How To Choose A Bass Amplifier - Bass Amplifier Buying Guide!

Dagan explains the differences between bass amplifiers and shows us the differences between solid-state, valve and modeling bass amps. Plus many more handy tips for when you come to choose your bass amp.

In this handy bass amp buying guide, Dagan walks us through his recommended decision process when choosing a new bass amplifier.

He provides a guide on the differences between valve and solid-state bass amps, whether or not you should be using a bass amp with Active or Passive functionality, best wattage and more.

Dagan also offers some advice on whether or not you should be choosing an amp that you can gig with or you just need something for around the home. We discuss price differences, what you get for your money and whether or you actually NEED a bass amp or just an amplifier pedal.

Let us know what you think in the comments below.

Skip to relevant sections:

0:48 Valve, Solid State or Modeling bass amps?
3:00 Active vs Passive
4:29 Wattage
5:17 Gigging or Home bass amp?
8:25 How much should I spend on a bass amp?
9:57 bass amplifier pedal?

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[sethheron-vanta]

I've been playing since early sixties, and I recommend getting more power than you need.(headroom) they call it.With a guitar amp you overdrive it to get distortion and cool nasty sounds. With a bass amp I've found almost the opposite.When your amp is just " idling", you can get some really thick, solid tones without
straining the amp at all!!!

[DonVal]

I’ve played music for years but will be purchasing my first bass amp. This video was really helpful. This guy was really helpful, he considers every angle.

[Loveboost]

I don’t even play bass. I’m scrolling and see Dagan in a Cky shirt. Had to click. 🤘🏻🙌🏼 you the man Dag!

[kiwi_wolf]

I absolutely love the markbass combos, small enough to carry around easily - powerful enough for gigging

[JustChiminin]

When I was a young bassist, 60's/70's, the decision was easy . . AMPEG . .

[ChrisHopkinsBass]

My criteria for choosing a bass amp

1) Will it let me go toe to toe with the lead guitarist when he keeps turning up during the gig?
2) Does it have a DI on the back to keep the audio tech happy
3) Can I put it in a laptop bag and not give myself a hernia trying to move it?

[gamecat]

1:14 'Marra's'! :D got to love Dagan for slipping some casual geordie dialect in.

[beornthebear.]

One thing that I love now that didn't exist in the '70s when I started playing bass are virtual amp pedals (sans amps that can model) that you can plug headphones and a CD player into, and on headphones, it sounds like a big amp. That way I can practice without driving everyone crazy. You can also plug the sans amp out into the FX pedal return of a bass amp if you want the same sound. I also highly recommend getting a compressor/limiter if the amp doesn't have one. BTW, beautiful RIC!

[antoniopizarro]

Great advice. Always consider your goals, means and circimstances. If you are rich and play for a touring famous act, you don't need an amp. You'll have a "silent stage" and play with in-ear monitors.

However, if you're like most others, get the newest, loudest, lightest setup you can. You need to play over the drummer. Even at home by yourself, you'll love a big sound even at low volumes. Get a head and cab separate, so you can expand if needed. Avoid combos. Solid state is lighter and you can add "tube" sounds if you want.

Consider an 800 watt solid state head (a new one) and a 45 pound 2-12 cab. Maybe a 4-10.

You will not enjoy a 100w or 250 W 1-12 or 2-10 combo amp. Trust me.

Save up. Consider your goals.

[Kat-Kobold]

I have a Blackstar Unity 30 watt and I love the sheer versatility of it.

[frankperricone]

I still have my 1978 Ampeg V4b 2×15 cab. Went through a few Solid State amps, but always kept my V4b

[scrimpmster]

7:12 - I agree with this. I got into hard rock and heavy metal after I started to play guitar.

[davej]

Awesome preso on bass amps. I'm goin' Fender Rumble LT25 just after 20 seconds of demo-ing modeling Ampeg, Marshall and all for home studio and small gigs...

[firemarshal]

When it comes to watts it’s best to multiply your guitarists amp wattage times 10 and you’ll usually be safe for both practice and gigs. So if they have a 20 watt amp, a 200 watt bass amp will hold up as long as you have the right speaker. If you have two guitarist rocking out with 50 watt heads, you’ll need a 1000 watts and at least 8 speakers to be heard.

[markwinegarden]

Great stuff I really enjoyed this guy he always has good practical advice. Thank you Dad you're awesome PS one thing I also like about this guy he doesn't always try to push the most expensive stuff but be practical and wise with your money

[beornthebear.]

It takes a lot of bass wattage and speaker cone movement to keep up with a Marshall 100 watt guitar amp with 4 12" speakers. With bass, you need to move a lot of air.

[Paul-gfkp]

My grandpa gave me his old Peavy bass amp. Sounds cool

[PeterDad]

I actually had that rig an Ampeg SVT CL300 (that's 300 tube watts powered by six 6L6 tubes) running at 2 ohms into quality bass cab's such as my Ampeg SVT 410HE Classic, Ampeg SVT 15E Classic, Ampeg SVT 210AV and a Crown 810 (Ampeg owned Crown at that time so it was actually an Ampeg 8x10 speaker cab with another name). I could mix and match cab's for almost any occasion. Most of the time I ran the SVT CL 300 through the SVT 410HE and SVT15E with the Crown 810 all at 2 ohms, together this rig was so loud it was enough for probably any stage in the world.
That rig was louder than my hot rodded Marshall JCM900 MkII 100watt and Full Stack of JCM900 1960A and 1960B cabs. That bass rig, especially the 15" speaker cab punched out such powerful low frequencies that I began losing my hearing . I played through the fretless Fender P Bass Jazz guitar. I sold everything when I could no longer even hold a bass guitar due to injuries. I'd be deaf by now if I had kept that rig!
These day's I have another fretless bass guitar and my Ampeg BA-210 and another Ampeg 15E both powered by the BA-210 at 4ohms and around 380/425 watts. Sounds great just not as loud as the Ampeg SVT CL 300 through the 15E and 410HE cabs. I want to emphasize that this rig sounds great, just not as loud as the SVT CL300 tube amp! Nowhere as loud not even half as loud.-Peter age 72

[scrimpmster]

06:32 Did anyone else get this? Not sure if it was deliberate but it made me smile 🙂

[francescacanova]

I'm looking for a bass amp in this days, the problem I see as beginner is that in many videos in YT, is played bass, there are tabs but never is told about bass amp or other bass effects, I mean the way to get the sound.