What's the darling of the beloved budget bass heads these days?

[Kahrmine]

I'm curious what is out there these days. I have no idea what the trends have been. A while back it was power, power, power in a little, little box. I wonder if that has changed.

More specifically, you may be able to point me to a particular head to fit my needs, too. I like classic rock bass tones. I don't go for hollowed out funky sounds. I prefer P/J pickups, and would like to look into something that can deliver tight, but still bouncy, tones with a pleasant and present midsection, something clean that can handle fuzz and overdrive pedals well if I chose.

Also, I prefer classic, vintage stylings, but the looks are not the most important.

 

[Kahrmine]

I kinda like the tones this guy is getting from the Rumble 200 head in the intro of this video (up to the 1 minute 20 second mark), though I can sense perhaps a hole somewhere in the mids.

 

[Kahrmine]

Budget: Under $500

I used to have a Hartke LH500 head that I liked. It wasn't perfect, but it was decent.

 

[brbadg]

Ok,need more info.Is it for home or playing out?

 

[JimmyM]

Love the Ampeg PF line!

 

[mmbongo]

Lack of Speakon connections keep me from considering the Fender Rumble's 'real' amps.

For under $500, It's hard to beat Carvin or Ampeg.

It's a good day to buy. Carvin has a 20% coupon and GuitarCenter/Musicians friend has 15% off today.

 

[Kahrmine]

Ok,need more info.Is it for home or playing out?

Both

 

[Kahrmine]

Love the Ampeg PF line!

PortaflEXx?

 

[JimmyM]

PortaflEXx?

Yep. All very inexpensive and sounds terrific.

 

[brbadg]

Lack of Speakon connections keep me from considering the Fender Rumble's 'real' amps.

Wow,ok. I can remember when I hated those things.( the speakon connectors)

 

[Orpheus55]

I'm loving the Peavey Minimax these days; I also loved the Ampeg PF500 till it stopped working. The LH500 (which I reluctantly parted with) was a fine, if heavy, workhorse with a great vintage vibe. The Minimax is pretty awesome and I have beaten it up pretty good in the Florida heat and humidity. Like its ancestors (the TKO and TNT, which I played in the 60s, 70s, and 80s) it is a durable beast and a no nonsense workhouse with great power and tone.

 

[Kahrmine]

I'm loving the Peavey Minimax these days; I also loved the Ampeg PF500 till it stopped working. The LH500 (which I reluctantly parted with) was a fine, if heavy, workhorse with a great vintage vibe. The Minimax is pretty awesome and I have beaten it up pretty good in the Florida heat and humidity. Like its ancestors (the TKO and TNT, which I played in the 60s, 70s, and 80s) it is a durable beast and a no nonsense workhouse with great power and tone.

I noticed that amp. I'm gonna try to find a good demo of it that shows off its classic rock tones with a fender bass.

 

[40Hz]

Fender Rumbles and Ampeg Portaflexes

 

[edencab]

these 2 will knock you on your butt.....under $350 and $500 CDN so $250-335 US +/-.....light, small, lots of tonal range.....LOUD...oh and made in Canada

Traynor Amps
Traynor Amps

bebass, a fellow TB-er and all round good guy, is a US distributor...no affiliation other than messaging on this forum

 

[Linnin]

Fender Rumble 500 head or the new Hartke TX-600. Both light D-Class at the very same $399.99 price. Take your pick.

 

[CGremlin]

Love the Ampeg PF line!

Would never have guessed!

 

[Freekmagnet]

Those GK MB200's are just a couple hundred bucks.

 

[rodl2005]

Wow,ok. I can remember when I hated those things.

I never much cared for em b4 either, but the new V3 Rumble amps sound good to my ears

 

[DwaynieAD]

Portaflex starts sounding crappy at higher volumes and don't play well with tons of basses

Gk all the way

 

[matt holt]

Gotta go with carvin and GK, especially since they are made in the US.

The GK MB500 and MB200 win for compact design and sheer volume (a high decibel-to-dollar ratio, if you will)

The Carvin BX series wins for the incredible number of features.