Lookin' for a solid Bass amp

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a bass amp for the numerous basses I have.

I might be able to get a few gigs playing bass so I'd like for it to be powerful enough to handle a small barroom.

I really like the sound of Fenders into Fenders. I also like the bass to sound BIG without necessarily being LOUD.

I've been looking into bass amps for quite a while but honestly don't know much about em'.

I've looked at them new fangled Bassman combo amps. How are those? Will they give me what I'm looking for?

Any advice and/or suggestions is much appreciated. :grin:

I just played my first gig with my new amp, a Hartke LH500 head that I run into a 2x10 cab, and based on that one gig, I'm thinking you should take a SERIOUS look at one! I got mine from Sweetwater for $350 shipped, and it sounds like a classic Fender tube amp (it has a tube preamp feeding a 500 watt power amp). I felt like I was comin' home....

Tim

If you're interested in a combo, a used SWR Workingman's 15 can usually be found for around $250 or so. 160 watts through 1x15 and very gig-able. Best of luck, CS

I have one of the new fangled Fender Bassman 150's with the slant back. I'm really happy with it! I run my Geddy Lee Jazz into it, and it's got enough power to jam with, and a nice rich sound. Best part it only weighs about 65 pounds. If it's not loud enough on its own for the room, there's a line out for the P.A.

If you're interested in a combo, a used SWR Workingman's 15 can usually be found for around $250 or so. 160 watts through 1x15 and very gig-able. Best of luck, CS

Strangely enough, I have also been in the market for a new amp and I found one of those on Kijiji... might be a NGD soon :smile:

I run it through a 15 inch 400Watt Audio speaker in combination with a Fender (MIJ) Sting P-bass. Sounds perfect to me, powerfull enough to handle most situations.

Vincent

I got a used SWR Workingman's 15 four years ago for $300 in decent shape. I think it's a pretty good amp, absolutely worth what I paid.

The only drawback is that it's a combo, therefore big and heavy.

Funny...on a Fender forum...no one else read this line...:shock:


"I really like the sound of Fenders into Fenders."

Well... I play a Fender Rumble 100... Maybe not Ballroom Material but it has a DI out so you can plug inta a house system. My Brother and former bassist (2 different people) have the Ashdown MAG 300H 300W Bass Amp and it Screams with both 4x10's or 1x15. Also has some B@ll$ IMHO. We've played everything from small parties to outdoor festivals and every time it seems to sound sweeter and sweeter.

I've never cared much for Fender brand bass amps, which opinion, with $4, might get you something at Starbucks. SWR, on the other hand, produces very nice stuff, lots of players seem to use them. Pick your price point.

Anybody use one of these puppies?
http://www.philjonesbass.com/pjbdirect/images/PJWeb-P8T24B.png

Funny...on a Fender forum...no one else read this line...:shock:


"I really like the sound of Fenders into Fenders."

He means classic Fender tube amp, not the current stuff (I think!). So I wrote:

I just played my first gig with my new amp, a Hartke LH500 head that I run into a 2x10 cab, and based on that one gig, I'm thinking you should take a SERIOUS look at one! I got mine from Sweetwater for $350 shipped, and it sounds like a classic Fender tube amp (it has a tube preamp feeding a 500 watt power amp). I felt like I was comin' home....



Tim

If you want advice about fender basses into fender bass amps, I'm not your man, skip the rest of this post.

If you'd like to hear my input, here it is. I play a Rick bass with replacement p'ups that give me a pretty nice, thumpy, P-bass sorta tone (not my idea, the p'ups were in it when I got it) and got plenty of tone & volume out of an Eden Nemesis 200w 2x10 combo. Not excessively huge nor heavy.

Also makes a damn fine keyboard amp with the EQ set flat, in case it ever comes up.

I like the Ampeg B-100 Rocket - 115 with 100 watts, pretty loud, pretty portable, and has a very warm round thumpy sound. Also, looks great.
For grab and go gigs I use a GK MB (MicroBass) 150 watt head with matching 112 aluminum cab. I can hold the head and cab in one hand, and the bass in the other, but it's still loud enough to play along with a light drummer at folk/jazz loudness gigs, and it has XLR out to go to the PA, if necessary.

Guys, I honestly don't have too much $ or know too much about any of this. I've only dealt with combo guitar amps in my few years of playing, so I don't know where to even start with cabs.

I'll have to check, but I think $350 is my budget.

Thank you for all the suggestions guys! The advice on the Bassman amps has been helpful.

@ Tim

I would probably buy one of those heads and a cab if I had the money... unfortunately being 17 doesn't help me get money in any fashion...

Lerb, you're a lucky young man. I think it's really hard to get a bad product these days. Others will of course disagree. For what you have to spend there should be a ton of used stuff out there and some new. The GKs, SWRs (I don't care for them but thousands of others do) Ashdown, Fender, Hartke......it just goes on and on. I think at minimum look for a 1-15 or 2-10 whether a combo or seperates. That really only matters if you prefer one type of head and one type of cabinet. That's what seperates brings to the table.

Yes, you are a good bass player and I thought you were already getting some work. With your knowledge of real country music you should be getting calls as soon as you ask for them.

If you want light and powerful, try a Markbass. You have to go to Guitar Center (Yea I know) to see one but they are impressive. I have a 12 " combo (300 watts) and it will do most gigs and weighs 26 lbs. I add another 12 cab and now I have 500 watts and I have used it outside no problem. It has a couple of tone circuits that really help shape the sound you want. The best thing I've used yet for bass.

Note that his budget is way below Markbass level!

Clint, I still think this Hartke is exactly what you're looking for, and would note that both Sweetwater and AMS will split your payment into three equal payments interest-free, so you can take three months to pay for it. Add any decent cab and you're good to gig...

Tim

I waited and finally got the bass amp I'd been wanting at a great price - A GK 700 RBII, and less than $350*. It's 320W@8 ohms, 480W@4, and simply great. Couldn't be happier.

* less than $300, actually, but OP is willing to go $350 (unless he means cab too) and besides, who's counting?

I also like the Ampeg B100R Rocket Bass Amp. Kind of heavy but I move it all the time & I'm 60. Not a problem for me. What I really would like is a Thunderfunk Amp to go with my Aguilar GS410 (4 ohm) for this band I'm playing in now. A little too loud but a lot of fun. I am using a Mark Bass head now with 500 watts at 4 ohms. Sounds OK but still not quite enough power. Money is also a problem for me.
BOB

I also like the Ampeg B100R Rocket Bass Amp.

The B100R is a fine amp for smaller gigs (plus the line out for bigger ones?).

I am using a Mark Bass head now with 500 watts at 4 ohms. Sounds OK but still not quite enough power.

You must have a LOUD drummer!

Money is also a problem for me.

Sheesh, whine whine whine. Why do I hang out here with you non-multibillionaires?

:wink:

But I have the Lottery ticket that's gonna win on Saturday night.
No more money problems for me.
For now all I can afford to do is Whine, Whine, Whine.
It keeps me busy.

Looks like Fender is putting out some new Bassman TV tube amps for bass, but it looks like they'll run about $700-1000 USD.

But I know what amp I'm getting now :grin:

[QUOTE=....... all I can afford to do is Whine, Whine, Whine.
It keeps me busy.[/QUOTE]

To quote the Killer.....If you gotta nickel an I gotta dime, let's get together and buyz us some wine....:wink:

some buy a pint, some buy a quart but if you buy a half gallon, you're playin' the swine ...

first swing tune I ever sang ... still a crowd pleaser in these parts.

Hey Lerb!
What you are embarking on is a lot like buying a used car - when you're dealing with the restricted budget, you kind of ignore the color and to en extent even the model and buy the best maintained example you can find. Craigslist is a decent choice around my area.

For $350 you should be able to nail down a decent 200 to 300 watt GK, SWR, Peavey and a 1x15 cab. If it were me, it would be a GK 400 and an old TL 606 cab. If you or someone close to you is handy, it is an incredibly easy cab to build. Later on you can swap the EV 15 for a lightweight Eminence 3015 wich works in that design like a champ. 1 of those cabs can get seriously loud! 2 of those cab's can get outta control loud. Great classic country / blues / roots rock tone.

If you are the handy type or have access to a decent woodworker, I have a 2.6 cu ft cab design for the 3015. It doesn't go as deep as the TL 606 but it's response is a lot smoother has a more clear mid range. It takes EQ really well so I do that to beef up the lows. I designed it with a super smooth roll off in the low end so as you bring up the lows there aren't any annoying 'lumps or humps' to be dealt with.

It's a real easy build too!

One of my favorite bargain brands is 'Sonic'. I have one of their compact 15's covered in rat fur from like 20 years ago. Works great, very driver friendly. That cab and the Bag End S15D were the inspiration behind my new design. Those little Sonic's pop up from time to time under a hun. That and a GK 400/700 and you're good to go. You do have to see what 15 is loaded in those cab's. Mine has probably had 10 + drivers in it over the years. From cheap Eminence, CTS and no names to JBL & EV, now it has a 3015. Check to see that it is a plywood cab and not particle board...

... and combo amps generally (here be the the sound of water swirling down the drain) don't sound very good at all. Usually the cab design suffers from the marketer's desire to make the thing portable.

http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/rig/loud1.jpg

Sonic on the bottom, Prototype cab on the top. The rack provides an idea for the overall size... Major differences between the 2 are a slight increase in size overall, a slightly taller, narrower and deeper port, more ridgid bracing - that bracing means a lot! Very few cab's you can buy are well braced. Even in the high end. I find that darned strange...

dressed up a bit.http://w3.gorge.net/mfbrown/rig/3015Final.jpg

The finish is a Rustroleum enamel from Home Depot. The grille was from a Fendersih style cloth I stumbled over one day. the fram from the grill is cut from a square of ply scrap. I used to piece build them and somebody around here said 'just cut it out of scrap'. I kinda went duh... OK. the rest of hte scrap goes for bracing... IMO - it looks better in person. My photog skills need a little work ...

Anyhow - if you have access to a woodshop- this stuff is pretty easy to churn out.

Can't believe no one has mentioned Carvin. Their new line of bass amps is stellar. The BX500 has been getting rave reviews. It's extremely light, both tube and solid state driven, tons of features, 500 watts, great tone. Pair it with one of their 10.2BRX or 10.4BRX neo cabs and you're all set. The equivalent rig from any other brand would cost you 2-4x as much. I'm on a couple of bass forums, and some people are ditching their classic standby rigs for Carvin.

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ummm. Not really. The BX-500 is getting absolutely killed on reliability issues.

ummm. Not really. The BX-500 is getting absolutely killed on reliability issues.

linky?

p.s. I've started to shy away from Eden for the same problem. My Hartke broke twice last year. I don't think any brand is immune.

TB search in the amps forum... there is some truth to that all brands fail are susceptible to failure. It seems to be more than others IME. the trend towards Class D power section and miniaturization has not improved reliability any is my take. (EA, GK, GB...) There have also been a coupe of mismanaged buy-outs. (Eden, Hartke...)

Eden from the early 2000's back I trust. My old WT-800 is from 98 and it's a workhorse. The GB RB II series has been near to bullet proof in my experience. I think the new Hartke stuff is probably overbuilt for it's price point. Partly as a response to how badly put together some of there stuff was over the last couple of years. I'm guessing that someone at Samson opened their eyes and said - you know, if we want an ROI form this purchase, maybe we'd best build some value back into the brand - because they were well on their way to becoming a laughingstock ...

My EA Micro went back to the factory 2 times before it was completely sorted out. Happily it never failed on a gig. It has been solid as a rock for a long time now but I was wondering there for a while ...

One thing I can feel real strong about is tha for the most part, customer service in the industry is very good. GK, GB Carvin, EA - all those seem to be taking care of their customers with issues. The one company I'm not real thrilled with right now is Godin... The synth output died on my E string - yeah, I know... what the heck are you doing with a bass synth anyway... After email exchanges with Godin's customer service - who are near to useless IME - I finally emailed the pickup vendor (RMC) got two emails, followed a couple of suggestions and Yippee! back in business (it was saw dust not fully cleaned out of the cavity after routing. That was shorting the E synth output. Easy to fix. Godin however is still looking for a tech I can call... bozo's ...

Anyway - good luck with the BX-500. There is one Portlander that is working on his 3rd exchange. I'm not sure he's joking when he says he's selling this one before he opens the box ... BTW - One PA rack I work with is chock full of DCM's - like 4KW worth to the subs alone... and that thing is rock solid. So it isn't all Carvin. it's that marketing imperative to cram as many features into a small, powerful, lightweight head - at the lowest possible price point - it just isn't making stuff more reliable. You look at Hartke and they went the other way. Same price point but 30 percent of the features (I'm rounding but you get the idea - the LH is a really basic head) so they have extra left to spend on physical packaging and on a heavier duty power supply and yep - there is a weight penalty. My guess is that those amps are going to last & last though... afterall, they do have a brand to rebuild. This stuff kinda goes in cycle...

I don't think any brand amp is immune to failure.
It's not a question of if, but when & where.
It hasn't changed in the 44 years I've been playing bass & I've been through a lot of different amps looking for the sound in my head. If you have an amp you like it doesn't matter what brand or how much it costs. The ultimate goal is too just be happy with what you have & appreciate the fact that you are playing live music to entertain people.
Good luck on your quest for just the right bass amp.

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a bass amp for the numerous basses I have.

I might be able to get a few gigs playing bass so I'd like for it to be powerful enough to handle a small barroom.

I really like the sound of Fenders into Fenders. I also like the bass to sound BIG without necessarily being LOUD.

With a GK amp you will be heard, depending on what cab utilized of course. Sound like a Fender into a Fender? A Fender will sound like a Fender through most any amp.

I know I'm a bit late to this party, but I want to second the suggestion about the SWR Working Man's 15. I have an older SWR Working Man's 15 that I got used on Craigslist a few years ago for $150. I also have a Working Man's 12 from the same era that I bought new back in the day for around $500.

I like the sounds I get from them, they're very versatile, and they've been reliable for me. The 12 is more for Bluegrass or Jazz, but the 15 can handle Rock and Roll in small and medium sized bar rooms.

Both amps can be used stand-alone or can drive an external speaker, which boosts the power too. I've never needed an extension speaker, the 15 gets the job done for me. I know SWR has made different variations of these over the years, but both of mine are from the era right before Fender bought SWR, and have the "shelf-top" where the part of the cab in front of the knobs tempts you to use it as a drink rest...

http://www.bassemporium.com/images_products/usedswrmn15c8627.jpg


Another option is to look for old Peavey PA heads. I know an excellent bass player who uses an older Peavey PA head into a 410 bass cab, and it sounds killer. You can find these cheap, I actually own an older XR600-B that I got as a spare. It's similar to the one in the pic, and it cost me a total of $135, including a fitted Anvil flight case.


http://mgrinventory.s3.amazonaws.com/small/tfjv8Fb9cU-9ay5GkZjO2g.JPG

The thing weighs a ton (about 65 lbs in the flight case), but it works like a champ. I keep it as a backup to a newer Peavey PA head, which has never let me down either, but $135 in the flight case was too good a deal to pass up. I've lent it out on many occasions and aside from a few scratchy pots, everything still works perfectly.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/DSCF0012-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/rhomco/DSCF0014-4.jpg

Dont over look those old Peavey Musician Heads. They are still out there and dirt cheap.
You know they were built like tanks and offer 200 solid watts of power. I have the SWR rig in the photos that I use for bass gigs and jams. I bought a new SWR-4004 Head when I bought it and took the old Peavey along for backup. Nowdays I just take the Peavey, it never but never fails and it sounds better in most situations. I bought another very nice Musician just this week on ebay for $84.00 shipped just because I could not resist it. Not your pro bassist choice these days but I love it.
Good luck in your hunt,
Rob

I'm digging that Traynor head, actually! I miss mine!

Tim

I just scored a '68 (I think) Ampeg SB12 Portaflex!
Details to follow. :grin:

+1 more for SWR Workingmans 15.

I love mine, its not a tube amp but you can use a tube preamp to warm it up real nice.

It is kinda heavy, about 50 pounds, but it is plenty loud for a small club, or a party. And if its not loud enough, hook it up to a external 2x10 or hook it up to the PA with the balanced output.

I picked mine up used for $250.

Anybody use one of these puppies?
http://www.philjonesbass.com/pjbdirect/images/PJWeb-P8T24B.png

Tried it, wasn't quite loud enough.

Anybody use one of these puppies?
http://www.philjonesbass.com/pjbdirect/images/PJWeb-P8T24B.png

I actually played through a used one at the Atlanta Guitar Center on tour a couple years back... It was a few months after I had found the Phil Jones site so I was really excited to try it. Couldn't stand the thing, it was way too hi-fi. The frequency response was totally flat. It didn't sound like a bass amp, it just sounded like the strings, but louder.

At $350 try one of the Acoustic B200 heads and the 1x15 cab. I think it used to be $349.99 and it's a great sounding amp, IMO. My former bass player had the head, 1x15 + 4x10 cab stack-It was awesome sounding, and was way louder than the 200 watt rating. Blew the doors off the new Ampeg 350 watt head and 6x10 cab head had before!

Seriously, try one of these at GC, or anywhere else you can find one, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised!

I just scored a '68 (I think) Ampeg SB12 Portaflex!
Details to follow. :grin:

Sweet!

a B12 or B15 is definatley on my wish list ...

Well, I'm not as happy as I thought I'd be, the OT is blown and no speaker. But the blue-diamond Tolex is in pretty good shape. It cleaned up nicely and except for some scuffs and a small (1-inch) gouge in the front it looks like a Closet Classic.
I ordered an Eminence Beta 12A, a cap kit, and the OT215 transformer from Fliptops in Buffalo, as well as a new handle, gasket and one of the shockmounts. I should have it up and running by next week.
I'm new to the Portaflex, although I have played through a borrowed B-15 before. I wasn't aware of the shockmounts and I had no idea that the latches were part of the speaker leads. Talk about forgotten technology!
This amp will probably be used for home use only (at 25 watts I can't think of a single gig I could use it), so I'm restoring it to original spec (except for the speaker). I guess I could have put in a bigger transformer and a different speaker, but then it would be hard to stop making "improevements".
I was thinking of a Portaflex with a Neo 15" speaker (maybe the 3015?), fake trannies, orange diodes in dummy power tubes, a small tube pre-amp using the two 12AX7's and a 500-watt class-D amp attached to the floor of the cab. But I think returning it to original is what I really want.

It's a '67.

If you want the 'monster' Portaflex, the 100 watt B15R (?) of a few years back is darned nice but.... the cab can't actually handle 100 watts. Stuff starts rattling ... Still a very nice sounding amp at more reasonable volumes... I would stick with a restoration on the B12 and maybe spend the rest of your bread on something like an EV RE-20 with which to record it ...

This amp will probably be used for home use only (at 25 watts I can't think of a single gig I could use it), so I'm restoring it to original spec (except for the speaker). I guess I could have put in a bigger transformer and a different speaker, but then it would be hard to stop making "improevements".

No, what you're looking for is the famous 57 attachment that connects to the front of the grill. Then it'll play any gig anywhere.

It depends on how inexpensive you are looking? In my experience a weeks worth of shopping on craigslist and I was able to get a Silverface bassman and a 6x10 for less than 800 dollars and a 2 hours drive compaired to spending 1000 alone on just the cab brand new that's pretty darn inexpensive to me. I'd say scour the internet and pool some resources. 4x10's can be found for pretty darn cheap and bassmans go for 300-450 depending on condition.

Not sure if there's any still floating around, but when my Ampeg B2 took a dump this spring I ended up getting one of the discontinued SWR 350X's for $319 shipped. Total different beast from the Ampeg, but a nice head, tube-pre, active cut/boost style EQ with sweepable mids, line out from the tube pre, etc.etc.

BEST bass amp i ever had, and gigged with at bars/clubs, was a 60's ampeg b15n portaflex. wish i had that puppy today ....

I Just bought a new Acoustic B100 combo at GC for $250. This was most bang for the buck. Sounds great. I also use it as a slave for my 5W tube amp with guitar & my acoustic/electric sounds great through it. I put casters on it when I got it home.