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Practice Amps

dustybottoms

dustybottoms

Jun 4, 2005
304
28
47
Creston Iowa
www.dustinbaird.com
#1
Any suggestions on the best bang for the buck when it comes to practice amps? I'll never be playing anywhere but at home with it. I've done a lot of research on practice amps and most have bad reviews. I think some people are trying to gig with them and finding out its impossible then reviewing them badly. I don't know. I just want something that i can sit around the house and jam on and not set up my huge rig. I'm not wanting to spend a ton of money for a nice combo though, its not necessary.
 
#2
I have one of those Ibanez SoundWave 20's and it sounds pretty good for the size and price. They have bigger ones in that series just depends on what you wanna spend and what tone you want. Just go to a music store and play some of the little combos and see what you think.
 
#3
People seem to think the smaller Yorkville and Ashdown amps sound good.

Search for [Yorkville and Ashdown] and you will come up with lots of threads.

The amps in this thread may be more than what you are looking for:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260961

Then search for [roland and cube and practice] and you get threads for smaller combo amps.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240512

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252789

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231467

I like the SWR Workingman 12 for a small bass combo, but when I am watching TV I play through a Roland Cube 30 (that is actually my guitar amp). They have a bass version of this amp, the Bass Cube 30.
 
#4
Might I suggest taking a gander at the GK Backline combos. A 112 is at a nice ~50 watts and get's decently loud before sounding like poo.

I personally opted for a Vox T-60 (now discontinued) instead for a different type of tone/vibe.
 
#6
I live in an apartment and I will never need to blast my bass at home. TV level or stereo level volume is what I want. I bought a high quality cab (1x10 EA) and one of those new 5 watt Epiphone Valve Junior tube amps. Sounds great! I can even get tubey breakup if I want, and 5 watts is plenty loud for my needs. If I ever need to get loud at home, I have a 50 watt tube head I can bust out.

I used to practice through a Pod, and I got tired of wearing headphones all the time.
 
#7
I have been using an Ashdown Electric Blue 12 inch version. It sounds pretty nice and doesn't weigh much. I even use it at practice with a drummer and guitar player. I also use it on acoustic gigs.
Invalid Link Removed
Have a look.
 
#8
I've got a couple of Crate BX-15 (or something like that) amps
that I use for practice. One at home, and one at work.
They get plenty loud for practicing by myself, or even with
a guitarist. They're like 15 watts.

Practically the only time I get to practice is late at night anyway,
so I can't get loud, so these little amps are perfect. I'm not
overly concerned with the tone, I'm just practicing to learn tunes.
I get the tone I want out of my gig rig.

Here's a link with a picture of one.
Link Removed

Good luck, I hope you find something that suits your needs.
 
#9
I just picked up a eden nemesis n8 $134.,it's only got an 8"
eden deign speaker,40 watts,effects loop,headphone out,
very clean sound,sturdy,these things are rated at 10 right across the board according to musician's friend and most other online sites;but most places i checked were sold out
till july,i got mine in toronto 159.cdn,i use it with a sabddi
great sound...

cheers
 
#10
FYI, I forgot to mention that the Epiphone Valve Junior (5 watt tube head) is selling new for 99 dollars. Tubey goodness at home-practice volume. This is marketed to the guitar world, but for my purposes its perfect (I also play a little guitar too, so I'll use it for both). 5 watts can be pretty loud in your living room if you want it to be, especially with an efficient cab.
 
#14
vindy500 said:
peavey microbass
Click to expand...

I had one of these at one time. My brother gave it me when he upgraded. I could never get the 'Microbass' to stop buzzing.. I took that thing apart, glued in strips of rubberized dampening material, used bigger screws, and even changed out the 8" speaker. Still buzzed a little after all of that..

Cleaned it up real nice, and gave it to my son for a guitar practice amp.. problem solved. Plenty loud for 20watts RMS.
 
#15
I've got an old Trace Elliot Boxer 30 that is an amazing practice amp. Tremendous volume for the small size, but it's damn heavy for the size also. I use it for band practice, our drummer uses hot rod practice sticks and I can keep up.

Long out of production and quite pricey for the category when it was produced, but a great amp if you can find one.
 
#18
tplyons said:
Might I suggest taking a gander at the GK Backline combos. A 112 is at a nice ~50 watts and get's decently loud before sounding like poo.
Click to expand...

Actually, it's 100 watts :smug:

For a practice amp, it's really good! I used to own one, but sold it in the pursuit of a full-fledged GK stack.

It's light, too - only 40 lbs. And it's fairly compact.
 

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