Best bass amplifier for the bedroom playing and recording?

Hipermegalonico

Hipermegalonico

Jul 18, 2020
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#1
Hi! I'm new to bass and I'm looking for an amplifier both to practice in my room and to record (in my room too). I'm not looking for anything gig-worthy, but rather an amp that will be useful for recording my tracks, and which will sound nicely at relatively low volumes (knowing well that bass amps need a reasonable amount of volume to showcase their full sound, but that's not my priority here).

So far, the ones I'm most interested in are the Fender Rumble 40 and the Fender Rumble Studio 40. What do you think of them? Would you advise me to look at other amplifiers? Thanks a lot!
 
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#2
Random thoughts: There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Rumble 40's. Personally, I wouldn't spend the extra $ on the Studio, but I'm not at all interested in their digital processing and effects concepts -- I suspect that may be what is attractive about it to you. I've got no use for digital modeling, and my experience with inexpensive digital stuff like this is that it is only minimally effective. Still, in a home recording situation, I suppose this option would give you bigger palette of sounds to experiment with.

I don't know where you're located, but if there's anything like Craigslist or another local marketplace where you are, I'd consider looking around for a used amp. $75-125 will go a long way in that area. Plus, as is sometimes counseled here, it's not a marriage...you can easily trade in or up as your tastes and needs evolve.

If you're going to play bass, it's mandatory to have some sort of amp, IMO, but I think a majority of actual recordings just use a bass DI. And almost any amp can be made to work if you're going to be mic'ing it up close...it's not unheard of for producers to use guitar amps and the like for recording purposes.

Welcome to the Low Side... it's nice down here. :)
 
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#3
Redbrangus said:
Random thoughts: There's absolutely nothing wrong with the Rumble 40's. Personally, I wouldn't spend the extra $ on the Studio, but I'm not at all interested in their digital processing and effects concepts -- I suspect that may be what is attractive about it to you. I've got no use for digital modeling, and my experience with inexpensive digital stuff like this is that it is only minimally effective. Still, in a home recording situation, I suppose this option would give you bigger palette of sounds to experiment with.

I don't know where you're located, but if there's anything like Craigslist or another local marketplace where you are, I'd consider looking around for a used amp. $75-125 will go a long way in that area. Plus, as is sometimes counseled here, it's not a marriage...you can easily trade in or up as your tastes and needs evolve.

If you're going to play bass, it's mandatory to have some sort of amp, IMO, but I think a majority of actual recordings just use a bass DI. And almost any amp can be made to work if you're going to be mic'ing it up close...it's not unheard of for producers to use guitar amps and the like for recording purposes.

Welcome to the Low Side... it's nice down here. :)
Click to expand...

Thank you! You've given me some food for thought! I'll also see what I can find locally and consider some DI options too. Maybe something like the Ampeg SCR-DI, which looks quite nice. Thanks again!

Edit: Forgot to mention that, as soon as I can, I'll try the Rumbles to see if I dig the tone!
 
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#4
Hipermegalonico said:
recording my tracks
Click to expand...

If your goal is to record with your PC then you'll need first good headphones, IEMs, and Monitors
Modeling software will give all the tone you need through Headphones, IEMs and Monitors. Decent monitors will give you good levels to practice at. You should get use to IEMs if you plan to do any gigging - it's more and more a standard.

Getting an amp can be secondary. Recording and Amp with mics isn't an advantage today. Unless you have some kind of special rare unique head and cabinet. Today's modeling software and impulse responses capture amp sound in pro-audio studios and rooms allowing you to use that captured sound in your own recordings. Good monitors, headphones, and IEMs will let you hear that.
 
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#5
Welcome!

Like Red says, I also just use a plain ol’ amp for practice and I have a USB interface for recording. That said, the studio 40 seems like a good “all in one” option for you, and seems to generate good feedback from its owners around here.

I have a Rumble 25 for home and a 100 for rehearsals. Everyone’s needs are different, but these seem to be the perfect sizes for me. IMHO the 40 would give you great tone and headroom for home, and should give you enough for low-volume backyard jamming! The Rumbles are heavily “colored” with a warm, vintage-y sound. So I’d go out and A/B them with whatever else you can find. Ampeg and GK are some of my other favorites, but there’s a ton out there!

Some clubs you can check out:
Fender Rumble Club

Fender Rumble LT25, Studio 40 & Stage 800

good luck!
 
#6
If you're looking at the Rumble 40 you should also consider the Acoustic B50C. Same price as the Rumble 40, but more wattage and, IMO, sounds better. The downside, though, is no DI out on the Acoustic. When you go to the $300 price point (100w) both the Rumble and the Acoustic have it, and the Acoustic not only has DI out, but has a level control for the DI and a preamp bypass for it.
 
#7
You don’t actually need a regular amp to do what you want. At this point it might be better to get a headphone amp. A lot of people on TalkBass recommend the Vox Bass Amplug. Costs about $40 new. A direct box or simple interface, such as an iRig, which has amp simulations, should do everything you need in to play and record bass in your bedroom.
I also recommend a learning app called Yousician. You can try it for free 10 minutes a day, to see if you want to subscribe.
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#9
Some years ago I picked up an Ampeg BA-112 for practicing, etc. and although it sounded rather good to me, it was only useful for practicing at home. Even when I tried just noodling around with a pal of mine playing some guitar, that amp just didn't project any volume for me. If all you want is decent sound for playing solo at home, this could be one to check out.

My gig rig is a head and a pair of 2x10 cabs. When I practice at home now, I just play through one cab with the volume tamped down.

No experience with the Fender Rumble amps to report...
 
#12
Hipermegalonico said:
Thank you! You've given me some food for thought! I'll also see what I can find locally and consider some DI options too. Maybe something like the Ampeg SCR-DI, which looks quite nice. Thanks again!

Edit: Forgot to mention that, as soon as I can, I'll try the Rumbles to see if I dig the tone!
Click to expand...
The scr di is nice. But, the micro vr stack is nicer
 
#13
I think the Fender Rumble Studio 40 is a boss choice for the bedroom player. It models dozens of amps and effects, and it is its own USB interface for recording. You can get a cool multifunction pedal for it, and it has a great line out if you ever wanted to gig with it.
 
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#14
I have had both the 40 and the studio 40
Great sounding amps
I liked the studio 40 for all the FX and cool extra features
Pricey when compared to the 40 but I had a lot of fun with it

Best of luck to you
 
#16
Depends on your bedroom. Well, really depends on your neighbors and family/roommates.

I use headphones a lot and honestly play totally unplugged when I'm doing worklike stuff, scales, etc. a lot. I have one of the tiny Blackstar Fly 3 bass amps that I use when I want to hear, don't want headphones, and still need to be quiet. It works surprisingly well and I have even used it to keep up with an acoustic guitar. But it doesn't handle active electronics very well, distorts really easily with a hot signal.

I use headphones through my Mesa amps because I like the way it sounds. I'd personally get an amp with a headphone jack before getting another small practice combo.
Open back headphones are the way to go:
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#17
Guild B301 said:
You don’t actually need a regular amp to do what you want. At this point it might be better to get a headphone amp. A lot of people on TalkBass recommend the Vox Bass Amplug. Costs about $40 new. A direct box or simple interface, such as an iRig, which has amp simulations, should do everything you need in to play and record bass in your bedroom.
I also recommend a learning app called Yousician. You can try it for free 10 minutes a day, to see if you want to subscribe.View attachment 3929892
View attachment 3929894
Click to expand...

I have one of those Vox Amplugs, and while it works for simple practice, I find it to be cheaply made and the sound is kind of doinky, with a thin midrange. If you've made it work for recording, good on you, but based on my experience with it I can't recommend it.

For the OP's situation I would recommend one of the low power small heads with a DI out and or a headphone out. Then get a small speaker cabinet for it so you can play without headphones when you want.
 
#18
Do try other amps, if only to make sure. That said...

I was going to recommend the TC electronics BG250-208, but mine has sat idle for months. I plug all my basses into a DI, which goes through a mixer to nearfield monitors. Sometimes they go through my laptop, via a USB audio interface.
If you're going to do that kind of thing, hold off on getting a bass amp.
 
#20
SWR studio 220 or electric blue
Use a beater cab that's somewhere btw a 112 and a 410 you can leave at the rehearsal space.

Tell you guitar player to turn down if he drowns out out.
 
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