Guitar and bass combo amplifiers: how to buy one at a good price
Amp type and which instrument it is for
A combo amplifier puts the amp and the speaker in one cabinet. Combos are made for electric guitar, bass, acoustic guitar and keyboards. Don't use a guitar combo for bass: low frequencies quickly overload a small speaker and can damage it. Bass needs an amp with a bigger speaker and plenty of power in reserve.
A valve (tube) amp gives a warm, responsive sound, but it costs more, weighs more and needs its valves replaced. A solid-state amp is reliable, light and cheaper. A digital, or modelling, combo imitates different amps and effects and is handy for home and rehearsals; the Fender Mustang series is one example. The choice depends on your style: one type suits clean tones, another suits overdrive.
Wattage, speaker and inputs
For home and rehearsals in a room with a drummer, 15–30 W is usually enough. For gigs with a live drummer you need more power, and valve amps sound louder than solid-state amps of the same wattage. A 1×12 inch speaker is the all-round choice; smaller ones (1×8, 1×10 inch) are more compact but have limited bass.
Look at the number of channels (clean and overdrive), built-in reverb, a headphone output and an AUX input for a player or phone. For practice at home these small things matter more than extra watts. If you need the amp for gigs, plan to connect it to a PA system or a microphone.
What to put in your request
- which instrument — electric guitar, bass, keys;
- wattage in watts;
- amp type — valve, solid-state, digital;
- model, for example Fender Mustang LT25;
- speaker — size and number;
- purpose — home, rehearsals, stage;
- condition — new, or used and in working order;
- budget and delivery city.
Example: “I need a combo amp for bass guitar, 30 W, 1×12 inch speaker, for home and rehearsals. A Fender Rumble or similar is preferred, used and in working order. Davao City, courier delivery, budget up to ₱11,000.”
What to check on a used amp
Switch it on at low and medium volume: there should be no hum, crackle or hiss. Turn the knobs: the pots should not be noisy. The speaker should not rattle on bass notes. On a valve amp, find out when the valves were last replaced.
How BlaBlaPrice helps
Create a request on the home page and music equipment sellers send offers in the chat: what exactly, price, condition, delivery. They can see where they stand among the others, so they often offer better terms. It is free for buyers and your phone number stays hidden. Details are on the “How it works” page.
You will need an amp for an electric guitar or a bass guitar; for vocals and recording, see studio equipment.
