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Just bought a Fender P bass (Mexican 50's roadworn) and need a half decent little amp for not silly money. It's just for in the house so I can hear it rather than the Pyramid stage at Glasto.
Any recommendations? Dont really want to spend more than £200.
I think it depends exactly what you want from it - if it is only ever going to be for home noodling, then you can probably pick up an Ashdown practice amp pretty cheaply - I picked pu a second hand one for about £30, but even new they're only about £80:
https://ashdownmusic.com/collections/combos/products/tour-bus-10
For a bit better sound and component quality, I would look at the EBS session amps, about which I've heard good things:
https://ebssweden.com/content2/combos/session-bass-combos/
you might be able to get away with a v quiet gig with that too.
Or if oyu like cute little combos, the PJB range might do:
https://www.thomann.de/gb/phil_jones_bass_combo_m_7.htm
If you're *ever* going to want to use it to play live however, the new wave of class D powered amps mean you can get pretty good quiet response in a reasonably compact package. Stuff like the Fender Rumble or GK MB ranges are pretty reasonably priced and will cope with most gig circumstances.
Check out the FS section on Basschat too - some great bargains to be had.
Good advice. I’d also rate the Ampeg BA108v2. Cracking amp for the money.
Cheers for that Jakester, Ill check them out later after work.
..and GTDave
I've been looking recently and I've promised myself a Fender Rumble LT 25 when I hit my next weight loss target
https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/190110337320008--fender-rumble-lt25
https://www.guitarworld.com/reviews/fender-rumble-lt25-review
If you like the idea of the different effects (I do) then there's also the Spark Positive grid https://www.positivegrid.com/spark/ (possibly slightly over budget).
Watching this with interest as I've recently acquired a mid-90's vintage P-Bass, had it serviced and had some lovely silky flatwounds put on it and I'm now looking for an amp.
Anyone had any experience with the Orange Crush Bass series? Got an eye on the 50, been a sucker for their kit for years.
I've been using a TC Electronic BG250 combo (or something like that) with a 2x8in cab. It's great - and you can add a Toneprint drive or chorus or whatever...
S/H they're under your budget - https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/184483990921
though there are plenty of nice Ashdowns aroundd too - https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/254758066659
I’ve been using a TC Electronic BG250 combo (or something like that) with a 2x8in cab. It’s great – and you can add a Toneprint drive or chorus or whatever…
I had the 15" version of this for a while, and it was great.
I got a cool little Marshall off Facebook Marketplace for £30. Tons on there, no need to spend £200. “is this still available hun?”
I have a vox vt50 on the living room for a practice amp
I bought it to use for guitar, to t sounds fine with a bass going through it.
It's 50w with an attenuator. It can be run at living room volume and sound ace, or turned up at a practice. It can keep up with a quiet drummer and a couple of quieter guitarist.
The guitarist in my last band borrowed it a couple of times for smaller gigs. It kept up with an un miked drummer, two guitars and keys.
They do 30w to 120w versions. If it's purely for practice on your own, the 30w would probably be perfect and smaller .
I have a gens Benz 600w with a couple of light 2x10 speakers for giging. It is just about quiet enough to use in the house on 1 or 2 out of 10.
There's one on eBay at the min. If you are thinking about giging I'd go for that and a small cabinet.
I've always preferred the sound of Ashdown amps to Fender and they can usually be found very cheap second hand.
I've got a 65w FiveFifteen I'm going to list on eBay this weekend that I don't use anymore. You're welcome to it for beer money if you're near Essex.
I paid just over £200 for one of these at the start of lockdown.
It was worth buying one that looks cool as it lives in the corner of the living room and my mrs. likes the colour! Anything so I don't have to move it around every time I want to use it.
It sounds mint to my ears but I've got nothing to compare it to.
Barefaced 1x10 with a TL Audio head here. Bit over budget (!) but it sounds incredible.
At the smaller/cheaper end of the spectrum I've been massively impressed with my Blackstar Fly, guitar version though...
i've got the same orange bass crush 50 as sharkattack.
Its available in 25w, 50w and 100w versions. The 50w is fine for home use - volume set to half way
- its loud enough without being too loud. Max does rattle the windows a little, and when i was out at jam sessions locally it was fine most of the time - loud enough that i wasnt maxed out unless there were a lot of players - 10 acoustic guitars together are loud! Have only properly gigged with it once at an open mic night @ the Golden Lion in Tod, and it was ok within the mix, considering everyone else was going through
light enough that its not too bad being shifted about. has a built in tuner too which is handy - saved having to locate one, just plug in, switch on the amp. I tend to leave the tuner button on all the time - as it doesnt stop you playing at all, its just some LEDs blinking away.
Also have a old Marshall 12w bass combi thats small and light with a decent sound.
The fender rumble mentioned above is a nice little practice amp. I played through a mates one not that long ago.
Thanks people.
Right now its either between the Fender Rumble 25 (what's the difference between a 25v3 and an LT?) or an Orange Crush - all circa £150. The OC50 looks tasty but I just don't want to go over the budget.
Hmmm, I find that I don't need to plug the bass in when playing at home?
Hmmm, I find that I don’t need to plug the bass in when playing at home?
Really?
You don't live with my wife, yourguitarhero. 😉 When household noise is too high I plug in with headphones (guitar modeling amp) or pick up the acoustic bass, recently bought mainly because I can still hear it while Madame is watching a murder mystery.
Have you considered something like the Zoom B1Xon and a decent set of headphones?
I hardly ever use my amp at home these days and love being able to play around with the sounds on the pedal as loud as I like, can plug in my iPod and play along too.
what’s the difference between a 25v3 and an LT?
The LT has the effects library.
Have you considered something like the Zoom B1Xon and a decent set of headphones?
I hardly ever use my amp at home these days and love being able to play around with the sounds on the pedal as loud as I like, can plug in my iPod and play along too.
Thanks eskimonumber1. Its a good plan, but I just know Id get sick of wearing headphones to play after a while.
what’s the difference between a 25v3 and an LT?
The LT has the effects library
Cheers oldtennisshoes.
AH right, yeah, I live by myself
My Fender Rumble LT 25 arrived today and I'm very impressed. Decent build quality, great effects and loud enough. Recommended.
I picked it up for the bargain price of £135 from a European seller. Love it.