{"id":1559,"date":"2023-12-13T14:50:41","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T14:50:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1559"},"modified":"2026-01-21T09:21:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T09:21:38","slug":"bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Choose A Bass Amp &#8211; Buying Guide For Beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re wondering how to choose a bass amp, or wondering what style, type or size of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\"><strong>bass amp<\/strong><\/a> you need, I\u2019ve got you covered in this complete bass guitar amp buying guide for beginners and those who just need a refresher when choosing a new bass guitar amplifier.<\/p>\n<h3>How important is your bass amp?<\/h3>\n<p>Your bass amp is one-third of your bass tone. The other parts being your bass and the way you play it. So choosing the best bass amp for YOUR style and sound is pretty important, to say the least. This doesn\u2019t mean you can buy the WRONG bass amp, because as musicians we often buy multiple pieces of equipment and amps to provide different sonic problems. For example, you might want a small 15 watt bass amp for practice, and then a monster 500-watt head for the festivals you\u2019re playing. No bass guitar amp buying guide would be accurate if it told you to buy one style of bass amp ONLY. <strong>It&#8217;s important to know that you can have multiple bass amps for different scenarios.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But what bass amp should you choose? A combo amp or stack with bass cab and bass amp head? A tube\/valve bass amp or solid-state amp? Hybrid amp or pedalboard bass amp (yep we make them in the form of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\/db-pre\"><strong>Laney Digbeth DB-PRE Bass preamp pedal<\/strong><\/a>)? There\u2019s so much to choose from, and of course, we believe that here at Laney, our team designs and makes some of the best bass amps in the world, but there\u2019s good reason for that: Bass is part of the Laney DNA. Founded in 1967 by Lyndon Laney, a bass player, the business was born with a bass in its hand.<\/p>\n<p>So let\u2019s dig in and talk about what the best bass amp for your needs might be!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1565\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/bass-amp-buying-guide-banner.jpg\" alt=\"bass amp buying guide banner\" width=\"1072\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/bass-amp-buying-guide-banner.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/bass-amp-buying-guide-banner-300x121.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/bass-amp-buying-guide-banner-768x310.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/bass-amp-buying-guide-banner-700x283.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/bass-amp-buying-guide-banner-475x192.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/bass-amp-buying-guide-banner-960x388.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1072px) 100vw, 1072px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>TL;DR:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In this bass guitar amp buying guide i\u2019ll aim to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Give you an in-depth look at Solid State, Tube, Bass combo amps, Bass Amp Heads and Stacks<\/li>\n<li>I\u2019ll be looking at bass amp sizes and wattage<\/li>\n<li>Help you understand the benefits and drawbacks to decide which is the best bass amp for you<\/li>\n<li>Understand how different amp technologies can impact your sound<\/li>\n<li>Help you figure out what size bass amp you might need<\/li>\n<li>Answer a bunch of common FAQs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Different Types of Bass Amps Explained &#8211; how to choose a bass amp<\/h3>\n<p>There are 4 main types of bass amps: solid-state, tube amps, hybrid amps and bass amp modelers. Then there are 3 main types of bass amp setups: combo amps, head and stack, and then pedalboard amps otherwise known as direct input bass amps. Each with their own pros, cons and benefits. All of which are great choices, and there\u2019s no right or wrong answer when choosing one. But there are a few different features you might be interested in which we\u2019ll get into.<\/p>\n<h3>Do bass guitars need special amps?<\/h3>\n<p>Bass guitars need special amps, or \u201cbass specific\u201d amps as a guitar amp won&#8217;t cut it for a bass guitar. Bass guitars generate lower frequencies compared to regular guitars, and they need special amps to handle these low frequencies effectively. These lower frequencies, typically ranging from about 40 to 400 Hertz for a standard 4-string bass, demand robust power handling and speaker design to reproduce the sound accurately. A guitar amp might not deliver the desired sound quality or could even get damaged when used with a bass guitar due to the heavy demands of the low frequencies. Basically, if you plug a bass into a guitar amp, it won\u2019t sound right.<\/p>\n<h3>Solid State vs Tube bass amps &#8211; how to choose a bass amp for your sound<\/h3>\n<p>The difference between solid-state and tube bass amps comes down to the components used: solid-state amps use transistors and tube amps use glass vacuum tubes to get their sound. Tube bass amps distort at a frequency that is pleasing to the ear at high volumes and solid-state amps do not. You often get more headroom (clean tones at high volume) with solid-state amps where a tube amp will start to distort the more you push it or increase the volume. However, don\u2019t worry too much as all Laney solid-state bass amps are built with enough headroom so you won\u2019t get that unwanted clipping or distortion, with additional features to drive the amp or introduce built-in distortion so you still get deep, reliable bass tones with the ability to add crunch when you need it.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve covered the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/solid-state-vs-tube-amps-why-be-forced-to-choose\/\"><strong>difference between solid-state and tube guitar amps<\/strong><\/a>, but when it comes to bass, the answer is the same &#8211; you don\u2019t have to choose as both are fine and have their place!<\/p>\n<p>In terms of functionality, if you\u2019re a beginner a high-power solid-state bass amp will do everything you need it to. However, if you want that \u201cvintage\u201d sound or musically pleasing distortion, a tube amp or hybrid amp such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\"><strong>Laney Digbeth bass amp series<\/strong><\/a> might be your best choice as a hybrid bass amp will fuse the two technologies together giving you the best of both worlds. However, it\u2019s worth noting that tube amps are more expensive than solid-state due to the transformers and tubes used. The tubes, which are made of glass are also quite fragile, so transporting the tube amp is a little trickier than a solid-state bass amplifier &#8211; you just have to be a little more careful. Tube amps are also a lot heavier than a solid-state bass amplifier.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-456\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px.jpg\" alt=\"5 reasons you need the laney digbeth series article banner\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px-700x366.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px-475x249.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-series-1200x628px-764x400.jpg 764w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\">Laney Digbeth Bass Amplification range<\/a><\/strong> fuses tube amp and solid state technology &#8211; not quite hybrid bass amp, not quite modeling, but the best of all worlds.<\/p>\n<h3>How to choose Solid State bass Amps &#8211; pros and cons<\/h3>\n<p>A growing number of bass players love using solid-state bass guitar amps due to their reliability and affordability. They\u2019re easier gigging amps to travel with as they\u2019re lighter and you don\u2019t really have to maintain them as there are no tubes to replace. Again, these types of amps utilise transistors in their preamp and power amp sections, and they are known for their clean, clear sound which makes them perfect for jazz musicians and those who want more of a pedal platform or cleaner-sounding bass rig at higher volumes or the ability to drive distortion at lower volumes.<\/p>\n<p>However, solid-state amps are sometimes known for lacking the &#8220;warmth&#8221; that some musicians prefer in their bass tone. Fortunately, with the likes of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/richter\"><strong>Laney Richter series bass amps<\/strong><\/a>, we\u2019ve introduced a wide array of EQ settings and built-in gain stages so you can actually sculpt your ideal bass tone within seconds and get a harmonically pleasing bass tone.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/richter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1569\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-rb4-bass-amp.jpg\" alt=\"laney richter RB4 bass amp\" width=\"506\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-rb4-bass-amp.jpg 506w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-rb4-bass-amp-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-rb4-bass-amp-475x563.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-rb4-bass-amp-337x400.jpg 337w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 506px) 100vw, 506px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h4>Pros of solid-state bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>Solid-state bass amps way smaller and lighter than valve amps. They are almost always in the form of bass combo amp, so they\u2019re quick to set up and make perfect practice amps as you can take them anywhere. They are very loud, with the likes of the Richter series coming in 165w, 65w, 30w and a 15-watt compact amp. Again, they\u2019re somewhat more reliable as they don\u2019t use fragile tubes. Sound-wise, you can get a much cleaner sound at louder volumes. If you want to see more practice bass amps, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/choosing-the-best-bass-amp-for-practice\/\"><strong>best bass amps for practice comparison<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n<h4>Cons of solid-state bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>When it comes to the cons of solid-state bass amps in terms of playing live, gigging and recording, there aren&#8217;t many downsides that I can think of! But any bass amps buying advice blog you get will almost always say the main \u201cdownside \u201c is that the tone is different &#8211; but that\u2019s not necessarily a bad thing. Some say that solid-state amps don\u2019t have the warmth that tube amps have, but if you\u2019re a predominantly clean-sounding bass player relying on more modern tones, then the natural overdrive capability of valve amps won\u2019t be of much use to you.<\/p>\n<h4>What type of player is a solid-state bass amp best for?<\/h4>\n<p>Solid-state amps are probably the best bass amps for gigging bass players who need a lightweight gigging solution and beginners who are not particularly fussed about the overdriven tones that tube amps can get. If you\u2019re mainly using a clean tone or using clean modulation, then a solid-state may be best for you. Often metal players or grunge players prefer the sound of solid-state as you can get instant distortion at lower volumes. But as always, try them out for yourself. If you wnat to gig with both tube and solids stae\/FET technology, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/why-the-laney-digbeth-is-the-best-bass-combo-amp-for-gigging\/\"><strong>Laney Digbeth bass amps are some of the best bass combo amps for gigging<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n<h3>How to choose Tube bass Amps &#8211; pros and cons<\/h3>\n<p>Tube bass Amps, alternatively known as valve amps outside the USA, are widely loved by bass guitarists and guitarists alike because of their warmer, more responsive sound. They respond accurately to how hard or soft you play and provide that lush distortion at higher volumes. Valve bass amps use vacuum tubes in their preamp and poweramp sections, which are responsible for that signature richness and dimension in tone. Rock and blues bassists, in particular, tend to feel that tube amps are the best bass amps for them as they provide that natural overdrive and vintage feel that \u201cblooms\u201d when they play them.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s worth noting though, Tube Amps can be fickle. They are heavier, more expensive, and require more maintenance than other amp types. The tubes themselves can (very) occasionally fail and need replacement &#8211; not something to really worry about, but worth knowing at least. It\u2019s never happened to me before, but at least you know!<\/p>\n<h4>Pros of tube bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>Tube amps are known for their full-bodied sound and pleasing harmonics when they start to distort or hit breakup, providing a really organic and responsive overdrive &#8211; the more you dig in, the more the amp distorts, but in a GOOD way. They really respond to the dynamics of your playing, meaning you\u2019re less likely to to need an EQ pedal.<\/p>\n<h4>Cons of tube bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>They\u2019re a LOT heavier to carry than a solid-state amp, and tube bass amps will require semi-regular maintenance as you\u2019ll have to replace the tubes at some point as, just like lightbulbs, they eventually start to die. Again, this is not really a big deal just like changing strings on a bass guitar, except you only have to do it once every couple of years.<\/p>\n<h4>What type of player is a tube bass amp best for?<\/h4>\n<p>If you really value dynamic response, natural compression, you want the amp to distort the harder you play it, and you prefer the sound of a vintage style bass amp from the likes of the 60s and 70s, then you\u2019ll probably want a tube bass amp. If you\u2019re a classic rock or blues player, you\u2019ll probably gravitate towards a tube bass amp.<\/p>\n<h3>Hybrid Bass Amps &#8211; pros and cons<\/h3>\n<p>Hybrid bass Amps strike the balance between solid-state and tube technology, fusing a tube preamp and a solid-state power amp so you get best of both worlds \u2013 the warmth and response of of tube amps and the reliability of solid states.<\/p>\n<p>In the bass world, they\u2019re a great solution, and some of the best bass amps for touring and recording bass players as you get all the great features of both types of amps. We often heard that tone purists felt the solid-state power section on hybrid bass amps didn\u2019t provide the same natural compression and dynamic response as an all-tube power amp. Fortunately, we\u2019ve got the solution in the form of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\"><strong>Laney Digbeth bass amp series<\/strong><\/a>. Where we fused solid-state technology and Tube emulation to give you the sound and feel of tube amps but with reliability of a solid-state.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-Digbeth-DB200-210-combo.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-Digbeth-DB200-210-combo.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-Digbeth-DB200-210-combo-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-Digbeth-DB200-210-combo-475x570.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-Digbeth-DB200-210-combo-333x400.jpg 333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pictured: The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\/db200-210\"><strong>Laney Digbeth DB200-210 combo bass amp<\/strong><\/a> delivers 200 watts of power through 2&#215;10 speakers!<\/p>\n<h4>Pros of hybrid bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>Hybrid bass amps combine the reliability of solid-state power amps with the warm tonal qualities of tube preamps. You get the tonal sculpting features and dynamics of a tube, but the power and reliability of solid state.<\/p>\n<h4>Cons of hybrid bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>Bass players who prefer the distinct characteristics of either solid-state or tube amps may not want to sacrifice tone or dynamic feel. But again, there are no real downsides or cons to hybrid amps. Amps like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\"><strong>Laney Digbeth bass amplification series<\/strong><\/a> do both sounds really well.<\/p>\n<h3>How to choose a Modeling bass Amps &#8211; pros and cons<\/h3>\n<p>Modeling bass Amps use digital technology for amplification, and as a result, they are incredibly versatile. These amps basically emulate the sound of various other amp types (including the ones mentioned above), and usually include a wide range of effects. They basically have digital versions of OTHER amps built in. This makes them a popular choice for beginner bass players who might be experimenting with a bunch of different bass styles, tones and effects.<\/p>\n<p>Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\"><strong>Laney Digbeth range<\/strong><\/a> is not quite a modeling amp, but features meticulously designed tube emulations, providing the grit, dynamic and weight of a tube amp sound and the ability to switch between FET and Tube emulations, so you get solid-state reliability, distortion at lower volumes but vintage tube dynamic and pleasing harmonics of a tube amp. Its everything you need and nothing you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n<h4>Pros of modeling bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>Modeling Amps provide a wealth of sound options and effects built in, making them highly adaptable to any situation. They often include a bunch of different useful sounds that make sure you\u2019re ready to play with any style of genre.<\/p>\n<h4>Cons of modeling bass amps<\/h4>\n<p>Some bass players feel that the digital emulations don\u2019t capture the full range of tone and nuance of solid state or tube amps accurately &#8211; but fortunately we\u2019ve made sure the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\"><strong>Laney Digbeth range of bass amps<\/strong><\/a> provided the absolute industry standard solid state and tube amp tone. Our Laney artists rely on Laney to give them the best bass amp for any situation. Read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/5-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-bass-amp-series\/\"><strong>5 reasons why you\u2019ll love the Laney Digbeth bass amps<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n<h3>Direct Input Bass Rigs<\/h3>\n<p>Direct input (DI) bass rigs, pedalboard bass rigs or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/your-guide-to-ampless-bass-rigs-going-ampless-on-bass\/\"><strong>ampless bass rigs<\/strong><\/a> allow you to connect your bass directly to a PA system or recording interface instead of mic&#8217;ing up the cab. This setup is particularly useful for small gigs or studio recording and you can get it by using a bass preamp such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\/db-pre\"><strong>Laney DB-PRE<\/strong><\/a> for example. You essentially run a DI cable directly from your amp, or preamp to the PA system, bypassing the need to have an amplifier cabinet onstage at all.<\/p>\n<p>The &#8216;direct out&#8217; feature allows you to send your bass signal directly to the mixer or PA system bypassing the need for a dedicated microphone for your bass amp &#8211; you essentially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/your-guide-to-ampless-bass-rigs-going-ampless-on-bass\/\"><strong>go ampless on bass<\/strong><\/a>. It ensures a cleaner and more controlled sound by reducing stage clutter, feedback problems and you don\u2019t ever have to worry about backline at a venue, as we all know bass players tend to share bass amps at gigs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-455 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-digbeth-DB-Pre-preamp-pedal.jpg\" alt=\"Laney Digbeth DB-PRE\" width=\"550\" height=\"455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-digbeth-DB-Pre-preamp-pedal.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-digbeth-DB-Pre-preamp-pedal-300x248.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-digbeth-DB-Pre-preamp-pedal-475x393.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-digbeth-DB-Pre-preamp-pedal-484x400.jpg 484w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pictured: The Laney Digbeth DB-PRE has all the features of the amp series packed into a floor based preamp &#8211; read <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/6-reasons-you-need-the-laney-digbeth-db-pre-pre-amp-pedal\/\"><strong>5 reasons why you need the Laney DB-PRE<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>Direct input \/ pedalboard amp bass rigs &#8211; pros and cons<\/h4>\n<p>The &#8216;direct out&#8217; feature on your pedalboard amp or bass preamp can be a life-saver for gigs. It&#8217;s especially beneficial when you&#8217;re playing at venues that may not have dedicated sound engineers as you can sculpt your own bass sound and play it through the PA system directly. This feature puts you in control of your sound while ensuring your bass is clearly heard, irrespective of the size or acoustics of the venue &#8211; you get the exact same bass sound anywhere.<\/p>\n<h4>Pros of Direct input \/ pedalboard amp bass rigs<\/h4>\n<p>We\u2019ve discuss dampness bas rigs before, but essentially you can fit your amplifier on your pedalboard and travel to gigs with just a pedalboard and bass. Streamlining your setup and ensuring you get the exact same sound at every gig because you sculpt how YOU want it to sound directly on the pedal. We recommend the laney DBPre pbass preamp pedal, which is designed to give you the same sound as the laney Digbeth series bass amps, but in a pedalboard size package.<\/p>\n<h4>Cons of direct input bass rigs<\/h4>\n<p>The only real downside to pedalboard or direct input bass rigs is that there\u2019s no cab onstage. If there are no monitors, then you won\u2019t be able to hear what you\u2019re playing. Fortunately almost all venues you play will have stage monitors BUT they might be reserved fo the singer. Going straight into a DI at smaller gigs might be tricky as you\u2019re potentially going to run into problems if there\u2019s no monitor to hear ourself onstage. Just ring ahead to check.<\/p>\n<p>Now that we&#8217;ve had a look at the different types of bass amps, it&#8217;s important to focus on some of the finer details.<\/p>\n<h3>How loud should my bass amp be?<\/h3>\n<p>For home practice, a bass amp with as low as 15 watts is perfect, especially in a smaller room where you don\u2019t want to wake your neighbours. In the studio, an amp between 30, to 65 to 100+ watts provides enough headroom and power for clean recording without pushing the amp too hard. When you\u2019re playing live, you\u2019ll often need 100+ watts, giving the bass presence in a mix and ensuring your sound cuts through drums and guitars onstage.<\/p>\n<p>I always recommend choosing a bass amp with a bit of overlap in wattage. For example, if you want to practice at home, and play small gigs, 30-200 watts allows for flexibility, readying you for gigs, rehearsals, and recording sessions with a single amp. If you ONLY want to play at home, 15-60w is fine.<br \/>\nThe reason power ratings are higher is that it\u2019s necessary to reproduce low frequencies at high volumes, ensuring that your bass cuts through the mix. That\u2019s why you\u2019ll get a bass amp with 500 watts, but a guitar amp topping out at around 100 watts.<\/p>\n<h3>Combo bass Amps Vs. Stacks<\/h3>\n<p>Just like guitar amps, bass amps come in combo and stack forms. Combo amps combine the amplifier and speaker in one unit, keeping everything you need in one convening package. Stacks, on the other hand, are a combination of a bass amp head and an extension cabinet. They offer more flexibility, allowing you to mix and match different amp heads and speaker cabinets so you can either upgrade your wattage or mix different cab sounds with different amp sounds.<\/p>\n<h4>Combo Bass Amps<\/h4>\n<p>Combo bass amps offer great value, combining an amp and speaker into one, typically at a lower cost than if you were to buy the speaker and head separately. They&#8217;re convenient for home or studio use and manageable for gigs if the unit&#8217;s weight isn&#8217;t an issue. The only real downside is their bulkiness as larger bass combos might be overkill for small venues, and you can&#8217;t easily change the speaker. But if you want an all in-one package that you can turn up to gigs and play, a combo amp is the best bass amp for you. Almost all bass players start with combo bass amps like the Laney Richter series, then gravitate to head and cab when they get a bit more experienced and need more power. We also think the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/why-the-laney-digbeth-is-the-best-bass-combo-amp-for-gigging\/\"><strong>Laney Digbeth Bass Amps are some of the best bass combo amps for gigging too<\/strong><\/a>!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1573 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-RB3-bass-amp.jpg\" alt=\"laney richter rb3 bass amp as part of bass guitar amp buying guide\" width=\"639\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-RB3-bass-amp.jpg 639w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-RB3-bass-amp-300x282.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-RB3-bass-amp-475x446.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-richter-RB3-bass-amp-426x400.jpg 426w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 639px) 100vw, 639px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pictured: The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/richter\/rb3\"><strong>Laney Richter RB3<\/strong><\/a> is a 65 Watts RMS solid-state kickback design bass combo, loaded with a custom 12&#8243; driver &amp; horn, providing more than enough for gigging musicians to play with.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Bass Stacks\/ Head And Cab<\/h4>\n<p>Stacks, comprising a separate bass amp head and bass cabinet, provide more flexibility, usually more power (bass amplification) and are easier on your back as you literally separate the head from the cab. They&#8217;re ideal for frequent gigging, allowing you to swap out heads or cabs for different tones or venues and most pro bass players tend to go for a head and cab combo eventually. However, they do require more setup and an understanding of impedance matching and are generally more expensive than combos. But you\u2019ll learn that head and cab amps like the Laney Digbeth series amplifiers are usually the best bass amps for pros and live musicians.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-DIGBETH-DB500H.jpg\" alt=\"Laney-DIGBETH-DB500H\" width=\"500\" height=\"266\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-DIGBETH-DB500H.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-DIGBETH-DB500H-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Laney-DIGBETH-DB500H-475x253.jpg 475w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pictured: The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\/db500h\"><strong>Laney DIGBETH DB500H amplifier head<\/strong><\/a> delivers 500 watts of power and has mixable FET and TUBE preamp sections.<\/p>\n<h4>What Size Bass Cabinet Speakers Should I Use?<\/h4>\n<p>When it comes to bass amplification, the size and number of speakers in your bass amp can significantly affect your sound. Large speakers like a 12\u201d or 15\u201d tend to produce a more weighty, rumbling bass, while smaller speakers like 8\u201d or 10\u201d offer a tighter, more precise sound with midrange frequencies that cuts through the mix more. The number of speakers also impacts the amp&#8217;s overall volume and tone.<\/p>\n<p>This is why most pro-level bass amp setups use either a 2&#215;12 bass cabinet or 4\u00d710 bass cab. With the 2&#215;12 you get more of a weighty bass sound from the 12\u201d speakers, but not so much power to make the sound muddy. With a 4&#215;10 cab you get the punchy sound, midrange response (where the detail of your sound is) but with 4 speakers providing the power and deep bass response, which effectively gives you the best of both worlds.<\/p>\n<p>Again, carrying a 4&#215;10 cab to venues or 2&#215;12 might not be for you, especially if you\u2019re playing smaller shows. So just think about travelling and stage space.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1&#215;0 or 1&#215;12 cab = best for jazz, blues musicians at smaller venues<\/li>\n<li>2&#215;10 or 2&#215;12 cab = best for rock, blues and metal musicians at smaller venues<\/li>\n<li>4&#215;10 or 4&#215;12 cab = best for professional level musicians , playing any style of music on larger stages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Just remember, the smaller the speaker the more treble and midrange you get, but you sacrifice volume and power. The larger the bass cab speaker the more bass and power you get. Just use a preamp pedal or the amp settings to even out the unwanted frequencies.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1571 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-DBV212-4-2x12-bass-amp-speaker-cabinet.jpg\" alt=\"laney DBV212-4 2x12 bass amp speaker cabinet as part of bass guitar amp buying guide\" width=\"498\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-DBV212-4-2x12-bass-amp-speaker-cabinet.jpg 498w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-DBV212-4-2x12-bass-amp-speaker-cabinet-249x300.jpg 249w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-DBV212-4-2x12-bass-amp-speaker-cabinet-475x572.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-DBV212-4-2x12-bass-amp-speaker-cabinet-332x400.jpg 332w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 498px) 100vw, 498px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pictured: The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/digbeth\/dbv212-4\"><strong>Laney DBV212-4 2&#215;12 bass amp speaker cabinet<\/strong><\/a> features 2&#215;12&#8243; speakers designed to accentuate the impressive punch and tone of its ceramic drivers and move some serious air onstage.<\/p>\n<h3>What bass amp should I buy? &#8211; The answer &#8211; from a gigging musician.<\/h3>\n<p>So what size amp should I choose? Again, choosing the best bass amp depends on several factors, including your playing style, the venues you typically play at, and your budget. To make an informed decision, this is what I would tell you to do based on my experience as a touring musician.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Do I want the vintage sound with that classic tube amp break up? Go for tube amps or hybrid<\/li>\n<li>Do I want really loud volumes with ultra clear sound? Go for solid state bass amps.<\/li>\n<li>Do I want to travel with just a pedalboard and bass? Use a preamp pedal and direct out bass rig.<\/li>\n<li>Do I want lower volumes put punchy, clear sounds? Use a combo bass amp with eaither single or dual 8-10&#8243; speakers<\/li>\n<li>Do I want high volume, heavy bass sounds? Use a bass amp combo, or head and cab combo with dual or quadruple 10-12&#8243; speakers.<\/li>\n<li>Do I just want something to practice with at home? Go for 15 watts to 30 or 65 max.<\/li>\n<li>Do I want to gig and play small venues, anything from 65-200 watts is good.<\/li>\n<li>Do I want to play festivals and large stages? Anything from 200 watts to 500 watts is good for bass.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>How do I choose a bass amp for my bass guitar?<\/h4>\n<p>Consider your playing style, the genres you play, and your performance venues. If you&#8217;re mainly playing small gigs or practicing at home, a combo amp or a small stack might be sufficient. For larger venues, consider a more powerful stack or a DI rig.<\/p>\n<h4>What kind of amp should I get for bass guitar?<\/h4>\n<p>This largely depends on your personal preference. If you prefer a warm, natural overdrive sound, consider a tube amp. If you prioritise reliability and high volume, a solid-state amp might be a better choice. If you want the best of both worlds, then a hybrid amp might be best for you.<\/p>\n<h4>How many watts should my bass amp be for bass?<\/h4>\n<p>Again, this depends on your performance venues. For home pracice, 15-65 watts is fine. For small gigs, anything from 50-100 watts is best. For larger venues, consider an amp with a power output of 200-500 watts or more.<\/p>\n<h4>What is the best bass amp for beginners?<\/h4>\n<p>A good beginner bass amp is usually going to be a bass combo amp as you can learn how to use it quickly, it\u2019s easily transportable and you don\u2019t need to worry about ohms and impedance. Get something that is reliable, easy to use, and offers a good sound quality like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/lxb\"><strong>Laney LXB range of small practice amps<\/strong><\/a>. If you think you\u2019re going to be playing smaller gigs, go for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/richter\"><strong>Laney Richter bass amplification series<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1574 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-lx15b-bass-amp.jpg\" alt=\"laney lx15b bass amp as part of bass guitar amp buying guide\" width=\"550\" height=\"531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-lx15b-bass-amp.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-lx15b-bass-amp-300x290.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-lx15b-bass-amp-475x459.jpg 475w, https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/laney-lx15b-bass-amp-414x400.jpg 414w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Pictured: The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\/lxb\/lx15b\"><strong>Laney LX15B bass amp<\/strong><\/a> is a compact, plug and play practice amplifier designed specifically for bass guitar. It&#8217;s packed with 15 watts, making it one of the best bass amps for beginner bass players and home practice thanks to a headphones in!<\/p>\n<h3>Final thoughts on our bass guitar amp buying guide<\/h3>\n<p>Remember: types of bass amps, performance needs, power, and portability are cornerstones of choosing the best bass amp for your needs. Get out there and play as many as you ca, start experimenting with different options of bass guitar amps and figure put what\u2019s best for you, whether its a bass combo amp, a head and stack or a pedal board bass amp.<\/p>\n<p>View a full range of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/amps\/bass\"><strong>Laney Bass amplification and bass amps today<\/strong><\/a>. Shopping from the USA? Keep checking the Laney site for the best bass amp deals and buy direct from us!<\/p>\n<h3>FAQs<\/h3>\n<h4>Are solid state bass amps better?<\/h4>\n<p>Solid-state bass amps are not inherently better, but they offer advantages like reliability as there ar eno tubes to break, consistent sound, and lighter weight.<\/p>\n<h4>Do solid state bass amps sound better than tube amps?<\/h4>\n<p>Whether solid-state amps sound better than tube amps is subjective. Solid-state amps provide a cleaner sound at higher volumes while tube amps offer a warmer, more organic tone, but you need to crank them to get that tube break up sound unless you have amaster volume and gain switch. It really depends on what you want your amp to sound like.<\/p>\n<h4>Do bass players use tube amps?<\/h4>\n<p>Yes, lots bass players, both professional and hobby players use tube bass amps. They are favoured for their warm, rich tonal quality and natural overdrive, particularly in genres like blues, and classic rock where a fuller, more resonant bass sound is desired.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re wondering how to choose a bass amp, or wondering what style, type or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":1563,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[114,116,56,117,115,118],"class_list":["post-1559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bass","tag-bass-amp-buying-guide","tag-bass-amp-guide","tag-bass-amps","tag-how-to-choose-bass-amp","tag-solid-state-vs-tube","tag-solid-state-vs-tube-bass-amp"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How To Choose A Bass Amp - Buying Guide For Beginners - Laney<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I\u2019ll show you exactly how to choose a bass amp for your needs in this complete bass guitar amp buying guide for beginners\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How To Choose A Bass Amp - Buying Guide For Beginners - Laney\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I\u2019ll show you exactly how to choose a bass amp for your needs in this complete bass guitar amp buying guide for beginners\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Laney\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-12-13T14:50:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-01-21T09:21:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"628\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lee Glynn\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lee Glynn\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"23 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Lee Glynn\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/20c0d6ab7217d7bf91479bd2e98e052d\"},\"headline\":\"How To Choose A Bass Amp &#8211; Buying Guide For Beginners\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-13T14:50:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-21T09:21:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":4573,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"bass amp buying guide\",\"bass amp guide\",\"bass amps\",\"how to choose bass amp\",\"solid state vs tube\",\"solid state vs tube bass amp\"],\"articleSection\":[\"bass\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/\",\"name\":\"How To Choose A Bass Amp - Buying Guide For Beginners - Laney\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-12-13T14:50:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-01-21T09:21:38+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/20c0d6ab7217d7bf91479bd2e98e052d\"},\"description\":\"I\u2019ll show you exactly how to choose a bass amp for your needs in this complete bass guitar amp buying guide for beginners\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/01\\\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":628,\"caption\":\"Bass Guitar Amp Buying Guide\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How To Choose A Bass Amp &#8211; Buying Guide For Beginners\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Laney\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/20c0d6ab7217d7bf91479bd2e98e052d\",\"name\":\"Lee Glynn\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/164ea85613726e4e40702881ce849fe69f3b8360e57eef8e8df9dbce8d0ed952?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/164ea85613726e4e40702881ce849fe69f3b8360e57eef8e8df9dbce8d0ed952?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/164ea85613726e4e40702881ce849fe69f3b8360e57eef8e8df9dbce8d0ed952?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lee Glynn\"},\"description\":\"Lee Glynn is a freelance content writer, digital content strategist and guitar enthusiast. After touring across Europe and abroad, releasing two albums with his previous band Sound Of Guns he now fronts the band Shadow Mountains. When not creating music, he specialises in writing articles for websites including those in the music retail industry, helping websites increase traffic with his company Quarry Lake Content Limited.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/quarrylakecontent.com\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/leerglynn\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.laney.co.uk\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/leeg\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How To Choose A Bass Amp - Buying Guide For Beginners - Laney","description":"I\u2019ll show you exactly how to choose a bass amp for your needs in this complete bass guitar amp buying guide for beginners","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How To Choose A Bass Amp - Buying Guide For Beginners - Laney","og_description":"I\u2019ll show you exactly how to choose a bass amp for your needs in this complete bass guitar amp buying guide for beginners","og_url":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/","og_site_name":"Laney","article_published_time":"2023-12-13T14:50:41+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-01-21T09:21:38+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":628,"url":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Lee Glynn","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lee Glynn","Est. reading time":"23 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/"},"author":{"name":"Lee Glynn","@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/20c0d6ab7217d7bf91479bd2e98e052d"},"headline":"How To Choose A Bass Amp &#8211; Buying Guide For Beginners","datePublished":"2023-12-13T14:50:41+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-21T09:21:38+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/"},"wordCount":4573,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg","keywords":["bass amp buying guide","bass amp guide","bass amps","how to choose bass amp","solid state vs tube","solid state vs tube bass amp"],"articleSection":["bass"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/","url":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/","name":"How To Choose A Bass Amp - Buying Guide For Beginners - Laney","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg","datePublished":"2023-12-13T14:50:41+00:00","dateModified":"2026-01-21T09:21:38+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/20c0d6ab7217d7bf91479bd2e98e052d"},"description":"I\u2019ll show you exactly how to choose a bass amp for your needs in this complete bass guitar amp buying guide for beginners","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg","width":1200,"height":628,"caption":"Bass Guitar Amp Buying Guide"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/bass-guitar-amp-buying-guide-what-most-guides-wont-tell-you\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How To Choose A Bass Amp &#8211; Buying Guide For Beginners"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/","name":"Laney","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/20c0d6ab7217d7bf91479bd2e98e052d","name":"Lee Glynn","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/164ea85613726e4e40702881ce849fe69f3b8360e57eef8e8df9dbce8d0ed952?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/164ea85613726e4e40702881ce849fe69f3b8360e57eef8e8df9dbce8d0ed952?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/164ea85613726e4e40702881ce849fe69f3b8360e57eef8e8df9dbce8d0ed952?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Lee Glynn"},"description":"Lee Glynn is a freelance content writer, digital content strategist and guitar enthusiast. After touring across Europe and abroad, releasing two albums with his previous band Sound Of Guns he now fronts the band Shadow Mountains. When not creating music, he specialises in writing articles for websites including those in the music retail industry, helping websites increase traffic with his company Quarry Lake Content Limited.","sameAs":["https:\/\/quarrylakecontent.com","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/leerglynn\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/author\/leeg\/"}]}},"fimg_url":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Bass-Guitar-Amp-Buying-Guide.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1559","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1559"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1559\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1885,"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1559\/revisions\/1885"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1563"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1559"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1559"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.laney.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1559"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}