Bass amplifiers come in all forms and sizes. Some models utilize classic vacuum tube designs that have become an iconic element of bass tone over time, while others utilize solid-state transistors.
No matter what kind of amp you purchase, it’s crucial to find one that meets your individual needs. Here we have provided some of the top bass guitar amplifier brands currently available on the market.
Ampeg
Ampeg is one of the premier names in bass amplifiers. Dating back to 1940s, Ampeg boasts an illustrious history as one of the premier bass amplifier manufacturers with products spanning super portable micro heads to high-end all-tube heads and budget practice combos – there’s something here for every taste at Ampeg!
Amplifiers from this brand have earned themselves an exceptional reputation for producing incredible tones and moving significant airflow, appearing on many hit records and perfect for creating elastic bounce for funk or pure bass-heavy thunder that keeps audiences riveted.
Ampeg provides players who want to elevate their amp to the next level with an extensive selection of bass cabinets and preamps, such as their Rocket series which boasts various amplifier and cabinet combinations that can adapt to any musical scenario.
Ampeg SVT CL bass heads remain popularly used today. It features six 6550 Power amp tubes and two 12AX7 preamp tubes – as well as the typical Ampeg features and warm tube tone loved by any musician.
This amplifier offers several useful functions to get the best use out of it, such as Ultra Hi and Lo to boost low and high frequencies respectively, or using its EQ feature to achieve your ideal tone.
The Ampeg BA-210v2 offers an incredible combination of features at a budget price. As a solid state amp, it will keep your sound clean even at loud volumes while the drive control emulates classic SVT tube tone. Furthermore, five cabinet outputs exist: two each for 2 and 4 ohm loads and an eighth ohm cabinet output is also provided.
Aguilar
Aguilar Bass Amplification could be your perfect answer if you want a wide variety of tone-shaping options without diluting your low end. Their lineup of bass amps includes power amps, combo amps, speaker cabinets and onboard preamps at various price points and features to meet the needs of all bassists.
Aguilar’s Tone Hammer 500 amplifier is one of the lightest models in their line-up and boasts 3 bands of flexible EQ and Drive control for vibrant sounds, plus 500W of power – all packed into an easy 4-pound package that fits neatly in most gig bags.
Combining the drive control with an EQ allows you to adapt the tone as you turn up the gain, meaning the EQ remains flatter at low gain settings but becomes tighter as gain increases – giving you full control of finding just the sound you’re after.
As a result, you can create a very vintage-sounding EQ that can help round out the bottom end and boost the top end for increased punch. Furthermore, shape control can add additional heft or scoop the mids for additional depth and bite – giving your sound more depth and bite than before!
This sturdy amp features three voices – classic, modern and overdrive – to help you shape your tone. Use the shape control for quick switching or take some time exploring tone shaping options until you find what suits you best; use chorus as an added dimension of sound texture!
Fender
Fender is one of the world’s premier musical instrument brands. Their team of top musicians and engineers create bass amps designed to be musical yet durable.
Rumble and Bassman amps from this brand offer excellent solutions for beginners as well as experienced players, offering models to satisfy most musical requirements. Furthermore, this company is well known for their bass cabinets available in different shapes and sizes to satisfy most requirements.
Many bass guitarists prefer Fender amps over others due to their clean tones and distinct mid-range scooping characteristics, often producing very sparkly sounds.
Marshall amps tend to offer higher gain tones and are thus more popular among rock and metal fans; however, both brands produce bass amplifiers capable of handling various music genres from country and surf through blues and jazz.
Mesa/Boogie has long been considered one of the premier bass guitar amplifier brands. Established in America more than 60 years ago, this company continues to push boundaries when it comes to bass amplification technology.
Beginner bassists looking to begin playing either in a studio or live setting should consider this model, which features numerous tone shaping capabilities and comes equipped with its own dedicated overdrive circuit.
At 8kg, it’s much lighter than other brands and much simpler to load into a truck than many. Furthermore, this model features three unique voicing options as well as a Fender Special Design 10″ speaker for maximum versatility.
Hartke
Hartke is an esteemed brand acclaimed for their cutting-edge bass speaker technology. Their HyDrive speakers combine aluminum cones with traditional paper cones to produce an exceptional sound that has become beloved among world-class musicians.
In addition, they also manufacture high-end bass amplifiers, combos and cabinets as well as acoustic guitar amps – products tailored to meet all types of bass players’ needs – whether experienced players or those just beginning.
Hartke offers several budget-conscious bass combos that are suitable for small rehearsal rooms or home practice, featuring useful features like balanced DI output and effects loop.
These amplifiers also include a headphone output, which mutes the speaker when headphones are connected – making this feature particularly helpful for playing silently with background tracks or home practicing without disturbing other musicians.
Hartke bass amps have quickly become one of the most sought-after on the market, and one of their most beloved is the HD500 with 500W output and just 35 pounds weight. It includes their time-tested preamp as well as two HyDrive hybrid aluminium/paper 10″ drivers – making this model one of their best sellers!
A three-band active EQ equipped with Hartke’s Shape circuit gives users the power to customize the tone of their bass. The Shape control allows users to make moderate boosts or attenuation adjustments in certain frequency areas while deep attenuation occurs elsewhere.
Other features of the HD500 that make it useful include an aux input for connecting media players, as well as 1/4″ unbalanced send/return jacks to connect external effects processors and outboard effects processors. Furthermore, there’s a headphone output which mutes or disables speaker function if needed.
Ibanez
Ibanez is a Japanese manufacturer that designs and produces an extensive line of musical instruments including bass guitar amplifiers. While well known for their high-end signature models, GIO also offers entry level basses and guitars designed specifically to meet the needs of beginner or intermediate players.
Ibanez offers an expansive selection of bass guitars that have been chosen by some of the finest musicians around. Their flexible instruments can cover multiple genres.
Ibanez’s SR250 bass provides incredible value to metal players. Crafted with lightweight nato tonewood and boasting several features not often seen at this price range; such as its comfortable slim neck with custom SR-shaped fret access.
This guitar features an active pickup system that covers a broad spectrum of tones, from growling midtones all the way down to beefy basses that dominate low end frequencies. This makes it ideal for metal music as well as other genres that demand varied tones such as rock.
Ibanez offers an impressive variety of bass guitar amplifiers, from hybrid amps and all-tube heads to budget practice combos and portable options with various body styles to meet your bassist needs. Their vast selection offers bassists a broad spectrum of tones suited for practice sessions. Their practice combos also come equipped with portable power, providing easy portability.