Small Bass amps similair to Valve Jr GTR amps

[Switchcraft]

Alo,
I prefer the sound of smaller amps when recording, but mostly want an amp to practice. I have been looking for a bass amp that would be similar to the quality and wattage of the Epiphone Valve Jr., but for bass, not guitar.


Has anyone plugged a bass into the valve Jr.?
I dont know, that might actually work OK as well, but I dont have one to try.


I am looking for a small wattage bass amp. Are there any boutique (and cheap) suggestions my fellow gearslutters have?
thanks

[TAVD]

Why? Generally speaking, low wattage amps don't work well as bass amps, unless you want overdriven bass. There are the various vintage tube bass amps from Valco, Fender, etc. and they almost always find there way to guitar players. If it's just a volume issue, there have been a few low powered solid state bass amps worth seeking out. The two that come to mind are the Trace Elliot BLX-80 and SWR Baby Blue. The BLX-80 sounds decidedly like a Trace Elliot amp, which I grew bored with after owning them for a while. The Baby Blue still remains high on my list of great sounding amps. Neither one is currently in production, afaik.

[Switchcraft]

Great answer.

I didn't really get the idea that I would be overdriving the amp too much. I just like the way small guitar amps record and thought that might carry over to bass amps. I will look into those two amps and see what I can find. I am mostly an upright player so i didnt get into bass amps too much, just did everything direct.
Thanks for the input!

[Pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by TAVD

Neither one is currently in production, .

******//www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Amp?sku=482023

I've been itching to try one of these out!

[TAVD]

Originally Posted by Pasta4lnch

******//www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Amp?sku=482023

I've been itching to try one of these out!

Thanks for pointing that one out. I wonder how it sounds compared to the old 8" speaker version, which might be the best sounding amp SWR ever made.

[joejnyc]

word on talkbass.com is that the baby baby blue isn't quite what the original babyblue was.

I have an SWR WM12, and like the tone. It's 80 watts to one 12" speaker, or you can add an expansion spkr to it for 120 watts.

I'd keep away from the LA series stuff if you're anywhere past "beginner" on the bass.

There is also something called the "briefcase" made by Phil Jones Bass. I think they're sold on www.theperfectbass.com

Also, there's an italian company called Markbass that sells tiny, powerful bass amps. Guitar Center carries them in a few of their stores...

ultra lightweight and powerful is the new thing in bass amps-- all kinds of three and four pound heads coming out.

[tree montgomery]

I know this might sound crazy, but this amp has been really good for me. I have gotten some really nice bass sounds out of it. tone at 5 volume at 4-5. I changed the tubes out thru jj tubes. mic sm-7.

[Tibbon]

I've got a Soniccord Bantamn 2000 amp (~25 watts class A) with a Eminence Red Fang in it (12" 8ohm). Just a volume control and a "character" control.

I love it for guitar AND bass. I've played concerts with it on bass even (and for country, so I wasn't wanting or getting a distorted sound of out it).

I can't turn it up all the way, or really drive the bass too hard on it... but it holds up pretty well with the bass to a pretty respectable volume that can keep up with a drummer before overdrive. But when you do overdrive it with the bass, it does kick ass too.

Mine was serial #0001 so I have NO clue how much one would cost new today. Probably just under a grand.

[Jonboy79]

Originally Posted by Switchcraft

Alo,
I prefer the sound of smaller amps when recording, but mostly want an amp to practice. I have been looking for a bass amp that would be similar to the quality and wattage of the Epiphone Valve Jr., but for bass, not guitar.


Has anyone plugged a bass into the valve Jr.?
I dont know, that might actually work OK as well, but I dont have one to try.


I am looking for a small wattage bass amp. Are there any boutique (and cheap) suggestions my fellow gearslutters have?
thanks

I've plugged a bass into the head version thru a 1x12 cab and it sounded great.

[TommyWhy]

They are pretty low volume, and they sound great. Might be expensive though, and tricky to find.

[FFTT]

The Valve Jr works fine for bass as a practice amp.

You might also try to find a Scholtz Bass Rockman on ebay.

Used mine quite a bit to help direct line ins.

Also the 90's re-issue Fender Blues Deluxe Combo amp makes a great
studio/rehearsal amp for bass and guitar. Figure about $500.00 or so on e-bone

[analogtodd]

There is a plethora of old 2 6V6 amps out there that usually had a single 12 or single 15 which would totally ROCK for bass!

Alamo... Sears are the first thing that springs to mind... and you are looking at the $200 range as well.

If it blows up, you don't feel so bad

[TAVD]

I tried a jazz bass through a valve junior plugged into a B15 cabinet. It sounded really bad, no redeeming qualities that I could hear. I'll stick with the B15 amp.

If you want something cheap, try a Crate powerblock. They're $99 @ GC, have EQ and a class D amp that is better suited for bass. They sound really nice too, better than you'd imagine at first glance.

[FFTT]

Originally Posted by TAVD

I tried a jazz bass through a valve junior plugged into a B15 cabinet. It sounded really bad, no redeeming qualities that I could hear. I'll stick with the B15 amp.

If you want something cheap, try a Crate powerblock. They're $99 @ GC, have EQ and a class D amp that is better suited for bass. They sound really nice too, better than you'd imagine at first glance.

I never said my jazz bass sounded great through the Valve Jr. but it will do for a quiet practice amp.

[allphourus]

I like old school,nothing beats an old Ampeg B15 Potaflex.I have an old CBS Fender Silver Face Bassman Ten that I love( I use an old Ric Into first channel, First channel's second jackout into a Boss CL50 half rack Compressor/Limiter,into the second channel).If you're a stand up player you should know both the Gallien-Krueger12 and 15 inch Bass Combos and The Walter Woods amps. All Excelent.

the "briefcase" made by Phil Jones Bass looks ( set controls for Artie Johnson ) "verry interesting",Take a look here:

******//www.guitaramplifierblueprinti...s/DSCF0001.JPG

******//www.guitaramplifierblueprinting.com/pjb.html

[FFTT]

Sometimes you're just better off practicing through your board or your DAW.

I used to do that all the time.

I'll have to try it direct and see what Vintage Warmer does to it.

[muziekschuur]

******//www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...mbo?sku=480099[IMG]******//img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/tn/0/2/0/325020.jpg[/IMG]

[TAVD]

After doing extensive upgrades to a Valve Junior head I have to say that it now makes a suprisingly wonderful little bass amp. Of course, it's also a much better guitar amp now as well. The mods are key though, especially the upgraded transformer.