Small Practice Am with Good Tone?

[bassgirls]

Hey guys. I am looking for a small practice amp with good tone.
I was looking at the rumble series. They seem decent. But then I got to thinking of the bass tones I love, like carol kaye, and wondered if I should spend more and go into the vintage market. If I go vintage, do you have any recommendations? I'm looking to practice in my apartment with this amp but also get sweet tones (because then I'll practice more!).

If i don't go vintage and stay with a modern amp, do you recommend anything that can coax those tones? thanks!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Rumble are great for the AM or the PM. (AM or FM as well)
It should manage any timbre you like, but get at least the 40 or 100.

 

[bassgirls]

Thanks! Is the rumble 40 too loud for practicing in a small apartment? I'd imagine you have to go that large to get good tones (I tried the little one, the 15, and it was thin and weak sounding but I could hear the potential). I wasn't able to try the 25 or 40 -- I'm wondering at what point they start to sound good.

I'd want to get the smallest/quietest one that sounds good since it's just for apartment practice. Thanks!

Does anyone have a rumble and a vintage amp who could compare and contrast the differences and whether it's worth it to go vintage?

 

[Flippy]

Unless you give a specific name of a vintage amp it's difficult to do any comparison.

Rumbles are good combos, but if you want something quiet maybe consider just using headphones with the amp for practice? That's what many people do. I also recommend getting the 100 for the extension cab output.

 

[Anachronism]

Depends on budget. If you can spend a bit and want something that you'll always enjoy coming back to, I suggest an Ampeg PF-20t or Ashdown CTM-15 plus a decent small cab (I'd pick a 12).

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Reason to get at least the 40:

4-band EQ
able to dial in the amount of Drive you want (not so on the Rumble 25 or 15)

any Rumble can be used for quiet practice at home, that's what the Master knob is for

 

[seamonkey]

Carol Kaye in her top recording days went straight into the board.
Now days, it's easy with a computer. Just add an audio interface, a DAW, and pick up some plugins. Any modern bass players should look into instead of getting tied to the sound of one amp.

 

[bassgirls]

Yeah that is what I do now, but I want to practice out loud with my guitarist. We've been using his guitar amp, an old princeton tube amp. It sounds great but I don't want to blow it up!

 

[bholder]

Depends on budget. If you can spend a bit and want something that you'll always enjoy coming back to, I suggest an Ampeg PF-20t or Ashdown CTM-15 plus a decent small cab (I'd pick a 12).

And also on one's definition of "good tone". I love the clean tones of my Phil Jones Briefcase, but they're pricey and may not be what OP is looking for. Then again, as clean as going "straight into the board" basically so perhaps.

 

[seamonkey]

Get some IEMs for yourself and the guitarist and jam all night without bothering the neighbors.

 

[dc-upright]

Not sure how loud you want the go, I bought a Rumble 25 and think it sounds fantastic. It goes louder than I want to go. Guitar Center should have one to try.

 

[Stumbo]

Yeah that is what I do now, but I want to practice out loud with my guitarist. We've been using his guitar amp, an old princeton tube amp. It sounds great but I don't want to blow it up!

Since you're playing quietly, you won't blow it up. As long as there is no distortion, you're fine.

I have a '60s, 15w 1x15 (Big Ben 200w guitar replacement speaker) that I have used for bass or guitar for many years. As long as I keep tabs on volume level and bass tone control and don't dig in, everything is fine.

As far as tone, Carol Kaye played with a pick a lot. I can get her tone with my active, 3 band eq, '83 P/J Ibanez Musician 924DS played through just about any rig, large or small. Definitely through my Sunn/JBL rigs(40w/60w/120w through 1/15,2x15 or 2x2x15).

I haven't tried the Rumble rigs but based on other TBrs experiences, value their opinions and observations.

 

[bassgirls]

Oh, that's great, Stumbo. Because it sounds fantastic even at low volumes. Maybe I'll just stick to using that since my guitarist plays acoustically mostly.

 

[Bassquest]

Not sure how loud you want the go, I bought a Rumble 25 and think it sounds fantastic. It goes louder than I want to go. Guitar Center should have one to try.

I agree. I have the Rumble 25 V3 and it's perfect for what you want. I've also owned the 40 V3, 100 V3 so I know. Currently have the 500 V3 head which I use with an Ampeg Classic 15 cabinet.

 

[Doner Designs]

I'm in the camp that uses a big gig rig with the volume dialed back. I think the tone you get that way is better than from little practice amps.

 

[bherman]

Oh, that's great, Stumbo. Because it sounds fantastic even at low volumes. Maybe I'll just stick to using that since my guitarist plays acoustically mostly.

Should be fine - just go easy on the volume and don't crank the bass eq too high.

 

[lomo]

Depending on budget and features needed, if you like old school, or simply thick, firm, juicy tone, IMHO it doesn't get any better than a Mesa walkabout 112 combo....not all that small or light and no aux in or phones out.....but it sounds so damned good! That combo with a GK Plex pedal (to add the features....tuner, aux in, phones out) is my ideal "home" rig that's also enough to play with a drummer.....but it's neither tiny nor cheap....but if you were considering paying for vintage gear.....I'd recommend and much prefer a walkabout.

 

[Linnin]

Oh Good Lord! Just buy a Fender Rumble 40 and be done with it. Perfect match for your boyfriend's Princeton.

 

[Peepaleep]

I had a Rumble 75 and wish I hadn't gotten rid of it. It did everything I needed it to do and it did it well. I could play small rooms with it and it worked very well as a practice amp. If you can find a used one on craigslist I would absolutely go for it.

 

[Spidey2112]

I have a Fender Bronco 40 that I purchased for this reason... and the fact that it's more portable than the others I have. I can get some pretty good sounds out of it... both 'Aux' and 'Headphone' jacks, amp modeling, and not a bad price, when I purchased it. Good luck!