Bass Guitar Amplifier - Bass Amp Recommendations

[Biggles]

Those considering vintage KB or cheap CASIO, etc, consider 40W or more bass amplifier ASAP.

The stock speakers, especially 30 years later, could potentially turn off a new player.

I would not agree with you on that.

A keyboard has a dynamic range far greater than either a Bass or standard Guitar and they do require amplification that is designed to cater for the frequency range of a keyboard.

Reasonably sized Powered Speakers is IMO the way to go for home use, as long as there is enough headroom in the power of the Speakers.

5“ or 8” kit by PreSonus, JBL etc are reasonably priced kit even a pair of PreSonus Eris 4 speakers at about £80 will sound vastly better than the inbuilt speakers in a Casio or Numa Compact or something similar etc. (the type of keyboard with low powered inbuilt amp and small budget speakers).

My own are a matched pair of Active Monitor Yamaha HS5 which suit me just fine, each 80W and cost £330 for the pair.

 

[jmemcse]

Are you looking to gig with this or is it only going to be used in the home or the studio?

If it's not leaving your living room then you'd be better off with a set of powered stereo monitors.

I played through a small bass amp last month with drums, bass, and guitar. It sucked. Sounded like my amp was in a cardboard box. If you play out get something with a 15 and a horn. Otherwise, listen to G-man.

 

[Giner]

My retirement present from work colleagues, understandably unwitting, was a a Roland Cube 100. Not of huge use to me as a keyboard player, but I think I’d love it if I was a bass player. Serious output and features in a bass amp.

 

[LoveLoud]

I agree with your disagreement.

Sometimes my budget consciousness narrows my mind. That was my strategy, but I'm not saying it's a keyboard standard.

I should have said, the 30 years old speakers don't do any keyboard justice. Get at least 40W and better speaker(s) up.

 

[happyrat1]

When I originally suggested a bass amp for keys, my statement was conditional upon lack of budget and getting started in a hurry.

BY NO MEANS WHATSOEVER did I imply it was the best choice for a keyboard.

Keyboards run the whole audible spectrum in their output and therefore the best amps/monitors/headphones/PA systems all output between 20Hz and 20KHz with relatively flat response.

This includes powered computer monitors at the low end, and goes up to proper keyboard amps, studio powered monitors and FOH PA systems. Even a home HIFI set is a suitable monitor as long as you are using an input rated for line level.

I also should have mentioned I sold off that Peavy a year later and replaced it with a Behringer 40Watt Keyboard Amp which I still occasionally use today.

Perhaps this will nip this debate in the bud.

 

[LoveLoud]

I'm not debating. Didn't think.

I didn't get the bass amplifier upcycle idea here.

Turned out perfect for my project, which included strong low end, headroom, and inadequate budget.

 

[LoveLoud]

I would not agree with you on that.

A keyboard has a dynamic range far greater than either a Bass or standard Guitar and they do require amplification that is designed to cater for the frequency range of a keyboard.

Reasonably sized Powered Speakers is IMO the way to go for home use, as long as there is enough headroom in the power of the Speakers.

5“ or 8” kit by PreSonus, JBL etc are reasonably priced kit even a pair of PreSonus Eris 4 speakers at about £80 will sound vastly better than the inbuilt speakers in a Casio or Numa Compact or something similar etc. (the type of keyboard with low powered inbuilt amp and small budget speakers).

My own are a matched pair of Active Monitor Yamaha HS5 which suit me just fine, each 80W and cost £330 for the pair.

The dynamic response is the same in all three amplifier types. That is not a difference. Bass amps are not made to exclude registers; they are optimized to reproduce the lower registers.

Apples to Apples, a bass amplifier is the most robust. Almost always bigger speakers and enhanced headroom.

 

[Biggles]

The dynamic response is the same in all three amplifier types. That is not a difference. Bass amps are not made to exclude registers; they are optimized to reproduce the lower registers.

Apples to Apples, a bass amplifier is the most robust. Almost always bigger speakers and enhanced headroom.

I did connect my Rumble 100 to my Korg arranger and it sounded good, the top end was slightly softened but it was perfectly useable.

The Rumble was used with my Fender Jazz Bass.

No longer have the Jazz but I do a Strat and that feeds into the same Powered Speakers as the Korg does sounds great in all frequencies

 

[LoveLoud]

Satisfactory down cycling: computer monitor speakers, already existent, using a 1/4 inch TS Y gizmo to energize both sides.

The RUMBLE 60 was over kill in my one room laboratory.

But buying / owning real-thing FENDER gear is it's own pleasure.

 

[happyrat1]

Satisfactory down cycling: computer monitor speakers, already existent, using a 1/4 inch TS Y gizmo to energize both sides.

The RUMBLE 60 was over kill in my one room laboratory.

But buying / owning real-thing FENDER gear is it's own pleasure.

Are you telling me you have the keyboard outputs wired in parallel?

STOP RIGHT NOW!!!

You never connect an output channel directly to an output channel. Differentials in impedances will make one try to drive the other and POOF!!! BLOWN OUTPUTS~!!!!!!