10 Best Bass Amps 2024 | Audio Engineer Reviewed

Ashdown is a well respected name when it comes to bass amps, and their Studio 15 has taken our number 1 spot for one reason - every bass player will be able to get something out of this amp! It's equally at home in a bedroom, as a professional studio, and thanks to the 300 W of power, it can even handle gigs. 

It has one large 15" speaker that can easily accommodate that desired low grumble, or crank up the drive and to take your sound even further with emulated valve tones at the touch of a button. On top of all this, it's incredibly lightweight, making it a portable option that won't let you down. 

This solid-state amp from US powerhouses Aguilar allows for an extraordinary amount of control over your tone. This means you're guaranteed to find that sweet spot, no matter what other equipment you're using. Seriously, you could attach a pickup to a child's toy guitar and you'll still sound like a pro! 

The lightweight amp combines three bands of adaptable EQ, a bright drive control for a little more oomph, and a mammoth 500 W of power. While it's probably best saved for more serious players, it provides some of the most desirable bass tones around. So it's not something one should pass up in a hurry. 

The Fender Rumble is perfect for those finding their feet in the bass world. We've opted for the 15 W practice amp, but there are various models going all the way up to 800 W. So if you find you like the tone, then there will be a model that can play wherever you need it to. 

It has a simple three-band EQ for shaping your tone, all of which can be customised via a top panel with almost luxurious feeling control knobs. Additionally, it has an aux-in and headphones out, making it ideal for practising too. Our favourite part? It's an absolute bargain! 

With their signature yellow colour, Italian company Markbass seemingly appeared out of the blue around a decade ago, and have been producing top-grade gear ever since. And it's not just us who think so, you should check out the impressive roster of artists who sing their praises! 

The Little Mark Tube has plenty of power, a solid construction and is relatively straightforward to use. One cool, if sightly wacky feature, is the inclusion of two inputs. These can be used simultaneously, which is great for a condenser microphone, or an additional instrument with upright pickups. 

This hybrid set up features an all-valve preamp section paired with a classic Class D power amp (the electronic solid-state part). This allows you to get the best of both worlds, as you'll experience the natural break up of the valves, while still having the reliability and purity of a solid-state. 

The amp features all of the classic Orange controls, with retro illustrations that give the device a bit a character. They've also added a clean switch, which lets you create crystal clear and smooth tones with plenty of headroom.  

With 450 W of power and two 10" speakers, this offering from Ampeg is perfect for medium-sized live performances if you prefer a punchy sound from your combo. The amp even has a tilt-back function, which is ideal for playing larger venues as this will provide directional sound, requiring less from the monitors. 

Due to the solid-state construction, you'll still get a top-quality sound when it's at the lower volumes too. This works especially well with the aux input and headphones connection, making for one truly versatile bass combo!

The dimensions of this amp need to be seen to be believed! In size, it's not that much different from a larger smartphone, which means excellent portability and a lighter weight. Don't let that put you off though, this offering still carries all a punch when it comes to tone. 

The amp boasts a very respectable power output, so you'll have no problems with sound whether you're gigging or at band practice. While it does have EQ limitations, it's perfect for those buying on a budget, or require a simple amp to carry as a backup.

Orange are renowned for their top-quality products and components, and although this is part of their budget range, the materials and workmanship are noticeable throughout. The amplifier even has an aux-in function, for jamming along to your favourite tracks, and a headphone out so you don't need to upset your neighbours.

The small 8" speaker has its limitations in terms of volume and low-end rumble. That said, with some careful fiddling of the EQ, we think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the deep sound it can produce. 

If you're looking to splash out in pursuit of the perfect tone, then there aren't many better pieces of kit than the Ampeg Classic V4-B. This is a recreation of the highly popular, and therefore highly collectable, version from the early 70s. The newer edition still packs that straightforward, all-tube tone that made it an industry standard. 

Thankfully, these days they've managed to cut some of the weight, along with some other tweaks. Of course, the quirks of a tube amp are still there, but if that doesn't put you off, we're sure you'll be happy with this beauty for years to come. 

Take a look at this large venue-ready combo. The amp has a 15"papercone speaker, as well as a 7-band EQ and three different 'voice' settings. What all this means is that it's fully customisable, so you can easily find your sound. 

However, 1000 W might be a bit more power than most people need, and with the extra power comes additional weight. This amp comes in just under 22 kg, which isn't exactly portable, particularly if you don't drive.