Top 5 Bass Amps of 2020

The Gnome i by Warwick offers 200 W at 4 ohms, and to call it “portable” is an understatement: this amp head weighs less than 1 kg, and is equipped with many features, including a USB interface (no driver needed to operate with a PC, Mac or other mobile devices!) 3-band EQ, gain and master. The Gnome i has an internal LED that can light up any bassist’s eyes and when the Gnome i is under the Christmas tree, you’ll hardly see it, but you’ll definitely hear it!

The traditional brand Orange has also committed itself to compact dimensions. In terms of size, weight and performance it’s just a tad larger than Warwick’s similar amp. The Little Bass Thing from Orange already weighs just under 3 kg. The powerful dwarf by Orange provides 500 W, which makes it a handy “power tool”. The head is equipped with an FX loop and compressor. Bassists benefit from the DI output for direct recording and the two speaker outputs. On board you’ll find 3-band EQ with fine adjustment! Everything the bassist’s heart desires combined with a timeless British sound. It’s worth trying!

Loud and light, that’s what we would call these bass heads from Harke’s LX-Series. This back-friendly series includes the models LX5500 and LX8500. The first of the two is particularly handy with a weight of 3.6 kg at 500 watts. The tube preamp, which is assembled with a 12AX7 tube, provides a powerful and extremely clear sound. The lightning-fast switchability from clean to distorted or overdriven sounds is also a selling point. Bassists have direct access to crunchier tone via the Bright button. And let’s not forget the onboard compressor and the numerous inputs and outputs. And why does this amp work in the tightest of spaces you might ask? A Class D power amplifier is integrated in the model! You should definitely check this one out! 

The 802 from EBS is a real high performance bass amplifier. The efficient low frequency story is not only told by the performance, but by the weight. It weighs in at a muscle-packed 16 kg. This means that the amp delivers a full 750 W at 2 ohms. This companion from the Swedish amp brand is assembled with a 4-band EQ, on board controls for bass, low mids, high mids and highs, an effects loop and a boost switch. Everything is included so nothing can go wrong. The integrated compressor is extraordinary. And the bright control works wonders, especially when the bass player hasn’t changed the strings for a long time. This candidate really belongs on the winners table of bass amps in 2020. 

If you want to get deep bass and performance at a reasonable price, take a look at the Solid Bass 600H top from Harley Benton. This bass head is solidly (hence the name) constructed and garnished with well thought-out features. The transistor amplifier brings 600 watts to your ears. There’s a 4-band equalizer and a smart compressor with an on/off switch integrated in the top, plus two different instrument inputs; one for active, the other for passive basses. And that’s not all. With the chromatic tuner, the separate effects loop-in, the DI output or the headphone output, for example, the manufacturer really shows the possibilities of a full range of options. And at that price? A real beast that you should urgently try out.