Does anyone know of a cheap bass amp that could either be built or bought? I guess even an old PA amp would do. I can build a cab myself no problem. Good tone would be nice, but 200+ watts is really teh only thing I want out of it. Ideas?
Ben
Bass Amp
Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal
Re: Bass Amp
I'll assume you want a Solid=State power amp, since "200+ tube watts" and "cheap" are mutually exclusive!
My suggestion would be to build a good tube preamp and buy a used SS poweramp (Crown, BGW, Carver, etc.) Search the craigslist in your area, too. My "Bass" poweramp is a CARVER M-1.5t stereo amp that was initially manufactured for "high-end" audio. Rock solid, hundreds of watts per channel, and can be found cheap on Ebay etc.
tubetek
My suggestion would be to build a good tube preamp and buy a used SS poweramp (Crown, BGW, Carver, etc.) Search the craigslist in your area, too. My "Bass" poweramp is a CARVER M-1.5t stereo amp that was initially manufactured for "high-end" audio. Rock solid, hundreds of watts per channel, and can be found cheap on Ebay etc.
tubetek
Re: Bass Amp
Hey Tubetek,
Good to hear from ya!
I still have my M1.0T that I use in my home theater. That plus some Klipsch = no need for a sub
Good to hear from ya!
I still have my M1.0T that I use in my home theater. That plus some Klipsch = no need for a sub
Eardrums!!! We don't need no stinkin' eardrums!
Re: Bass Amp
Amen, Brother Dartanion!
I'm still kickin' (but temporarily down to one arm; torn rotator-cuff...OW!)
Scheduled for outpatient surgery early next month.
tubetek
I'm still kickin' (but temporarily down to one arm; torn rotator-cuff...OW!)
Scheduled for outpatient surgery early next month.
tubetek
Re: Bass Amp
If yer gonna build a tube bass amp, try a Sunn 2000S.
120-200W.
If you still want cheap(er), but good, try building a Fender preamp to drive a SS power amp.
The Alembic preamp is just an Fender AB 763 preamp.
In the 80s, one of those driving a Crown DC 300A was pretty much the ulitmate high end bass rig.
DC 300As on fleabay run $150-$250, put out 155W of absolutely undistorted power per channel (they are stereo), and by the time you push one hard enough to distort, you'll already be deaf, so you still won't hear it.
200W, no problem.
I play bass though one channel and use the other one for PA monitors.
Oh, they do weigh 45 pounds, but a 2000S will weigh about 60.
Don't try to skimp on bass speakers.
Bass, in general, will cost you.
There is no way around that fact.
120-200W.
If you still want cheap(er), but good, try building a Fender preamp to drive a SS power amp.
The Alembic preamp is just an Fender AB 763 preamp.
In the 80s, one of those driving a Crown DC 300A was pretty much the ulitmate high end bass rig.
DC 300As on fleabay run $150-$250, put out 155W of absolutely undistorted power per channel (they are stereo), and by the time you push one hard enough to distort, you'll already be deaf, so you still won't hear it.
200W, no problem.
I play bass though one channel and use the other one for PA monitors.
Oh, they do weigh 45 pounds, but a 2000S will weigh about 60.
Don't try to skimp on bass speakers.
Bass, in general, will cost you.
There is no way around that fact.