Good practice bass amp??

[Colo Springs E]

Hi all,
I bought a Fender Rumble 25 to use around the house. It's not bad. It's actually just about all I need for jamming with the stereo.

However, I don't *think* it'd be quite enough if I ever wanted a compact rig to haul to a small "coffee shop" type gig.

The Rumble 25 is 25w, 10" speaker.

There is a Bassman 25 that has same specs as above, but claims to be a pretty loud practice style amp. Anyone have any experience with this?

Will I likely have to get into either a Rumble 60 or Bassman 60 (60w each) to be able to cover a small "gig" with acoustic guitars?

Any advice/commentary appreciated as always!

thx,
-eric

 

[Bob Rogers]

Your 25 watter will probably be fine with unamplified acoustic guitars. Rather than having getting a sort of continuum of bass amps, I'd be inclined to invest in some small PA equipment. Maybe start with a single powered speaker. You could play directly into it and eventually invest in sound shaping equiment for the bass. I use a bass POD, but there are all kinds of preamps out there. The nice thing about this strategy is that once you have chosen the front end that is right for you, you have the option of going direct to the PA or into a component bass amp. Works for direct recording as well.

 

[Tim Armstrong]

I'm with Bob on this. That Rumble oughta be okay for practicing and jamming with acoustic guitars, and if it has a line out you can run it into a PA system for louder situations.

As I've mentioned before (probably too many times!), I gig with a fairly small amp (a 200-watt Genz Benz combo with a single 12" speaker), and use the amp mostly for stage volume. I run a line out to the P.A., and let it carry the bass to the audience. Works great for me, and I can do load-in in one trip!

Cheers, Tim

 

[fenderslaper]

I've been using a Ampeg BA115 lately that i I picked up used for $200.00. It's 100 watts and I can load in/out in one trip. I recomend 'em.

'slaper.

 

[Colo Springs E]

Anyone know about.....

.....the Behringer 120 watt combo? Called the bass workstation or sumthin? It is only around $230!! and it's 120 watts--seems too good to be true; is it?

As for PA, we have one! I'm only looking for a good "coffee shop" amp, or something that holds well with jamming with the stereo. The Rumble actually starts to fart out a little if I've got the volume up pretty high on my stereo.

Thanks,
-Eric

 

[Admin]

Great practice/small gig amp.

SWR Workingman's 10.

image removed

Surprisingly full and natural sound from a very small amp. (The speaker here is a 10" obviously, but the amp is pretty much a cube measuring 16.25"W x 14.5"H x 14"D.) At 80 watts (or 100w when you add an extension speaker), it won't fill a big club or keep up with a loud drummer – but it will do just about everything else. Great long list of features, including an XLR out if you want to patch it into the PA.

They're not cheap new, usually $350-$400 discounted, but you can often pick one up used for $200-$250 or so.

There are lots and lots and lots of other good choices, but if you see one of these used at a good price, jump on it. It's pro sound in a tiny package. All IMO, of course. CS

 

[Colo Springs E]

Thanks Chris!...

......I'll keep a lookout for one!

-Eric

 

[brock29609]

SWR

I second the Workingman's 10 recommendation.

 

[stevedenver]

workingmans 15 is nicer, huge bottom, can handle another cab and the power steps up, and almost the same price-upside is its giggable-and the tone is really nice

 

[Aaron Schiff]

Peavey Microbass

A woman I know has been using one for a 7 piece bluegrass/country/gospel band for years. Every once in a while they pick up an upright player and she is just the lead vocalist, but the little Peavey does the trick most of the time. So I think your Rumble will do fine also.

 

[Rob DiStefano]

I looked and listened to a few "practice" bass amps (SWR, Fender, GK, Behringer) and have decided to take a chance on a Carvin PB100-10, 100 watts into a 10" speaker, for $295/shipped. The cab is poplar ply so it weighs in at only 36#, and the 100 watts of power could be useful if I run a 12" or 15" extension cab with a Weber bass speaker (that'd be cheap and easy for me to build). Anyhoo, I'll see in a week or so ... glad Carvin has the 10 day return policy, just in case.

 

[fenderslaper]

Good choice

I think you will be happy with that amp.

'slaper