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

[waveman]

Peavey MiniMax

Been rocking mine since summer. Sounds great through all of my cabs and DI into PA. Selling my Rumble, though it's a nice amp too, just not as much my thing as the Peavey.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

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

A pick isn't necessary. The Rumble 500 sounds great with just fingers.

 

[Kahrmine]

A pick isn't necessary. The Rumble 500 sounds great with just fingers.

The Hand! I remember that movie when I was a kid. Creeped me out bigtime!

 

[mmbongo]

Every Carvin I ever had let out the magic smoke. The Ampeg PF line is known to have been problematic in the past; I had a PF800 that died within an hour of turning it on, same with a PF500. They sound good, but only when they work.

I agree the Rumble line not having Speak-Ons is a problem, but I am a long-time pro and that little amp delivers, reliably.

IMO the best budget class D is the Rumble. If you can scrape together more money, the Mesa Subway D800+ is not only the current "darling," it's spectacular for rock.

Did not care for the Fenders at all. However both my Carvin and Ampeg have been rock solid with no issues. Both have taken a back seat to my Mesa D800 now, but that does not fit in the OP's budget sadly.

 

[Kahrmine]

Peavey MiniMax

Been rocking mine since summer. Sounds great through all of my cabs and DI into PA. Selling my Rumble, though it's a nice amp too, just not as much my thing as the Peavey.

Which amp has the most present and pleasant, musical mids?

 

[brbadg]

Sounds nice in this demo:

Actually,this doesn't sound that nice.

 

[Spidey2112]

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.

Carvin... do the Carvin.

 

[fclefgeoff]

You can get a GK MB800 used for well under $500. Don't like the GK tone? No problem, pony up a few hundred more for whatever flavor of preamp pedal you desire and you now have an 800 watt power amp that's smaller and lighter than the yellow pages.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Were I on a serious budget and needed a 500 watt head, I'd look at a used Rumble 500.
If I had a bit more cash, I'd look at a used Aguiar Tonehammer 500.

 

[waveman]

Which amp has the most present and pleasant, musical mids?

I think it's a matter of taste. I wouldn't say either shines over the other in the mids.The MiniMax has a flatter EQ response, which I like and plays better with pedals. The Rumble natively has a bigger bottom end, but the MiniMax has EQ options to add a bigger bottom end as well.

 

[Mr_O'B]

Bugera Veyron Mosfet or GK MB200

 

[bigtone23]

Peavey! Get a 70s aluminum model. They range from single channel 60W to roughly 210W dual channel heads. Loud watts, the wattage is usually half the series #--a Series 200 is 100W, etc...). Spend a $100 or so getting it up to snuff with solid caps and such. Rock out with a cool looking head that is surprisingly killer sounding. My Century 200 keeps up with a moderately volumed rock band. The parallel distortion circuit blends in a nice, old school hairiness to the tone.

 

[okcrum]

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

Gk all the way

Funny, those are the same reasons I did not buy an MB-500.

 

[Kun2112]

I am normally a GK guy, but for budget heads, I like TC Electronic. Just picked up a slightly used BH250 for $150

 

[Marial]

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.

No idea if they share any DNA, but my old Fender RAD practice amp is still one of the best sounding amps I've ever played through.

 

[MyMusic]

Carvin has been very good for me. I've had my BX500 for 6 1/2 yrs. and while I have hot use it every day, it has held up well. Also have the BX250 and picked up a BX1500 used for cheap. They work for me!!!

 

[Kahrmine]

Actually,this doesn't sound that nice.

Post a clip of an amp that sounds nice to your ears, I'd like to hear what you think sounds good.

 

[Kahrmine]

I think it's a matter of taste. I wouldn't say either shines over the other in the mids.The MiniMax has a flatter EQ response, which I like and plays better with pedals. The Rumble natively has a bigger bottom end, but the MiniMax has EQ options to add a bigger bottom end as well.

That's good to know, as I do have a pedalboard I may use sometimes. I think the Minimax is the winner in this, but I won't know until I try them when I eventually buy.

 

[Kahrmine]

Peavey! Get a 70s aluminum model. They range from single channel 60W to roughly 210W dual channel heads. Loud watts, the wattage is usually half the series #--a Series 200 is 100W, etc...). Spend a $100 or so getting it up to snuff with solid caps and such. Rock out with a cool looking head that is surprisingly killer sounding. My Century 200 keeps up with a moderately volumed rock band. The parallel distortion circuit blends in a nice, old school hairiness to the tone.

Oh, but I hate that indestructible dust receptor tolex!

 

[donahue]

I think you already had it. I just picked up an LH500 for $146 used to my doorstep and I'm floored by how good it sounds. Seems too good to be true. Bass 2.5 mids 10 treble 2. Its tight, punchy, glassy and warm at the same time. Unbelievable. Rock tones are all I really play as well.