Best Budget Bass Amp Head

January 31, 2012
It’s amazing how much amplifier you can buy these days for a relatively few bucks. For around a dollar per watt, and often less, you can get all the power and tone shaping features you may ever need. Even better, several tube hybrid amps now fall into this category, so you can get the warmth, compression and overdrive of a tube amp for under $500. There’s no longer any reason that a tight budget should stand between you and a great bass head.

Why it's best: TC Electronic's BH500 is an inexpensive alternative to their higher-priced Class D amps, loaded with all the great features that put TC on the map. With exclusives like the SpectraComp compressor, TubeTone, TweeterTone, preset memory and an onboard tuner, the BH500 is almost in a class by itself.... Read Full Review

Why it's a best pick: Marshall's hottest selling bass head is a tube hybrid that runs the gamut from crystal clear to heavy overdrive. The MB450 has 2 footswitchable channels—one solid state, the other tube—with plenty of EQ options to create your ideal bass tone.... Read Full Review

Why it's a best pick: Carvin, manufacturer of the some of the lowest priced amps in the US, has made a big splash with their BX500 bass head, a Class-D 500W amp that weighs under 6 lbs. It's a lot of amp with lots of EQ options for very little money.... Read Full Review

Why it's a best pick: Fender addresses the needs of the working bassist with back trouble, a tight budget and a discerning ear. So even with its deceptively simple controls, the Rumble 350 offers a lot more than just basic amplification.... Read Full Review

Why it's a best pick: Don't be fooled by the name. Acoustic is and always has been about amplification. The B200H is a solid-state head with plenty of EQ options plus compression and overdrive—for about the same price as a decent beginner bass.... Read Full Review

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