Recommended Bass Amps for Beginners (2022)

Here are our recommended Recommended Bass Amps for Beginners (2022). They were chosen using the criteria below:

Versatility – All can serve as a great practice amp while also suitable for rehearsing with a band and playing gigs. Some are expandable – extension speakers can be added for more volume and/or wattage. These are all multi-purpose amplifiers suitable for bass players at all levels – beginners and accomplished bass players alike. They have the ability to produce the sound needed for any type of genre and style of music.

Quality – All amps are high quality that are manufactured by reputable companies that provide legitimate warranties. They have all received customer reviews with high ratings and are recommended for purchase.

Size – All are combo amplifiers that are light weight & portable but also provide enough power and size for rehearsals and gigs. Each has speakers that are at least 10 inches in diameter. Anything less than 10” is great for practicing but may not be suitable for band rehearsals or gigs.

Power/Volume – All amps are at least 100 watts which is what you need in order to rehearse with a band and play decent sized gigs. They are also equipped with the hardware (speakers) to handle higher volumes without blowing your amp. You could get by with less (like 75 watts) but if you are playing in situations that require higher volume, you run the risk of overloading and blowing your amp.

Cost – All of these amps are within the $300 to $600 range – which is relatively affordable in terms of bass amp pricing. You can purchase an amp for less money, but then you are compromising power, quality, versatility, size, etc.

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Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-115

Legendary Ampeg Tone
200 watts
Iconic black diamond wrap with sparkle grille cloth
Ampeg Legend preamp with 3-band EQ delivers monumental bass tone for country to rock
SGT overdrive packs on bite and sustain
Specially voiced 15-inch Eminence speaker in a ported cabinet
Balanced XLR output feeds a wet signal into a soundboard or recording device
SVT-derived Ultra Lo/Hi switches enhance your bass and treble registers
Effects loop gives you options for inserting pedal and rack effects
External speaker output lets you increase your stage output or switch up your cab sound
1/8-inch auxiliary input for jamming along to backing tracks
1/8-inch headphone output for practice and recording

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