ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

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redchapterjubilee
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ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by redchapterjubilee » Thu Mar 11, 2021 6:30 am

I find myself in need of finding a budget bass amp in a hurry. Something loud, doesn't sound horrible, and is cheap. Like sub $300 if possible. Normally I'd say Peavey TNT for such a thing but I know there have been amps made since 1980 that might also fall into this category. The drummer I'll be playing with is loud but not stupid loud, and I am likely to leave my 100w amps at home for this project. Thinking a 200w bass amp with an efficient speaker/cab would be enough for said venture? Y'all got any suggestions on solid sleeper cheap bass amps?

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by HarlowTheFish » Thu Mar 11, 2021 7:21 am

The TC Electronic amps are actually really great if you need clean power, sound pretty good, and I've seen them go for super cheap. Might not be in your budget now with used prices rising, but those are really great. Fender Rumbles are also pretty impressive for the budget, and honorable mention to Markbass if you can find anything in the price range you want.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by redchapterjubilee » Thu Mar 11, 2021 8:46 am

the bassist in my regular band sometimes uses a Rumble 500 and I know it's got the volume. Finding one of those with a cabinet or as a combo for my budget is difficult. I'll look into TC. Thank you!

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by stevejamsecono » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:06 am

Peavey Mark Series is still the best for cheap bass amps, imo. Easily still found on craigslist for next to nothing so you can get a lot for your money. Other old solid state from that era (Randall, Carvin) should work too. 90s GK stuff as well might work if you're into 'that' sound.
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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by Pepe Silvia » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:18 am

stevejamsecono wrote:
Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:06 am
Peavey Mark Series is still the best for cheap bass amps, imo. Easily still found on craigslist for next to nothing so you can get a lot for your money. Other old solid state from that era (Randall, Carvin) should work too. 90s GK stuff as well might work if you're into 'that' sound.
I was eyeing up the Peavey Bass 400 since Lou Barlow uses one and his tone is great, even if the Bass 400 is one of 3 amps that he uses live and not his whole sound.

It really seems old Sunn amps have gone up in price. I remember Concert Basses being sold on here when I joined for about $200.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by SignoftheDragon » Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:44 am

I'm brainstorming on a similar line- I've recently come into a couple of Steinberger basses, and want to explore the possibilities of the sub-$500 bass amp range.

I'm a huge fan of 'that 90s GK' sound, so I've been lurking around after something like that, but I'm not sure if I can keep it under the budget for as loud as I want- I'm thinking 200W minimum.

Bloke in one of my hero bands in the 90s local scene had a GK MicroBass 200 watt combo that only had a 12" speaker, but it would punch you in the gut- even on large club stages. I'm hoping to approximate the tonez and balls from my memories of those shows.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by MechaBulletBill » Thu Mar 11, 2021 11:32 am

i think it's still those old peaveys for the best cost:sound ratio. or, as said above, the new rumbles are very good. old trace elliots are rugged and dependable even if they sound a bit meh.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by DrQuasar » Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:17 pm

It's gonna be hard to beat an old Peavey sub $300.

I was curious so I looked and saw this: https://asheville.craigslist.org/msg/d/ ... 47740.html

It's definitely going to be loud enough. We had one of these at my high school I used to play bass with the marching band sometimes and it was freaking loud. I could drown out the drumline.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by Beebe » Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:23 pm

Check out Traynor. A quick search turned up a lightweight SB500H Small Block 500-Watt Bass Amp Head on Reverb for $299. And if you are in a big hurry you can try a PA amplifier with a small mixer and/or mic pre in front of it.
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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by cestlamort » Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:31 pm

The Peavy Mark series is our equivalent to the great HH amps our European friends enjoy: cheap and sound great.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by stevejamsecono » Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:54 pm

Pepe Silvia wrote:
Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:18 am
stevejamsecono wrote:
Thu Mar 11, 2021 10:06 am
Peavey Mark Series is still the best for cheap bass amps, imo. Easily still found on craigslist for next to nothing so you can get a lot for your money. Other old solid state from that era (Randall, Carvin) should work too. 90s GK stuff as well might work if you're into 'that' sound.
I was eyeing up the Peavey Bass 400 since Lou Barlow uses one and his tone is great, even if the Bass 400 is one of 3 amps that he uses live and not his whole sound.

It really seems old Sunn amps have gone up in price. I remember Concert Basses being sold on here when I joined for about $200.
I think the advent of gear forums and the proliferation of doom metal took care of that. Good luck getting a Sunn for anything close to a reasonable price these days.

Honestly I bet the 90s Peavey stuff is cheap/good too if you want something more recent. Not entirely sure what they were making for bass amps at that time but I have to imagine it's similar.

Also just word to the wise -- as much as it's a cesspool personally Facebook Marketplace is probably your best bet for a deal now. Craigslist having been thoroughly gamed by people who are watching Reverb too closely. FB is where the proverbial "weird old widow throwing our her husbands stuff" still happens.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by SignoftheDragon » Thu Mar 11, 2021 1:03 pm

I've got a couple here locally that I'm going to go check out (same dood is selling both of them):

Fender Rumble 200 for $280

Ampeg BA115V2 for $300- this one pricks my interest most, but even the seller admits it's HEAVY and a beast to move.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by Zork » Thu Mar 11, 2021 1:28 pm

Another vote for Peavey Mark series here, but to suggest something new: I thought the Kustom Deep End delivered a solid rock tone when I had one. The Warwick WA600 is a clean monster that can be had for under 300 brand new. Totally underrated amp, imo, but it literally stays clean forever.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by redchapterjubilee » Thu Mar 11, 2021 4:41 pm

DrQuasar wrote:
Thu Mar 11, 2021 12:17 pm
It's gonna be hard to beat an old Peavey sub $300.

I was curious so I looked and saw this: https://asheville.craigslist.org/msg/d/ ... 47740.html

It's definitely going to be loud enough. We had one of these at my high school I used to play bass with the marching band sometimes and it was freaking loud. I could drown out the drumline.
Saw that one. If it didn’t have input issues I’d go get it.

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Re: ISO Advice on Sleeper/Budget Loud Bass Amps

Post by jthomas » Thu Mar 11, 2021 4:56 pm

I have considered getting one of these, but have not seen one in the "flesh." Anybody ever try one?

https://reverb.com/item/6340578-trace-e ... ollup=true
Last edited by jthomas on Thu Mar 11, 2021 6:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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