When it comes to bass guitar amplifiers, ideally you need one with a powerful head coupled with either one or two cabinets for optimal sound production and tone shaping capabilities. These amps should produce sufficient rumble for large venues while offering numerous tone-shaping options.
No matter if it’s for practice or gigs, there are plenty of amp options under $500 that could meet your needs. Here are our recommendations.
Peavey MAX 100
The Peavey MAX 100 packs plenty of bass tone and performance reliability into a lightweight combo amp that easily fits in your gig bag. Boasting an angled baffle design that directs sound directly toward your ears (no tilting back required!), 100W power, premium 10″ speaker, and Peavey’s unique psycho-acoustic low-end enhancement technology, this MAX series bass amplifier offers exceptional tone.
MAX 100’s sound capabilities are second-to-none. You can fine-tune your tone using its 3-band EQ and add personal flair with Overdrive, Contour, Mid Shift and Bright controls; plus there’s Kosmos-C bass enhancement which adds harmonics and subharmonics for maximum impact in playing notes. Plus this bass combo comes equipped with Peavey’s DDT speaker protection technology – great for loud situations such as slapping or other loud playing situations!
A chromatic tuner with mute ensures an out-of-tune bass won’t derail your performance, while an effects loop allows you to integrate pedals and external processors seamlessly into the mix. Furthermore, its tuned and ported enclosure, 1/8″ headphone output and XLR direct output with ground lift make the MAX 100 an easy amp for use both live and studio performances.
Aesthetically, the MAX 100 features an attractive two-tone grey and black finish that’s both striking and functional. Featuring a curved top front edge, recessed control panel, and specially angled baffle, this amplifier exudes both style and practicality – ideal for bassists seeking an affordable way to maximize their playing. Furthermore, with its portable size, convenient features and wide variety of tonal possibilities it makes an excellent companion on stage or the stage itself.
Orange Crush
The Orange Crush solid state amplifier delivers plenty of power in a small package. Weighing less than 45 pounds and housing one Voice of the World 12″ speaker, its controls are user-friendly even for beginners. Furthermore, its simple stage use design and ability to add external speakers makes this amp an invaluable asset.
This amp is an excellent option for any musician in search of a versatile amplifier that can tackle virtually every gig imaginable. Although not as harmonically rich or deep-sounding as tube amps, the CR60C offers reliable sound on stage – from its clean channel’s soothing melodic tone all the way through its dirty channel’s classic crunch sounding crunch, to full on heavy metal distortion!
This budget-friendly amp boasts both clean and dirty channels as well as a built-in chromatic tuner, along with its CabSim feature that emulates a 4×12″ cabinet through headphone output, plus its effects loop so external pedals may be connected directly. Plus, its overall construction is solid and durable while providing plenty of power to drive any bass cabinet!
The Orange CR 20 amp is one of the best values available, providing plenty of tone in a compact, lightweight package perfect for practicing and jamming with friends. Easy to use with multiple settings that enable users to personalize their sound – from sweet clean sounds all the way through mild overdrive and heavy distortion – both clean and dirty channels provide great tones that allow users to explore.
At under $500, this Orange Crush bass provides all of the features necessary to be an excellent gigging bassist. From its powerful preamp and responsive neck through an adjustable EQ and stunning reverb soundscapes – making this an excellent option for beginners as well as pros alike! Unfortunately it lacks an accompanying footswitch for additional effects.
G-K MB212-II
G-K’s MB212-II bass combo amp offers the power and tone expected from their brand. Packed with 500W through two American-made 2×12″ Paragon Neo drivers, it boasts huge sound from such a lightweight package. Equipped with 4-band active EQ and gain controls reminiscent of GK’s legendary RB series basses, you have everything at your disposal to find your ideal tone.
This model is perfect for gigging bass players who enjoy adding some texture to their sound, as well as beginners or those without much money to spend on an amp. Furthermore, the MB212-II stands out among its competition as being among the best under $500 as it boasts quality build and superior tone in a compact package.
If you prefer something smaller and more portable than the MB212-II, look no further than the Markbass Little Mark Tube 800. This portable combo bass amp boasts both classic tube warmth and contemporary Hi-Fi sounds in one easy package; available both as head/cabinet configurations to make traveling to gigs even simpler!
Aguilar Tone Hammer 700 bass amplifiers provide gigging bassists with another excellent option for club gigs, offering ample punch. Equipped with line-level AUX input for recording purposes as well as a series effects loop to run chorus or delay pedals before entering the amp stage, they make for ideal choice when amplifying music live.
Orange Crush bass amps have long been considered iconic, and its Crush 100 reissue offers all of the essential features in an updated and durable package. This compact all-analog combo bass amplifier was designed for use with one 15″ speaker. Featuring simple 3-band EQ with gain for tone-shaping purposes and an onboard tuner to help stay tuned up at all times, as well as modern speakON combo connectors for silent practice, switchable pre/post EQ XLR output switching for silent practice sessions, and built-in digital delay effects to make any modern bassist happy and excited about bass playing!
Aguilar Tone Hammer
The Aguilar Tone Hammer is one of the premier bass preamp pedals on the market. From tone shaping to overdriven punch, its comprehensive controls offer everything from Gain to Treble to Mid-Freq to Master, powered either by two 9v batteries or 18v DC power supply – making this pedal suitable for stage and studio use alike!
This bass amp offers a series effects loop, an XLR balanced output, two rear panel speakon outputs and is equipped with two carry handles for easy transport. Compatible with standard microphones and featuring a ground lift switch to activate with XLR cables. Furthermore, its carrying handle makes transport easy while its wide array of tone settings provide perfect portability in gig bags or cases.
The Tone Hammer bass amp is an easy and straightforward bass amp designed to be user friendly, featuring overdrive, clean and overdriven tones that can easily be tuned for any desired sound. Furthermore, this 3-band active EQ features sweepable mids for complete control over your sound.
Tone Hammer 700 boasts not only versatile tone-shaping capabilities, but also a premium D.I. that provides high-quality signal reproduction ensuring your bass will be heard without distortion.
The Tone Hammer 700 bass head is an extremely lightweight and compact bass head, boasting 700 watts at 4 ohms or 350 watts at 8 ohms, making it the choice of leading jazz bassists like John Patitucci, Tim Lefebvre and Liran Donin – as well as leading fusion players such as Liran Donin. Among its flexible tone-shaping features are 3-band EQ and color drive controls to add subtle overdrive effects; its fully sweepable high pass filters let you cut or boost each frequency band by up to 18dB! Additionally, AGS circuit ties together both sets of controls together so changing either will alter overdrive tone accordingly.