Combo for a beginner

[bassbiscuits]

My friends 14yr old daughter is learning bass (her mates all play guitar so I’m quite proud of her for taking the bass path…)

 

Weve sorted a Squier Bronco bass from BC for her. 
 

Any recommendations on decent small practice amps, sort of 30-50watt I’m guessing for playing at home with her mates?

 

Anything too big and heavy will be a nightmare to transport. I know Blackstar are good for guitar stuff, but the Roland Bass Cube range seems to have become just one very small amp.

 

Any suggestions ?

[David B]

For my “portable bass amp” I use an Ashdown Studio 10 which is compact, light and puts out 50 watts (enough for a decent jam). No complaints from me.

 

The new Eden combos sold through Gear4Music look interesting, although I have no direct experience of them. On paper they look good value and there should be no issues if you needed to return it.

 

I’ve never been a fan of the very smallest practice amps because I think they are just too limiting if you plan on playing with others.

[Pea Turgh]

There will probably be  a fair few secondhand practice amps in your locality. Most of them will do the job until she wants to get a gig rig.

[bass_dinger]

52 minutes ago, bassbiscuits said:

 

Any suggestions ?

@NancyJohnson of this Parish, and joint-patron of the South East bass bash, had a splendid little Eden amp for sale. 

 

I tried it out at the event and was impressed  - the only reason that I didn't buy it was because I use headphones at home, and because it struggled with the low B on my 5 string. *

 

However, if you are looking for recommendations for someone who has a four-string, then the Eden range impressed me.

 

* that's two reasons. 

 

 

 

 

[bassbiscuits]

20 minutes ago, David B said:

 

I’ve never been a fan of the very smallest practice amps because I think they are just too limiting if you plan on playing with others.

That’s the thing - I have memories of several early years of thrashing some awful underpowered bass practice amp and wondering why it didn’t sound like the thunderous bass on the records I loved!

 

Good call on the Eden stuff. 
 

There's a Roland Bass Cube on here for sale too but it’s far away from me. 
 

Wasn’t sure what people thought of Fender Rumbles? 
 

My own practice amp is a knackered old Orange Crush which farts out almost immediately and has been relegated to the garage, so it’s not much to go on. 
 

[Pea Turgh]

I’ve tried the lower powered rumbles in music shops across the land - they are all disappointing!  I I’ve heard the 100w+ the rumbles sound ok, but I have no personal experience of them.

[Lozz196]

Def check out Blackstar, I’ve played through their larger bass rigs and found them to be very good.
 

But at around 50watts Ampeg, Ashdown, Fender, Orange will all be decent enough.