience here. I'm dumb and inexperienced, but there are real pros here from all aspects of the industry, bassists, engineers, builders etc., and they are very willing to help new people. I'm having a blast learning and playing around with stuff.

One thing nice about the class D amps, Carvins and others, you can effectively detune with an 8 ohm cab and run at lower wattage for learning at home, then move onto something louder later. The Carvins are quiet (not noisy) and have a flat response if you don't use the eq. I think flat is good for learning. Then you have a heck of a lot of eq and some tone shaping to play with later.

Look into Rocksmith, a video game similar to guitar hero, but you use your bass and there are lessons and arcade video games that help you learn stuff.

Damn caz, I know we shouldn't judge by appearance, but if your avatar is you, you iz... well, don't wanna hurt your feelings... :laugh:;):thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Okstatefan, 1stnamebassist and cazclocker
#13
Thanks for all the advice so far everyone! I will have to take my time thinking about everything...

I have G.A.S pretty bad I guess, I own like 6 guitars and a nice collection of pedals :laugh: most are on the cheaper end though.

Rocksmith has always interested me a bit, didn't know they did bass too. I will have to look into that.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BadExample and cazclocker
#14
I play through a Carvin MB15 combo that is very nice. Its basically the BX250 in a combo. It's also available in a single 10', 2/10", 12" 3 way or the 15". You can add an extension later on if you need more volume in a gig situation. Plus you can run a line out to your PA for more volume for even larger gigs. As Bad Example said above, set flat they have a flat response and they have a great eq to tailor your sound. The Rumble 200 you mentioned earlier is a great amp also. With an ext cab later you can gig with it no problem. Gets rave reviews on these forums.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 39-Bassist, ColdEye, BadExample and 1 other person
#17
I actually just found a Carvin BR510 2x10 being auctioned at a pretty nice price which is very tempting.

My PA is nothing too fancy, its a little Alto mixer and 2 800w alto speakers. Works nice for my simple needs though.

So I also just noticed a TC Electronics BG250 112 mk2 which looks like a sweet amp for the price and its listed for 250$ as
Manufacturer refurbished but includes a warranty...

Any thoughts as to which would be more worth it for the price? The carvin combo auction is at 350$ including shipping right now. I love that the TC has their "toneprint" effects implemented as it is a really cool feature, I own a delay or theirs that has it and it rocks though I have never even needed to change my prints.

The carvin seems like it has better overall controls though...
.
 
#18
Sunset Shalom said:
I actually just found a Carvin BR510 2x10 being auctioned at a pretty nice price which is very tempting.

My PA is nothing too fancy, its a little Alto mixer and 2 800w alto speakers. Works nice for my simple needs though.

So I also just noticed a TC Electronics BG250 112 mk2 which looks like a sweet amp for the price and its listed for 250$ as
Manufacturer refurbished but includes a warranty...

Any thoughts as to which would be more worth it for the price? The carvin combo auction is at 350$ including shipping right now. I love that the TC has their "toneprint" effects implemented as it is a really cool feature, I own a delay or theirs that has it and it rocks though I have never even needed to change my prints.

The carvin seems like it has better overall controls though...
.
Click to expand...
You can also get the Carvin MB15/15 Microstack as they call it for right around 450.00. It gives you an extra 15" cab in case you need it. That's what I have and like it very much. I believe they do an MB10/15 as well as the MB12/15 but not sure of the prices. I'm a fan as well as a fan of the new Fender Rumbles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sunset Shalom
#20
Sunset Shalom said:
I actually just found a Carvin BR510 2x10 being auctioned at a pretty nice price which is very tempting.

My PA is nothing too fancy, its a little Alto mixer and 2 800w alto speakers. Works nice for my simple needs though.

So I also just noticed a TC Electronics BG250 112 mk2 which looks like a sweet amp for the price and its listed for 250$ as
Manufacturer refurbished but includes a warranty...

Any thoughts as to which would be more worth it for the price? The carvin combo auction is at 350$ including shipping right now. I love that the TC has their "toneprint" effects implemented as it is a really cool feature, I own a delay or theirs that has it and it rocks though I have never even needed to change my prints.

The carvin seems like it has better overall controls though...
.
Click to expand...
Dont buy the TC. Mine died without cause. Try the new kickback from Hartke. They are awesome!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sunset Shalom and tfer

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back