Best CHEEP Bass amp?

[TelZilla]

Just soliciting opinions/recommendations on a small bass amp.

A few details:
~Just for practice, small gigs, maybe a little home recording
~Its sort of half for my kid
~Price range: $150-$250 (Hey, I said cheap)

I'm a guitar player, so I don't have a ton of experience with bass amps. In that price range, I'm thining used is my best bet, but I really have no feel for what's a good choice.

I remember fooling around with a Fender Musicmaster Bass amp, and digging it, but it seems the Secret is out on those- on the bay they seem like they are going for $500ish. I remeber prices in the $200s about 3 years ago, but my memory ain't so good.

I'm goiong to head aout to the local guitar center too. Anything I should check out there?

Just fishing for opinions. Thanks.

 

[SamClemons]

I have been playing bass for 35 years. If you watch craigslist, you can buy a lot of very good used amps in that price range. Often for 50-100 dollars. For 50-100 you can buy a lot of good Crates, Behrengers, Ibanez amps. for $150-250, you ought to be able to pick up some very nice Peaveys, Fenders Solidstates, possibly even a Hartke, Ashdown, GK, or Ampeg or Roland Cube.

I use a Roland Cube 100 a lot. Lot of power, lot of tonal variation, lot of inputs and outputs. You might pick up one of these for $200-250. I see a lot of nice Fenders go in that range. I like a number of amps, like the Roland, better in solid state. Shoot, you could even pick up an old Kustom or something for $250.00 Check your local Craigslist.

 

[Singin' Dave]

First comment is forget tube amps for bass particularly in this price range.

Used peavey bass amps are bullet proof and cheap. I have the 1x10 Minx which is 40w and surprisingly loud that I got for $40. I can't say it hangs with a drummer to well but perfect for acoustic jams personal practice etc. One step up from that is the 60w basic 12 I think it's called. That amp is really loud for it's size and worth looking into.

 

[SamClemons]

Are you in Cleveland OH....Craigslist current

Peavey TNT 115 with Sheffield for $250.00 great amp, price is actually little high....

An old Randall Stack bass amp for $250...might check that out

100 watt Crate for 200, I would offer 100

Peavey KB3 for 175, offer them less

Fender Bassman 100 for 150 dollars obo, Bet you can get for a 100 and all the amp most people ever need.

Accoustic Mini Stack 100 watt, for $190. Another good amp

Bet you could talk a lot of these folks down and there are a lot more amps listed there.

 

[SamClemons]

The Peavey Firebass 700 watt amp for $150.00 in Cleveland, put a nice cab with it and you are in the pro leagues. More power than you would ever need. All those are actually strong amps. You could use something smaller and cheaper.

 

[TelZilla]

The Peavey Firebass 700 watt amp for $150.00 in Cleveland, put a nice cab with it and you are in the pro leagues. More power than you would ever need. All those are actually strong amps. You could use something smaller and cheaper.

Damn, thanks for all the legwork. Do you charge a finder's fee?

 

[Justinvs]

First comment is forget tube amps for bass particularly in this price range.

Used peavey bass amps are bullet proof and cheap. I have the 1x10 Minx which is 40w and surprisingly loud that I got for $40. I can't say it hangs with a drummer to well but perfect for acoustic jams personal practice etc. One step up from that is the 60w basic 12 I think it's called. That amp is really loud for it's size and worth looking into.

+1 on Peavey.

I picked up my 200w BassMax head for under 150.00 and it works greeat. Probably more amp than you need for home, but any of the Peavey SS amps should be right up your alley.

Justin

 

[ReIgnition]

I have a BA112 Ampeg that's nice for when I fiddle with my bass. It's loud enough for a small band practice, small space.

 

[refin]

I bought a Hartke HA1200 for about $150.Unbelievable low end,like a mini-SVT.The first thing I did when I got it was take out the aluminum speaker and put in an EV--big mistake! The stock speaker is incredible.I have an Ashdown (import model) head on top as a backup.Got it for $100 on CL.This particular night I was using the Ashdown head.

 

[TelZilla]

I bought a Hartke HA1200 for about $150.Unbelievable low end,like a mini-SVT.The first thing I did when I got it was take out the aluminum speaker and put in an EV--big mistake! The stock speaker is incredible.I have an Ashdown (import model) head on top as a backup.Got it for $100 on CL.This particular night I was using the Ashdown head.

That Ashdown head is cool. Reminds of my Dad's old Stereo equimnet- back in the 70's he had a couple of Macintosh components that were built in to the wall above our TV. They definitely had that old-school analog look.

 

[winny pooh]

Ashdown's perfect ten is the best value bass amp I have played.

 

[superhand]

You can find a SWR workingman's 15 for about $250 used. That's what I have. Its a beast. Plenty of clean volume. I forget how many watts it is but its plenty loud for me.

Acoustic brand bass amps and the smaller Ampeg combos don't do it for me. Very boring sounding to me.

Buying used can get you more amp for the money sometimes. Used gear holds its value very well too.

My amp is probably still worth what I paid for it, if I clean it up.

 

[jh45gun]

Just an other thought what guitar amps do you have. You could pick up a bass speaker put in in a cab and use an existing guitar amp to power the bass speaker cab.

 

[Mike Bruce]

Yorkville XM50. 50 watts, balanced line out, rca jacks for cd in, bass/mid/treble eq, closed back, 10" speaker (I replaced mine with an Eminence), and lots of ballsy tone. I probably paid the going rate for mine, but I've seen them as low as $100 to $200 used.

Peace, Mike.

 

[Chris S.]

You can find a SWR workingman's 15 for about $250 used. That's what I have. Its a beast. Plenty of clean volume. I forget how many watts it is but its plenty loud for me.

+1

I picked up a used Workingman's 15 for $190 a couple of years ago and it's just a great combo. Beyond being cheap, it just plain SOUNDS killer. Hope it helps, CS

 

[Hobbs79]

It's not huge, but it gets the job done. I bought this one a few days after Christmas and use it for practice and smaller get-togethers. if you have a loud drummer you're not going to be able to get a load enough sound to be heard over them, but other than that it's a great amp and it has all sorts of feed options.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Bassman-100-Combo-Amp?sku=480871

 

[Slickster]

BA112 Ampeg ... $100 craigslist. good for goofin' around on the cheap. doesn't sound too bad.