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Small amp for recording?

WarBeer

WarBeer

Dec 29, 2015
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#1
Hi, I'm a guitarist/writer and I've been playing bass a bit lately. The DI thing is ok...but it's missing something. I need a practice amp anyway...so, is it possible for me to get a KILLER "recorded" bass tone with a small amp? I'm not interested in any sonic compromise. However, I do record in the wee hours....and bass carries;) If I could get a really good tone from a small mic'd amp, that would be great. If not, so be it;)
 
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#3
I use myTrace Elliot Elf and a 1 x 10 for the same reasons. The 2 x 10 is for before 23:00. ;)

Edit: I used to mostly record bass straight into my old Tascam unit but now I use an SM57 in front of the 1x10 most often.
 
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#4
It is VERY possible to get huge tones from little amps not putting out much volume. The most used recording amp of all time is only 25 or 30w depending on which version you get (B-15). If you're not interested in sonic compromise, you could get a low wattage tube amp with a small cab. Some newer small tube amps let you play with or without a cab hooked up, and you can go direct with them and greatly improve your DI sound as well as mic. Lot to be said for micing a little practice amp, though. Some of them end up having great sounds for micing. Might stay away from the very cheapest ones, but you start getting into the $250+ range and you can get some good sounding little amps that'll mic up quite well.
 
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#5
Many engineers would say that you need a decent DI and bass long before you need an amp.
The vast majority of pop music bass tracks were either recorded with a DI only, or a DI and some amp mix.
As far as practice & good, Fender Rumble 100 would be my suggestion

Now, if you've got some money to throw at an amp that will more than just practice, gice us a budget.
 
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#6
Man, that Fender Rumble 40 looks like a lot of amp for $200. Now, would something like the Ampeg PF-50T be a whole other league of tone....or are they more comparable than their price tags allude to?
 
#8
WarBeer said:
I do record in the wee hours....and bass carries
Click to expand...

Yikes! Recording at night with any speaker cab is next to impossible if you don't want to disturb others. You also don't want to inhibit your playing because it's going to make too loud a sound. As you said, bass carries.

I know what you mean about wanting some air in your sound which a DI doesn't pick up. Those room reflections help make up that air.

Either try to record the bass earlier, or try to figure out how to use a DI effectively in your DAW. Some DI's do sound better than others.

There's a wealth of info on youtube. Google "youtube.com how to record bass produce like a pro" for a start.
 
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#10
As far as volume goes...I crank up 20 watt tube amps all night...I live out a bit, where the yards are about an acre or so each. So, it's not like my neighbors are right on me...but if I'm pumpin' 500 watts of bass...that might be a little unfair;)

I've been using my JoeMeek OneQ as a DI...since it's a "master channel" style strip...it seems pretty descent. And I have had luck with EQing and other compressors as well. I just need an amp to practice with at the least and thought maybe I could kill two birds;)
 
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#11
WarBeer said:
Hi, I'm a guitarist/writer and I've been playing bass a bit lately. The DI thing is ok...but it's missing something. I need a practice amp anyway...so, is it possible for me to get a KILLER "recorded" bass tone with a small amp? I'm not interested in any sonic compromise. However, I do record in the wee hours....and bass carries;) If I could get a really good tone from a small mic'd amp, that would be great. If not, so be it;)
Click to expand...

Consider tracking with a DI at night when you need to keep it quiet, and reamping later when nobody cares. If you have a good guitar amp, you can use it with bass...just keep the volume down so you don't damage the speaker with over excursion. You could also get a bass speaker and use that with your guitar amp if you like. The only thing you really need to worry about is the impedance specs the amp is designed to work with.

If you simply must have an amp, there are some low wattage tube bass amps on the market and a few like the Ampeg PF20T and PF50T have built in dummy loads so you can record silently without connecting a speakers.

I believe Ashdown's low wattage tube bass amps all require you to use a speaker. The LB30 and original CTM30 look different but they are functionally identical. Ashdown recently released a low profile updated version of the CTM30 called the Lil Stubby that is a bit different than the earlier model.
 
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#12
WarBeer said:
Hi, I'm a guitarist/writer and I've been playing bass a bit lately. The DI thing is ok...but it's missing something. I need a practice amp anyway...so, is it possible for me to get a KILLER "recorded" bass tone with a small amp? I'm not interested in any sonic compromise. However, I do record in the wee hours....and bass carries;) If I could get a really good tone from a small mic'd amp, that would be great. If not, so be it;)
Click to expand...
Hotone thunder bass
 
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#15
Let me ask this, with guitar amps (tube)...there's no such thing as a "volume knob". Volume knobs = tone knobs. You can't just lower them and get the same sound at reduced volume. That said...could I get a bass amp that had enough power to rock the living room and enjoy the jam...maybe even play with a drummer...but, could be turned down for late night recording and still get a great tone? ...or is that just asking for too much?
 
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#16
WarBeer said:
Let me ask this, with guitar amps (tube)...there's no such thing as a "volume knob". Volume knobs = tone knobs. You can't just lower them and get the same sound at reduced volume. That said...could I get a bass amp that had enough power to rock the living room and enjoy the jam...maybe even play with a drummer...but, could be turned down for late night recording and still get a great tone? ...or is that just asking for too much?
Click to expand...
Personally, I love the sound of an SVT turned down to way below its available volume, but it'll be very clean.
 
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#17
JimmyM said:
It is VERY possible to get huge tones from little amps not putting out much volume. The most used recording amp of all time is only 25 or 30w depending on which version you get (B-15). If you're not interested in sonic compromise, you could get a low wattage tube amp with a small cab. Some newer small tube amps let you play with or without a cab hooked up, and you can go direct with them and greatly improve your DI sound as well as mic. Lot to be said for micing a little practice amp, though. Some of them end up having great sounds for micing. Might stay away from the very cheapest ones, but you start getting into the $250+ range and you can get some good sounding little amps that'll mic up quite well.
Click to expand...
Great advice.

My Portaflex breaks up when the volume goes past 11 o'clock-ish but sounds monstrous clean at really low volumes, so it's a fantastic amp to mic up and play during "quiet hours"

I recently picked up a PF-350 and 1x15 to lug around to save my poor old-ass ampeg flip top (It's too good condition to risk gigging) and honestly, it's not that far off. I can get great clean tones from this thing at low volumes, and I got the thing used head and cab for under $450 USD.

So... that's my two cents.
 
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#18
I-play-bass said:
Great advice.

My Portaflex breaks up when the volume goes past 11 o'clock-ish but sounds monstrous clean at really low volumes, so it's a fantastic amp to mic up and play during "quiet hours"

I recently picked up a PF-350 and 1x15 to lug around to save my poor old-ass ampeg flip top (It's too good condition to risk gigging) and honestly, it's not that far off. I can get great clean tones from this thing at low volumes, and I got the thing used head and cab for under $450 USD.

So... that's my two cents.
Click to expand...
Ya, don't have the 115 cab anymore, but I still have a PF350 and it gets a fair amount of use as a backup and around the house. Killer little head. But I still say use that B-15! :D
 

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