Whether you're looking to practice your first grooves or you need to upsize for bigger gigs, this guide to the best bass amps will help you find your perfect match. Bass amps can vary hugely in size, price, features, and functionality, but luckily for you, we've got decades of experience reviewing and testing bass amps.
For me, the best bass amp around right now is the Fender Bassman 800 Head. It's a reissue of a legendary bass guitar amp that delivers vintage tones and overdriven sounds sure to shake the foundations of wherever you're playing. If this is a little too expensive, then have a look at the Fender Rumble 40, which is ideal for those on a budget or beginners looking for something to practice with.
There are quite a few considerations you'll need to take into account before buying, even if you're not new to bass amps. It's well worth checking out our FAQs section, which answers all the most common questions. I've also included a how-to-choose section for total beginners, and a glossary of key terms to get you up to speed on all the bass-specific lingo used in this guide.
Best overall
When Fender first created the Telecaster, Precision, and Jazz Bass instruments, the amplification the company subsequently produced was designed to bring out the now-legendary characteristics of their basses.
Over time, the bass amps fell out of favour somewhat, but this newly redesigned version of the classic Bassman amp is a breath of fresh air, with vintage valve tones courtesy of its valve-loaded preamp, a whopping 800 watts of power, all the vintage aesthetics you could wish for, and a back-friendly weight to boot.
This head is incredibly flexible, able to cover everything from pop to hard rock, so it will fit a huge variety of bassists. Its two-channel operation gives you a vintage mode and an overdrive channel, with an included footswitch for quick channel hopping between the two. Handily, there's a mute function built into the master volume; just pull it out to engage.
It uses SpeakOn cables to connect to your cab, so be advised you'll need the right kind of cable if you're still using traditional 1/4-inch speaker cables. It also has an FX loop and a dedicated guitar tuner output.
Best budget
If you’re looking for a reliable home practice amp, then look no further. Designed to be compact, lightweight, and portable, the Fender Rumble series is ideal for those who just picked up a beginner bass guitar.
This stylishly petite amp delivers 40 watts of power - more than enough for practicing at home. The headphone out means you can practice any time of day without disturbing the whole household, while the aux-in allows you to jam along with your favourite tracks via your phone or device.
It's incredibly lightweight, making it an easy one-hand carry. That said, it's not going to have enough power to compete with a drummer unless you're using the XLR output to go through a PA system.
Best combo
Striking the perfect balance between size and power, the Ampeg Rocket Bass RB-210 is the ideal combo for gigging players. Dual 10-inch speakers deliver a punchy bass tone, and when paired with an extension cabinet, it gets even louder.
It encapsulates that classic Ampeg bass tone perfectly, delivering plenty of gritty tone and definition in the midrange. It's also got an SGT circuit, which helps deliver a valve-style overdrive tone that sounds great. The inclusion of a tweeter is a nice touch, helping you cut through when playing with a full band.
It's got plenty of connectivity, with a headphone output, an aux in, and an XLR out for sending your signal to front of house. Despite the retro aesthetic, this is a thoroughly modern bass amp for gigging players.
Best for metal
Darkglass makes some unfathomably powerful bass amps, with innovation and versatility at the forefront of their design ethos. The Microtubes 900 V2 is a top-of-the-range bass amp that’s equally at home on stage as it is in the studio.
The 6-band EQ section is absurdly powerful, and adjusting any of the sliders will give you an instant tone change, allowing for some serious tone sculpting. An onboard compression knob lets you tame the dynamics with a simple twist.
The drive control gives you another element to enliven your bass sound, with a crushing modern voice as well as one that gives you more vintage warmth. The level and gain controls ensure that you can dial in pretty much any bass tone you require.
"During testing we found the warmth of the VMT perfect for adding a subtle edge to a predominantly clean tone, while the B3K was great for more aggressive, driving plectrum lines. Overall, the Microtubes Engine offers exceptional levels of control over the distorted sound and this, combined with the clear, natural clean tone ensures that the Microtubes v2 delivers the sonic goods where needed."
Read more: Darkglass Microtubes 900 v2 review
Best tube
Ampeg set the standard for bass amplification in the late ‘60s/early ‘70s and, alongside their 8x10 speaker cabinets, a classic bass sound was created. As a result, everyone wanted valve warmth matched with power and volume.
This amp is a recreation of the classic - and much desired - Ampeg amp. With eleven valves across the preamp, power amp, and drive sections, if you're after tube performance, this is one of the best bass amps to try.
It's not packed with features and extras, but then it doesn't need to be. The core here is iconic bass tone that's appeared on countless hit records. The weight may put you off, but there is no denying the enticing bass tones on offer.
Best solid state
Probably one of the best solid-state bass amp heads money can buy, the Aguilar Tone Hammer offers fearsome bass sounds in a package that weighs practically nothing. You also get incredible versatility to dial in pretty much any bass tone you like.
The drive control works in conjunction with the EQ section to vary the tone depending on your gain settings. This means that the EQ is flatter at low gain settings but as you turn things up the bass gets tighter and the treble smooths out.
There’s plenty of movement in the EQ section too, with 14 to 16dB boosts or cuts available across the spectrum. It's the midrange where the power lies here though and with a little experimentation, you can unlock some truly powerful bass tones.
Best compact
The resurrected Trace Elliot has much to live up to, considering what TE used to stand for in terms of bass amplification. Obviously, the Elf is a very different proposition to the leviathan TE amps of the ‘80s, but don't let its size deceive you.
Tonally, there is much to be impressed by. The limited EQ section does its job well, while the LED indicators highlight when the built-in compression and drive functionality are in operation.
The actual power on offer is very impressive; looks can be deceptive. A fine amp and a no-brainer. You could even use it as an emergency backup for your gig bag.
"To test the Elf properly, we used it on several large pub gigs with a four-piece band as well as at rehearsals. Equipped with an EBS Neo 2x12 cab, the Elf did extremely well, more than keeping up with a live kit and a raucous guitarist - we didn’t need to push the amp even close to halfway."
Read more: Trace Elliot Elf review
Also consider
So those are our top picks, but there are many more great options to choose from that offer something a little different in terms of features and performance. We've selected some more of our favourites below.
FAQs
How many watts do I actually need?
If you're playing at home, 40-100 watts will be plenty. Anything under that usually results in a smaller speaker which doesn't sound as good.
If you want to play in a rehearsal room with acoustic drums, look at the 300W and above mark. I would recommend 500W if you can, and anything from 500W and above will be plenty of power for gigging.
Can I plug a bass guitar into a regular guitar amp?
You can, but I wouldn't recommend it. Guitar amp speakers aren't designed to handle the low frequencies a bass guitar produces, so while it will work okay at first, over time you can cause damage to the amp.
Should I pick a combo or separate head and cab?
For pure convenience, a combo is the way to go. It combines the head and cab in one unit, making it ideal for beginner players or those just getting into their first gigs. That said, the are quite cumbersome.
If you're a bit more experienced, getting a head and a few different sized cabinets will give you a lot of flexibility. You can pick which size cab you want for which venue, or just use the venue or headliner's own cabs with your head.
How does speaker size affect the tone of a bass amp?
Generally speaking, the larger the speaker, the more low-end it can push. Bass amps typically run 10-, 12-, or 15-inch speakers. Players tend to find that 10-inch speakers sound more punchy and modern, whereas a 15-inch speaker will give a warmer, more vintage tone with more low end.
Do I even need a bass amp, or can I just use a DI/preamp pedal?
For home or recording use, a DI or preamp pedal will work just fine. It's when you start gigging that you can potentially run into issues. You won't have any stage sound without an amp, which means you need to rely on the venue's monitoring, which as experienced players will tell you can be very hit or miss. Investing in a pair of In-Ear Monitors (IEMs) in order to hear yourself when playing live is another option when using a DI or preamp pedal.
What is impedance and how does it affect my bass amp?
Ohms is a measure of electrical resistance, and you'll find an ohms rating on the back of some bass combos and every bass head. It tells you what speakers you can connect to expand the sound of your amp.
Most bass amps need 4 ohms to deliver their maximum power, whereas most cabinets are 8 ohms. This means that a single cab might only draw half of the amp's power. To utilize it fully, you'd need to add a second cabinet.
How to choose
If you’re on the lookout for the best bass amp, then you’ll want to carefully consider a few things to make sure you get the most out of your money. After all, what’s right for someone wanting to play huge gigs probably isn’t right for someone else wanting something compact for home practice.
What wattage is what?
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Think about where and in what context you’ll be using it. If you need something that can put out enough power for gigs, then you’ll likely want something that’s at least 100W. It depends on the situation at the gig, but sometimes you might not be put through the PA system, in which case, the more power you’ve got, the better. You don’t necessarily need to use it all, but ideally, you don’t want to be running your amp at full volume all the time.
Most gigging amps have a DI on board, so you can send your signal to the PA, but it’s still nice to have enough volume on tap to create some on-stage rumble.
Conversely, if you’re looking for an amp to keep at home, then something with a lower wattage is going to be ideal. You won’t need tons of volume, and you don’t want to be paying for power that you don’t need. If it’s a solid state amp you’re looking at, then you can run a big, powerful amp at low volumes and it will still sound okay, but it’s worth thinking about the size and how much space it’s going to take up.
Head or combo?
All of the best bass amps come in either a head or combo format, or in some cases both. A head requires an external speaker cab to get any sound from – this can be good and bad, depending on the situation. Obviously, it means there’s another thing to think about when you want to use the amp, but for playing shows, many bands will share a bass cab, meaning that sometimes, you only need to bring your head. Some venues might even have a house cab that you can use.
For others though, a combo is the way to go. Your amp and speaker are all in one unit, and you’re ready to create some bassy rumblings with just that one thing. Well, that and your bass.
Other features to consider
There are all sorts of different features that can be found on the best bass amps nowadays. Some might have blendable overdrive or a second channel that lets you dial in a grittier sound either for heavier styles of music or for just a different texture. Some might have effects built in – compression can be especially handy for so many different styles of music.
Connectivity options are also worth considering. An XLR output for a DI is commonplace on bass amps, which is especially useful for hooking up to a PA system. You might also find auxiliary inputs for playing your external music devices through your amp, line outputs for sending the signal elsewhere, or maybe even a USB output for direct recording.
Key terms
- Active/passive switch: An active bass sends a much higher output signal. Some bass amps will have an active/passive switch that lowers the volume of an active bass.
- Cab (cabinet): The wooden enclosure that houses the speakers.
- Class-D: A modern type of power amplifier that allows for huge output but in a small size.
- Combo: An all-in-one unit that has both the amplifier (head) and the speakers (cab).
- Compression: Many bass amps have this effect built in. It squashes your signal so the loud bits are quieter and the quiet bits louder, resulting in a more even tone.
- DI (Direct Inject): An output often found on the back of a bass amp. It lets you run a microphone cable from the amp straight into the venue's PA or an audio interface.
- Drive (Overdrive): A circuit that distorts the bass signal. Frequently used in rock and metal.
- Farting out: This is what happens when you push too much into a speaker at high volumes, and the speaker gets pushed beyond its physical limit.
- Front of House (FOH): A term for the PA system used in live venues.
- Head: The amplifier portion of the amp, separate from the speakers (cabinet).
- Headroom: The amount of volume you can get before the amp starts to distort. For a clean tone at high volumes, you need more of this.
- Impedance: A measure of electrical resistance that your cabinet presents to your amplifier head.
- Scooped: A term referring to a type of EQ setting where the midrange is turned down, while the bass and treble are boosted.
- Solid-state: A transistor-based amplifier that's lightweight, reliable, and can produce cleaner sounds at higher volumes versus a tube amp.
- SpeakOn: A type of speaker cable connection that can sometimes be found on modern bass amps. The same as what you'll find on PA speakers.
- Tweeter (Horn): A small, secondary speaker found in modern combos and cabs designed to deliver high-end frequencies.
- Valve (Tube): The classic type of amplification that uses glass vacuum tubes. They are heavy and require maintenance but sound great.
How we choose products
Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear-related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best bass amps available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best bass amps on the market right now.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
