While Marshall stacks and black panel Fender guitar amps get all the glory, the best bass amps are often the unsung heroes of a great mix. Get it wrong, and the whole sound can be very off-putting; get it right, however, and you can be rewarded with a tight low-end that thumps exactly how you need it to and glues everything together.
The best bass amps come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes; tube, solid state, heads, combos, big, small – the list is extensive, which means that there’s something out there for you. It doesn’t matter what style of music you play either. A good, solid bass tone is imperative in all genres.
We’ve compiled what we reckon are the best bass amps from a range of brands and budgets that can cover a multitude of musical scenarios. It’s worth noting that we’ll only be looking at amps, and not floor modelers, though many can make for a great amp solution.
Our top picks
With two very different but equally great-sounding channels, the Fender Bassman 800 covers a lot of ground and can cause a rumble on the biggest stages out there. It’s crammed full of useful, player-centric features and is used by touring musicians around the globe.
Boss has retooled their popular Katana series to suit the modern bass player, and the result is simply stunning. From the ability to change the power from 110W to 1W, as well as experiment with world-class effects, this amp is a joy to play at home, in the studio, and on stage.
If you're the type that likes to keep their rig all-in-one and not rely on other bands or the venue's cabs, the Orange Crush Bass 100 is a top-choice bass combo amp. The ability to blend the clean and driven channels is a great touch while the balanced and headphone outs make it versatile.
Best overall
The original Fender Bassman from 1952 is a far cry from this contemporary version, but despite all the modern features crammed onboard, the Bassman 800 retains the style, feel and tone of this Fender classic.
Fender uses a hybrid design, combining a tube preamp and solid state power amp to deliver a thunderous 800W of pure Fender clarity and warmth. Better yet, you also get two channels to choose from - vintage and overdrive - making this amp even more flexible.
As this amp is designed for modern players, the Bassman features an XLR line output with a level control knob, ground lift switch, pre/post EQ switch and silent recording capability. If that wasn't enough, it can also be seen behind Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt on some of the biggest stages in the world.
Best budget
Boss Katana routinely tops our list of the best guitar amps in the world, so it only makes sense that the bass model would make an appearance here. Following in the guitar version's footsteps, the Katana-110 takes what six-string players loved about that iteration and reimagines it for the modern bassist.
With three unique amp voices – Vintage, Flat and Modern – as well as extremely usable effects, this amp is adaptable, reliable and seriously simple to use. What's more, the 110-watt class AB power amp and custom 10-inch woofer mean it's more than capable of hitting the stage with you.
Now, the Katana-110 shouldn't be dismissed as purely a gigger's amp, as the ability to drop its impressive output to a single watt means it's just as comfortable at home as it is on the stage.
Best combo
The Orange Crush line has long been a go-to staple of guitarists looking for an affordable yet reliable solid-state amplifier – and the same is true for bass players. This 100W combo is ideal for smaller shows and practice rooms and even has a few useful features onboard.
The feature that makes the Crush Bass stand out from other bass amps in the category is the Blend and Gain controls. These are taken from the company's OB1 series of guitar amps and allow you to integrate the harmonic distortion Orange is known for with your core bass sound.
Other handy additions include a balanced output for connecting to a PA, an emulated headphone output for practice, an aux input for connecting external audio sources and an onboard tuner.
Best head
Don't let the small stature of the aptly named Little Mark fool you. This mighty bass head will fill the biggest rooms with the most insane low-end – and all while fitting snuggly in your gig bag.
The Markbass Little Mark has been a staple of practice rooms and venues for years and the latest version is the best yet. The tone of this pint-sized head is clear, clean and very articulate – and it also gives you the option to switch between a flat or scooped EQ setting.
For us, the Mark Bass Little Mark represents everything we love about high-powered portable bass amps and is a must-try for every style of bass playing.
Best practice
This may be the second entry from Fender on this list, but the Rumble 200 takes a very different approach to bass reinforcement than that of the classic Bassman. Now, the Rumble series of amplifiers feature a full complement of models from a 15W practice combo to an 800W bass behemoth – but we've decided to opt for the Rumble 200, as we believe it offers the most bang for your buck.
The 200W of power is more than enough for most situations and the 15" Eminence speaker delivers plenty of low-end punch. What's more, you can even bring in and out the compression horn – via an on/off switch on the rear of the amp – so you can dial in the perfect amount of high frequencies to compliment your roaring bass tone.
Other features include a three-button voicing section, which allows you to choose between Bright, Contour, or Vintage mode, an XLR line out with ground lift and a foot-switchable overdrive channel.
Best compact
If you thought the Little Mark was small, then wait until you see what Trace Elliot has up their sleeves. The ELF is easily one of the smallest bass amps on the market, clocking in at 4" tall and 12.5" wide.
This emerald bass head is ideal for players on the move as it will comfortably fit inside the pocket of your gig bag while leaving plenty of room for cables and the odd pedal. Now, the ELF may not have as many features as some of the other amps on this list, but it does include everything you need for a stellar bass tone.
The 200-watts of power is more than enough for most situations, while the XLR out is a must-have for sending your perfect bass signal to the PA – and there's even a headphone jack for silent practice.
More options...
Darkglass is on the cutting edge of bass technology, creating some of the most revered overdrive, distortion, fuzz and compressor effects pedals on the market. Darkglass products can be seen on stage next to some of the biggest names in the industry, with everyone from Nate Mendel of the Foo Fighters to Canibal Corpes' bassman Alex Webster and many more using their pedals and amps to delight audiences around the world.
The Exponent 500 is the company's approach to an uncomplicated, uncluttered and intuitive amplifier that, once connected to the Darkglass Suite App, delivers every sound you'd ever need.
At the heart of the Exponent is a 500W amplifier that's clean and fiercely assertive. Of course, with this being a contemporary unit, you also gain access to an XLR direct out, a USB audio interface and MIDI connectivity. Better yet, the Exponent 500 comes preloaded with five adaptable factory presets and with the use of the Darkglass Suite, these can be fully customizable, making the amp even more versatile.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a bass player would doesn't like Gallien-Krueger amplifiers. GK has been a leading force in the bass world for over 50 years and they are just as popular now as they were back in the day.
The Legacy 115 showcases why many players opt for a solid-state bass amp. This combo delivers a blistering 800 watts of pure, clean tone with a staggering amount of headroom. Better yet, the onboard overdrive tones and compliment of tone-shaping options mean this amp is perfectly versatile and up for anything you throw at it.
So if you are looking for a straightforward, brilliant sounding bass amp that's produced by one of the most respected names in bass, then look no further than the Gallien-Krueger Legacy 115.
In a slick, compact, rack-mountable 700W head, this versatile offering from Blackstar covers a whole range of bass tones very well, whilst remaining incredibly user-friendly.
On the front panel, you’ve got a three-way switch that alters the voicing of the amp. Choose from Classic and Modern settings if you know which way you lean, or go for the Flat setting if you want a clean slate. You’ve then got dedicated controls for a selectable gain – you can either have overdrive, distortion, or fuzz, so simply select which one you’d like, and dial it in.
You can also kick these in and out with a footswitch. You’ve then got chorus and octave effects onboard. For those who really like to deep-dive into their tone, there’s a tube response emulator that digitally recreates how different output tubes would alter the tone.
On the back of the head, there are a multitude of ins and outs that let you use the head however you need to, from studio to live use. Whether you’re playing modern metal, classic jazz, or anything in between, this thing has you covered!
All Star Wars name jokes aside, this is one of the best bass amps out there – particularly for those that like to add in some guitar-esque overdrive alongside their bass signal. It’s based on a bi-amp design, but it’s a lot more than just a Royal Blood soundalike.
Ignoring the gain for now, it’s a great sounding amp – powerful, thick, strong low-end (especially when paired with one of their bass cabs), with lots of top-end clarity. A three-band EQ keeps things simple and effective for tweaking your tone.
When dialed in, the gain is applied to the upper harmonics only, ensuring that your low end never gets muddy. You can control how much overdrive is added in, but also how much of that is blended in with your unaffected clean tone. So, you can have a lot of gain – almost like fuzz, blended in a tiny bit – or a tiny bit of gain blended in a lot; there are so many options, and you can use a footswitch to engage them. If you like to play with any sort of gain, then this is absolutely worth checking out.
FAQs
How do I know which bass amp is right for me?
So when it comes to finding the best bass amp for your needs, it really comes down to application. The right bass amp for a touring rock band will be worlds apart from the right bass amp for the average bedroom warrior. So think carefully about what you really want your new bass amp to do, and use that as a starting point.
You'll want to consider things such as power, the versatility of sounds, connectivity and, of course, if you are gigging, portability. This guide has most situations covered, so you should find an amp here to suit your needs.
Should I choose a head or a combo?
One of the main considerations to make when choosing the best bass amp is whether to opt for a head or combo. A head requires an external speaker cabinet to get any sound. Some venues might have a house bass cab that you can plug into, allowing you to turn up with just your bass, pedals and head. If they don't, however, and other bands aren’t for sharing, then you’ll have to think about the logistics of transporting a head and a cab to shows.
A combo has both the amp and speaker all in one unit. This makes it more convenient for just plugging in and playing, though if you want your specific amp’s sound every time you play live, then there’s no getting around the fact you’ll be taking it everywhere with you.
How much power do I need?
How much power you need depends on how you plan to use it. If you’re looking for a loud gigging amp, then you’ll want something that’s at least a few hundred watts. If you know you’re going to be running it at high volumes, then the more powerful the better, really. This gives your amp headroom and means you won’t be pushing your amp too hard to get to those volumes, and you’ll retain clarity.
If you’re seeking the best bass amp for home practice, then conversely you’ll want something smaller. Whilst you won’t really suffer from having a powerful amp turned down, it is easier to dial in on a smaller amp. Something like a 50W bass amp will be more than enough for home use but will also give you plenty to jam with friends too.
What features should I look for?
There are various options out there in terms of features on the best bass amps. Many are brimming with neat features – MIDI inputs, USB audio interface technology, compatible apps and so on. These allow you to really make the amp work for you, so if you’ve got high demands for either your live or studio work, then a feature-heavy amp could be right for you.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with simply plugging in and playing. You don’t need all these features to get a great tone, so if you’d rather have a modest selection of inputs and outputs that ensure that you’re heard, and some knobs for dialing in your sound, then that’s fine too. There’s no right or wrong; it’s simply what you prefer, as there are options that cater for everything.
Who makes the best bass amps?
There are a few key names in the bass amp arena. Brands such as Fender, Gallien-Krueger and Orange are responsible for some of the best bass amps to ever be produced, helping to create the blueprint that modern companies such as Markbass and Darkglass have built upon, furthering the technology and bringing it into the future.
How we choose
At Guitar Player, we live and breathe everything guitar related. It's our passion and we certainly hope this passion comes through in our buyer's guides. Everyone at Guitar Player is an expert in their field and we draw on this knowledge and experience 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.
When making our lists, we pay careful consideration to everything from budget to feature set, playability and durability to come up with an accurate representation of the best bass amps available right now.
Read more on how we test gear and services at Guitar Player.
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