“The best” is always going to be a personal opinion, especially when it comes to bass guitar amps. But when I was gigging regularly as a bass player, two things were always top of mind: dependability and how easy it was to carry my gear. I learned a valuable lesson about both of these one night at a show.
I remember seeing this tiny little box sitting on top of a massive cabinet. Honestly, I thought it was some kind of fancy DI box. But when I plugged in my bass and barely turned it up, BOOM! The sound was incredible!
That little box turned out to be a Markbass Little Mark III. I bought one about 15 years ago for around $750, and it’s been my go-to ever since. This amp delivers a fantastic punchy sound, doesn’t rely on fragile tubes, and can handle pretty much any sound you need. Plus, it’s small and light enough to fit in a backpack. You wouldn’t believe the power it packs until you plug in – I know I was surprised! It’s got more than enough juice for big stages. Some people might look at it and think it’s a toy, which is exactly what I thought at that gig before I plugged in. Shortly after that show, I also got a Markbass speaker cabinet to go with it. Zero regrets.
If you’re not too concerned about specific bass amp features, you might consider a power amp. I actually use a Mooer Baby Bomb 30-watt power amp for my guitar on stage, and it sounds great. However, for bass, you really need more power. After looking around, I realized that a compact bass amp is definitely the better choice. I couldn’t find a power amp suitable for bass for a similar price point that would offer the same versatility.
The reality is, most bass players use dedicated amps, and there’s a good reason for that. Also, many bassists don’t use a lot of effects or processors. Most of the time, you just want a solid, direct bass sound. Personally, I only ever used two effects on my bass: distortion for a few songs and a looper. Compressors? Never needed one. Most of the amps I’ve used already have some built-in compression or gain that gets me where I need to be.
So, if you’re looking for the Best Bass Guitar Amp, especially one that balances power and portability, think about a quality compact solid-state amp. Markbass has built a strong reputation for making these. My Little Mark III is still going strong after 15 years, and it’s never let me down.
