Bass Amp Advice

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kuhniget

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I was recruited a few months ago into a band as a bassist. I had never played bass before or had any equipment. So I invested in a cheap little bass and I've been getting by just fine playing through our PA system for practice and running through the system at the one gig we've played. Good news is I've fallen in love with the bass, and the time has come to invest in a nice setup. Problem is, I know my way around guitar equipment, but I have no idea what I'm looking for in bass equipment (brand-wise, wattage, 4x10 vs 8x10). Our lead singer plays through a Marshall half-stack, and the guitarist through a blues junior. I suppose I'll need something powerful enough for anything from a small bar to an wide-open dance floor club. I basically don't want to have to upgrade for a good while. As for the type of music: it's definitely on the rocky/alternative rock side, but nowhere near hard rock/metal area. Thanks for the help!

EDIT: Also, I've found an Ampeg BSE 410 HS Bass cabinet on my local craigslist for $250. Would that be a good purchase for my needs?
 
I've been through a few bass amps over the years I've been playing bass (starting in 1981) and you pretty much get what you pay for. Cheap bass amps don't cut it. The best price/sound ratio I've found was an Ampeg B100R (no longer made); the best tone I've found was my current Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x15. I also have a Fender Bassman 400 2x10 in my rehearsal space (paid $400 for it, used) and a newly acquired Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T that sounds better than the Fender, inferior to the M/B but only weighs 19 lb.

You'll probably have to find the compromise that suits you. There's no magic bullet (if there were, everyone would play the same amp, and you wouldn't be asking the question).

Good luck.
 
It totally depends on your budget.
You should keep an eye on craigslist for the next few weeks and see what is up. Try posting some of the stuff you find here and get some feedback.
If you are looking for something cheap and loud, try the behringer stuff.
You can get a ULTRABASS BX4410A cab + amp for around 450 new, and the local music shops around me are always marking them down to get rid of them. They don't actually sound all that bad, just put a sticker over the logo so people don't laugh at you.

I would go for a 4x10 cab to start and if you feel like you need more low end add a 15 to it.


If you have money -
markbass
swr

just beware buying used power amps! you can get really screwed over if you don't know how to test them properly.
 
Perhaps Lt. Bob will weigh in on this one. As a gigging bassist who's been through a lot of amps over the years, his opinion would be valuable.

I'm curious about the fact that you've got one guy playing a half-stack, and the other playing a Jr.
 
Check out some used Peavey stuff. Pretty cheap and it'll get you by until you star gassing for something new. I had a megabass that rocked faces off till the power amp died from sitting in a garage and a basement for who knows how long. I've been using a peavey max 160 (like 150-200 used) and we practice at live volume no problem. 2 half stacks and a drummer and they tell me to turn down sometimes!
 
My current rig is an Ampeg SVT410HLF ( a 4x10 ported for 5-strings) and a SWR SM400S head. I got the SWR for $250 off ebay.

I prefer 10's and a good 4x10 cab will do nicely for most gigs. That Ampeg you mentioned is a smaller one than mine but really, that would be a good starting point for not too much money.
I don't think you need 8x10 ...... that just gets ridiculous to try and move around.

On the amp ...... the more wattage the better. You can always turn down but once you hit the limits of the amps' power you can't do anymore so make sure to have some juice.
I wouldn't want to go less that at least a couple hundred watts.
My SWR does 500 watts into 4 ohms and that seems about right to me even when I do a softer gig.
It just gives you headroom and you need it on bass since most of the time a bass amp that's distorting sounds nasty.

Also ...... 5- strings. If you've really fallen in love with the bass and plan to play it long term, go ahead and get a 5-string and start getting used to it.
There's compelling reasons for a 5 string besides just the extra low notes.
Being able to play a low E on the 5th fret for instance, lets you stay in patterns without having to suddenly play an open string to get the low E.

Have fun ............. bass is cool.
You really control the band as a bassist. You can make them speed up ..... slow down ..... hell, you can make them go to the wrong part of the song if you choose.
Without realizing it they listen for cues from the bass that lead to chord changes.
Bass is, in many ways, the most important thing going on in a band.
You'll have power ............. influence .............. women, ............ well, no women but everything else!

:D
 
Lt. Bob said:
Have fun ............. bass is cool.
You really control the band as a bassist. You can make them speed up ..... slow down ..... hell, you can make them go to the wrong part of the song if you choose.
Without realizing it they listen for cues from the bass that lead to chord changes.
Bass is, in many ways, the most important thing going on in a band.
You'll have power ............. influence .............. women, ............ well, no women but everything else!

:D
Click to expand...
So so true. The drums are absolutely crucial for the role they play in framing the song, providing the vital percussive element that can drive, hold back, rush, make you move, change the shape, bring you here, there and everywhere....but the bass is the real power behind the throne. It can provide harmony, rhythm, shape, glue together disparate parts, double various instrument parts as well as provide countermelody, beat and so much more. It's that magical sound that can get away with being anonymous.......until it's not there. Then you realize what a control freak the bass really is !
Listening to Bob Marley's songs without the bass is an education ~ they are so bland and musically too similar. Put that bass in and they suddenly become world beaters.
I've forgotten what the question was !
 
Haha thanks a lot for the advice. It's been informative and humorous haha. Here's the spot I'm in (forgot to mention my budget earlier). I sold one of my electrics to get the money for this bass stuff so really I've got about $1200 to work with. The owner of my local guitar shop is telling me I need this peavey VB810 and I wanna say a matching head (450watts, I didn't get a look at the actual model, try again tomorrow) for a $1000 (plus tax). I'd rather not see my chunk of money disappear like that, especially if I don't need all that. Any thoughts on that?
 
well, you absolutely don't need an 8x10 cab unless you're playing nothing but huge venues and outside.
And I do sometimes play huge venues and outside and my big 4x10 does fine there.
Plus ....... anywhere that you might need 8x10 is gonna be micing you and they'll simply be after you to turn down.

450 watts is about right but I've had a buttload of bass amps and the least good-sounding ones were always Peavey.
They weren't bad but just kinda blah sounding. I haven't played any in the last 10 years though so I don't know for sure about what they make now.

I like the 450 watts thing but there's no way you need an 8x10 and you'll really get tired of hauling that thing around.

look at this and this is just the first thing I looked up.
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Gallien-Krueger-Backline-600-Bass-Head?sku=482534
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend...x10-Bass-Speaker-Cabinet-with-Horn?sku=423660

550 bucks brand new.
There's tons of stuff in that price range.
Get at least 300 watts and a 4x10 and you'll be fine.
 
Thank you so much for setting me straight on that because I was really on the fence about the whole 8x10 thing. And thanks for the links. Do you think this http://shreveport.craigslist.org/msg/2026644093.html would be a better buy than the Gallien-Krueger? And then I'd probably still buy the 450 head from the local shop.
 
kuhniget said:
Thank you so much for setting me straight on that because I was really on the fence about the whole 8x10 thing. And thanks for the links. Do you think this http://shreveport.craigslist.org/msg/2026644093.html would be a better buy than the Gallien-Krueger? And then I'd probably still buy the 450 head from the local shop.
Click to expand...

sure ...... you can't go wrong with Ampeg .... grab it. I'd probably prefer that cab to the G.K.

I'm a Louisiana boy BTW. Lived in Baton Rouge my whole life 'till after Katrina.
Used to play in Shreveport all the time although that was probably before you were born.
 
Lt. Bob said:
sure ...... you can't go wrong with Ampeg .... grab it. I'd probably prefer that cab to the G.K.

I'm a Louisiana boy BTW. Lived in Baton Rouge my whole life 'till after Katrina.
Used to play in Shreveport all the time although that was probably before you were born.
Click to expand...

Ha, well looky there. I'm just now getting my start playing around here (Shayliff on facebook and myspace, if you have one). I'm guessing you're no longer in Louisiana? Thanks for the quick replies. I should have this knocked out tomorrow, once I find out exactly what head he is wanting to sell me.
 
$1200 will buy a new Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout. I have played outdoor gigs with mine, and the tone of my Precision through it is to die for. It would be my only amp if I didn't also need a lightweight bass amp for senior citizen centers and whatnot. Mesa/Boogie's construction is exemplary (it's the only bass amp I have that does NOT have those fragile molded plastic jacks) and warranty service sets the industry standard.

And they are versatile. I attended a gathering last weekend where the jazz band of the bass player who recommended the M/BWAS was playing. He had a Musicman Stingray5 and was playing with keys, jazzbo guitarist (George Benson G-10), another friend on sax and a smooth drummer. He sounded nothing at all like my in-the-pocket Precision, but he was perfect for what he was doing.

You can also mix and match cabinets. I use mine with the 1x15/10" passive radiator setup, but the jazzer had a pair of Ampeg 2x10s. Reports from others indicate it's very tolerant.

Would I trade it for a Peavey? Are you nuts?
 
1200 bucks will buy a lot of SWR workingpro gear.
You could get a nice new 4x10 and a 600w head for that.
 
kuhniget said:
I was recruited a few months ago into a band as a bassist. I had never played bass before or had any equipment. So I invested in a cheap little bass and I've been getting by just fine playing through our PA system for practice and running through the system at the one gig we've played. Good news is I've fallen in love with the bass, and the time has come to invest in a nice setup. Problem is, I know my way around guitar equipment, but I have no idea what I'm looking for in bass equipment (brand-wise, wattage, 4x10 vs 8x10). Our lead singer plays through a Marshall half-stack, and the guitarist through a blues junior. I suppose I'll need something powerful enough for anything from a small bar to an wide-open dance floor club. I basically don't want to have to upgrade for a good while. As for the type of music: it's definitely on the rocky/alternative rock side, but nowhere near hard rock/metal area. Thanks for the help!

EDIT: Also, I've found an Ampeg BSE 410 HS Bass cabinet on my local craigslist for $250. Would that be a good purchase for my needs?
Click to expand...

Ampeg puts out pretty good Bass equipment - I've been playing since 1973 and have owned several ampegs amps & speaker cabinets. (B4B and 4/12 cabinet) You might want to check out some Peavey equipment. That stuff was made for the road. Very durable and a very good sound for rock n roll and the price won't financially cripple you either.
 
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