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Recommended bass amps

#21
66 Fender Jazz said:
Am watching this thread with interest as I am seeking a similarly-speced combo amp. (hatchback-sized, reasonable weight, 300-ishW, suitably DI ready for gigs)

Presently getting by nicely with 2 combos: a 200W Carvin MB-210 and a 1992 150W Ampeg B-1.

Interested to hear what's newly recommended.
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That MB-210 is a great little amp. I wish I had grabbed one when they were still being made.

Not quite loud enough to compete with a loud drummer but otherwise a very capable tool. Modern amps continue to offer more and more power in smaller and smaller, lighter and lighter packages but the improvements in sound are getting smaller with each generation of gear. Bass amps made a quantum leap in sound in the 1980s and then did it again in the early 00s but I don’t think there have been enormous improvements in tone since.
 
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#23
Oh my Dude!
There are SO many good choices you cannot go wrong.You can only hook-up to one in your price range and see what happens. Sadly, the only way sometimes is at (shudder) GC, or at any other store for that matter. Too many distractions, litmus test is with your band.

Over the years, I have finally curated my basses and AMPS to perfection, for me at least. But I still say. I could jam with anything- from a multi-$$$$ boutique rig to a Behringer or Crate or some entry-level rig, and still figure out a way to sound good.

Well, not true, I apologize.
I once got lazy and relied on a backline rig at a rehearsal studio and it sounded much like doo-doo. I will not mention the brand (Fender) but would not recommend this rig-It was not a "Rumble" series, :roflmao: so leave me be!
 
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#25
ardgedee said:
What country are you in? What currency are you using?

What kind of music do you play?

What kind of venues do you expect to gig in? A cafe where you accompany a piano playing quietly? A nightclub where the whole audience has to hear your amp over drums and guitar? A theater where you'll be supported by a decent PA?

Without knowing these answers, any suggestion is as good as pure randomness.
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Night club venues.
 
#26
My short list for professional rigs would be Mesa/Subway, Genzler, or Bergantino. Budget-wise, there are the Fender Rumbled, BOSS Katanas and the like, but these would be a step back to fit into their price range.

Personally, a D350 Subway head and Subway 112 would be my first choice, and you could find used 800-series Subway heads that would keep you in that price range, and you can simply add more 112's should the need arise.

350w for a 'practice' amp makes perfect sense, headroom for days, and you can just turn that MASTER knob up and down. These are great big waveforms that need real steam from the engine room, even at conversational levels, and this is a raw instrument feed, not some smashed recording.
 
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#27
J Wilson said:
My short list for professional rigs would be Mesa/Subway, Genzler, or Bergantino. Budget-wise, there are the Fender Rumbled, BOSS Katanas and the like, but these would be a step back to fit into their price range.

Personally, a D350 Subway head and Subway 112 would be my first choice, and you could find used 800-series Subway heads that would keep you in that price range, and you can simply add more 112's should the need arise.

350w for a 'practice' amp makes perfect sense, headroom for days, and you can just turn that MASTER knob up and down. These are great big waveforms that need real steam from the engine room, even at conversational levels, and this is a raw instrument feed, not some smashed recording.
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+1 with D350

You will appreciate the silent moment with the fanless design.
 
#28
The Fender Rumble is a great recommendation, and can do gigs.
Rather than spending a bunch of a top-of-the-line pro Bass amp before you have even played a gig, I'd start small, and use my money to check out some different stuff. For example, buy a Rumble and some pedals... maybe different flavor preamp (like a Tone Hammer) that you could use with the rumble.
 
#29
300 watts?.... And 1500 bucks?
Thats a gigging amp friend. Designed to overcome the noise of a live drummer and loud guitars.
Using that much amp...for home practice?
That's like killing a spider with a sledgehammer!
Unless you plan on playing out, and I hope you do, your overthinkin this.
 
#30
#33
GwenOnBass said:
Rumble and spend the change on lessons 🧑‍🎓
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This is probably the best advice. A few years back I was in the OP's shoes and bought a GK Legacy 500 and Barefaced One10T.

I wouldn't say I regret the amp or cab, I really like them. But had I spent the money on lessons and a combo amp and I might be able to do them justice. As it is, you can simply hear my poor playing really well.
 
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#35
Michael Kennedy said:
What bass amp would you recommend? Looking for a pro-level sound.
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Screenshot_20240707_123931_Samsung Internet.jpg

If you're looking for a "pro-level sound"...practice until you're "pro-level"
 
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