An amp designed to meet your bass playing needs now and later is an absolute necessity for any serious bassist. A good amp will not only handle gigs efficiently, but will be capable of keeping up as your skill and experience expands.
Fender’s Rumble 100 combo amp is an outstanding example of an amp designed to meet both current and future requirements. Compact yet cost-effective, it makes an excellent addition to any music enthusiast’s arsenal.
Power
A great bass amp should be powerful enough to fulfill its duties without creating excessive distortion; typically between tens and thousands of watts is optimal.
An entry level bass combo amplifier can be the ideal way for beginners to practice, rehearse and play small gigs without disturbing neighbors or investing in equipment. Furthermore, its effects such as overdrive and compression can help players familiarize themselves with them without breaking the bank on new gear. But for advanced performers looking to take their bass amp performance further a head and cabinet system might be the better solution.
Rootmaster RM-C112-220 bass amplifier offers the ideal blend of power, compact design, and affordability. Packed with features to help you develop your sound further – including two channels and several controls like 3-band EQ, reverb, delay and chorus that you can tailor to suit yourself – this amp can deliver.
Fender Rumble Studio 40 offers another excellent choice for bassists looking to expand their skills: this digital bass combo amplifier comes equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity so you can access presets from other musicians online and share presents you create with others as well as receiving firmware updates. Furthermore, its single 12-inch HyDrive speaker offers both modern and vintage sounds for versatility across any style of music.
The HD75 combo amplifier is another impressive-looking amplifier suitable for novice bassists. Equipped with a 12″ HyDrive speaker that’s part aluminum and part paper for crisp yet warm sound quality. It also features user-friendly EQ controls; however novices might struggle avoiding too much boost of one particular thing that may cause unwanted distortion.
If you plan to play larger venues, a high-powered head paired with either a double or single cabinet is required. One such example would be Ampeg’s legendary SVT Classic amp which remains an industry standard in terms of power, tone, and raw bass bass output. For something more portable the BA-110 from Ampeg may be perfect; featuring compact size, lightweight construction, and solidly built cabinets which won’t rattle when hit the strings.
Tone
Your choice of bass guitar amp will have a direct impact on its tone, so it is crucial that you take time and consideration when selecting an amplifier that achieves this sound. A compact combo may work best for home practice sessions or band rehearsals while an amp with speaker cabinet may work better when gigging; Ashdown Studio 15 provides all-in-one solutions with plenty of power and fantastic tone if this applies to you.
Bass amplifiers are specifically tailored to produce specific tones, and most include equalization controls that allow you to dial in a wide variety of frequencies and effects for customization of tone for any musical genre. You can use a distortion pedal for adding gritty bass sounds popular in funk and rock music genres.
Setup an amp by starting by adjusting its EQ until it is balanced. Next, experiment with bass guitar effects until you find exactly the tone that meets your expectations – it is best to do this gradually so as not to create too many unwanted frequencies in your sound.
Mid-frequency sounds can help bring out finger-style playing nuances, while increasing low-mid frequencies will give bassists that “snarl” sound they love. By increasing high-frequency frequencies you will give your sound clarity and presence.
Sweetwater offers both tube-driven amps with classic tone, as well as more modern solid-state designs to meet every bassist’s preference. Our inventory also features hybrid and digital models to meet every style or budget imaginable – including legendary amplifiers like the Ampeg SVT Classic that deliver the full sound of classic tube amps in an easy to transport package; for more affordable solutions check out Trace Elliot Elf’s powerful combo that is portable enough for gigging small to medium rooms.
Controls
Sweetwater offers an extensive selection of bass amplifiers to give you the powerful tone you need for both practicing at home or performing live performances. Head or combo models available, featuring features such as internal overdrive or reverb/effects loop.
Reverb/effects loops enable you to connect external pedals that add effects, such as overdrive or distortion, directly into your bass signal, enabling you to create custom, one-of-a-kind bass tones without ever taking your hands off of fretboard. Many bass amplifiers feature two channels for convenient switching between two different EQ and effects chains as desired; some amplifiers even feature advanced parametric EQ features for more precise tonal control.
Most bass amplifiers will include an equalization (EQ) setting that lets users adjust bass, mids and treble frequencies. Raising the treble setting will make your bass guitar sound sharper while decreasing it will soften it; alternatively it can also be used to customize overall tone; some bass guitarists may prefer their amps sound more aggressive or muffled than others.
Gain control is another crucial component of a bass amplifier. It regulates how much distortion the amplifier creates and reacts to player dynamics; that is, harder you play means greater overdrive of the amp. Some amps offer another setting known as drive that acts similarly but doesn’t vary with player dynamics.
Some bass amplifiers feature a separate setting for mids, which are essential in creating the sound of a bass guitar. This helps ensure it remains balanced within a band setting without becoming overpowering or overwhelming, or indeed shaping your sound to provide greater punch and detail in your tone. Boosting this setting may also give players additional tools for tailoring your tone by increasing punch or depth to their sound.
Portability
Portable bass guitar amplifiers can be an indispensable asset when practicing at home or jamming with friends. Ranging in power from just a few watts up to 50, these little amps can range anywhere from a few watts for beginners who require quiet practice amps, to powerful combos capable of filling small venues. Some even include effects built-in or feature line-in connections to external pedals; many also utilize rechargeable batteries that will last much longer reducing costs associated with replacement AA or AAA batteries.
Some bass amps feature speakers designed specifically for bass instruments, giving them their distinctive sound and matching your instrument perfectly. Others may utilize speakers with ported designs for better projection of sound while providing deep lows with plenty of punch – both types can help provide the ideal environment to develop into great bassists. Finding an amplifier that produces sound suitable to you is essential when becoming an accomplished bassist.
Another key factor when selecting a portable bass guitar amp is the number and placement of its controls. Some models feature only basic volume and tone controls; others may offer additional toggles that let you dial in various tones and settings more quickly and on demand. Furthermore, many portable amplifiers include multiple channels that make for perfect experimentation of different sounds when powering chained distortion pedal setups.
The Blackstar FLY3 portable bass guitar amp is an ideal example of an easy and lightweight portable amp that provides ample power for beginners. Designed to be carried around with ease, its two feet help steady it while its strap holder makes toting it around effortless. Furthermore, using rechargeable battery packs saves money and reduces waste!
If you need something with more power and features, look no further than the Orange Crush Bass 50 amp. At just 31 pounds, this 50-watt amp features one 12-inch speaker which delivers classic Orange tone that can be modified using its onboard active EQ to switch from clean to crunchy quickly. Plus, its ready-to-go USB battery banks make life easy while on the road!