i skimmed. this post is rushed, so sorry if its total balls.
watts are NOT the most important thing when buying a bass amp - cab sensitivity and headroom are! also remember, that big amps, while i don't condone this, CAN be turned down!
watts IS headroom, i hear you say. not necessarily.
You don't necessarily get headroom using a big amp.
Headroom is the power supply (main transformer and electrolytes) ability to provide extra current when needed.
3 dB headroom means that a 100w rated amp can provide 200w when called for. It all has to do with the power supply.
sensitivity is the dB rating given to a cab at 1W/1m/1kHz or something similiar.
i know from experience from being a kid that we all want the shiniest, biggest and coolest looking equipment. so buy TRACE ELLIOT! Not too expensive, HUGE sound, flexible, plenty of head room. so loud. built like tanks!
100 W isn't enough for a band rehersal. 250 Trace watts are, 300W for everything else.
I recommend: Trace Elliot (my guys, they are number one in my book;)), Ashdown (close second, they have Trace egineers!), Peavey (solid, total tanks. plenty of power, EQ isn't very flexible, but amps can do a wide variety of music), TRAYNOR (heard great things about these amps), Kustom Groove 1200 (1200 stands 1200 WATTS!). Crate are OK, but I'd only reccommend the higher end stuff.
PLEASE DO NOT BUY BEHRINGER. ITS GARBAGE. THEY ARE THE MICROSOFT OF THE EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY!!!
As I have learned from experience, especially starting out, the coolest looking gear isnt the best. maybe you should sit down with you guy and have a talk with him, suggest it might be best to get something thats going to haul ass at a rehersal and is practical for your budget.
Also, a crap bass can sound great through a good amp. Great bass through a crap amp is still baws.
hope this helped. i'll be back with you guys in time
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