Posted: 11/2/2013 9:42:59 AM EDT
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So I have recently picked up a bass guitar, learning it and digging it!
The problem is .... I need an amp for it, what kind of power will mesh well with my 40 watt tube amp for my guitar? Any recommendations, especially cheep ones, don't really want to drop the kinda coin I did on my Marshall. |
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In my experience, low-power tube guitar amps don't do well with bass, except at low volume. The speaker simply don't have the excursion needed, and the tubes disort at too low a volume.
Any good, powerful solid-state bass amp should do for nooding around in the house. For full gigging/practice with a band, I recommend a good enclosure or two (Carvin, Avatar, SWR), a decent preamp (I love my BBE BMax), and a good power amp. Integrated bass heads are grossly overrated, and get expensive if you want any meaningful power. If I needed a combo amp for practice at home, I'd probably check one of these, the Carvins in particular, depending on my needs: http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/MB12 http://www.carvinguitars.com/products/MB210 http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/u_amp_page13.php?ampl_id=95&year=2013&cat_id=5&series_id=94 http://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/810/118121/MAX%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B115 http://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/811/116915/Tour%26nbsp%3BTNT%26reg%3B%26nbsp%3B115 http://www.fender.com/series/rumble/rumble-350-350-watt-bass-combo-2x10-speakers-and-horn-120v/ The Markbass stuff is amazing for the size of the packaging, too, but is kinda expensive! What were you looking to spend? |
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I would look at the combo offerings from Carvin (MB210 $349, MB12 $399) or Ampeg (PF350 $299 + PF115 and/or PF210 Cab $399ea).
Of course the Carvin offerings are combos and the Ampeg needs a cabinet. Another option would be to check the classifieds over at talkbass.com (a lot of pro's sell there gear for amazing deals!). Oh, there is also the GK MB200 or Trace Elliot that can be had for pretty cheap at Bass Northwest or Bass Central. Some deals over at talkbass: Ampeg SVT-3Pro GK MB500 Fusion |
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I used to know a guy that ran a Sams-Amp Bass DI box. For practice he would just run into a poweramp and a bass cab, but for shows he would just run direct into the Venue's board. it sounded great. I've done that with a DI box as well as with the preamp model. Nothing wrong with that at all. Heck, that's what Geddy uses. |
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So basically something in the 300 watt range for a solid state bass amp , to go with a 40 watt tube head for my six string? There is an acoustic b450 available for pretty cheap locally, would that be a good pairing? That would be fine. The biggest issue is you have to like it's voice. The way it sounds, what you can do with it tone-wise. Do you like the way the newer acoustic amps sound? 90% of the sound is in your playing, but that last 10% is all what your amp's pre section can do for you. |
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So basically something in the 300 watt range for a solid state bass amp , to go with a 40 watt tube head for my six string? There is an acoustic b450 available for pretty cheap locally, would that be a good pairing? I've played through one Acoustic amp at a gig I'd played about 7 years ago. Worst I've ever heard, by far. Even worse than my high-school Peavey Mark VI with an 18" Traynor PA cab! You'll have to try it for yourself, but as far as bass amps go, I'm personally not a fan... |
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Couple questions, what kind of music are you playing? Jazz, blues, rock, metal? Is it just you & the guitarist or a full on band? Where are you playing, basements, small clubs, large clubs, open air...etc.? Just a few things to consider when looking for an amp/cab & what kind of wattage you'll need. Whether a 80-100watt combo amp will suffice or you need a 400+ bass head & cabinet. Also, do you use effects? You'll want to look for something with an effects loop if you do.
Check C.L. for decent used equipment. Sometimes you can find pretty good deals. |
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Mainly bluesy rock, been playing around with funk...cause it's fun on bass.
Playing in the garage , basement , would like the ability to play small venue(small bar, coffee house) mainly fun jamming The big thing is I want the power to not disappear against my Marshall DSL 40c, I know that guitar amp will keep up with a reasonable drummer given it's not some lexan 1980s super loud set. Mainly I'm just an enthusiastic hobbyist Eta have played on a Ibanez promethean 5110 and loved it but those are few and far between on the used market |
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So basically something in the 300 watt range for a solid state bass amp , to go with a 40 watt tube head for my six string? There is an acoustic b450 available for pretty cheap locally, would that be a good pairing? 2 to 3 times guitar power factor should be sufficient. |
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2 to 3 times guitar power factor should be sufficient. Quoted:
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So basically something in the 300 watt range for a solid state bass amp , to go with a 40 watt tube head for my six string? There is an acoustic b450 available for pretty cheap locally, would that be a good pairing? 2 to 3 times guitar power factor should be sufficient. This is correct and here's the science behind that recommendation: Fletcher-Munson and Equal loudness curves give the amount of sound pressure required for the ear to hear something at the same perceived volume at a given frequency. A guitar's fundamental frequencies are from about 82 Hz to 1200Hz while a standard tuned bass's fundamental frequencies are from 41Hz to 600 Hz. 
I prefer to use the Equal loudness curves, believing they are closer to my reality. You will see looking at the graph to get a desired level of 80 to 100 Phon the difference in SPL required to get an equal loudness between 41Hz and 82 Hz, the lowest fundamental of each instrument, is about 10 dB. A 10 dB increase in SPL requires about 10 times the power all things equal. 2 times the power will give a 3 dB increase on the lower frequencies. Since the bass is typically played clean vs. a guitar's distortion 3 times the power is never a bad choice. That said, a lot of what you hear when you listen to the bass is the overtones not the fundamental. This is why in an vintage style club setting a 40 watt Ampeg B15n can survive. However, when looking for a modern, clear, percussive tone in a club setting that 40 amp will not suffice. |