Bass Amp

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

My nephew is asking me for advice re: a bottom-of-the-line bass amp. I would think he just needs something good enough to jam with friends with, maybe take to a coffehouse sized room. He wants cheap. He may not go beyond experimenting and putting it away. What are some cheap options for small, functional rigs? I know I can research the Peavey, Crate et al options but I'd like to hear real-world-experience advice. Gracias.

Kevin Lange · From: Dickson, TN

A friend of mine uses a Behringer BXL1800A. He says it's just great. I was in Nashville a little over a month ago and heard a guy playing a Behringer BX4210A and I thought the tone was right on. I know that there are many varied opinions about the quality and reliability of Behringer's gear, I don't own alot of their stuff, but the things I have, I have no complaints about at all.

[This message was edited by Kevin Lange on 24 November 2006 at 09:18 AM.]

Greg Simmons · From: where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave

Check out the Nemesis Silver Series stuff by Eden Electronics.

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“Back then, everything was different, and you only saw it once; now everything’s the same and you see it over and over again"
-Peter Case

[This message was edited by Greg Simmons on 24 November 2006 at 09:22 AM.]

Mike Winter · From: Portland, OR

Check out the Fender Bassman 100 Combo amp. Real good bang for the buck...sounds great and would be perfect for the small gigs you mentioned.
http://www.zzounds.com/item--FEN2345100010

John Cisco · From: Alexandria Virginia, USA

As a bass player I'd say have them try the small SWR amps. The less expensive ones are called the LA series. $200 gets you the 10" one. There's also a 12" and a 15" in that series. Just right for small venues, folk music, acoustic etc. They have lots of other, more expensive ones that are great as well.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

We wen Bass amp shopping, for my wife, about two years ago and really didn't find much that we liked for deep bass country. Most of the amps were for the rockers and their "lead bass".

We finally settled on a Carvin PB200 that has the "deep" bass for traditional country.

The Peavey Minx 110 is a good amp for small venues. But it's not for the high volume types. The Minx 110 also makes a good acoustic guitar amp.

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

I'm passing all this info on to my nephew. I looked up the Carvin and it seems that the only amp they currently offer in that series is a PB100. I suspect that 100W is enough for his needs but I need more info from him on just where he thinks he's going with this-all, musically, aspirationally.

P Gleespen · From: Toledo, OH USA

What he really needs is an SVT.

No but seriously folks...

GK makes a pretty decent combo (that's also pretty small) that can be had for about 300 bucks.

I don't know if that really qualifies as "cheap" but I've always had pretty good luck with GK. ("pretty good luck" to me means I only burned out three 800RBs, but I used to ride 'em pretty hard)

Ian Finlay · From: Kenton, UK

The low end Ashdown combos are great. I have a 150W 1x15 and it really brings out the character of the bass. Anything from a deep thud to a more modern sound.

Ian

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

Used Peaveys offer great bang-for-the-buck. A 200-watt "TNT" can usually be had for $250 or less.

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

We had a Peavey TNT115S but at 90lbs it was a "Killer".

Alan Rudd · From: Ardmore, Oklahoma

Hartke B30.

David L. Donald · From: Koh Samui Island, Thailand

Nothing smaller than a 12" for bass in a single speaker cab.
Especially for the young,
they tend to blow things up sooner...

The ASW would be fine, the Fender Combo too.
Basically plug the kid into the price range you like,
and take the amp he likes.
Unless this is a xmass surprise.

I am playing through 2 systems.
a 1000w Warwick Extreme into a 2-10 cab w/ tweeter,
but using about 20-50 watts most of the time.
I would like to add the 1-15 cab to it for outdoor gigs with drums.

And a 30w clean 50w dirty 8" speaker battery powered Crate Bassbuss.
But this amp though good for coffehouse gigs etc,
would likely not work for a young player and a drummer.
I do sometimes for road gigs on boats, with percussion
and put the little bass amp right near my ear, and DI to the pa.

[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 26 November 2006 at 09:28 PM.]

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