Bass Amp Recommendations - €600-700

Yakult

Looking for new or second hand bass amp within my €700 max. budget. Surely I can pick up a good amp with that but my knowledge for bass amps isnt that compared to guitar amps so need a hand in choosing one.
All I know is that it will need to be reliable and strong as it will be on the travel alot to and fro gigs. Was looking at a Markbass 2x10, second hand they go in or around my price range but if theirs any better suggestions Im all ears?

Zapp Brannigan

GK MB combo goes for around 600 bones. Excellent amps.

If I was back in Ireland I'd offer you my Ashdown combo as I need to sell it so I can upgrade to a new rig

Rigsby

I have no personal experience with Markbass, but the vast majority of reviews I've read have been positive. One of their attractive qualities is their light weight. Worth checking out IMO.

Here is a link that will help as a reference, if something else comes up :


http://www.bgra.net/reviews/combo-index.html

reniwren

went through adverts and didnt see anything worthwhile for your budget so having to go new:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/tc_electronic_bg500210.htm

Malice

Are you looking for a combo amp or a head + cabinet setup?

I've got a Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 and a Markbass Standard 4 x 10" cabinet (see here) and I love it. If you're ever in the Galway area drop me a PM and you can try it out.

Yakult

Zapp Brannigan wrote: »

GK MB combo goes for around 600 bones. Excellent amps.

If I was back in Ireland I'd offer you my Ashdown combo as I need to sell it so I can upgrade to a new rig

Is this the GK MB combo you are referring to?
http://www.thomann.de/ie/gallien_krueger_mb210.htm

Was actually looking at this Ashdown, a friend has a very nice stack, the Klystron 500 so Im not too sure how that combo would compare to it.

reniwren wrote: »

went through adverts and didnt see anything worthwhile for your budget so having to go new:

http://www.thomann.de/ie/tc_electronic_bg500210.htm

Saw that too, been reading a few other forums lately about and its being well praised but very heavy. Definably will consider that.

Is their a whole lot of sound different between 2x10 and 1x15?

Malice wrote: »

Are you looking for a combo amp or a head + cabinet setup?

I've got a Markbass Little Mark Tube 800 and a Markbass Standard 4 x 10" cabinet (see here) and I love it. If you're ever in the Galway area drop me a PM and you can try it out.

Would prefer a head + cab but my budget probably doesnt give me alot of options for that set up I'd imagine.
Seen that before, it looks tasty man! If Im even in Galway will definably give you a pm!

Dar_Tully

I'd go for this bundle http://www.thomann.de/ie/hartke_3500vx410.htm it's 2 Euro more but IMO it's a better set up. I was going to pick up an ashdown earlier in the year but I tested the hartke bundle second hand and snapped it up It has a lot of bite and gives you way more options for developing your personal sound. It has two preamps a tube for a warmer sound and a solid state for more bite, turn the two up to the same level and it doubles the loudness. Then theres the 10 band eq, contour controls, compressor and built in ground lift. It's excellent value and since I picked this baby up a lot of the other bands I play with have been asking me to supply the bass amp for the our gigs.

Zapp Brannigan

Yakult wrote: »

Is this the GK MB combo you are referring to?
http://www.thomann.de/ie/gallien_krueger_mb210.htm

Yup that's the one. Amazing sounding amp. 2x10 is good for the start then you can buy an MBE expansion cab if you need more.

Can't wait to come back home and buy my MB500 with MBE410 cab rig!

Yakult

^Nearly everywhere doesnt have it in stock till the end of june :eek: Think I saw it on Musik-schmidt, but when I checked again it said unavailble.

^^That Hartke looks very interesting, liking the eq on it as you could get a class sound out of it I'd say! checked out a few clips on Youtube, doesnt sound bad either!

Choices.. So far Im looking at the T.C electronics and GK MB series. Have the best reviews out of the lot. Wish I had somewhere to try them out. Flip a coin me thinks..

Zapp Brannigan

It seems like these guys have it here: http://www.dv247.com/guitars/gallien-krueger-mb-210-bass-guitar-amp-combo--70248

Just so you know the GK's "only" have a 4 band EQ, but it is an active EQ so the slightest adjustment of the knob changes the sound drastically (don't really like how that sounds but I'm having trouble finding a better word)

I played a GK MB200 head in a local music shop here and was absolutely blown away. The salesguy had to practically shoo me out of the store!

Malice

I've played Gallien-Krueger gear in the past. I don't remember the specs or the model numbers but I do remember liking it.

Yakult

Gonna take your advice guys and drop the penny on the GK MB210. 350w will be plenty I assume?

Rigsby

Yakult wrote: »

it will be on the travel alot to and fro gigs.

Yakult wrote: »

350w will be plenty I assume?

Bear in mind that unless you use an extension cab, you will be getting a little over half of that 350w. If the drummer is loud and the band have more than one guitarist, you could struggle to be heard. The size of the venue will be a factor too.

Good luck with it.

Yakult

Ah I didnt know that!
Have been using a Marshall amp (150w 1x15) the last while and it cut through fine, plenty loud unless the 2x10 would be lower in volume?

Rigsby

Yakult wrote: »

Ah I didnt know that!
Have been using a Marshall amp (150w 1x15) the last while and it cut through fine, plenty loud unless the 2x10 would be lower in volume?

Well, the 2x10 being 350w will have more volume than the Marshall. So if you were OK with the Marshall, I cant see a problem with the new combo, as you will actually be getting around 170 watts from it without the extension cab.

nialldabass

I think he'll be ok, here are the specs its 350 with the 2x10 at 8ohm and 500 with an extension at another 8ohm giving the 4ohm load

Gallien Krueger MB210 main features include:

• Digital power amp
• 350W @ 8 ohms/500W @ 4 ohms (with extension)
• Speakon speaker output
• 1/8” aux input
• Headphone jack
• Defeatable limiter
• Two 10” Neodymium speakers
• Active 4 band EQ with contour
• XLR output with ground lift

At least thats how my Ashdown works

Rigsby

nialldabass wrote: »

I think he'll be ok, here are the specs its 350 with the 2x10 at 8ohm and 500 with an extension at another 8ohm giving the 4ohm load

Gallien Krueger MB210 main features include:

• Digital power amp
• 350W @ 8 ohms/500W @ 4 ohms (with extension)
• Speakon speaker output
• 1/8” aux input
• Headphone jack
• Defeatable limiter
• Two 10” Neodymium speakers
• Active 4 band EQ with contour
• XLR output with ground lift

At least thats how my Ashdown works

Yes, as he's getting the 350w with just the 2x10's, that will be fine. Sorry for the confusion.

nialldabass

Yeah, now he just needs a big 15 inch cab to sit it on and he'll have it all:D

Zapp Brannigan

Yakult wrote: »

Gonna take your advice guys and drop the penny on the GK MB210. 350w will be plenty I assume?

You won't regret it!

Owen

I've been playing using the Ibanez Promethean P5110 now for nearly 5 months. It's been incredible for the gigs I've done with it. Never lacking in volume, and never more than half way up and it's tiny. It's a 250 watt 1x10 combo designed by Bass players in conjunction with Ibanez. There's also a 2x10 version available that's 500 watts.

Here's the link to the 2x10 version :
http://www.thomann.de/ie/ibanez_p5210_promethean.htm

You won't regret buying this either. These are getting serious attention Stateside. I'm thrilled with mine. It's got a DI out with switchable gain levels, a mute switch for changing cables, aux in, headphones, EQ, a Vibe control for going from vintage to modern and the thump from it is savage. Anyone who's heard it can't believe what it's like.

Yakult

That looks very good, will definably give a long look into it when I get home.
Anyone have an opinion on the Ashdown ABM 300 evo 1? Saw it on adverts with a 2x10 matching cab.

Zapp Brannigan

I currently own the ABM Evo I 500 combo. I do like it, it's a solid amp and the tube emulation is decent, as well as the subharmonics, but it's not my ideal tone. I've gigged with it and people have had nothing but good things to say about my tone but I've still never been entirely happy with it and for that reason I'm selling it as soon as I get back home and buying my new GK rig.

But try it out, you may find the tone of the amp suits your tastes better.

flameboy87

Hey, are you looking for a combo amp or just a head? I can recommend the TC Electronic Bass Amp range to be absolute quality (I play a BG500 210). Great sound, great versatility and its so wel made. They have everything in it you could possibly ask of a bass amp, especially at the price you can get it for. 500W will mean you wont need to mic up at any venue unless you hit the big stages and even with the DI box micing up isnt a problem. I spent months looking for different amps and it stood out a mile in contrast to everything else I have played, and being honest I have played most makes at this stage. If I wanted to spend a few grand I might get something else but at the price range you're looking at then I think TC are the only option. Hope this helps

Yakult

Thanks for that, another positive review of the TC. You wouldnt have any sound clips/video? Not much available online thats any good. Definably between the MB210 n BG500 210. Have another week or two to decide so still reading about on both.

Air_Bass

I've had a Peavey Tour 450 head for the last 2 years and absolutely love it! Great range of EQ settings and nice and loud too. Currently retails for about €400'ish, which should leave ya enough notes for your choice of cab.

flameboy87

Wel if you want to try it out your welcome to it if you can make it to clare dunno how far you are away but its the best way you'll make an informed decision about it. Its very weighty and I'm gonna be getting castors for it at some stage but the sturdy weight is a good thing in my view. I really can't say anything bad about it. Wel other than I wish it hadn't a carpet finish. Its still in perfect nick but I know some day some idiot is gonna spill something on the carpet or tear it somehow with carelessness. I don't have any clips of me playing it but can get some on the net maybe at the weekend or at some stage next week.

Yakult

Cheers! If Im ever going up that way soon I will definably give you a pm, I'm in north kerry myself so not too far away. Yeah I heard about the weight alright, crazy but probably sturdy as hell!! I actually like the carpet finish, dunno why :pac:
That would be awesome man, but its no harm if you don't. I'm not a huge elitist on bass tone (yet) so once it sounds somewhat good and lasts on the road I'll be happy haha

Shall let ye know what I get anyway and thanks for the help everyone! Appreciated!

Yakult

Decided on the T.C Electronic BG500 210. It's Price has dropped to €489 so that was a deciding factor.