Need to get a louder bass amp, not sure where to start

[Tristesse]

Hi, I've been playing bass for just over a year using a simple 15 watt fender rumble amp, but now that I'm starting to play outside of my school I need to buy a louder amp. I'm really not very clued up on what different technical terms mean when it comes to amps and instruments, but I thought I'd probably look into 50-watt amps? Are there any good value ones that you'd recommend? Thanks

[mr dave]

It really depends on what your future goals are and what sort of budget you have for the purchase. You say you're playing outside of school now... where? Bars / clubs / house parties / festivals / studio sessions?

Personally I'd skip over the 50watt range and start looking around the 100s. There are plenty of options out there Peavey is pretty standard fare and have a reputation as workhorses. Myself I've got a Warwick 150watt combo amp and it's more than powerful enough for full band jams.

The main reason I'd skip over the smaller amp is because you've already got a small practice amp and going up to a 50 wouldn't be 'that' big of a jump. Also -trust me- DO NOT SELL that little amp, those things are so versatile and handy in a pinch you wouldn't believe (especially if you can find a way to elevate them so the speaker is closer to ear level in a group setting). The other reason is that once you get to the 100-150watt range you've got enough power that you can push your sound to fit into a live/small local gig band, a 50 'might' cut it, but you can always turn down a bigger amp - but there's no cranking anything past 11...

[GuitarBizarre]

Dave is right on the money here. 100 should be more than enough, but thats better than not enough.

As for tones - I'm not a bass maestro, but the only real answer is to go and try a lot of amps (Bring YOUR bass with you, don't use the shop basses, you don't want to trick yourself into thinking a certain amp sounds awesome, only to find that with YOUR bass it doesn't sound so great)

[Necromancer]

Its better to have the ability turn down verses not having the power available. I personally wouldn't be under 200 or 300 Watts on Bass. I prefer 300+. Theres some nice (active) bass guitars out there for around $400. It all depends on what kind of dynamics your looking for on bass (5-string?). Make sure your bass amp has the ability to bring out your mid and high end (tweeters). Built in Effects are a plus, Chorus, etc.

Good Luck! With the bass amp.

[Tristesse]

It really depends on what your future goals are and what sort of budget you have for the purchase. You say you're playing outside of school now... where? Bars / clubs / house parties / festivals / studio sessions?

Thanks for the reply, at the moment my band is just really a hobby and I hadn't particularly thought about the prospects of trying to make it big, as it's obviously incredibly competitive. We've got two festivals that are likely to have us, but I'm not sure how big the places are, and we're also starting to do a few small bars/clubs. I'm only 15 (16 in a month or two) so I don't have an abundance of money (thus why I only have a Squier P-bass) so I was hoping for an amp under £250, although I don't have much of an idea about the price ranges of different wattages.

The other reason is that once you get to the 100-150watt range you've got enough power that you can push your sound to fit into a live/small local gig band, a 50 'might' cut it, but you can always turn down a bigger amp - but there's no cranking anything past 11...

How portable are 100 watt amps? I'm not what people would call a 'hench' guy, it would be a bit unfortunate to buy one and then find that I'd require help lifting it up

As for tones - I'm not a bass maestro, but the only real answer is to go and try a lot of amps (Bring YOUR bass with you, don't use the shop basses, you don't want to trick yourself into thinking a certain amp sounds awesome, only to find that with YOUR bass it doesn't sound so great)

I think they have one of the same bass as mine (P-bass) hanging on the wall in my local music shop, but thanks for the reminder!

Built in Effects are a plus, Chorus, etc.

Would save me buying numerous pedals I guess!!

[GuitarBizarre]

Originally Posted by dazara

Thanks for the reply, at the moment my band is just really a hobby and I hadn't particularly thought about the prospects of trying to make it big, as it's obviously incredibly competitive. We've got two festivals that are likely to have us, but I'm not sure how big the places are, and we're also starting to do a few small bars/clubs. I'm only 15 (16 in a month or two) so I don't have an abundance of money (thus why I only have a Squier P-bass) so I was hoping for an amp under £250, although I don't have much of an idea about the price ranges of different wattages.

100 watts is enough.


How portable are 100 watt amps? I'm not what people would call a 'hench' guy, it would be a bit unfortunate to buy one and then find that I'd require help lifting it up

You're not going to get an amplifier that's easily portable by one person unless its a small amp. If its a small amp, it won't be loud enough. Its that simple. You're going to need two people if you want to move it further than "Around the same building", (IE, up one flight of stairs and across the floor of that building will be just about doable) especially if there are stairs involved. You don't need to be huge, but regardless of what you buy, forget about it being easy to move on your own.

I think they have one of the same bass as mine (P-bass) hanging on the wall in my local music shop, but thanks for the reminder!

Bring yours anyway. Different instruments sound different even when they're built the same way.

Would save me buying numerous pedals I guess!!

there