What matters when picking out an amp?

[sgoodwin]

I know you should take your bass down to the shop and play through amps to find one you like, but are there things you can look for in an amp so that you won't instantly want to buy a different amp the day you bring home a new bass?

I'm looking for things that can be carried on my bike, about 50W or so. I'm in Amsterdam, so cars don't happen and I only play in fairly small bars. I could spend about 500€ or so. I know alot about an amp is subjective, but any tips you guys have would be awesome.

 

[JxBass]

As you say, it's extremely subjective. As you'll see many folks are constantly switching high-end, high quality amps looking for the next best thing.

In terms of portability, you can easily find a 50w amp that is larger and heavier than a 900w micro amp. Again, it really depends on your preferences, availability, and budget.

 

[cnltb]

Two things matter;
Will you her it on the gig.
Can you get it to the gig.

 

[f.c.geil]

Try to get the store to let you play the amp in a basement room, or somewhere else that is not full of other amps/cabs. Being surrounded by other speakers really changes the sound. Go to a room that is as much like your typical venue as possible. Know ahead of time what sound you're looking for, so you'll know if you find it, otherwise you may think you like a new amp just because it's different than the one you currently have. Beware of volume. Realize that you will automatically like the amp that is set to play louder than the others, even if the tone is worse. Be wary of that, and reduce volume of any that seem louder than the others before you evaluate tone.

 

[Russell L]

Know that extra unused speakers in the vicinity will soak up lows. So, that's why it's good to get away from them.

Also, know that each amp has it's own typical eq when all the knobs are set at neutral, and no filters on. Most amps aren't flat when the eq is set at noon.

If you're just looking for a head that's small, there are a bunch out there. GK MB200 comes to mind for something that can almost slip into your pocket.

 

[sedan_dad]

When amp shopping I don't play through it. I have someone else do that while I twiddle the knobs. it's easier to focus on the amp that way.

 

[beans-on-toast]

When amp shopping I don't play through it. I have someone else do that while I twiddle the knobs. it's easier to focus on the amp that way.

I find that this works well for me as well. Test the range of control settings to make sure everything works properly, listen for buzzes and problems with the speakers at high volumes.

Finding a good amp isn't easy. I've spent a lifetime searching for ones that have that little bit of magic in them.

When buying a used amp, it has to pass the smell test. If it reeks of smoke (I see you reside in Amsterdam ), it's a deal breaker.

 

[Joe Louvar]

I know you should take your bass down to the shop and play through amps to find one you like, but are there things you can look for in an amp so that you won't instantly want to buy a different amp the day you bring home a new bass?

I'm looking for things that can be carried on my bike, about 50W or so. I'm in Amsterdam, so cars don't happen and I only play in fairly small bars. I could spend about 500€ or so. I know alot about an amp is subjective, but any tips you guys have would be awesome.

Tone
Volume
Size
Weight
Cost

For your needs - checkout a Gallien Krueger MB112 combo.

200W, 12” Speaker, 17.5x15.5x14.75, and only 28 lbs total.

 

[pwsharp]

If 50W is enough, then it might be worth checking out the Crazy8 & Crazy88 thread for a small speaker option, & add a micro head that you can carry in your gig bag.

Peter

 

[Tractorr]

Do you play with other musicians?

If you do you may want more than 50W. The GK 200W combo mentioned should be a definite consideration. Also, I would say if I were playing with other people I would not buy a combo with less than a 10" speaker and a 12" or 15" would be better. I guess the crazy 8 would probably be okay but I wouldn't trust almost any commercially available 8" for playing with other people (fine for practice but the volume to be heard with even an acoustic guitar could cause many 8" to fart out).

 

[sgoodwin]

I currently play with this Roland 40W cube and it gets loud enough for the venue I play at (with people) regularly at about half volume or so. It just sounds gross when you play low notes because it's not a bass amp and whatnot. Thus my desire to replace it.

 

[f.c.geil]

As you've learned, guitar amps are generally not good for bass.

 

[sgoodwin]

Yeah, I never expected it to be amazing, it was just cheap and worked ok for practice. Now that I leave my house though, it's a problem. =/

 

[f.c.geil]

I'm sure. The nice thing is, though, that Roland make some nice bass combos, and some really nice keyboard combos (either is good for bass), so if you like Roland, you don't have to find another brand.

 

[sgoodwin]

I have 0 brand loyalty.

Side question: If you turn your volume knob on your bass all the way down, and have it plugged into your amp where your amp volume level is set to some normal level, do you hear sound out of the amp when you strum the bass? Mine does. It bothers me.

 

[f.c.geil]

No, you shouldn't. You may have a wiring issue, bad ground, bad pot, something like that. I'm not a tech, so I don't know what it is that's wrong, but it isn't right.

 

[Tractorr]

I currently play with this Roland 40W cube and it gets loud enough for the venue I play at (with people) regularly at about half volume or so. It just sounds gross when you play low notes because it's not a bass amp and whatnot. Thus my desire to replace it.

There are two possible reasons why the amp doesn't sound good with the low notes.

1) The speaker is distorting.

2) Low frequencies take a lot of power to reproduce and the amp is distorting trying to reproduce them.

 

[kurosawa]

Maybe you can find a used Polytone. I played a MB III in a cocktail combo for years and it was completely reliable and not tinny. Maybe the smaller one with the 12" speaker is OK but I mail ordered it in the blind so I preferred a 15" speaker. This one is 28 lbs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Polytone-Mini-brute-III-IV-15-Amp-Amplifier-/200786164247

http://www.murchmusic.com/Polytone Info/Polytone Mini Brutes Sonic Circ..PDF

If I had the money, I might buy an EA Wizzy 10. Seems like the smallest, lightest real bass cab out there at 17 lbs. It would eat up your budget and you'd have to borrow an amp until you could afford one. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Here's one you might want to try out:

 

[f.c.geil]

There are two possible reasons why the amp doesn't sound good with the low notes.

1) The speaker is distorting.

2) Low frequencies take a lot of power to reproduce and the amp is distorting trying to reproduce them.

The real reason, of course, is that it's a guitar amp, and not designed to reproduce the pitches that a bass guitar produces.

 

[Growly Lytes]

All this.......
Tone
Volume
Size
Weight
Cost
and
Aswell...... theres many that are switch mode.I just saw an stereo poweramp putting out 1900watts a side & is just 10.5kilos in weight.To me thats amazing !