Entry-level bass gigging amplifier recommendations.

I have the Ibanez P5115K Promethean (500 watt) and have been very happy with it. It gives me all the sounds and power I'll ever need. Just read they are discontinuing the 500 watt version and will continue with 200. Got tired of lugging a Fender Bassman amp and a cabinet, this is easy to carry and compact. The one I have cost around 800 U.S., but the new ones should be in your price range.

Good luck. There's so much stuff out there, though. Try out some amps with your bass; there's something out there for you.

Those newer Fender rumbles are great and super light.

Edit: I desperately need to upgrade and it seems like the market is really nice now with well-priced, portable options. If I never have to lug my Hartke 410 cab around again it'll be too soon.

Important considerations:

1) type of music you’ll be playing
2) band personnel
3) average venue size
4) FOH support (or lack of same)


for me personally, i’ve come around to a less-is-more approach and concentrating on sound quality and portability, but thats in large part due to the band i’m in (one acoustic guitar, one electric guitar, lead vocalist and me - no drummer with which to compete)

if you’re not already on TalkBass, get on there and check out their excellent classifieds forums this is the Amps & Cabs section

lots of great affordable gear there, if you don’t mind dealing with other bassists

I use a Rumble 500. It loud as hell and has a direct out for a house mix. I've never turned the gain or master past 12:00.

There are so many 2x10 or 1 15 combo options that are under 40 lbs. and sound great. The guys still lugging around fridges are nuts!

Ampeg, Fender, Eden, Hartke, etc all make a version of this in the $500 range or less.

ETA: What kind of bass are you playing mostly? That might help give you a better response.

Fender Rumbles are the best sound to unit weight to value

tbh I don't love the fender rumble tone. ampeg i've found is the best for solid state bass amps. mark bass is another one I'm not fond of. just sounded too sterile to me.

this is an amp I played a while back and liked a lot for smaller type gigs



thing with bass is you still have to move air but you need watts to not make it sound farty.

I've known bassists who didn't even gig with their amps, they had some variety of DI box with some settings and emulators built in, straight to PA. The actual bass amp never left the rehearsal space. That's not practical for all situations though.

I just played a show last week where this was the backline amp. Thing sounded amazing and I was immediately wanting one.

900 new but you might get lucky on the used market, i see a couple on reverb going for several hundred under that.