Bass Amp for Daughter

August 8, 2006 8:51 PM

I want to buy a bass amp for my daughter for her birthday.

My daughter, who has extensive cello experience (I only include this to say that she is musical), is getting into electric bass, indie-rock style. For her birthday, I want to buy her a bass amplifier which will be suitable for both home practice and whatever gigs a 17yo girl can find, likely high school bands.

Any suggestions on an amp? Right now she's playing through my cannibalized Fender Twin, which is barely a viable amp, given its condition.

posted by Danf to Grab Bag (15 answers total)

Gallien-Kreuger seems to be the brand I see around most. Musicians Friend probably has the, or Full Compass.
posted by baylink at 9:01 PM on August 8, 2006

Disclaimer: This may be of no help/advice coming from retired drummer.

You say "extensive cello experience", so I'm going to assume that she has an aptitude, or you think she is better than average. My only input is: Tubes, in some capacity. If she is used to a natural instrument she will probably quickly develop an appreciation for the warmth. The best sounding amp I've ever been around was an Ampeg Flip Top, although I imagine those are very expensive at this point. Besides, Tubes Rock.
posted by -t at 9:22 PM on August 8, 2006

Picking an amp for someone is like picking a guitar for someone: unless you're really on top of what they're into -- or intentionally buying something so far out of what they're into that it's interesting -- you're better off giving her a budget and letting her shop and try things out herself.

If not, you better give us a budget.

(A bass amp for home practice and gigging is a hard find, though. There's a reason the little ones are called "practice amps". Bass takes a lot of power to keep up with even a single 100w 2x12 guitar amp. When I was gigging I didn't play indie rock, but when I could I went direct into the PA, and my on-stage amp (100w, 4x10) was really just a monitor and preamp for the DI.)
posted by mendel at 9:29 PM on August 8, 2006

I would definitely start with a combo and not separate pieces. In my more punk rock days I played through Fender bass amps and it worked out pretty well. Sounded good, got fairly loud for its size, good price point etc. This one is the sort of thing I would get a 17 yo indie bass player. If she gets real serious in college she can upgrade and pretty easily sell an amp like this. Teenage indie bass players usually have a primary requirement of being heard over the drums in a basement or some skatepark stage, so you are not looking for an amp that will allow you to finely massage the sound, just not sound like crap when turned up.

This is a bit of a personal decision too. She could potentially spend a lot of time with this amp. Make sure she has a lot of input, maybe go to the Guitar stores with you and look. Take her instrument and crank it up a little to see that she likes the way she can get it to sound. Then go home and shop Sweetwater and Musician's Friend for it. Most stores will match their prices.

And then let her go to your local counterculture retail area and buy a bunch of stickers for it.
posted by spartacusroosevelt at 9:39 PM on August 8, 2006

First off, many kudos to you for getting your daughter an amp. My parents bought my first bass amp when I was around that age, and god knows the racket they dealt with from my generous-with-feedback loving high school bands.

-t is right about the sound of tube amps, but between my Mesa D180 tube head and my Gallien Krueger 800, I almost always go with the reliability of the GK*. If you think she's pretty serious about it, I would look at either one of the higher powered GK combos, or at least the 400RB head and a cheap 4 x 10" cabinet (don't overdo it with the cabinet. a used peavey will do the trick). that's sufficient gig power for any kind of indie rock band.

*this does not apply in guitar amps though. there is only one way, and it is the tube.
posted by hominid211 at 9:51 PM on August 8, 2006

The Peavey TKO was always the standard in terms of portability and sound. You may be able to pick up and older one on eBay or in a music store if you're lucky. As I recall, the older ones could be had for pretty cheap. It appears that Peavey also has the new MAX series which look very affordable. Good luck!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:02 PM on August 8, 2006

My girlfriend got my this little feller for Christmas. It has good and surprisingly variable tone. It's good for home practice and I also jam with a percussionist using this. I use it with both active and passive pickups, with mid- and low-end basses. You can run the signal through the built-in 12" speaker or use it as a head and power something bigger. I was pretty skeptical at first, but I love it now.
posted by lekvar at 11:14 PM on August 8, 2006

Congratulations, chick bass players rock! My practice amp for home and acoustic gigs is an Ampeg BA-110 and I love it. She may eventually need something with more power if she's playing with louder bands, but for practicing and more quiet shows, it's fantastic.
posted by platinum at 1:19 AM on August 9, 2006

Two of the best bass players I know swear by the Gallien-Kruger.

Also, you are the best Dad ever.

Just make sure she's really keen so you're not wasting a big bunch of money on something that'll end up on eBay.

I second the suggestions of taking her with though. With an electric instrument the amp is most of the sound (as you no doubt know) so it's important that you end up with something that's the sound she's after.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:39 AM on August 9, 2006

Give her an imaginary budget which is less than the real budget. Take her to the store. When she starts looking at bass amps and find the one she really likes, but is more than her imaginary budget - but is still within the budget you've decided upon - "decide" that you can get her that one, if that's what she really wants.

I know it's manipulative, but it will make her twice as happy. (yes, I know, I'm a rat bastard)

All musical gear is an extension of the instrument that's plugged into it, which means that for a choice to be satisfactory, it really really needs to be made by the performer that's going to use it.
posted by jaded at 4:58 AM on August 9, 2006

Second to Platinum: i did the indie rock bass thing in high school, and i got lucky and found a used ampeg BA-112 in GREAT shape *and* on my high school budget (which was very low to say the least). It was a workhorse at the right price and I still have it today, actually. Though now it's mostly relagated to my home.

I'd def say get her a used Ampeg, if you can find one, and see if she likes it. If she does, let her pick out her a new box then. Oh, and yes: coolest dad ever. I hope i have a daughter that wants to thump the Boom Stick someday!
posted by indiebass at 5:00 AM on August 9, 2006

I'm pro and and suggest the Ampeg B-100R. The ampeg line is about perfect, thou the B-110 and B-112 are under powered. It's like the B-115 but cooler without that annoying selectable notch filter the B-115 forces you to use. And the vintage blue tolex gives it some indie cred.

Do not go below 100 watts (it takes a shocking amount of power to keep up with a drummer). While a tube amp would be nice they tend to be incredibly heavy, large, and prohibitively costly. The only tube bass amps worth talking about are the Ampeg SVT and the AD-200, either will set you back about $1600 to $2000.

While tubes are vital to the guitarist, they ain't all that to the bassist.
posted by sourwookie at 6:19 AM on August 9, 2006

Response by poster: Thank you all for these answers. As far a this being a referral on my parenting, well I would LOVE for her to stay with it. She was the first chair cellist in her grade from 4th grade on, then just quit in 8th grade. Broke our hearts, really, and the hearts of most of her teachers through the years. Plus now we have a $2.5K 3/4-size cello that we can't seem to find a buyer for.

So if she can find her way as a bass player, I'll do whatever I can to help.

As far as tube amps, I agree. . my fender twin (actually it's just the head by now) has tubes. It would be hard for me to buy a transistor amp for myself.
posted by Danf at 6:28 AM on August 9, 2006

I'd suggest the SWR Workingman's 12. SWR's webpage indicates that the WM12 is no longer a current product, but the major music websites seem to have it. Mine seems indestructible and would have provided almost all of the volume I would have needed in high school. It definitely works for my electric and upright basses in 90% of my playing situations. It weighs 50 lbs and only has a handle on top so it can be a bit awkward to carry. However, it will train her arm for lugging around the upright bass if she ever ventures there.
posted by dr. fresh at 7:43 AM on August 9, 2006

Check out the Briefcase. I find myself using it more and more on gigs.

I bet it would sound great for amping up her cello as well (has she heard Rasputina?)
posted by omnidrew at 8:28 AM on August 9, 2006