Need advice on bass amps

lincolnblue

I am tasked with finding a new bass amp for my church as the one we've been using for years is dead. (No idea what make it is).

We tend to use the itself more as a monitor and DI it to the mixing desk. Looking at combos there are many with a dedicated DI output. I assume that won't mute the speaker when the DI output is used?

I don't think we'll have a big budget - probably a few hundred pounds.
A quick look on Andertons brings up ones like: Fender Rumble 100, Gallien Krueger MB110, TC Electronic BG250.

I'm not a bassist so have no idea about these amps. Are they any good? What others could I look for?

simonk

All I can add is, I’d avoid the TC... they’re a bit flaky.

ecc83

https://www.thomann.de/gb/blackstar_unity_120_bass_combo.htm?glp=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg7ff8cu12QIVaL7tCh1fggbKEAQYBCABEgKQ5PD_BwE

Very new but worth a harken?

Dave.

KKJale

Over on Talkbass, where many, many people seek advice on budget/mid-price combos for church use, the commonest answer is "Fender Rumble".

They do sound good and have a reliable rep. I'd consider the 200-watter, not so much for volume but for a bit more clean headroom. 

ICBM

simonk said:

All I can add is, I’d avoid the TC... they’re a bit flaky.

And avoid Ashdown.

mart

+1 to the Rumble recommendation. I heard one in a pub and was hugely impressed at the sound.

EricTheWeary

My son’s Rumble sounds amazing for the price, very lightweight and we’ve had no problems with it. Can’t think that the DI has ever been used so I can’t comment on that. It’s only the 40 ( IIRC) so lacking some bottom end but it has coped with a gig so the 100 should give lots of headroom ( unless it’s the Church of Motörhead). 

slacker

Imho the di on the markbass combos is exceptional. They are a bit expensive. Also imho if budget is tight get a peavey tnt and a decent di box.

Kebabkid

Rumbles are good and Roland Bass Cube 120XL is a goody.

I'd avoid the lower range TC stuff as they have reliability issues.

If you don't need an amp and have monitoring, you could look at a Zoom B3 unit. They have a good DI and the sounds are decent and include a lot of bass models

lincolnblue

Thanks all. Sounds like the Rumble might be well worth a look.

crunchman

@lincolnblue - we bought an Ampeg BA115 for our church 2 or 3 years ago.  Used exactly as you describe with DI out into the PA.  Very happy with it. 

150W with a 15" speaker but it's only around 20kg.

thermionic

Rumbles have a great reputation but I went for an Ampeg. I went for the smallest combo, which sounds great for home playing but the BA-115 is the first in the series that has an XLR line out. Orange was the other make I was considering, might be worth a look.