looking for a bass amp

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

combo, that is. Requirements I have in mind:

Small, just slightly bigger and louder than necessary to back acoustic instruments.

A line out so that I can record with my computer in my noisey appartment. I would use a mike if I had a quieter place.

Best quality available for less than $400.

Any suggestions?

[Ron Green]

1. Whoops, your last requirement threw me off.

I would have recommended the Acoustic Image Contra, but it runs about $900.

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

4. That rings a bell.

I might have seen one of those a couple weeks ago. Is it black, perhaps a cubic foot in size? My price requirement isn't set in stone. What can you tell me about it that I might not find on some manufacturer's or seller's website? How tonally versatile is it? What sort of results might I get running my acoustic guitar through it?

[Ron Green]

6. Yep, that's the one.

I have one that I play string bass through, and it's the most amazing and versatile amp I've ever owned. It's 300W RMS, and since it's a Class "D" amp with no output transformer, it's very light in weight, but it fills up a room with sound. I have a couple of extension cabinets that I use for large venues, and it rocks the house. You could even play electric through it, although it's really designed for acoustic bass. And it's perfect for running acoustic guitar or other instruments as well. They have a 2-channel model, and one with reverb.

I've been playing for almost 40 years, and this is the best piece of equipment I've ever owned.

http://www.acousticimg.com/products/prod_contra.html (I don't know how to make the live link, but this is the location)

[name not needed]

2. How many watts are you looking at?

I'm using a Fender Rumble 100. It's 300 dollars, and it's a good amp for the money. 15 inch speaker, piezo horn, line out, effects loop, auxillary input, mid scoop, but due to the size of the speaker, it is quite big.

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

3. I think even 60 watts might be a little overkill, IIRC.

Many years ago I had a Crate B60 I think, and it did just fine with the band I was in, playing small clubs. "Lounge metal" was how one person described our sound; I would say we sounded like some meeting of Captain Beefheart, Primus, and Black Sabbath. I don't need or necessarily want anything that powerful right now. The B60 also had a 15 inch speaker, and it would be difficult to find a spot for something that big in my place.

[XNASA]

5. Maybe an LA Series SWR?

http://www.swrsound.com/products/search.php?partno=4490200000



I'm not a bassist, but I know that SWR makes great affordable stuff.

[Pepperbelly]

7. vox for under $300 ...

http://www.music123.com/VOX-T60-i14273.music



Stay away from the new fender bassman. They suck and are fragile as hell. 3 in one year for a friend of mine and he barely drinks.

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

8. do you have any direct experience with this one?

it looks good on paper. 5 of the user reviews at the link you gave were great, and one horrible. That always makes me nervous; I'll have to see if there's anywhere nearby where I can try one. One of the user reviews mentioned using the output of the effects loop as a line out. Do you know if those are typically pre- or post-EQ?

"..and he barely drinks." HAHAHA!

[Pepperbelly]

9. I have never heard anything but good about vox ...

here's some more dope on it from the vox site:

http://www.voxamps.co.uk/products/bassAmps/T60.htm

[dbt]

10. Carvin PB100-10 might be worth a look.

Ten-inch speaker, 100 watts, 17.7" high X 16" wide X 12" deep, weighs 36 pounds. Compressor and noise gate, enough different outputs that you ought to be able to get something into your computer from it. Should be about $310, including shipping. See it here.

[Pepperbelly]

11. home skillet ...

Check out this thread.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=111x44101

[dbt]

12. Hey, PB! I have a perfectly rational explanation for the Gurdon Light:

Nobody knows WHAT it is! Reckon THAT ought to satify the "skeptics."

:evilgrin:

[Pepperbelly]

13. and they mainly stayed away ...

odd, eh?

[dbt]

14. Nah. They're just lying low,

Waiting til I post another Chemtrail thread.

:evilgrin:

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

15. Yay!

my first thread-jacked-ing ;)

seriously, though, I'd check out those lights myself if I lived anywhere near there.

[dbt]

16. All apologies, Crab Nebula!

You'll have to excuse Pepperbelly and me, as we have both been told that we had a wonderful time back in the Stone Age.

How goes your quest for a small bass amp? Are you anywhere close to a decision?

:hi:

[Idylle Moon Dancer]

17. based solely on stuff I've read, I'm leaning towards the Vox.

However, I don't even have a bass yet :) although I will hopefully be ordering one tomorrow: Schecter Stiletto Studio.

[dbt]

18. Vox? Oh HELL yeah!

I don't think there's anything cooler than a Vox amp. And if their Bassilator circuit is anywhere near as distinctive (and interesting) as the Cut circuit on the AC30 Top Boost, the sound ought to be great!

I've never heard a Schecter owner complain, either.

:toast:

[ProfessorGAC]

19. Look Into A Bassman 60

Has all the features you require, is small, slant fronted, and has enough power for simple work, especially recording. I've got a Bassman 400 as my main bass amp, and a Bassman 100 to run my drum machine/bass box through. (Fun to play guitar to that.)

They're simple, bulletproof, and have some very nice gain and volume adjustments.

The Professor

[Pepperbelly]

21. fender? nt

[ProfessorGAC]

22. Yeah. Sorry About That

The Professor

[Pepperbelly]

23. my bud had a run of bad luck with them ...

3 of them in one year. Output transformers. Bad joo-joo for him. But ... he'd bought it at guitar center and they kept replacing them. I think the last one he just sold and flitted away to another interest ...

:shrug:

Love the old Bassman tho ... for guitar rather than bass.

[ProfessorGAC]

24. Mine Have Been Bulletproof

Matter of luck or something. Or, they found a design flaw and fixed it. I don't use them for guitar. I don't like the sound of 15" for guitar. And, my 400 had paired 10's with a horn. That would sound way to boomy/bright for guitar. Midrange would just not be smooth.

But, these are now solid state amps. Maybe the old tube versions would be warm enough for guitar. Me, i'll stick with my Boogie.
The Professor

[LifeDuringWartime]

25. the bassman 60 has no gain adjustment

and is very heavy for the volume it puts out.

[BlueEyedSon]

20. Check ebay

workingman's series
i actually got a baby blue for not much more (ebay!)

[LifeDuringWartime]

26. check out Ashdown

http://www.ashdownmusic.co.uk

GREAT bass and guitar amps made in the UK. I just recently bought a MAG 300H head, although it's a bit more firepower than what you're after. Check out their combos.