Lightweight cheap head advice

[kuras]

Hi everyone,
 

I’m in the market for a lightweight bass head to pair with my Barefaced Two10. My main amp is a Bassman 135, which I absolutely love for its chunky low-end and classic old-school treble plunk. However, it’s a bit heavy, fragile, and overkill for the Tuesday night rehearsals and wedding gigs.
 

I’m looking for a lightweight head that delivers vintage 60s/70s bass tones. I don’t slap or do anything remote 80s. I use pick and fingers, and I’m a big fan of characterful clean bass sounds whether it be John McVie and Geezer Butler. I have a Epiphone Jack Casady with lovely old flat wounds and occasionally use a P bass.
 

I’ve been considering the Fender Rumble 800 Head, but it’s a bit on the pricey side for something I want to be purely utilitarian and practical. Does anyone have recommendations for bass heads that nail those vintage vibes without being too hi-fi? There are so many options out there and I’m trying to narrow it down.
 

Thanks in advance for your help

Edited December 9 by kuras

[Lozz196]

Worth looking at an Ashdown RM500, you can pick them up used for around £300 and they`ll def do what you`re after. Same with Markbass, I`ve found that their amps pair very nicely with Barefaced cabs.

[casapete]

There are a couple of s/h Rumble heads currently for sale on FB marketplace -

an 800 for £375, and a 500 for £325. I have the 500 combo and use it in a blues

rock trio - it is full of nice fat old school loveliness. 

Edited December 9 by casapete

[fretmeister]

2 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Worth looking at an Ashdown RM500, you can pick them up used for around £300 and they`ll def do what you`re after. Same with Markbass, I`ve found that their amps pair very nicely with Barefaced cabs.

 

 

This. I have both an Ashdown (RM800Evo2) and a Mark Bass and used them with Barefaced cabs for ages until I fancied a cab change.

They both work very well and can sound thick and old school with sensible top end that isn't brittle / annoying.

[pineweasel]

I used a Tone Hammer 500 with a pair of One10s for a while, and that worked very well with my Precision for old school tones. Expensive new, but used ones come up regularly, and the cheaper 350 model might be enough.

[naxos10]

I use an Ashdown RM500 with a Barefaced8 Two10 and find they work well together. Also used an Ashdown Retroglide 800 which provides a very flexible rig as it has graphic equalizer tone controls (they tend have pretty good second hand prices), and a Trace Elliot Elf to good effect.

[Chienmortbb]

Write down your list of wants and needs.  You have seen many things recommended and I own two of them, the Ashdown Retroglide 800 and the Bugera Veyron 1001M, the MOSFET one.

 

I happily use either for gigging, both are neutral but put a Tech 21 Sansamp or Behringer BD-I21 in front ant hey both work very well for 60s 70s sounds. I have been using this setup instead of a load of pedals or multi-effects unit in that past month and I really like it.

 

At £249, the Bugera is a no brainer and the tube input version is only £299. https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Bugera-Veyron-BV1001M-2000W-Bass-Amp-Head/1WNV

Edited December 10 by Chienmortbb

[Dan Dare]

8 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

At £249, the Bugera is a no brainer and the tube input version is only £299.

 

Agreed. I had the mosfet one as my spare and it was great. Sold it when I got my AG700, but only because I didn't feel I needed three amps. Truth be told, it did the job just as well as my other two amps (barring the fact that it wouldn't run into 2 ohms), but I'm a gear tart.

[ossyrocks]

Good advice above.

 

I'm selling an almost new Ashdown RM800 EVO-II in the classifieds here.......just sayin.

 

I also run a Barefaced 10 cab and can attest that it suits nicely for vintage tones, as that's where I'm aiming too.

 

Rob

[Geek99]

Tv electronic bh250 gets my vote

[stevie]

9 hours ago, Chienmortbb said:

Write down your list of wants and needs.  You have seen many things recommended and I own two of them, the Ashdown Retroglide 800 and the Bugera Veyron 1001M, the MOSFET one.

 

I happily use either for gigging, both are neutral but put a Tech 21 Sansamp or Behringer BD-I21 in front ant hey both work very well for 60s 70s sounds. I have been using this setup instead of a load of pedals or multi-effects unit in that past month and I really like it.

 

At £249, the Bugera is a no brainer and the tube input version is only £299. https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Bugera-Veyron-BV1001M-2000W-Bass-Amp-Head/1WNV

 

I wondered when someone would mention this. Say what you like about Behringer, but the Veyron 1001M comfortably competes with the heads from the usual suspects and sells for much less. It has more power than most, looks great, and has well-chosen eq frequencies.

[BassAdder60]

Orange Terror TB500 mk2 would be perfect 

 

Low cost and great for rock / punk