Conference napalm::guitar

    Most bass amps in the power range you mentioned are pretty poor.  The
    Aria isn't sold here in the US, but the Minx is, as well as the
    Peavey MicroBass, which is even smaller (20 watt, 8" speaker).
    
    The real low bass response of the Minx is not very good, as you might
    expect with only 30 watts and a 10" speaker.  As a "monitor" for an
    upright it might be adequate if things don't get too loud.  For
    electric bass, where the amp defines the tone, I find it lacks "body"
    (hard to describe, just doesn't sound real full).
    
    Polytone makes a compact line of amps called the MiniBrutes.  The
    MiniBrute I and III are for bass, the II and IV are the same but add
    reverb and distortion for guitar use.  The I has a 12" speaker, the III
    a 15".  MiniBrutes are quite popular among jazz bassists here in the
    US.  They have a flat, uncolored tone, are very compact and pack 100
    watts.
    
    While it's much more expensive, the Gallien Kreuger 200MB is about the
    same size as Polytone (also 100 watts, 12" speaker).  It has a
    switchable compressor and a chorus built in.  If it's available over
    there, you might want to look at it.
    
    U.S. price on the Minx is about $150, The MiniBrute I is about $300, 
    the 200MB is more like $500....big difference.
    
    
    							Brian

    Besides the ones that Brian mentioned, you should also check out the
    following:
    
    	Fender Bassman 60 - 60 watts, 1 15" speaker, limiter  list $349.99
    
    	Gorilla GB-50 Bass ministack - 40 watts, compressor/limiter, master
        volume, 3-band eq, and headphone jack.          price = ??
    
    	Peavey TKO 75 - Single channel, 75 watts, 1 15" speaker, pre and
        post gain controls, 7-band shelving graphic eq, stereo headphone
        jack, and compression.    $399.99
    
        Stinger FX-3C - Separate preamp and master volume controls, 15
        watts, compressor, 3 band eq, and 1 10" speaker	          $202 
    
    
    	I'm taking this info verbatum from the latest Guitar Buyer's guide
        published by Guitar World magazine. All prices are suggested list
        prices. The Fender and Peavey TKO would be enough to practice with
        a band at moderately loud levels, but the other two are limited to
        practice at low levels. If you have a tight budget, I would suggest
        you look at used equipment, and get something with a 15" speaker
        and at least 60 watts, rather than buying a small practice amp new.
    
    	Mark
    
    

    
    Our bass player bought a used PV TNT 130 for under $200 about a year
    ago.  It's got 130 watts of solid state power, and I believe a Scorp
    15".  Eventhough it's only a combo, it keeps up with Greg's 100w
    Kitty/Marshall hybrid full stack(2 4X10s) and plus my 100w Boogie MK3 
    half stack(4X12) in a band situation.  Cool tone outta that TNT, also.
    
    J.

    Make that "ADA/Kitty/Marshall" stack...
    
    gh

    
    Sor------ry!!!
    ;^)
    
    J.

       I don't know if Yorkville Sound/Traynor is sold over there, but I
    own a 40-watt Traynor. It's probably about 270 w. x 220 d. x 380 h.
    and has (I think) a 10" speaker in it. It's a pretty good amp. I had 
    tried out the Polytones and weren't impressed. 
       The Traynor has Low, Mid, and High tone adjustments on it. It also
    has a Direct line-out in the back for recording, this is right after  
    the preamp (post tone control). It also has a Headphone output so 
    that you don't wake up your neighbors at 3:00 am.
       This company is located in Canada.
    For Upright bass, to get a decent tone- I would at least try to get 
    an amp with a 10" or a 12" speaker in it. You just can't re-create 
    the sound with an 8" speaker. I would try to locate a decent store
    that carries the smaller practice amps, and try out as many amps as
    possible - Your ears can only tell you what is right. Don't let a 
    dealer push you into buying a certain brand unless it sounds right! 
    
    
    /John

    To echo a previous reply, keep your eyes open for a used Peavey
    TNT or TKO bass combo.  These appear to be solidly built, sound
    good, and offer great value for the money; $200 or less is the
    rule on these babies.  I would recommend getting one with a 15"
    if possible; I auditioned several of these for a friend last year
    and always found the 15" superior.  There's only one drawback that
    I can think of; they're fairly heavy for their size.  But hey, this
    is bass we're talking about; backaches come with the territory.
    
    /rick

    
    I've had a Roland Cube-60 for several years now and use it for 75% of my
    playing. As the name implies, it has a 60 Watt amp inside, and has a single
    12" driver. It puts out a remarkable amount of low end for its size and 
    weight because of its well designed, ducted port cabinet. I play electric
    bass exclusively -- mostly jazz in small clubs and for weddings. For large
    rooms, outdoors and for more R&B-oriented gigs I need a larger rig. I don't
    know what the price for these amps is now, but I paid $250 for a used 
    Cube-60 in 1984.

    If you can spend a bit more money, there are a couple of others small bass 
    amps that perform even better. The little Gallien Krueger has already been
    mentioned--this is a good one, but for amazing performance in a small box
    try the SWR Baby Blue. This is a new design with an all tube amp, two 8"
    drivers and a high frequency driver in a ridiculously small box. It is 
    amazing (and expensive at $999 list).

    Best of Luck, and Keep on swingin'!

    Jack

    
    Our bass player's TNT130 combo is **alot** lighter than my Boogie
    cab alone!  But you're right, Rick, they do put out!!!
    
    J.
    

      One of my previous bass players used a Yorkville Sound Bloc 80
    bass amp. It was a impressive little amp, actually incredibly
    load and clean for its size. 
    
    						-BooM- 

        I've got  a  little  (and  I mean little) Marathon MX11BK amp
        that I use  for practice.  It's only a 15WATT amp, but it has
        an overdrive switch and  a `line out' in the back.  I've used
        it as a pre-amp to  my  Yamaha  M50-B amp, and it works fine.
        If our band used a mixing  board through a PA, I'd definitely
        be able to use this little 15WATTer  as  my  main amp and not
        have to lug around the 75lb. Yamaha anymore. :^)
        
        Matt 

I've seen those Gorilla bass amps in local stores around my parts for about
150 or so...


They do seem to be cute litte `thangs' b.t.w....

    I used to have a gorilla amp, real small, paid 100$ or so a few years
    ago. It had a dial called tube crunch, and i liked the amp alot.
    It was my first amp after almost a decade, and I'm looking at the
    gorilla ads with the kid in a spastic pose in front of the 3 gorilla
    micro stacks and saying, yea!
    Then i look at my 4x12 and marshall and think
    oh oh, where do i out the next one...
    nah i don't need it, no way...
    nah. Really . 

        Well, the  Marathon  isn't  much like a Gorilla, although the
        size is about right, but this one cost me a mere, $69.  
        
        Juuuuust right ! :^)
        
        Matt

    well as suggested in some notes, instead of going for something new and
    small, I have started looking for something second hand and slightly
    bigger and have now the choice between a (both of them in very good shape):
    
    Fender sidekick 60 W  and a Peavy Basic 60 (at about 300$)
    
    Any suggestions or remarks or beware things I should know about these
    two models? what is the most used? and what are their reputation and real
    characteristics? which one should most likely do more justice to an
    upright bass?
    
    Thanks again for the great help, E.

    I once had the misfortune to use an older Fender Sidekick model
    (Sidekick 30) and was unimpressed. I disliked the tone. 
    
    Peavey on the other hand makes a decent bass amp, and the Basic 60
    would get my nod over a Sidekick.  
    
    $300 second hand?  Wow, I'm glad I live here, these amps sell for about
    $225 new in the US.....