agree with all who said "get the amp". Bass is way more fun when you're playing with an inspiring sound. And its always good to have a bass amp around. For your own use, or for others who might swing by to jam.
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Should I buy an amp now or wait?
- Thread starter Vinnie Boombatz
- Start date
I could have blown $300 on something else if I had of done this. Practice amps are good if you have no intentions of ever playing out or if you are confined to an apartment but my practice amp is getting used less and less. I find myself plugging into my gig rig more often.
I did ALOT of 'bargaining' at my local GC- for about 6/7 years... about 18 months I was informed, by the coupla salesmen I worked with, that GC was 'discontinuing' deals... coupons/sales only. I tried a few times to deal... no movement. So I mostly buy from MF now.
If you want it, I say go for it. But is it necessary? Nah - I'm a fan of use what you have and upgrade only when necessary. You'll need an amp when you gig, but for the practice room any shoebox will do. Just my 2 cents 
If u can manage to tough it out & keep practicing through your current set up, I say wait & upgrade to a better amp than the rumble, do some research & see what suits you best. There are many very nice powerful class D micro heads-(combos too) Tecamp, GK, Mesa, that can be bought at cheap prices these days... Ymmv tho.
My brother lives like 8 hours away from me. Makes that option a little tough to do on a regular basis, but was a nice suggestion!
Shop the used market, you are bound to find much better, quality options.
I've been looking at craigslist for only about a week now, but nothing seems to pop up that's worth it. Older bass amp combos with less power that weigh a ton and people asking well more than market value for them when I look at other places like Reverb and Guitar Center for what the same amps are selling for used. Like I touched on before, if I spend $500 now for the Rumble 500 that normally goes for $599 plus tax, and I keep it for a while and sell it down the line for $350-$375 thats now really a huge loss by any stretch. Or, if I end up still loving it after a bit but want "more", I can just pick up a matching extension cab, right?
Also appreciate others suggesting other more "modern" voiced amps, like GK for example, but I'm more into the "older" sound, something that would fit with more old school country stuff (Waylon, Willie, Johnny, Buck, etc), more current Americana type stuff like Gregory Alan Isakov, Jayhawks, Son Volt, and older Wilco type stuff, etc.and the occasional Motown sound just for fun.
Any other amps out there that offer a lightweight combo that has more of an old school sound that could cover those genres that isn't too expensive, and can be expanded with an extension cab if one ever wanted to expand the rig? The AMpeg Portaflex series is the only other rig that comes to mind for a reasonable price with a more "vintage" sound...
A week is nowhere near long enough to get a sense of what your local used gear market is like. Give it time!
Wherever you're seeing these rigs used for $350-375...just buy one there!
The Aguilar Tonehammer series class D heads will get you in the "warm vintage" tonal arena- as far as combos, Ashdown might be a good brand to consider, as they offer some combos that would probably work for what you are going for.
I'm not here to talk you into or out of the cab, I think it's a fine cab. I don't think that it's what most people would consider an "affordable" option. There are many amps that will come in under $500 that are going to work fine for rehearsals and gigs. I agree that it would be foolish to spend serious money on a gigging rig. I just also don't think you need to spend anywhere near $500 to get started.
I think the Rumble 500 is one of the great deals around. The 100 is also excellent due to its very light weight and the fact that you can do a lot with a 100 watt amp as long as the band isn't stupid loud, but the 500 really covers you for anything from practice to performance. At 36 pounds, it won't give you back problems, either. It's cool.
A week is nowhere near long enough to get a sense of what your local used gear market is like. Give it time!
Wherever you're seeing these rigs used for $350-375...just buy one there!
I think you missed my post. I said I'd buy the Rumble 500 V3 for $500, then a year, two or three down the line if my tastes change, want/need something different I'd sell it for $350-$375 and get a new rig and not be out that much in the grand scheme of things.
I do appreciate all the advice, but will say many people may just be making their suggestions based on what rig they have or what they like (of course, it's an Internet forum, right?) without regard for what I have actually listed as my wants and needs. Even though I mentioned that I want something light, a combo, etc. there will always be those that will take down on it and suggest spending 3-4 times what I want to spend to get a real "pro rig". Keep in mind if I do play out it will be at a small rehearsal space, at a buddy's house for a jam, and if I started gigging it would be at a small poopie club or bar. As cool as it would be to have a really nice rig, it's not something I want to deal with, nor do I want to have it as a piece of furniture in my 400 sq. ft. place I live in! I think some people just get carried away with thinking that everyone needs or wants a massive rig.
I've been through this with guitar amps. Owned everything from a Marshall half stack and Fender Twins all the way down to a Fender Champ. The band I used to play guitar in had two guitar players (I was one of them) and we both played Fender Princeton Reverbs. There was a bass player, pedal steel player, 2 singers and a drummer and never had an issue with being heard. The bass player who was incredible played an older Fender Rumble 350 and EVERYONE in the band though he sounded amazing (and his chops were incredible as well).
I am well aware that there is a massive difference between what you need to be heard with a bass compared to a guitar, and of course the 15 watt combo that could cut it at rehearsal and be mic'd at a gig isn't the same for bass, but if people think a 2x10 500 watt combo isn't enough for a rehearsal in a small crap rehearsal studio or a gig at some small dive bar, or small club with a PA, I guess we can agree to disagree!
Again, as a new player who still hasn't figured out his "sound", I think sinking $350-$500 into something now that will tick off all the boxes from practice amp to small venue gig amp and all possible scenarios in-between that doesn't break the back or the bank and sounds good, with more of a old school sound, seems like the two options are the Amps Portaflex 500 and the Fender Rumble 500. I did see a an older Rumble 350 combo that just popped up on Craigslist for $200 (same amp the old bass player in the band I used to play with used). Only downside of those is they to my understanding can't add an extension cab.
What do you suggest then in that price range? Lots of people keep saying the same thing that they are many other options that come in under $500 that will work for my needs, but haven't seen that many actual suggestions. I'm open to looking at other brands, combos, etc. Just want more of a vintage sound, whatever that is, or should say I'm not into a modern, hi-fi sound. Also not a slapper! Thanks!
You sound fairly set on the rumble. But if you want to tell me your area I can look at craigslist for you. I'd maybe suggest a 15 for the sound you're looking for.
If you find a speaker close by, the amp can be ordered and shipped fairly easily. And remember you're still paying tax on top of that 500 rumble. I do believe you will have lost about 200 when you go to sell it. And who knows if the rumbles will devalue by then, could be 300 lost. Buying new items tends to lose 20-50% right away.
And although you have 500 now many of us would suggest saving even a little more to get those quality items.
If you find a speaker close by, the amp can be ordered and shipped fairly easily. And remember you're still paying tax on top of that 500 rumble. I do believe you will have lost about 200 when you go to sell it. And who knows if the rumbles will devalue by then, could be 300 lost. Buying new items tends to lose 20-50% right away.
And although you have 500 now many of us would suggest saving even a little more to get those quality items.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
For $500, you could do better than a Fender Rumble.
Grab a nice little class D used (TH350, GK, Ampeg, Traynor...) and a decent 1x12.
Grab a nice little class D used (TH350, GK, Ampeg, Traynor...) and a decent 1x12.
There's a lot of different opinions on what constitutes a "modern" sound or a not, but I will say that if you get a flat amp and uncolored cabinet (or combo) you will have a much easier time making it sound "warm" or "vintage" than you will getting modern/clean/hi-fi sounds out of a "vintage" voiced setup.
If you wanted a cheap and portable vintage sounding setup, the first thing that comes to mind is the Ampeg Micro 210, which can be had for half that cost used. If you're set on a combo, you could also look into the smaller Rumble cabs, like the 100 or 200 or a number of Eden combos (which are typically considered vintage voiced) that come in under $500 new. There's also the TC Electronic BG series. If you branch out into used cabs and heads, there's a lot that you can do with $500 or less. Including getting a pretty nice amp and a cheap cab (or vice versa) and then upgrading one component later.
Oakland / San Francisco
Thanks!!
The price I got for the Rumble was $500 out the door. That's with tax included, brand new.
That Eden 4x10 for 300 would kill the fender. Then you buy a decent class D and you're set. Return the fender.
Amp suggestion would be a genz benz shuttle 9.0, they can be found for 300-400. Done deal, you'll have 5 times the power and way better tone.
There is also a gk 15. A mesa 2x10. Tons of good options in San Fran.
Amp suggestion would be a genz benz shuttle 9.0, they can be found for 300-400. Done deal, you'll have 5 times the power and way better tone.
There is also a gk 15. A mesa 2x10. Tons of good options in San Fran.
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