The 5 Best Affordable Bass Amps: From Amped to Warwick to Harley Benton
Amp heads, combos or stacks?
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The 5 Best Affordable Bass Amps: From Amped to Warwick to Harley Benton · Source: Boss
So, you’ve got your first (or second? or third?) bass, and now it’s time to amplify those lovely, thunderous low notes? Then, we’ve got five suggestions for the best affordable bass amps! These won’t break the bank, but they might rattle your neighbor’s walls!
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Heads vs. Combos vs. Stacks
Once you start digging into what type of bass amp to get, you’ll quickly realize that it’s a bit of a hot topic. Just in terms of size, it’s a bit extreme: there are those who like to travel light and just work with a small amp head that goes directly into the PA system. On the other end of the amp size spectrum are the so-called “fridges”.
While the bass amp itself is often still no bigger than a guitar amp head, you pair them with comparatively huge cabs. This is usually referred to as a stack. While the small amp heads have obvious advantages in terms of size, any bassist miss the low-end rumble on stage. A PA system with monitoring simply does not output the same sonic might. On the other hand, these giant speakers are tough to transport, so if you do gig a lot, it might be worth considering going with just a bass amp.
Then there are combos, as we know them from guitar amps. These combine amps and speaker in to one unit. You get a bit of the best (and worst) of both worlds: direct sonic impact, no need for a weak PA system in your rehearsal room, but still a bit on the heavy side.
Get Low for Less: Best Affordable Bass Amps
Bassists have been at the forefront of scaling down their touring rigs, with these smaller amp-to-PA solutions becoming widespread much earlier than amp modelers did in the guitar world. When searching for the best affordable bass amps, the answer is often, it depends on what you’re looking for and the type of bassist you are.
Do you gig regularly? Are you a member of multiple bands? (Bassists, like drummers, in many local band scenes can often be found in 3, 4, or 5 bands at a time.) Then a small bass amp head might be all you need. Additionally, many of these bass amp heads available today come with headphone outputs, making it easy to practice at home.
If that solution feels a bit weak, sonically speaking, then a combo might be the best solution. You’ll get a bit of rumble, many also come with a direct-out to connect them to a PA system, but quite a few also work on smaller stages. And if you’re a bit on the old-school side of things, and transporting huge cabs isn’t an issue, then, by all means, stacks are where you want to go. Check out our suggestions for best affordable bass amps!
Harley Benton HB-20B
This compact 20-watt bass combo is the perfect practice partner for home, rehearsal, or even small jam sessions. It features a custom-voiced 8″ speaker that delivers a surprisingly full and defined low end for its size. At just 7.5 kg, it’s highly portable, making it easy to take anywhere you need solid tone without the bulk of a full-sized rig.
The TEC (Tube Emulating Circuit) adds a touch of warmth and grit, giving you a more tube-like feel and response. A built-in compressor with LED indicator helps tame dynamics and smooth out your playing, while a 3-band EQ and gain control let you shape your tone with precision. For silent practice or jamming along to your favorite tracks, the combo includes a headphone output and an aux input for connecting MP3 players or other devices.
The Harley Benton HB-20B is one of the best affordable bass amps, and it costs £69 / £69 / €79 at Thomann*. Note that this bass amp runs exclusively on an operating voltage of 230 V and therefore requires a voltage transformer if you order it in the United States.
Warwick Gnome i Pro V2
This compact and lightweight bass amp head delivers 300 watts at 4 ohms (or 180 watts at 8 ohms), so it’s more than capable of handling rehearsals, studio sessions, and even smaller live gigs. Its Class D power amp ensures efficient performance with minimal heat, while the transistor-based preamp provides clean, reliable tone shaping.
Tone control is handled by a responsive 3-band EQ with ±15 dB of cut and boost per band, and front-panel controls include gain, bass, middle, treble, and master volume. A balanced XLR DI output with post-EQ signal and ground lift switch makes it easy to connect to mixers or interfaces with minimal noise. What really sets this amp apart is its built-in USB audio interface, allowing direct connection to PC, Mac, or compatible mobile devices—no drivers required. Warwick’s Gnome series offers many contenders for the best affordable bass amps, so do check it out!
This model is available at Thomann* for $244 / £215 / €249.
Boss Katana-110 Bass
The modeling combo for electric bass is a pretty versatile all-in-one solution for practice, recording, and live performance. Bassists can store up to six presets and choose from three amp voicings, each with three shape variations. Where this combo shines is in its deep customization and onboard effects.
It features four independent effects sections, drawing from over 60 classic BOSS effects, including compression, drive, modulation, and more. In terms of connectivity, you get a balanced XLR out, FX loop, aux input, headphone/recording output, and multiple footswitch and expression pedal inputs.
Like its guitar counterparts , the Katana bass series offers a very modern approach that also gets you all the classic tones. This contender for best affordable bass amps available from Thomann* for $369 / £333 / €379.
Markbass Little Mark Tube 800
Markbass, like Warwick, like Ampeg, is a heavy-weight in the bass world. Their models Little Mark Tube 800 features an 800-watt output at 4 ohms (or 500 watts at 8 ohms), so it delivers massive volume in a package that weighs just 2.9 kg. A key feature is the Tube/Solid State Mix control, letting you blend both worlds to taste.
Connectivity is robust: there’s a balanced XLR line out, effect send/return, tuner out, and more. A matching rack adapter (sold separately) makes integration into touring rigs easy—this head delivers pro-level tone in a travel-friendly form. It’s definitely one of the best affordable bass amps, given how good it sounds at this price point.
You can get the Little Mark Tube 800 from Markbass from Thomann* for $625 / £559 / €641. And if you want to go the combo route, take a look at the Mini CMD 121P V*.
Ampeg Venture V7
When it comes to bass amplification, Ampeg is pretty much the gold standard. For decades, their amps have defined the sound of countless classic and modern records with iconic models like the SVT or the B15. This 700-watt solid-state head proudly continues that legacy.
At the heart it is the Super Grit Overdrive circuit, givnig you that the growl and character that made Ampeg famous. The switchable SVT and B15 voicings let you tap into two of the most legendary tones in bass history. In addition, a 3-band EQ, built-in compressor, and Ultra Hi/Ultra Lo switches offer sound-shaping tools. In terms of I/O, the Venture V7 comes with a balanced DI out with ground lift, FX loop, aux in, headphone out, and Speakon speaker output.
The Venture V7 from Ampeg is available from Thomann* for $777 / £699 / €799. And if you want to go the stack route, you can always add the mighty Ampeg SVT-212AV* cab.
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