Some bassists tour the world using mammoth-sized rigs with split signals, while others want nothing more than to plug right into their favorite amp, grab a pick, and let loose. But no matter what type of bassist you are, we all need a great bass amp, and we all need to watch our pennies. With so many fantastic options under a grand, there’s never been a better time to be a bass player. Whether you want a modern sound with high-end sheen or vintage grind, check out this list of our top-five favorite bass rigs under $1,000. You may just find the one that’s perfect for you.
Gallien-Krueger MB410-II Combo
Gallien-Krueger’s MB line of combo bass amplifiers has definitely made a name for itself among players looking for great sound, road worthiness, and convenience. So when the company went to work designing this 4 x 10″ combo, they had a lot to live up to. At 500 watts, the MB410-II pushes plenty of air to keep up with your loudest bandmates. And even with four speakers and all that power — thanks to the amp’s neodymium speaker magnets and switch mode power supply — this combo comes in at a comfortable 64 lbs. If you want the power and speaker arrangement of a stack and the convenience of a bass combo, you’ll definitely want to check out the GK MB410-II.
Ampeg Portaflex PF-350 Head and PF-210 Cab
When it comes to bass amplifiers, Ampeg’s flip-top designs rank among the most legendary in existence. The Portaflex PF-350 Head and PF-210 Cabinet Stack are the latest in that lineage. The cabinet boasts blue-diamond Tolex to match the amp’s old-school leanings, while the head sports enough modern features for the demands of today’s gigging bassist, features such as an effects loop, an XLR line-out, and impressively lightweight construction. The head also connects firmly to the top of the cabinet for peace of mind when onstage. When you’re done playing, just flip the top over. Your amp stores snugly away inside the cabinet for easy transport and protection, just like the originals.
TC Electronic BH250 Head and K-210 Cab
If you want to go the compact stack route, we urge you to check out the TC Electronic BH250 Head and K-210 Cabinet. Not only is the head a fully capable 250-watt powerhouse, but it also takes full advantage of TC’s TonePrint technology. This allows you to share and download tones direct to the amp. And with its onboard tuner, DI output, and the fact that it only weighs 4 lbs., the BH250 is a gigging bassist’s dream machine.
The K-210 speaker cabinet is a worthy addition to the BH250. Boasting two custom-designed 10″ speakers and an extremely lightweight enclosure, you’re able to elicit all the punch you need, while saving your back during load in and out.
Orange Crush Bass 100
Orange has been responsible for the driving low end of bassists since the 1960s. The Crush Bass 100 puts 100 watts of that aggressively punchy tone into a modern combo amp that has enough gig-ready features to be right at home on any stage or rehearsal. But there’s more lurking in this combo than just great low end. A blendable gain circuit gives you the effect of running a separate distorted signal and the ability to blend it with your clean tone to taste. It may be a conveniently compact combo for its power rating. But the sound of the Orange Crush Bass 100 is anything but small.
Ashdown Rootmaster RM500C115
The Ashdown Rootmaster RM500C115 1 x 15″ bass combo amp may be the most full-featured bass rig for the money at Sweetwater. No matter what room you’re playing, you’ll be able to dial in exactly the right sound with the 5-band EQ and onboard compression circuit. And when it’s time to take your tone further out, a simple push of a button will engage the RM500C115’s variable Drive and Sub frequency effects. Not only will you be playing with 500 watts of Ashdown’s famous bass tone, but there’s also enough tone shaping onboard to ensure bassists of any style will be able to pull a satisfying thump from this Rootmaster.
We know that budget can be a concern when looking for your next bass rig. Luckily, we live in a day when you can pick up a pro-level amplifier with a bevy of features for well under the $1k mark. These are just a few of the sub-frequency warriors we offer in that price range. So look around at what else we have. And don’t forget to give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. They’ll gladly assist you with any questions you may have.
