Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I need some bass amp recommendations since a '15 4003 LH FG followed me home yesterday. I'm looking for something for a beginner like me to use at strictly at home and that is relatively inexpensive. It seems to me that a small quality combo would be the best route, but I would consider a small head with a single or duel speaker cabinet if the price is right.

BTW, the picture shown is my nephew Bobby and I with our "new to us" Rickenbackers. On Sunday I gave Bobby the '40s era double neck lap steel that I acquired in 2015.

Fender Rumble 100! Light, inexpensive, sounds good. And looks good to boot.

And congrats!

Congrats on your new bass! Those fender rumbles are really nice amps. Other contenders include the smaller Traynor and Kustom amps. It's a great time to be a bass player!

Phil Jones Session 77.

oler wrote:Fender Rumble 100! Light, inexpensive, sounds good. And looks good to boot.

And congrats!

I have a Fender Rumble 100v3. It sounds good with my 4003S.

I’m using the Fender rumble 100 also. Practice and gigs. Really light. I leave it right in my car trunk when not in use. Dozens of practices and gigs and no problems.

I agree with everyone above...
Rumble 100 or 200

When I worked at the School of Rock we had a few Fender Rumble amps, and you can't really go wrong with one for the price regarding your needs.

Also check out the Ampeg BA-108 v2, and the Hartke HD25, provided this will strictly be an in-home, practice amp; Rumble 100 is too big (I think) for something that will never leave the house. If you're not going to be playing with a live band there, but want to stick with Fender: Rumble 25 is probably better as a strict alone-at-home practice amp.

If you need to compete with other instruments and might play a gig: Fender Rumble 100 or (even better, I think) a TC Electronics BG250-112, which would suffice to get you through a live performance, and are well-priced.

If it really is just for home practice use, I'd say a Rumble 30. My son has one he uses for college jazz band gigs, and it's more than loud enough for small auditoriums or church gigs. It's very light, has a built in "wedge" shape so it can be tilted back, line in, headphone out, and a decent built-in distortion circuit. If you think you might ever gig out with it, a Rumble 100 would be plenty most situations. Fender has finally done something right with amps, they really are excellent.

My current amp is an Ampeg 7Pro over a SVT410HLF. I can go bigger or smaller based on the venue.

TC Electronics BH250 head with a Aguilar GS112 bottom.

You won't find better or more flexible sound. Plus the head has a tuner and allows for downloading a range of high quality effects.

Thanks on all of the recommendations. I settled on a Fender Rumble 40.

Whether I bring the 4003, the Fenders or the Gibson, my Rumble 100 sounds killer; at home, at rehearsal & at small trio gigs.
It's really light-weight and inexpensive as well.
LOVE that little tone box!