First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best bass amps on the market right now. On the front control panel, you will find the basic controls; three-band EQ, a Clean switch for non-distorted operation, Gain and Volume controls, a -6dB Pad switch for active basses, and a Standby option. Orange amps epitomize all we love about the iconic British guitar tone, and they have been a staple of the ‘big three’ British amp producers since their 1968 beginning. Now, with a varied product range consisting of incredibly powerful combo amps, bass gear, and lunchbox heads, there is a lot to consider when buying an Orange bass amp, which is where I come in! At the heart of the Crush Bass 100 is its 100 Watt output stage. Using discrete circuitry, rather than ICs (integrated circuits) ensures a purer and even more forceful delivery with outstanding clarity and definition. The Crush Bass 100 houses a 15” speaker with a reflex port for improved low end response. The buffered effects loop has been engineered for maximum transparency, ensuring your pedal arsenal will perform at its peak. BALANCED OUTPUT, CABSIM HEADPHONE OUTPUT, AUX INPUT & CHROMATIC TUNER The last decade or so has been a pretty exciting time for the bass, and as such, the best bass amps reflect this. If you want a straight-up, simple bass amp that delivers a clear and clean tone, then there are plenty that do that. If you want to add some grit or even effects to your sound, then you’re catered for there too.

You don’t have to spend a lot to gain a lot with an amp anymore, but it is down to you what is considered too much and what will be an investment. The footswitchable compressor control on the Little Bass Thing’s front panel gives players instant access to Orange’s painstakingly developed Class A Optical Compression circuit. With its unique sidechain and a response optimised for bass guitar, this single dial provides excellent dynamic control and a warm, classic feel, at subtle or extreme settings. (Footswitch sold separately). Helpful Little Extras Here atMusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear-related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.Having a built-in DI output on a bass amp is really helpful, particularly if your amp isn’t a mammoth, 800W+ powerhouse, as most venues will be able to take a signal out of your amplifier and plug it into their PA system, giving you bags of extra volume, which your amp couldn’t possibly manage on its own. The ability to do this may help you bridge the gap between playing smaller and medium-sized venues, without having to constantly look to upgrade to a more powerful amp.

There are three main types of amp: Tube, Solid-State, and Digital. While tube amps are often considered the traditional and ideal choice, today, there are digital and solid-state amps that are a pretty good match for a lot fewer dollars and with fewer maintenance headaches. Setting clear benchmarks for what you need in terms of features, wattage and tone is key to choosing an amp that is going to deliver. Which features are essential in a bass amp?

#2 Orange Amplifiers Crush Bass 25W Bass Combo Amp

Hot on the tails of the wildly successful Katana guitar amps, effects and all-round guitar technology wizards Boss finally treated us to the highly anticipated bass Katana. The Crush Bass series delivers fat, rounded sound thanks to an all analogue signal path. The Crush Bass 50 houses a 12” speaker with a reflex port for improved low-end response. The buffered effects loop has been engineered for maximum transparency, ensuring your pedal arsenal will perform to its peak. Cabsim Headphone Output, Aux Input & Chromatic Tuner I found that when using the Blend and Gain control simultaneously, there are two distinct layers of distorted and clean tones that sound pretty fantastic. Pros