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Small Amp

B

bt224

Jan 23, 2023
23
14
#1
Since I lack any self preservation, and after reading the entire practice amp thread, I'm going to throw this out there. No need to be gentle. After reading that thread I posted the below at the end.

I was going to post a similar question and saw this thread. The fact that it went from 15W to 500W within a page and a half concerned me. I know it's poor etiquette, however I think my question now has a broader meaning. My 13yo daughter just got her first bass yesterday, a Schecter Radien 4. She plays drums and percussion in general as well as guitar and wanted to try out playing bass. I play guitar but don't really know anything about basses. It seems like a good little starter. My question was about different "practice amps", however from reading this entire thread the issue seems that the smaller amps may not reproduce the sounds correctly at any volume level. To start, we will not be getting a 100W or bigger amp. 1. The wife would shoot me on sight. 2. It will only be used in her room for her to learn. Here are a few we are looking at, which do you think would reproduce decent sounds at lower volumes? Rumble 60 $75, Peavey Viper VIP-1 $60. Orange Crush 20 $100. After that, anything bigger jumps straight to $200. Maybe they are all crap to learn on, I don't have a clue.
 
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#2
The Rumble 60 would probably be the best bet. 12” speaker (which can mean a lot more than watts) which would even be enough to jam with friends if/when the time comes. But, older model, big and heavy.

Orange Crush would be good too. Great tone, newer model. Just fine to learn on imho. Smaller, cuter, and less likely to blast it in the house!

Peavey looks like a guitar combo? But they do make great bass amps.
 
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#6
I had an Ampeg BA 108 for many years and a Rumble 25 for a few years now. These are the little 8” guys. Used em for practice, and even acoustic instrument jams on countless occasions. Imho the nuance of tone “missing” from the 8” driver would be lost on a beginner. They’re good amps.

focus on budget, features (headphones and aux in) and reputable brands. Almost any of the 8-10” offerings from Fender, Ampeg, Hartke or Peavey would serve you well.
 
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#8
bt224 said:
...It will only be used in her room for her to learn...
Click to expand...

That being the case, I'd suggest you consider a headphone option. There are a number of choices of battery powered plug-in headphone amps like this (which is among the most basic/low cost)

https://www.amazon.com/JOYO-Headpho...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

If your daughter has (has access to) a Mac/iPad/iPhone, I'd suggest you look into the iRig. There are knock-offs of the original iRig that, considering the iRig itself is a dumb device, I wouldn't be scared to give a whirl (I have an iRig and they're currently ~$50)

https://www.amazon.com/Effects-Inte...ig&qid=1674533447&sprefix=irig,aps,86&sr=8-27

IMO, the iRig is an excellent tool to have for practice and learning, and you have some options to try different amp models in software, whether GarageBand or the free version of AmpliTube or another app called BIAS FX. Personally, I have come to greatly prefer using headphones the practice and options for integration with software, apps or plugging in an mp3 player. Even half-decent over ear headphones provide sound that I find preferable to using an amp at low volume. Some people find earbuds satisfactory.

A consideration with either of these options is that they can serve their own purposes, meaning they aren't money down the drain if you move past dipping a toe in and decide to get an amp later.

I own amps for different purposes, and I'm well past dipping my toe in, but I still use my plug-in headphone amp periodically (it was around $30) and I use my iRig almost daily.

With some outside the box thinking, the plug-in came in handy at one point where I didn't want to cause alarm with the sight of gear. I don't own an ABG, so I plugged the headphone amp into monitor style computer speakers instead of headphones to play with acoustic guitar and un-mic'd vocals. It worked out great.

spmini1.jpg
 
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#11
Recording Roland Micro Cube Bass RX Bass Combo Amp 4 x 4 In

The dual-purpose headphones/recording output allows you to plug-in a set of headphones for private practice sessions, or connect directly into a stereo mixer or recording device for accurate and simple signal transfer directly from the MICRO CUBE BASS RX.
 
#12
These are fantastic suggestions! We do run Beats headphones hooked up through her little Fender SP10 amp. I'll check around for some of the amps you guys have suggested. I did see a Peavey KB 60, but the cost of a preamp put it in the same price range of 100w amps.
 
#14
Part of the fun of being a musician is working your way through gear. I have many fond memories of starting with smaller amps and graduating to the next level. People sometimes want to skip steps.

There are so many used bedroom bass amps around. Can you gig with them? Probably not, but that is for another day. Roland keyboard amps are a cool option too if you find one. Some have a mic preamp.
 
#16
Another suggestion for used, you can easily save yourself 50%. "Beginner" amps are super common on the used market because so many players quit before reaching the point of needing a larger amp. For used, Peavey, Traynor, GK and Fender are always solid choices.

I'd pick that used Rumble 60 myself, as it has more power (60w vs. 10-20w) and a bigger speaker (12" vs. 8" or even 6.5" in some beginner amps).

I'd take the Viper second because it is less powerful but it's cheaper and has digital modeling effects built in which your daughter might enjoy.
 
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#17
bt224 said:
Since I lack any self preservation, and after reading the entire practice amp thread, I'm going to throw this out there. No need to be gentle. After reading that thread I posted the below at the end.

I was going to post a similar question and saw this thread. The fact that it went from 15W to 500W within a page and a half concerned me. I know it's poor etiquette, however I think my question now has a broader meaning. My 13yo daughter just got her first bass yesterday, a Schecter Radien 4. She plays drums and percussion in general as well as guitar and wanted to try out playing bass. I play guitar but don't really know anything about basses. It seems like a good little starter. My question was about different "practice amps", however from reading this entire thread the issue seems that the smaller amps may not reproduce the sounds correctly at any volume level. To start, we will not be getting a 100W or bigger amp. 1. The wife would shoot me on sight. 2. It will only be used in her room for her to learn. Here are a few we are looking at, which do you think would reproduce decent sounds at lower volumes? Rumble 60 $75, Peavey Viper VIP-1 $60. Orange Crush 20 $100. After that, anything bigger jumps straight to $200. Maybe they are all crap to learn on, I don't have a clue.
Click to expand...


The Rumble 60 will be more than sufficient for your daughter's needs.
 
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#18
If you’re trying to stay under $200, I’d recommend looking for a used amp. You could score a rock solid older Peavey in that range - might even cut it on a small/medium gig. An older Trace Boxer would also do the trick. If you want to get something newer, the Ampeg BA108 is a reasonable option as is a Warwick BC20. Both would be more limited in rehearsal-level volume but totally appropriate for individual practice. My personal favorite in the small amp/good tone category is the Ibanez Promethean 3110. A bit more than you want to spend, but it sounds great, can drive another cabinet (it’s 300w!) and is an easy carry.
 
#19
Find a used Fender Rumble 40. If you cant find one used, they are about $199 new. I bought mine used (like new) $100. You will love it. But dont take my word for it. Search reviews and get confirming opinions right here on TB. It weighs only 19 lbs. Versatile and sounds very good. Compare that to the others you are thinking about. Dont buy another just because it might be readily available.
 
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#20
+1 for a used Rumble 40. I have a Rumble 25 and it’s all I need for practice, but if I were buying again, I’d get the Rumble 40. I got the Rumble 25 included with a bass that I bought. I didn’t expect much from it, but it’s really a good practice amp.

A friend has a Peavey Micro Bass amp. I think the Rumble is much better. I don’t care for the Peavey.
 
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