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.
There are various bass guitar amplifier brands, each offering their own distinctive tonality. Some bassists may favor solid-state amps for their clean sound while others may appreciate richly coloured Orange tones.
Some of the most popular models come equipped with features that allow the user to shape their tone, such as a 3-band equalizer or effects such as chorus or octave.
Hughes & Kettner
German manufacturing is legendary, so it should come as no surprise that their pro audio equipment ranks among the finest available. Hughes & Kettner amps offer some of the finest low-wattage bass guitar tones available today; their Tubemeister series amps stand out as particular masterpieces.
The Tubemeister 18 boasts two EL84 power tubes and an internal Tube Safety Control that ensures optimal bias levels are always being met by each tube, for exceptional clarity and reliability in terms of sound quality and sonic clarity. Furthermore, LED indicators on its face let users see which tubes are working at full capacity versus which may need replacements.
For bassists seeking an array of tones, this versatile amplifier offers four inputs and two outputs with their own dedicated tone controls. Its clean channel boasts tight voicing with clear highs while its lead channel boasts enough gain for everything from AC/DC riffing to Mountain style riffs. When equipped with its Lead Boost switch, this amp roared with uncompromising articulation overlaid with creamy distortion that easily held up against fast power-chord riffing.
Hughes & Kettner cabinets designed to accompany the Tubemeister 18 amp are custom-built specifically to produce different tones. From classic 2×12″ cabinets to vintage-inspired 4×12″, there’s something here for every type of bassist – even rare prototypes may make an appearance! Finding a suitable speaker makes all the difference whether you want soft sounds or heavy metal stomps!
Fender
Fender amplifiers are legendary. Famed for their distinctive appearance and sound, these amps rank among the finest on the market. Available in various styles – such as valve amps which are popular with jazz players – Fender also produces acoustic guitars, lap steel instruments, banjos and electric violins as well as many accessories and parts specifically tailored to its guitars.
Fender guitars may be costly, but many can appreciate in value over time and make for excellent investments. Older models tend to gain in value over time while newer ones typically lose value – for this reason it may be wiser to purchase used rather than new models; collectors or individuals searching for specific models should consider vintage as they offer greater variety and will often yield a greater return.
No matter your level, whether a professional guitarist or just starting out, Fender Play app has something for you. Lessons are comprehensive yet concise while its song library boasts over 1,000 pieces. However, beginners and early intermediates may find this best suited as it allows users to learn basic guitar playing while offering them flexibility when reaching their goals at their own pace.
Fender uses Segment to reach its customers with ads that resonate based on real-time customer data, tailoring messages specifically to each individual to increase conversion rates and drive sales. If a customer expresses interest in an acoustic guitar purchase, Fender may email an offer containing both product elements; driving sales while maintaining high-quality products while offering exceptional customer support services when needed.
Orange
Few brands are as instantly recognisable on stage as Orange, known for its iconic British-style tone that suits rock and metal guitarists alike. Established in 1968, they’ve spent almost 50 years perfecting their iconic orange tolex finish and gritty sound; from their Tiny Terror series to Rockerverb MKIII bass amps there’s sure to be something perfect for every guitarist out there.
Cliff Cooper established his factory in Cowcliffe near Huddersfield to supplement production at his London headquarters on Cowbridge Street, where amplifier chassis were assembled into sleeves and shipped out for customers. Although their psychedelic-inspired range only sold several hundred units each year, Orange decided in the late 70s to give their amplifiers a facelift; their sleeves were revised, typefaces updated, and new basketweave grille cloth introduced – giving their amps new life and customers.
Orange amps were relaunched with the AD30 head and two-speaker combo, and began selling amplifiers in the US market as well. In 1998, their AD15 amplifier earned Editor’s Pick status in Guitar Player magazine, creating widespread interest for Orange as an international brand.
Today, the company offers an expansive line of both tube and solid state amps tailored for bassists – from the compact Crush BA50 combo amp to its flagship OB1 tube bass amp – as well as various effects pedals such as Bangeetar preamp-style compressor and Two Stroke hybrid boost and EQ models.
One of our favorites is the Pedal Baby power amplifier, designed to produce plenty of clean headroom for multiple pedals at the same time and serve as an ideal travel solution for bassists on the road. Offering Orange’s signature tone in a portable form factor, this amp provides gigging musicians or home recordists a powerful backup when recording.
Laney
Laney may not be your go-to brand when searching for bass guitar amps, but this British amp and PA company has powered many legendary artists, most notably Led Zeppelin’s first touring PA system. Laney amps were also supplied to guitar heroes like Randy Rhodes, Ace Frehley, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath as well as many more.
The Laney Linebacker 65W Tube Amp is designed to deliver big, rich bass tone. Featuring various controls such as clean channel, drive channel, reverb and 3-band EQ settings – as well as an inbuilt compressor designed to prevent overloads for the best sound possible – as well as an LED warning light when an overload is imminent, it provides plenty of control options and sound options.
Investment in quality speakers for your bass amp is essential in handling high volumes and withstanding stage use. You can find affordable speakers online or at local music stores.
Solid-state amplifiers may sound more powerful and robust; however, valve amps often produce warmer tones in their lower registers than solid state amps do. Guitarists tend to prefer tube amplifiers because of their warm tones.
No matter if you’re gigging musicians or practicing at home, both LEADTOP and DUALTOP bass amps offer plenty of features that can help you craft the ideal tone. For instance, the DUALTOP offers foot-switchable pre-boost and channel changer; LEADTOP boasts an EQ setting with multiple voicings as well as multi-mode treble control for customizable tone shaping; both models also use an LSI interface to connect to Ultimate Guitar to gain access to thousands of tones via Ultimate Guitar’s access.
Line 6
Line 6 is an industry-leading manufacturer of guitar amplifiers and effect modeling equipment. Their long history of innovation and strong user community makes their products widely utilized by professional musicians requiring premium tone with easy operation. Furthermore, Line 6 provides an array of accessories designed specifically to complement its amps and pedalboards.
The POD Go is an extremely flexible multi-effects processor with over 270 Helix and legacy models to choose from, perfect for use as part of an amps-and-pedals rig or by itself as a mobile recording or live performance rig.
This model features a powerful, high-resolution dual DSP platform for creating realistic tones such as overdrive and distortion. The sound library includes over 70 bass and guitar amps, 37 cab models and 16 mic emulations models; in addition, this model boasts over 100 effects such as dynamics tools, distortions, EQs pitch/modulations delays and wahs.
Presets include all styles and genres. Amp models modeled on well-known name-brand amps sound quite authentic – metal amps have punchy tones while Tweed and Supro tones have more organic tones.
There is plenty of space to expand the system with additional cabs and amps thanks to third-party cabinet impulse responses – an essential feature for players looking to customize the tone of their POD Go. In addition, users can save presets for easy recall; additionally, it comes with an extremely handy remote control – connect the Remote with any FirehawkTM 1500 model, AMPLIFi(r), or Spider(r), to access and manipulate various tone parameters without handcuffs!