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Anyone know anything about Bass amps? I'm getting pretty close to wanting needing a new rig.

I want to get an Ampeg tube head (mostly because I don't like amps with eq sliders) with an ampeg 4x10 cab. But I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for cheaper or better gear.

I won't be buying for a while, so money isn't really a concern yet. I'm just feeling out what I might like.

An Ampeg head & cab are an excellent and heavy choice if you've got the money. You could save some money and weight on a different cab and still get good results from the head (I have the SVT-CL and a late-model Sunn 4x10 that sounds great and weighs noticeably less than the head). BTW when experimenting with the SVT-CL and similar heads, know thy midrange controls; they both boost and cut midrange, so start with them in the center position for "neutral" and work in both directions.

If EQ Slider Avoidance is your main goal rather than tube sound, I'm sure there are some good slider-free solid-state options that will be cheaper and lighter. If you must have tubes though, Ampeg tube heads are nice indeed.

tube sunn amps are great for bass and are probably cheaper than an ampeg.
i imagine one of those 200 watt hiwatts would be amazing for bass if you've got the money.

Markbass does some excellent stuff. But it isn't cheaper than Ampeg. So does Eden, but again, same problem with the pricetag.

I only know good AND expensive gear.

honestly the beast bass rig that i have ever had is the bassman 2X12 combo i have now(68 ab165 circut)
i have had a few combo amps in the past, a crappy rogue, a couple decent berhingers and even had a nice trace elliot kickback styleed thing a few years back. they were all decent to a point, but the bassman nails that great clean bass sound, and it gets loud.
i guess i paid around 500-600 for it, but i mainly got it thru a trade.

I've had nothing but good fun and crushing loudness with a Peavey TNT 130. It's solid state, versatile, is a combo, is very loud, is pretty large, and doesn't have any sliders, despite having pretty sculptable mids.

damienblair17 wrote:(mostly because I don't like amps with eq sliders)

Lol, why?

My Peavey TNT has them and I don't like them either. I don't know whether it's 'cause I don't play bass properly so I never took the time to use them, or whether they overwhelm me a bit and seem unnecessary.

BobArsecake wrote:My Peavey TNT has them and I don't like them either. I don't know whether it's 'cause I don't play bass properly so I never took the time to use them, or whether they overwhelm me a bit and seem unnecessary.

Really? Mine doesn't:

Mine's the 115



Oh and I fucking hate how it has one handle, it's heavier than the sea.

Now that I look at it, I don't think the one I posted is the one I have. I think it's taller or something.

I can't decide which of those two Peavey amps is uglier.

I'll bet they both sound awesome.

i'm fairly sure our rehearsal rooms have both types. the red one's better, to my lugholes. both have too many bloody controls on them though. push/pull pots and all sorts of shit on the blue one. makes me all

BacchusPaul wrote:

BobArsecake wrote:My Peavey TNT has them and I don't like them either. I don't know whether it's 'cause I don't play bass properly so I never took the time to use them, or whether they overwhelm me a bit and seem unnecessary.

Really? Mine doesn't:

That's the one I use at the practice rooms with Stew (or it's at least very, very similar). Like Stew says, it seems overly complicated. I set the gain at 5 and the volume at 6 and leave everything else alone.

There's tons of fun to be had messing around with that EQ and the pre gain. All manner of disgusting fuzzy dirtiness, to plinkety beedledy boos, to mid rich mwah sounds. It's great.

What Arsecake said. Eq sliders are a little too much for me, but probably 'cause I'm too lazy to figure 'em out. Plus I've got pedals for fuzz tones and the like. Anyway, right now I have an Ampeg 100w combo with a tube, which is awesome. I'm just thinking that if/when I need moar power I'd know my options. Has anyone ever played Acoustic brand bass amps?

When would you ever need more than a tube 100w?

Our bass player brought a Fender Rumble 100 at the space a few weeks back.
Constant hazing and fun poking from the rest of us, over the pulsating red light that comes out the bottom of the thing has caused him to reconsider his choice. It's not like it sounds all THAT bad but the pulsating red light is such a joke... I think he's trying to sell the thing to some chick in some other band now and he's looking to just DI his bass straight into the P.A. (which sounds a lot better than the Rumble anyway)


Do not want light show bass amp.

laterallateral wrote:Our bass player brought a Fender Rumble 100 at the space a few weeks back.
Constant hazing and fun poking from the rest of us, over the pulsating red light that comes out the bottom of the thing has caused him to reconsider his choice. It's not like it sounds all THAT bad but the pulsating red light is such a joke... I think he's trying to sell the thing to some chick in some other band now and he's looking to just DI his bass straight into the P.A. (which sounds a lot better than the Rumble anyway)


Do not want light show bass amp.

That was my first "real" amp when I started playing. It's a pretty bland bass amp, and the you're right - the red light is just ridiculous. (there's a switch for it in the back)