Bass amps need to move air, and moving air requires watts. Under $300 used, you want at least 100 watts to be heard over a drummer. The Fender Rumble series is the most popular choice — the Rumble 100 and 200 deliver punchy, clean bass tone at manageable weights.
The Ampeg BA series is the classic bass amp choice. The BA-108 and BA-110 are great for practice, while the BA-210 delivers gigging power. Ampeg's "SVT" tone character is the sound of bass guitar — warm, gritty, and authoritative.
For versatility, the Hartke HD and LH series offer parametric EQ and DI outputs for going direct to the PA system. At gig volume, a bass amp with a good DI out means the sound engineer can balance your tone perfectly in the house mix.
