Which amp should I buy??

[Cam Buchanan]

Just wanted to get an opinion on which amp I should get.

What I really want out of the amp is for it to still sound great even at lower volumes, I don’t want to have to shake the house to get the best tone out of it.

I mainly like to play funk or 70’s r&b, but that doesn’t meen I don’t venture out to rock or country.

I currently have a EBMM stingray that I play through a markbass micromark 8in combo.

the combo is great, but I just wonder if I’m missing soo much sound by not getting a different amp.

the options I’m looking at would be:

ampeg svt VR
GK legacy 800
Aguilar tonehammer 500
Or just adding a 12in cab to my current markbass amp.

each would I assume run through a 12in or 15in cab.

aux in and headphone out would be nice addition for practice, but not a dealbreaker.

 

[Lowendchamp]

I could always provide an opinion, but what is your intended use? Are you playing gigs in a band? At home jamming? I don't even have a band and I run 600watt combo through 6x10. I rarely turn it up past 3 but I have a lot of power. Is that what you want, power?

 

[CallMeAl]

Do you have goals to jam or gig; or is this solely for home? If the former, I’d scratch Markbass off the list. (Unless you wanna buy a new Markbass head too.) The others would be a great start to a gig rig. If the latter, you could probably scale back a bit. 100w and a 12” cabinet would be more than enough, imho.

Can you get out to try them? That really is the best thing to do. If not, listen to tons of demos. Hard to go wrong that’s a really great short list.

I have Markbass for a gig rig (LMIII 500w, 2x12) and I really appreciate the clarity in a band mix. But for home I prefer my Ampeg PF 350 (on one of the MB cabs.) For mostly funk and R&B, with a little rock and country; hard to go wrong with something from Ampeg!

 

[Cam Buchanan]

I could always provide an opinion, but what is your intended use? Are you playing gigs in a band? At home jamming? I don't even have a band and I run 600watt combo through 6x10. I rarely turn it up past 3 but I have a lot of power. Is that what you want, power?

no I just play along to music at home. But with my current setup I couldn’t play with a drummer if I wanted. I at least want that option.

 

[Lowendchamp]

I would just caution you that the preamp is just as important. I say that because I used to be crazy about Ampeg and the " Ampeg sound" until I realized that all there preamp sounded like that so clean and unbiased amplification was impossible. I have cheap gear and it is great! The Rumble 800 is for use with the 4x10 for gigs.

 

[Cam Buchanan]

Do you have goals to jam or gig; or is this solely for home? If the former, I’d scratch Markbass off the list. (Unless you wanna buy a new Markbass head too.) The others would be a great start to a gig rig. If the latter, you could probably scale back a bit. 100w and a 12” cabinet would be more than enough, imho.

Can you get out to try them? That really is the best thing to do. If not, listen to tons of demos. Hard to go wrong that’s a really great short list.

I have Markbass for a gig rig (LMIII 500w, 2x12) and I really appreciate the clarity in a band mix. But for home I prefer my Ampeg PF 350 (on one of the MB cabs.) For mostly funk and R&B, with a little rock and country; hard to go wrong with something from Ampeg!

unfortunately hard to get to try any of them. Local guitar center has little selection past squire and fender rumble.

 

[Cam Buchanan]

I would just caution you that the preamp is just as important. I say that because I used to be crazy about Ampeg and the " Ampeg sound" until I realized that all there preamp sounded like that so clean and unbiased amplification was impossible. I have cheap gear and it is great! The Rumble 800 is for use with the 4x10 for gigs.View attachment 4536866

I do have a nice markbass pre-amp.

 

[Lowendchamp]

If you have a good preamp then you could really cheap out and just get a power amp and pa speakers. I put together one of those with 1000watt amp and 400watt speakers for $250.

 

[SJan3]

no I just play along to music at home. But with my current setup I couldn’t play with a drummer if I wanted. I at least want that option.

If you want the option of playing with a drummer, I'd trade your Micromark in on a MarkBass CMD 121P, 121H or NINJA 102P.

 

[Dave W]

I’d say go for the Ampeg or the GK. Listen to a ton of demos if you can’t try them.

Keep in mind the SVT is going to want to see a 4 ohm load. Playing through a single 12 or 15 will likely be an 8 ohm load, with some exceptions.

 

[Cam Buchanan]

I’d say go for the Ampeg or the GK. Listen to a ton of demos if you can’t try them.

Keep in mind the SVT is going to want to see a 4 ohm load. Playing through a single 12 or 15 will likely be an 8 ohm load, with some exceptions.

that’s something I didn’t know.
Thanks.

 

[willsellout]

Given your musical tastes I’d say the Aguilar or the GK would both be great choices. I personally really love the GK Legacy stuff.

 

[bass12]

I’m a fan of the TH500 and have used it on all kinds of gigs, from quiet jazz cocktails to blues/rhythm & blues sets to thundering reggae shows.

I haven’t tried the other heads on your list but I do love my GK 200MB combo.

 

[bass4more]

Also take a look at the Genzler Magellan 350. It sounds great a low volume, is quite small and light, and will definitely handle playing with a drummer and most small shows and bar gigs.

 

[rodl2005]

60s, 70s RnB and soul.... the Aguilar got my vote.
The SVT-VR is king here, imo, but weighs a heap... I'd only have one if I had a lightweight option also

 

[mikewalker]

At home, potentially with a drummer? HERE YA GO...
YBA100 – Traynor Amps

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Just wanted to get an opinion on which amp I should get.

What I really want out of the amp is for it to still sound great even at lower volumes, I don’t want to have to shake the house to get the best tone out of it.

I mainly like to play funk or 70’s r&b, but that doesn’t meen I don’t venture out to rock or country.

I currently have a EBMM stingray that I play through a markbass micromark 8in combo.

the combo is great, but I just wonder if I’m missing soo much sound by not getting a different amp.

the options I’m looking at would be:

ampeg svt VR
GK legacy 800
Aguilar tonehammer 500
Or just adding a 12in cab to my current markbass amp.

each would I assume run through a 12in or 15in cab.

aux in and headphone out would be nice addition for practice, but not a dealbreaker.

Micro vr.

It sounds like a v4b. Except it's tiny, simple, and light.

It's a great little amp. And, it does get loud. Di out, headphone out, etc.

And, it's cheap.

I've had 3 of them. I will buy another one. I love that little amp.

 

[Orion1985]

Of the listed amps I only have experience with the Aguilar TH500. I traded it only because I needed something that could run at 2 ohms. I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

 

[NoSlapForYou]

If you have the money and don't mind the weight, there's truly nothing better than an Ampeg. It is THE sound of rock bass.

However, your cab makes a huge a difference to your sound too. It might be worth upgrading that first. I like 10" and 12" speakers because they're tighter than 15". I'm really happy with my Ampeg SVT212AV cab. Depending on how loud you need to be, you could possibly get by on a 112 or a 210, but as someone already mentioned you would have to add another cab if you did later want the Ampeg head and your cab was only 8 ohms. The 212 cab has the advantage of being 4 ohms already. A 410 cab would also be 4 ohms.

 

[MrBassman22]

Why not use a modeler (like HX Stomp) and an FRFR speaker (Like Headrush). All the amps you'll ever need from bedroom to rehearsal volume. If you need more power, just add another FRFR speaker. I use 1 Headrush 108 in my noisy 3-piece rockband for rehearsal. For small gig's I add another.