BP 400: UP TO 11

So what’s your favorite bass amp? Freddy Villano recalls 400 issues’ worth of the big boxes

As much as the playability of your instrument can make or break a performance, so too can your tone. Whether on stage or in the studio, it can be hard to enjoy playing if your tone is fighting you—so it’s as important to have reliable, great-sounding amplification as it is to have a playable instrument.

Luckily for us, bass amp manufacturers have been striving to quantify the essence of a fundamentally good bass tone for more than 60 years. From the OGs of bass amplification like Acoustic, Ampeg, Fender, and Orange, to a new wave of high-end boutique manufacturers such as Aguilar, Darkglass, Markbass, and Phil Jones, bass amp manufacturers have made significant design and technological achievements in the last 30 years. Here’s a look at some of the most revered bass amps to hit the market since 1990...