Practice amps?

[Evil Undead]

I'm looking for a great sounding bedroom practice amp, that also needs to be small and light. Also needs to have an aux in, and a headphone out.

I play a fender P, mostly with flats, standard tuning, sometimes drop D. I sometimes, but very rarely, run a little overdrive, filter or chorus. I like my clean tone to be as uncoloured as possible.

I really like my little Ashdown after eight, but it's a bit heavy for me to lump around the house... Only 30-odd lbs but lifting around from table tops to my bed etc with bad wrists (I play with my amp on the bed to soak up some of the vibrations and avoid neighbour complaints).

I've narrowed it down to two really: the Phil Jones Double Four, or the Markbass Micromark.

Which one of these would be the better choice for my requirements? Or can you recommend anything else?

 

[B-string]

If you can afford a Phil Jones why even look at MarkBass?

 

[Evil Undead]

The double four and the micromark cost the same where I am

 

[bass4worship]

I use a fender frontman 15g. Not a bass amp put work well with headphones and aux input. Just $75.00

 

[samtastic]

If you will be using headphones why not look at headphone preamps?

Also some multi effect pedals have headphone out, such as the boss ME50B.

 

[Evil Undead]

Well... I much prefer to not use headphones, but the option needs to be there for when I wanna practice at night.

But in the day/evening, no headphones

 

[B-string]

I guess knowing where you are located would help some.

 

[Evil Undead]

I'm in the UK. Both the amps I was looking at are sold here

 

[rapidfirerob]

Peavey Microbass, if it's sold in the UK.
Or get an acoustic bass guitar. That's what I use.

 

[DigitalMan]

Orange has a nice practice amp with aux in, headphone out, tuner, and surprisingly low cost. Sounds and works great. Available in orange or black.

 

[B-string]

Since you didn't mention gigging, just at home. Service if needed should also be considered. So how about this http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...fiers-crush-pix-cr25bx-25w-1x8-bass-combo-amp
I was beaten to it above.

 

[Marial]

Ibanez Promethean.

 

[Dos Inus]

I play a P with medium light flats. I have a MicroMark 801 that I use for quiet evening practice and for practice while on trips. I think this amp has everything you need, as well as that typical clean MarkBass sound. I also play through a MarkBass JB.

I used to use an ampeg BA108, for 80 bucks I felt I couldn't go wrong. Got tired of its thin sound and poor construction. The MicroMark booms for a little amp, and it has the capacity for a clean P bass sound. I set the VPF to 1 o'clock. I don't use the headphone jack at all. And, this thing is LIGHT. Solid and well built. Lightest amp I've found so far.

But PRICEY. I thought the same as all of you: 500 bucks for a practice amp? Nuts. But I decided that the sound quality, construction, and portability was worth it. I can play in a back room, no headphones, sound good, and not wake the family. Try it out at GC with any P off the wall there and you'll agree with me. And do like I did, wait for a sale at GC...

Another application for this amp: if you play acoustic- electric with a couple of buddies on acoustic guitar, you can plug in your acoustic bass, drop the volume a bit, and fit right in. Good luck.

 

[lsu921]

Warwick BC combos are nice. BC 20 is 15 pounds.

 

[gregmon79]

Since you didn't mention gigging, just at home. Service if needed should also be considered. So how about this http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...fiers-crush-pix-cr25bx-25w-1x8-bass-combo-amp
I was beaten to it above.

I want one of these. Replace my ampeg B50R

 

[grey area]

the roland cube 30 has aux in headphone out and does a bit of modeling or the roland micro runs mains or battery and has modeling and a cheesy drum machine,tuner,compressor and a mic input.they are not tone monsters but fine for bedroom playing.

 

[MostlyBass]

My two setups :

 

[guy n. cognito]

One of the Benz Genz "combos" would be a great practice amp, that could be scaled up with a larger speaker cabinet if you wanted to gig.

 

[MakoMan]

My two setups :

View attachment 340863View attachment 340864

I'm curious as to how that Roland Cube monitor handles a bass. There is one for sale at a pawn shop here and I had considered it, but figured as a mini PA it might not be the best choice for bass tone.

 

[MostlyBass]

It's an interesting amp that can do a lot. It's pretty bad on the B string but the rest are decent.