Which amp?

[DanButler]

Excuse am sure an often asked question.

I'm currently using an Ashdown Touring 330 2 x 10, weighs about the same weight as my car. Would need between 200-500 Watts ideally, but main consideration is it's much lighter.

What's best value for money these days with enough grunt for on stage volume? Most gigs I DI to a large PA, so it's really for backline and rehearsal

Thanks in advance

 

[brianrost]

This thread will soon recommend every bass cabinet ever made that weighs less than 30 pounds.

 

[Scott Lynch]

Hey Dan, welcome to TB. We should get your thread moved into one of the amplification sub forums, but before we do, I’ve got a few questions for you -

What instruments do you play? Bass guitar, double bass, both? What styles do you play on these instruments? Telling us more about who you are and what you do on the bass will help us give you more specific recommendations.

In addition to the replies in this thread, I’d recommend doing some searching of older threads in TB as there’s an enormous wealth of info and discussion on just about all forms of bass amplification. Questions like “what’s the best amp for me?” are eternal recurrences around here.

 

[gtirard]

Excuse am sure an often asked question.

I'm currently using an Ashdown Touring 330 2 x 10, weighs about the same weight as my car. Would need between 200-500 Watts ideally, but main consideration is it's much lighter.

What's best value for money these days with enough grunt for on stage volume? Most gigs I DI to a large PA, so it's really for backline and rehearsal

Thanks in advance

Any modern amps and cabs would be much lighter, louder, and would probably sound much better, so why not a modern Ashdown if you like the brand?

The only ironic thing is that modern cabs are sometimes less forgiving, because they sound more detailed and articulate, it may take a bit of time to get used to hearing all your playing imperfections like never before

 

[DuluthDank]

I like the Hartke KB15 combo amp. It's light, loud, has a simple layout for stage use, and has a pre-eq XLR out. All things that are a benefit for use as a stage monitor. The real benefit is the kickback design though. You'd need some pretty wild stage volume for that thing to not be enough, with it aimed right at your head. Most people get their sound from their pedalboards anyways, so the lack of personality in that amp is a bonus, IMO.

I'd also suggest the 210 kickback Marbass combo for all the same reasons above, but it's also more expensive.

 

[MadJack]

If you want to stay with the Ashdown Sound, similar output, tighter sound and in a combo, why not the Ashdown OriginAL EVO C112T, it's the newest version of the OriginAL amp and it's built into a sealed 112 cab and it tilts back, which can be handy, if you're D.I.'ing out and only using it as an onstage monitor. It comes in just under 30lbs.

 

[DanAdams]

Most of the following posts will be people recommending the amp that they own if it falls within your parameters.
I'm no different. The GK MB210 works for me, although I wish the controls were on the front. I have the older version with the metal grill. I dont like the idea of the newer cloth grill.
I understand, I used to own the GK 700rb 2-10. It was around 80 pounds. After a gig, getting it into a hatchback felt like 160 pounds.

 

[DanButler]

Hey Dan, welcome to TB. We should get your thread moved into one of the amplification sub forums, but before we do, I’ve got a few questions for you -

What instruments do you play? Bass guitar, double bass, both? What styles do you play on these instruments? Telling us more about who you are and what you do on the bass will help us give you more specific recommendations.

In addition to the replies in this thread, I’d recommend doing some searching of older threads in TB as there’s an enormous wealth of info and discussion on just about all forms of bass amplification. Questions like “what’s the best amp for me?” are eternal recurrences around here.

Sorry I didn't have my glasses on when I posted!!!!! I play an 82 JV precision. And play mainly rock and blues

 

[brianrost]

DanButler, what’s your budget?

Are you looking for a combo or a head/cab?

If you are in the USA, your first stop should be a local Fender dealer and check out the Invalid Link Removed. Brand new, it’s only $650 and it weighs 37 pounds. Even lighter but more powerful and with some useful features missing from the 500, is the Rumble 800, ironically it’s lighter, only 29 pounds, for $850.

 

[gtirard]

DanButler, what’s your budget?

Are you looking for a combo or a head/cab?

If you are in the USA, your first stop should be a local Fender dealer and check out the Invalid Link Removed. Brand new, it’s only $650 and it weighs 37 pounds. Even lighter but more powerful and with some useful features missing from the 500, is the Rumble 800, ironically it’s lighter, only 29 pounds, for $850.

View attachment 7177100

Good idea to try it, because it’s a bargain in terms of features/price ratio, a lot of people love if apparently, but some hate it (including me).

I wouldn’t call it the official amp of TB by the way if there was one it would certainly be a Mesa Subway (800 or WD800) IMO

 

[Al Kraft]

If you want to stay with the Ashdown Sound, similar output, tighter sound and in a combo, why not the Ashdown OriginAL EVO C112T, it's the newest version of the OriginAL amp and it's built into a sealed 112 cab and it tilts back, which can be handy, if you're D.I.'ing out and only using it as an onstage monitor. It comes in just under 30lbs.

View attachment 7176595

I've never heard or played on one, but this seems like a logical place to look if the Ashdown sound works well for you.

 

[brianrost]

Good idea to try it, because it’s a bargain in terms of features/price ratio, a lot of people love if apparently, but some hate it (including me).

I wouldn’t call it the official amp of TB by the way if there was one it would certainly be a Mesa Subway (800 or WD800) IMO

I’m not crazy about Rumbles myself, I’ve played gigs with them and they work but most importantly they are cheap, light and easy to find in the USA. I had a D-180 years ago and I really like Mesa, but there’s not a single Mesa dealer near me to try one out, they make no combos and they are pricey. My local stores sell Fender, MarkBass, Peavey and sometimes Ampeg and GK.

It’s a joke meme about Rumble 500 being the "official amp” because it gets recommended more often than anything else, even Mesa.

 

[Stewie]

Some of us feel that the Ampeg RB series sound better than the Fender Rumbles. Try both, they are in every GC.

 

[G-Viking]

Some of us feel that the Ampeg RB series sound better than the Fender Rumbles. Try both, they are in every GC.

I agree. I have both, and I prefer the sound of the Ampeg RB

 

[StyleOverShow]

About TB and the Rumble, it’s a Fender oriented community imo.

To the OP, there’s a bunch, don’t let brand names overly influence you, use your ears!

 

[-Stingray]

Any amp 500 watts or above should give you enough volume for pretty much any playing situation or stage.

Do you need to run at 2 ohm? If so, there's only a few amps that can do that (Mesa Subway, GK Legacy, a few others). Otherwise you'll need to use your ear to determine what to get. Also, while an older class A/B solid state amp can work just fine, I would check around for parts availability before buying one of those.

IMO, the cabinet will make a much bigger difference than the amp.

 

[Kingofrock43]

DanButler, what’s your budget?

Are you looking for a combo or a head/cab?

If you are in the USA, your first stop should be a local Fender dealer and check out the Invalid Link Removed. Brand new, it’s only $650 and it weighs 37 pounds. Even lighter but more powerful and with some useful features missing from the 500, is the Rumble 800, ironically it’s lighter, only 29 pounds, for $850.

View attachment 7177100

In the last 18 months, I’ve owned Hartke, Mark Bass, Genzler, Darkglass, and Katana.

Now I just play my Rumble 500 lol