No matter the venue or performance setting, bass guitar amps provide you with the sound you hear in your mind. Most bass amps provide basic controls such as gain, volume and EQ for precise sound production.
Blackstar amps may be relatively new on the scene, yet their selection is vast. From compact combos to 100-watt stacks – there’s sure to be something suitable for everyone here.
Trace Elliot
Trace Elliot bass amps are an excellent choice for musicians on the move. Compact and portable, these products provide versatile features to meet the needs of different music styles while coming in an array of colors to meet individual preferences. Furthermore, these durable amplifiers will stand the test of time!
Trace Elliot specializes in bass guitar amplifiers and offers an extensive range of acoustic amps for acoustic instruments as well. Their amps feature piezo pickup inputs and onboard DSP effects; many artists such as Larry Mitchell and Peter Hook endorse them.
Trace Elliot offers the ELF as their most portable bass amp – it boasts 80 watts but packs plenty of tone. Additionally, its compact design makes it simple to transport and set up on stage; plus its EQ controls are easily accessible.
ELF features MOSFET output stages to deliver ample power in its compact package. Its preamp section has several unique features such as two preshape settings – one scooped ‘rock’ setting and another airier Classic Trace Elliot shape), as well as an EQ balance control to boost bass while decreasing treble levels or vice versa.
This bass amp comes equipped with an onboard chromatic tuner to allow for instantaneous tuning before any gig. Additionally, its easy-to-use equalizer provides plenty of tonal shaping options suitable for any playing style; additionally it includes phase inverter functionality and an AUX input so you can use digital effects.
The BLX80 is an ideal portable amplifier solution with an affordable price tag, offering easy portability in a lightweight design that fits easily in gig bags. Its recognizable toxic green accent marks it out as a Trace Elliot product. In terms of features, its EQ section boasts some useful ones including an EQ balance control which lets you tailor frequency response of the amp according to room acoustics and an EQ balance control to help adjust frequency responses accordingly.
Ashdown
An Ashdown bass guitar amp is an essential component of any electric bass rig, whether you need something powerful and versatile or something simple for practice purposes. Ashdown has been serving bassists of all styles since 1987 with tube and hybrid models, effects pedals, studio reference monitors and more available to meet every musical need.
Mark Gooday founded Ashdown with one goal in mind: creating the ultimate bass amp. As such, his groundbreaking ABM series featured an innovative VU-style meter and various voicing options, giving players more tonal options than ever. Furthermore, Ashdown’s lightweight ABM-600 Evo IV models make touring bassists’ lives much simpler!
The ABM-600 Evo IV is an unmatched bass amplifier capable of creating thunderous bass sounds that will shake the floor. Its 9-band EQ section provides pinpoint control of tone while its 1-knob compressor and subharmonic generator deliver extra depth and punch. Furthermore, it boasts an octave down generator which can be engaged via footswitch for extra low end presence.
The ABM-600 Evo IV not only offers an expansive selection of tones, but its intuitive controls panel allows for instantaneous changes to power output and gain settings – perfect for quickly dialing up any sound from crystal-clear tone to thick overdriven distortion – or finding your ideal sound in any situation. Furthermore, its rugged construction with quality components guarantees it can withstand even the toughest road trips!
Ashdown’s new budget bass amp, the Ashdown RM C210T-500-EVO II combo is another affordable offering in their affordable bass amp series RM Series. Intended to meet the demands of busy bassists on a budget, with proven workhorse reliability and creative tone-shaping features to help meet those expectations.
Fender
A bass guitar is an integral component of any band and must have the appropriate amp to bring out its tone. There are many options available from small combos for club venues up to valve-powered stacks for big stage performances; choosing an amplifier that best matches your sound can take it from ordinary to incredible and help create music more easily in your mind.
Leo Fender preferred pure tube amps where all overtones were cut out, producing clean and crisp tones that suited his instruments well. But players soon discovered that overdriving these amps resulted in unintended crunch and distortion – something not intended when initially designed! Leo’s legendary Tweed amplifiers remain among the finest ever created; many original examples even fetch high auction bids today!
Initial Telecaster bodies were constructed of pine; eventually Fender made the switch to ash as it is denser and less susceptible to damage than pine, while still permitting easy routing for pickups and control plate routing. Fender may have chosen this wood after trying a variety of alternatives first.
Fender’s early attempts at solid-state amp technology proved unsuccessful due to poor workmanship, early semiconductor designs and insufficient cooling solutions. Due to this poor experience, solid-state amp technology remained out of their sights for at least 10 years after that initial attempt by Fender.
Fender produces polyester-finished basses in three series – American Elite, Classic Player and Deluxe series models – which differ by quality from their respective locations of manufacturing. The American Ultra model boasts dual hot vintage alnico humbucking pickups mounted to either rosewood or maple fretboards with 22 medium jumbo frets for medium fretplayability; reversed control assembly; black skirted amp knobs as well as several colors to choose from and an assortment of effects including reverb, delay octave synth effects which all come together in this guitar model for bassists who wish to expand their bass capabilities!
Music Man
Music Man guitars and basses are popular choices among professional musicians worldwide, including artists such as Steve Lukather, John Petrucci and Steve Morse who use these instruments. Offering more distinct tones than your typical Fender offering, Music Man offers many classical designs like the Cutlass Bass or Stingray Bass for bass players looking for something different than what Fender provides.
Music Man was established by former Fender vice president Forrest White and sales representative Tom Walker as a new venture that created innovative electric guitars and basses. Their first offerings were the StingRay Guitar and StingRay Bass models featuring bolt-on neck designs from CLF Research (a consulting firm led by Leo Fender), rather than Fender itself. By 1976, CLF had constructed their own factory dedicated exclusively to Music Man instruments production – becoming contractors for them exclusively.
The Stingray bass was an instantaneous success due to its ergonomic design and cutting-edge electronics, yet soon the partnership started to suffer due to issues with CLF instruments being flawed by fibres in their finish, prompting Music Man’s inspectors to reject them without payment until deemed acceptable by Music Man inspectors, leading to a poisonous dispute between both companies.
Both Ray4 and Ray5 electric basses feature a single high-output humbucking pickup that offers an array of tones from aggressive to mild, making playing these basses much simpler for fingers. As an extra feature, both basses feature dot inlays on their fretboards to facilitate easier fingerwork when playing them.
Keep your instrument protected from damage by keeping it away from extreme temperatures and humidity conditions, particularly sudden temperature shifts that could result in warping of wood instruments as well as damage to glue joints that hold its body together.
As a gigging bassist, it is wise to invest in a hardshell case for your instrument(s). This will prevent moisture from getting in, which could otherwise lead to corrosion of internal components and lead to further damages to them. Furthermore, using a humidifier inside will also help maintain optimal humidity levels within your case – something humidifiers are great at doing!