Bass Amp, how loud?

Stuart · Post by **Stuart** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:21 pm

So I've been all over the inter nets trying to get a definitive answer to this. I've read variously that the bass amp has to be 3x the wattage of the guitars, it has to be at least 200watts and that about 80 will do.

So shortscale give it to me straight, like a pear cider made from 100% pears.

How loud is loud enough for keeping up with a full band? I'm guessing the answer is a different number depending on if it is a valve or solid state amp.

And once we've identified a number, any suggestions on good cheep options?

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:53 pm

The school/college I work in (and used to go to) uses 60 watt Peavey Max bass amps. They keep up easily within a live context - but they do sound a bit crap.

So I'd say anything 60 watts and above. I like the Ashdown Mag 300 amps, they can be had for a good price on ebay.

Post by **Doog** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 6:21 pm

I wouldn't bother with anything below 150w in a solidstate amp, speaking from experience.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 6:25 pm

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ashdown-MAG-C ... 1e74d7e297
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ashdown-ABM-4 ... 3a7c2141b4
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ashdown-MAG30 ... 1c2d65f30b

Any of these would be ace.

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:33 pm

We gig with a Fender De Ville and a Marshall JTM60 for guitars and a Line 6 400W? bass rig. It's all far too loud for the pubs we play but the bassist is by far the worst. As his amp is solid-state, putting two cabs on the amp gives him more watts.

I have an HH 100W solid state bass combo that has a bass reflex horn design - very efficient, lots of decibels for the watts - and that used to be fine back in the day but I've not gigged it.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:05 pm

Doog wrote:I wouldn't bother with anything below 150w in a solidstate amp, speaking from experience.

Ditto, really. I've played 100 and 80 Watt amps and peaked out, they can kinda be heard in a band/small venue situation.
I've owned a 200W for the past 12 years or so, and it's been loud enough in almost all situations I've found myself in.

My recommendation is 200-300W for practice with drums/guitars and small to medium venues, running a 115, 210, 410, 215 or the like. That should provide enough volume and note definition to be properly useable.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:17 pm

I have a 100watt GK backline 1x12 combo. It's an angled cab that can be tilted to project upward. In my three/sometimes four piece band it's plenty loud enough for practice and shows (most venues mic or di anyway).

That said, I definitely want to get a bass amp with more output at some point. The one I'm using does not have much clean headroom. THAT said, I also think excessively loud bass amps can be one of the most guilty culprits in causing everyone to turn up unnecessarily loud at practice.

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:42 pm

Nick wrote:That said, I definitely want to get a bass amp with more output at some point. The one I'm using does not have much clean headroom. THAT said, I also think excessively loud bass amps can be one of the most guilty culprits in causing everyone to turn up unnecessarily loud at practice.

This is so true, bassists always turn up too loud!

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:44 pm

I think that, more so than with guitar, a bassist who knows his way around his amps EQ is really useful to that end.

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:54 pm

Aye, bass needs to be really loud, or exceptionally well EQed to be heard properly with the other instruments... Sometimes ya just can't EQ a tone that will play at a reasonable volume and need to turn up to hear what you're doing.

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Sun Dec 02, 2012 11:17 pm

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:23 am

slone has given the only correct answer.

buy a sansamp and plug that shit into your PA

don't have a PA for practice? you should. buy one now.

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 12:28 am

and fuck aiming a small bass amp up in the air. the drummer needs to play with the bass. he needs to feel the bass in his nutts and his feet.

if the drummer and the bass can't hear each other over the guitar you are fucked from the start.

buy a PA AND A SANSAMP

Sloan · Post by **Sloan** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 4:36 am

robroe wrote:he needs to feel the bass in his nutts and his feet.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:02 am

robroe wrote:and fuck aiming a small bass amp up in the air. the drummer needs to play with the bass. he needs to feel the bass in his nutts and his feet.

if the drummer and the bass can't hear each other over the guitar you are fucked from the start.

buy a PA AND A SANSAMP

The drummer not being able to hear the bass has never been a concern with my rig.

Billy3000 · Post by **Billy3000** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 5:03 am

Sloan wrote:

This.

Seriously.

I have a 300 watt tube ampeg svt 2 pro head and a mesa boogie powerhouse 1000 cab. It sounds amazing but is heavy as fuck and way too loud for most places I play nowadays anyway. With my cover band I only bring my sansamp, I don't even bother with my rig anymore. My sansamp through our PA sounds awesome, is easier to carry around and totally gets the job done. I've even used it at a couple of shows with my original band, In fact I think the last time I actually brought my huge rig to a show was back in april when my original band played on the big stage at the masquerade in Atlanta. Since then for all our small venue shows and for the bar gigs with my cover band I've only brought my sansamp and I have never had a problem with it. Every once in a while I'll encounter the skeptical sound guy but they shut up as soon as they hear it.

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 1:08 pm

robroe wrote:and fuck aiming a small bass amp up in the air. the drummer needs to play with the bass. he needs to feel the bass in his nutts and his feet.

if the drummer and the bass can't hear each other over the guitar you are fucked from the start.

buy a PA AND A SANSAMP

It wouldn't make a difference if you turned the bass amp up in the air anyway. It's non directional.

Rhysyrhys · Post by **Rhysyrhys** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 2:29 pm

Simon wrote:
robroe wrote:and fuck aiming a small bass amp up in the air. the drummer needs to play with the bass. he needs to feel the bass in his nutts and his feet.

if the drummer and the bass can't hear each other over the guitar you are fucked from the start.

buy a PA AND A SANSAMP
It wouldn't make a difference if you turned the bass amp up in the air anyway. It's non directional.

Which bass amp is non-directional?

Viljami · Post by **Viljami** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 2:47 pm

Playing style matters also, in the case of playing say, with a EB-0 or similar "Mud City"- toned instrument, especially when played with fingers, can benefit from skilled use of the EQ and a loud, plentifully wattaged amp.
Or at least I've found that it is very hard to cut through the mix if the bass is super bassy, a problem which aforementioned rise in volume can help. Or, like one of my teachers once said "I played with a completely out-of-tune bass and no-one else noticed anything".

Simon · Post by **Simon** » Mon Dec 03, 2012 3:32 pm

Rhysyrhys wrote:
Simon wrote:
robroe wrote:and fuck aiming a small bass amp up in the air. the drummer needs to play with the bass. he needs to feel the bass in his nutts and his feet.

if the drummer and the bass can't hear each other over the guitar you are fucked from the start.

buy a PA AND A SANSAMP
It wouldn't make a difference if you turned the bass amp up in the air anyway. It's non directional.
Which bass amp is non-directional?

The frequency, not the amp.