Bass amp for gigging

[Peg Dizzler]

Hi bass forums, :)

I'm sure you guys see threads like this all the time (at least the guitar forum does) but I need some help making a decision.

I might be joining a band as a bassist fairly soon, and I'm wondering what amp is good enough for gigging. I know with guitar amps, at least 30 watts tube or 100 watts SS is necessary for gigging smaller venues, un-miked. People usually suggest a Randall or a Peavey 5150/6505 for a cheaper guitar amp good enough for gigging.

What size is necessary for bass? What are some generally good amps that many people around here would recommend for gigging?

Are these any good?

Gallien Krueger Backline 250 (125W)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/GallienKrueger-Backline-250-Bass-Head?sku=482533

Ashdown Electric Blue (180W)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ashdown-Electric-Blue-180-Bass-Amp-Head?sku=485035

Behringer BX4500H (450W)
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-BX4500H-Ultrabass-Bass-Head?sku=481090

Thanks in advance :)

[Son of Magni]

Basically if you triple the guitar power you'll be in the right ballpark.
- SoM

[Peg Dizzler]

So, at least 300W?

I've noticed that most bass amps are SS, I'm assuming that's so that it can have a better clean sound. And the high wattage would be so that it has alot of headroom, to keep that clean sound.

Does anyone have any experience with the amps I mentioned, or any other suggestions in a similar price range?

[Son of Magni]

Yeah, I think most people will tell you for a small hall or large bar kind of gig, you need 300 to be comfortable. Unless you have good PA support.

But I like to run my amps at like 3 or 4 on the vol, so I have plenty of headroom. If you're willing to run at 7 or 8 and risk blowing speakers, then maybe 120-150 watts would get you by.

Edit: Oh, I forgot to say, I've never used any of those brands. I'm more of an Ampeg or Eden fan.

[Peg Dizzler]

Oh okay.

Yeah I think I'd be comfortable running it at about 6 but definitely not more than 7. I'm sure a nice speaker cabinet and good efficiency speakers would make a big difference though (I plan on building my own cab).

I'm just not sure what bass amps are good, I don't have any experience in this department. :lol:

[Peg Dizzler]

Anyone? This thread has had alot of views and only one person responds..

[802.11-NGR]

An Ashdowm Mag300 with an Avatar 4x10 is always a popular combination around here...

[Tryxx]

Your budget doesn't seem that high, so it's going to be hard to make several "quality" suggestions, but I'll give it a go.


Don't touch Berhinger. Ever.
GK has a fairly good reputation, even their Backline series. There's talk about how there's a 'lemon' here or there, but over all you can expect good things from it.
I don't have any experience with Ashdown, but people seem to rave about them for the price.
SoM is right, if you feel you can push it, and have a fairly expendable income, there's more you can get away with. It just doesn't seem like the brightest move.
The best combo I've heard that can get over things like that is the Mesa/Boogie Walkabout. It just pumps out sound, and you don't know where it's coming from.

[sixner]

if possible, push your price up to like.. $350/400? Sell some of your current gear, sperm, random nic-nac's, games, ect....

and if you can go used.... that'd broaden the range a bit.
ebay.com
-sixner

[Mr. Pickle]

Don't be too affraid of Behringer.

[Dead Star]

I was always under the impression Behringer was a good manufacturer.

Oh well.

[Mr. Pickle]

Not here, in the bass forum. I think they are, but many seem to disagree.

[JoeDaddio]

Hartke seems to give people a pretty decent bang for their buck. Carvin as well. I've never played through either of these amps, but from what I hear, Hartke is fairly well respected. Not in terms of tone so much, but in terms of amps/dollar, reliability and toughness.



joe

[Jimbobntnr]

I'm going to stick to the GK recommendation. look for used stuff. Hartke heads. starting with the 3500 series are fine also. Truth be known, I would rather just have Joe's combo and run it through a PA than continue lugging a stack around with me, though. It gets old after a while.

[Peg Dizzler]

Awesome, thanks for all the suggestions guys!

Yeah I'm not really sure how much I can spend actually, it depends on how much I can save up, and how soon I need the rig for the band. Right now I have almost no money, but that's what it's like for me around Christmas time... I'd be getting the amp sometime in January or February, I'm just looking for suggestions ahead of time.

I'm fine with going used. I don't need a cab, just a head. The Ashdown Mag300 sounds like a pretty good deal. Does anyone have any experience with the Ashdown Electric Blue?

Carvin is great, I should have looked at them first. This B800 thing looks awesome. http://www.carvin.com/products/single.php?ItemNumber=B800&CID=BRX

I wish they had a slightly cheaper model.. :upset:

[British Kid]

Hartke seems to give people a pretty decent bang for their buck. Carvin as well. I've never played through either of these amps, but from what I hear, Hartke is fairly well respected. Not in terms of tone so much, but in terms of amps/dollar, reliability and toughness.



joe
123 on the Hartke.

i've currently got a hartke rig (HA5500 head with a 410XL cab) and i've already put it through alot of hell, just with dragging it around. Cab is one of my favorites, and the head is decent too (i would have bought something else, but i get a good discount on hartke stuff, and i do like the tone). i haven't had any problems with it yet, but i've heard stories of fans breaking and the heads catching on fire (just to let you know).

i think you should raise your price limit and go for a head/combo setup, probably with a hartke cab (aluminum coned ones) and then pick a head from there that would fit your needs, because the Hartke cab will do you well for any genre, IMO, and they're pretty cheap.

[Peg Dizzler]

i think you should raise your price limit and go for a head/combo setup, probably with a hartke cab (aluminum coned ones) and then pick a head from there that would fit your needs, because the Hartke cab will do you well for any genre, IMO, and they're pretty cheap.

Err, well it's not that easy. I don't have money.
Thanks for the suggestion for Hartke and all, but I also said I don't need a cab. What Hartke amp head do you recommend?

[edgebass5]

I've told this to people before, but it stands to be said again: If you're planning on building your own cab PLEASE model the driver in something like WinISD so you know how big to build your box and how to tune it. The box construction, porting, and tuning has as much if not more to do with the efficiency and tone of the completed cabinet than the driver itself.

[thelowsoundofbass]

I've told this to people before, but it stands to be said again: If you're planning on building your own cab PLEASE model the driver in something like WinISD so you know how big to build your box and how to tune it. The box construction, porting, and tuning has as much if not more to do with the efficiency and tone of the completed cabinet than the driver itself.

What he said, but the directions that come with the speaker work well, if you are using more than one speaker use something like WinISD.

I would recommend Yorkville, loudest shat that I have ever used. I have a 100w combo that I use for gigging. In my band there is a hard hitting drummer, two singers, an electric guitarist, an acoustic guitarist, a keyboard player and sometimes bongos and violin. I don't need PA support and the rest of the band uses it. I also keep it around 3 volume wise.

Peavey is also good.

lowsound