Bass amp speaker size

iamjethro

iamjethro

BREAUX
When I was growing up in the dinosaur age, we were always told never to get a bass amp with a speaker size less that 12 in at the least. Preferably a 15 or even an 18. Now while looking for an amp for my son, I see so many starter amps with sizes even down to 6 inches. How can a 6 or 8 in speaker sound passable for bass?

i just edited this because I realize I might should have put in the amp section. If I should have sorry.
 
Depending on the speaker, 8" is just fine. Especially for a practice amp. It won't be fine when he starts to play out, but that has more to do with wattage and output more than just the speaker. Bassists have embraced solid state and neo speakers far more than guitarists. So many of the old paradigms are starting to go out the window. Lighter and more rigid today's flavor.

When I bought my bass cab a couple of years ago, I was looking for a 2x10. Ended up with a 1x15, and it's fine, but it's definitely got the "long throw" thing going on.
 
Small bass speakers are like small guitar speakers, they sound fine if they're well made and installed in a good cabinet. Just don't buy a cheapo no-name amp and you'll be OK.
 
An 8 would be fine for a practice amp.

If you think about it the old Ampeg SVT "Bathtub" cabinets had 8 10" speakers in them. 15 and 18s end up being kinda muddy to me in most settings (Ampeg B15 being my favorite exception).
 
Those little $99 Ampeg practice amps sound huge, warm and fat.
I dunno how they do it but they sound great for no drummer or home practice.
Got a good friend that uses one with a MM 5 string and even the low B sounds good.
 
The diameter of the speaker does not affect the frequencies if it is designed for bass...the larger speakers move more air and throw it farther...
 
For the record, my favorite bass tones EVAR came from my the Trace Elliot stack my dad used to have. It was a 400 watt head, a 4x10 with a horn in one cab, and another cab with a single 18". If you played with the EQ it gave you everything from punch to thump and everything in between.
 
Ok then, which of the beginner bass amps out there do you recommend? His budget would be below 120 probably. Around$100 or less is better so he can buy decent headphone for dorm room use also. I am almost inclined to recommend the Vox Bass Amplug until he can afford an amp big enough to practice with a trio or quartet.\

However, if any of you have experience with the smaller bass amps, please let me know which ones are good.
 
iamjethro said:
Ok then, which of the beginner bass amps out there do you recommend? His budget would be below 120 probably. Around$100 or less is better so he can buy decent headphone for dorm room use also. I am almost inclined to recommend the Vox Bass Amplug until he can afford an amp big enough to practice with a trio or quartet.\

However, if any of you have experience with the smaller bass amps, please let me know which ones are good.
Click to expand...
You can't go wrong with Peavey...check eBay for a good used one...
 
Pine Apple Slim said:
Those little $99 Ampeg practice amps sound huge, warm and fat.
I dunno how they do it but they sound great for no drummer or home practice.
Got a good friend that uses one with a MM 5 string and even the low B sounds good.
Click to expand...
Yep.The BA 108 is a great practice amp.
 
Pine Apple Slim said:
Those little $99 Ampeg practice amps sound huge, warm and fat.
I dunno how they do it but they sound great for no drummer or home practice.
Got a good friend that uses one with a MM 5 string and even the low B sounds good.
Click to expand...

I'll third this.

It has a line out but, I didn't have the right cable for it so, I mic'ed it. Was surprised we got away with it.

I for down the road, I tend to like 10s over 15s. Never herd one but, I've read people that love the Phil Jones bass stuff. They have a bunch of 5 inch speakers.
 
TC makes a cool bass amp with a pair of 8's, has a built in tuner, aux in for practice, and a speakon connector to hook it up to an external 18 or other larger cab.

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iamjethro said:
When I was growing up in the dinosaur age, we were always told never to get a bass amp with a speaker size less that 12 in at the least. Preferably a 15 or even an 18. Now while looking for an amp for my son, I see so many starter amps with sizes even down to 6 inches. How can a 6 or 8 in speaker sound passable for bass?

i just edited this because I realize I might should have put in the amp section. If I should have sorry.
Click to expand...

A lot has changed in speaker technology. I'm not sure how many speakers are in the amp/cabinet you are looking at but I have read(in my own simple translation of what I read) that more smaller speakers can have more surface area allowing more air to be moved or greater sound pressure levels. This is considering all things are equal. There are systems that are using very small 6" or 8" speakers that are making some incredible sounds. I'm sure there are others who can explain some of this better than I can. It has become a digital, micro world of audio.
 
Until he gets a bass amp, can he use an old useless squier guitar pack amp through the headphone jack only? I know he shouldn't play at volume through a guitar amp, but will anything be damaged if he bypasses the speaker and uses headphones only?
 
I don't know about headphones but I messed up a 15" speaker that way. It was really cool. I could push on the cone and hear what I guess was the voice coil making really gnarly scraping noises. It was a pretty nice piece of destruction if I do say so myself.
 
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