Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
Moderator: bclaire
Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
To make a long story short: What's the best bass amp for guitar? I'd prefer to keep this under $300 if possible.
Details:
I do a lot of signal-splitting, and I'm looking for an amp to meet my needs.
First, I have my guitar plugged into a y-adapter. One cable feeds into an Ibanez DE7 delay/echo, which I have set to minimum time (30 ms). The dry out feeds into my fuzz pedals, while the wet out feeds into my overdrive pedals. Sometimes I do clean + fuzz, clean + overdrive, just fuzz, or recalibrate for just overdrive).
The second cable, however, is more relevant to our discussion today.
That second cable runs from the y-adapter into a sub-octave pedal, which filters out anything higher than F on the D string, knocks everything else down an octave, and then feeds into a bass fuzz pedal. On its own, this chain creates an adequate low end; combined with the other signals, however, I get what strikes me as a full, muscular sound, and I am very happy with it. However, my amp isn't.
I'm plugging into a Line 6 Flextone II, which is an awesome guitar amp capable of delivering many killer tones. However, if I set the sub-octave signal too high, or fuzz it up too much, I can tell that it's starting to cause some damage. I don't push it too far - as soon as I notice, I dial the sub-octave down. It would be nice to have an amp that could capture that low-end without any reservations, though - something that will allow me to dial up that low end, or fuzz it up.
If it's any help, I'm currently EQing my amp with bass at 5 of 10, mids at 8 of 10, and treble at 2 of 10.
Details:
I do a lot of signal-splitting, and I'm looking for an amp to meet my needs.
First, I have my guitar plugged into a y-adapter. One cable feeds into an Ibanez DE7 delay/echo, which I have set to minimum time (30 ms). The dry out feeds into my fuzz pedals, while the wet out feeds into my overdrive pedals. Sometimes I do clean + fuzz, clean + overdrive, just fuzz, or recalibrate for just overdrive).
The second cable, however, is more relevant to our discussion today.
That second cable runs from the y-adapter into a sub-octave pedal, which filters out anything higher than F on the D string, knocks everything else down an octave, and then feeds into a bass fuzz pedal. On its own, this chain creates an adequate low end; combined with the other signals, however, I get what strikes me as a full, muscular sound, and I am very happy with it. However, my amp isn't.
I'm plugging into a Line 6 Flextone II, which is an awesome guitar amp capable of delivering many killer tones. However, if I set the sub-octave signal too high, or fuzz it up too much, I can tell that it's starting to cause some damage. I don't push it too far - as soon as I notice, I dial the sub-octave down. It would be nice to have an amp that could capture that low-end without any reservations, though - something that will allow me to dial up that low end, or fuzz it up.
If it's any help, I'm currently EQing my amp with bass at 5 of 10, mids at 8 of 10, and treble at 2 of 10.
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
PS If the "best" bass amp for guitar is something like $2,000 and there's a good amp for my purposes for $250, I'll gladly go for the "good amp." So yeah, I guess I'm really asking, what's a good bass amp for what I'm doing?
Also, would it work for me to grab a guitar amp head and plug that into a certain bass cab?
Also, would it work for me to grab a guitar amp head and plug that into a certain bass cab?
-
- Duke of Orange
- Posts: 9765
- Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2002 1:05 am
- Location: Amsterdam, Hollandland.nl
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
Well the 'best bass amp for guitar' would probably be a Hiwatt. Expensive amps though - two grand would be a good price, and you'd still need a cab!bahklava wrote:PS If the "best" bass amp for guitar is something like $2,000 and there's a good amp for my purposes for $250, I'll gladly go for the "good amp." So yeah, I guess I'm really asking, what's a good bass amp for what I'm doing?
Also, would it work for me to grab a guitar amp head and plug that into a certain bass cab?
At more realistic price levels I'd really suggest finding a second hand Peavey bass combo. Seriously, these things are normally good sounding reliable bass amps which I've often used myself without problems and they always sounded fine. You should be able to pick one up second hand for not too much loot.
What you are hearing is mainly the (guitar) speaker(s) failing to cope with loud low end. Another solution could indeed be a clean and fairly powerful (?solid state) guitar amp through a suitable bass speaker. Again Peavey bass cabs tend to be very good for the money. I used a Peavey 4x10 cab with my Orange head for bass for many years - it was great.
Since the distortion is going to be coming from your bass fuzz pedal and not from the amp a solid state amp should be fine for you. They are usually very good at cleanly amplifying whatever you feed into them. Only thing to watch is not to push the power amp section so hard (ie high volume settings) that it distorts as that can blow speakers. Better to get a more powerful one which you won't need to push hard enough for it to distort.
Andy.
aNDyH.
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
-
- Orange Master
- Posts: 2785
- Joined: Sun Jan 24, 2010 12:21 am
- Location: UK
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
The Terror Bass sounds great for guitar on here...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wNOK-JoXHc
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
I would go used. Something like a GK or Peavey combo. Go for at least 200 watts solid state with at least a 1x15. Used Nemesis by Eden are also good. You don't list a location and if you're in the UK your options would differ, i.e. try to find an old Trace combo.
mmmmmm drop
Guthrie Matthews Method
http://www.guthriematthews.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Modified Fender Custom Shop Jazz, Warmoth P/J clone,
Orange AD200 MkIII, Barefaced Compact
Guthrie Matthews Method
http://www.guthriematthews.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Modified Fender Custom Shop Jazz, Warmoth P/J clone,
Orange AD200 MkIII, Barefaced Compact
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
I'm in California, for what it's worth.
What happens if I wind up with, say, a 50W amp? What tonal difference does that make compared to 200W? I don't mean to challenge you; I honestly don't know, because I've only had one amp (a 60W).
What happens if I wind up with, say, a 50W amp? What tonal difference does that make compared to 200W? I don't mean to challenge you; I honestly don't know, because I've only had one amp (a 60W).
-
- Rocker
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Wed Aug 25, 2010 1:39 am
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
I'm using an Ashdown Little Bastard for my bass rig. It's a 30 watt valve bass amp. Plenty loud for recording, but not for much else.
Amp
Orange Rockerverb 100
Cabinet
PPC 412 HP 8
Orange Rockerverb 100
Cabinet
PPC 412 HP 8
-
- Duke of Orange
- Posts: 5295
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:23 pm
- Location: Chicago
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
You want watts when talking about bass in order to be able to reproduce the lows well. You also don't ever want to clip a solid state amp, so you always want more watts than needed. Now if we're talking a tube amp, a 100w might do the trick if you don't mind a little breakup. Ampeg V4 or V4b through a bass cab would be cool, but that's probably going to run you between $700-1000 for the setup depending on what's available and what cab you get. There's a lot of decent solid state bass heads for fairly cheap. You're going to need to know your stuff and spend some time searching to find a good head/cab setup for $250.bahklava wrote:I'm in California, for what it's worth.
What happens if I wind up with, say, a 50W amp? What tonal difference does that make compared to 200W? I don't mean to challenge you; I honestly don't know, because I've only had one amp (a 60W).
-
- Forum Moderator
- Posts: 17905
- Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 9:19 pm
- Location: Outside Boston MA, USA
- Contact:
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
I don't think you want a bass amp. What you need is an amp suited for guitar and the low end - and to me, that sounds like a solidstate keyboard amp which should be capable of doing what you want in reproducing the low end. Go used and something with as much watts as possible. For what you're trying to do, you're looking to create your own sound so my guess is, you could go Peavey or anything else in a keyboard amp and accomplish this...
-
- Orange Expert
- Posts: 562
- Joined: Sun Dec 05, 2010 8:41 pm
- Location: boulder, CO
- Contact:
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
Why would this go any further than this?
Fender Bassman!
or Marshall super bass if you need a head and cab.
Fender Bassman!
or Marshall super bass if you need a head and cab.
http://blackdots.bandcamp.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
-
- Duke of Orange
- Posts: 9765
- Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2002 1:05 am
- Location: Amsterdam, Hollandland.nl
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
Personally I don't think the amp type here is going to be as critical as the speakers. IMO a guitar, keyboard or bass amp should be able to do what is wanted as long as the speaker(s) can handle the low octave frequencies. But yes, amplifying low frequencies cleanly uses a lot more power than higher frequencies, so wattage will be important. The more the better really, so a bass amp seems logical to me. (Their EQ is also usually more effective than guitar amps!)
Andy.
Andy.
aNDyH.
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
-
- Duke of Orange
- Posts: 5295
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:23 pm
- Location: Chicago
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
Could he just feed a signal from the pedal straight to a DI and straight to a power amp? I don't know if this would work or not, I'd think so. You'd have no eq unless the pedal or DI has it, but you might get more watts for your money this way.
-
- Duke of Orange
- Posts: 9765
- Joined: Sat Jun 15, 2002 1:05 am
- Location: Amsterdam, Hollandland.nl
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
Good point!!!baytamusic wrote:Could he just feed a signal from the pedal straight to a DI and straight to a power amp? I don't know if this would work or not, I'd think so. You'd have no eq unless the pedal or DI has it, but you might get more watts for your money this way.
Might well work. Depends on the upper frequency content really, and the OP did say that that octave pedal was cutting everything out higher than F on the D string.
Main problem with DI'ing guitar is you keep the raspy upper frequencies which a guitar speaker doesn't put out but a full range PA speaker would. (Or tweetered bass or keyboard ones.) That might not be a problem at all here...
Andy.
aNDyH.
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
Ever tried to outstare a mirror?
In the bathtub of history the truth is harder to hold than the soap, and much more difficult to find!
-
- Duke of Orange
- Posts: 5295
- Joined: Tue Apr 13, 2010 10:23 pm
- Location: Chicago
Re: Best Bass Amp for Guitar?
I'd think you could still probably feed a bass guitar cab via the power amp, paying attention to ohms of course. I believe my power amp bridged to one channel is a true 600w @ 4 ohm and I only paid around $150 for it. It's an old Altec Lansing. Just thinking outside the box here, since this is a rather unique situation.a.hun wrote:Good point!!!baytamusic wrote:Could he just feed a signal from the pedal straight to a DI and straight to a power amp? I don't know if this would work or not, I'd think so. You'd have no eq unless the pedal or DI has it, but you might get more watts for your money this way.
Might well work. Depends on the upper frequency content really, and the OP did say that that octave pedal was cutting everything out higher than F on the D string.
Main problem with DI'ing guitar is you keep the raspy upper frequencies which a guitar speaker doesn't put out but a full range PA speaker would. (Or tweetered bass or keyboard ones.) That might not be a problem at all here...
Andy.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 136 guests