MaxxBass’ distinct way of processing makes it stand out among other plugins, making it widely considered one of the best plugins for bass out there. Instead of boosting the low-end signals or using a version of a high-pass filter, the VST. MaxxBass’ distinct way of processing makes it stand out among other plugins, making it widely considered one of the best plugins for bass out there. Instead of boosting the low-end signals or using a version of a high-pass filter, the VST works to artificially produce resonant overtones in your mix, making the low-end sound more full.

1. Best Real Bass Vst Plugins
2. Best Bass Vst Plugin
3. Best Professional Vst Plugins
4. Free Bass Vst Plugins
5. Best Free Vst Plugins

There is no doubt in my mind that bass, whilst often overlooked, is fundamentally one of the most important elements in music. The sheer power that comes from a strong low end, combined with the driving rhythm that it offers is why music makes you want to move. For this, you need a good bass VST. I challenge you to find a song that, with the bass completely removed, still comes across as a convincing and energetic piece of music. Seriously, drop a comment below as I’d love to hear it work!Bass is important and is often difficult to replicate in a convincing fashion when it comes to VSTs. Today’s article aims to guide you through a few of the many options that are out there. We will look into price range as well as quality whilst also assessing the various types of sounds you might want to have in your arsenal. For a long time, I stuck with the opinion that bass always had to come from a bass guitar, not a bass VST. Let me tell you, the more options you’ve got when it comes to making music, the better your music will be.

The Best Free Bass VST

In the present time, tons of VST plugins are available in the music world. Whether you are an electronic, trap, or hip hop music producer, you will find a wide range of plugins for your music production needs. We have listed some of the best bass VST plugins to help you create dope bass lines. Let’s check them all. Steinberg – Model E. Being one of the best bass VST, the Rickenbacker also features a tape saturator, a ‘solid mix series’ compressor, and Guitar Rig’s Jump Amp. What’s more, it’s library includes 2 NKIs-palm-muted and open articulations, all of which were played using a pick for a realistic sounding feel. And what plugins do you even need to properly mix bass? In this article, we’ve compiled 9 of the best VST plugins bass mixing, covering everything you’ll ever need for mixing floor-shaking bass. From subharmonic generators to multiband compressors and saturators. Having these plugins in your arsenal is the key to taking your bass mixing. . The 25 best VST/AU plugin synths in the world right now. The best drum machine VST plugins 2020: beatmaking software for your DAW We’ve been careful to encompass all price points, and as diverse a spectrum of form and function as possible. So there should be at least one model in our collection to suit your needs and budget. If you are looking for an inspiring weighty bass tone, Loopmasters’ Bass Master Synth plugin is worth considering. At its core is a pair of oscillators offering over 200 waveforms powered by both classic and modern bass sources. It also features up to 350 presets with parameters ready-mapped to the three-slot mod wheel matrix.

Before I delve into some of the more pricey and intricate products available, it only seems fair that I offer you my best suggestion for freeware. 4Front Bass is what I believe to be the best free VST for bass available today. A combination of sampling and modelling, this bass VST offers what it says on the box. It might not be the most convincing of sounds and the plugin itself has literally no adjustable parameters. However, getting a relatively convincing bass sound from such a simple plugin is really amazing. If your current setup is lacking a real bass guitar sound, you absolutely want to grab this. At the end of the day, it’ll always be useful as a writing tool even if you move onto something else later on.

The Best Synth Bass VST

Now we move onto some of the best bass VST plugins you can get your hands on. I want to start with the synths and look at three different options, each offering something unique. Hopefully, this wide range of choice will appeal to every reader!

Dope Kitz Substation

Did somebody say 808 basses? If you’re in need of some speaker shaking 808s to shake things up then look no further than the Dope Kitz Substation. Coming in at a modest $49.99, this simple yet powerful bass VST is going to bring some serious power and rhythm to your music. With a variety of plugin preset tone types, each with adjustable volume, glide and ADSR, this powerhouse bass VST is a one-stop shop for all your 808 bass needs. My favourite thing about this plugin is that it gives you more control. With normal 808 bass samples, you’re pretty much stuck with what you get. Spending too long scrolling through 808 samples is boring and messy. With Substation, you can start with a tone that fits your track and then mould the shape into something that blends perfectly with your track.

Native Instruments Monark

So maybe 808s aren’t your thing. Perhaps you’re more interested in a strong, retro analog mono synth sound that you can manipulate to your heart’s content? Enter Monark. This iconic mono synth embodies raw power. Three adjustable oscillators with a dedicated filtering and amplification section, Monark captures the organic sound of analogue synths with ease. Whether you’re making dirty hip-hop, dancefloor filling house music or chart-topping, Daft Punk inspired pop-funk, Monark has you covered. You can seriously tinker with this thing for hours on end, building complex monophonic tones of epic proportions. At only around $115, it’s well worth the purchase.

Native Instruments Massive

Hands down one of my favourite synths of all time, Massiveis not only the best bass VST but it’s genuinely one of the best VSTs for anything synth related. This marvellously complex polyphonic synth plugin is crammed with so many controls and variations, you could make a sound a day every year for the rest of your life without repeating your ideas. In fact, Massive is so meticulously designed that it’s actually possible to create evolving synth patches that never repeat themselves. For any of you who like to experiment, you could have some serious fun with this.Used by professional producers and engineers the world over, Massive truly is remarkable. You’re offered so many wave tones, each that can be processed and adjusted through their own oscillator. On top of this, you’ve got various filter types, effects, macro controls, voicing and sequencing controls which can all be used to affect each other. If you’ve ever seen those giant walls of modular synths that look insanely complex, this is basically a compact VST version. At only around $160, this could be the number one thing I recommend anyone invests in.

The Best VSTi Bass Libraries

So maybe you’re not a huge fan of synthesisers? Perhaps you want to keep things real and you’re looking for a way to get a true bass guitar tone without needing to learn to play one? This next list of my favourite Bass VSTi libraries will help you out there.

Native Instruments Scarbee Jay-Bass

Continuing my theme of fantastic Native Instruments products, I offer to you the Scarbee Jay-Bass. NI make a variety of Scarbee bass VSTi libraries for Kontakt but my favourite (and the one I think will appeal the most here on MasteringBox) is the Jay-Bass. A beautiful sounding jazz bass available in both a fingered and slap style, this is the best VST library for the hip-hop heads. It’s got that great funky tone reminiscent of 90’s sample-based music and blends into almost any track with very little work required. Equally, it sounds great layered but with a chunky synth sub-bass. The two combined can really help to fill out the low frequencies in anything from hip-hop to dance music. Coming in around $75, it’s the cheapest of the Scarbee libraries and a great introduction into the world of sampled bass. Just remember, you will need Kontakt player to make this work.

Orange Tree Samples Bass Guitars

I’ve been a fan of Orange Tree Samples for quite some time. You get tremendous quality for the cost and the time spent building these libraries is inspiring. I’m not going to focus on any one particular bass type that they offer as they are all great for their own particular specialities.The Rickenbaker model gives a mean mid-range as well as punchy low-end for those of you looking for some aggression in your mix. If you’re looking for more of a chilled out vibe, try out the cherry. Similar to the Jay-Bass mentioned before, this is going to be super smooth and funky. The Jaco is similar in style except that it models a fretless jazz bass. This means you can get some awesome slides and real technical playing going on that sounds like your in the studio with Nile Rodgers. Finally, there is the Pear. If you’re in need of an upright bass to complement your library, look no further. Remember that an upright bass VST is a totally different tone to an electric bass VST. It’s great to have choices!

Spectrasonics Trilian

Often regarded as THE BEST VST library for sampled bass, Trilian really is sonic gold. If money is no object and you’re looking for the ultimate bass tone with ultimate control then this is the one for you. Not only does Trilian model some of the most convincing real basses available, but it also offers fantastic quality synth bass. Over sixty different electric basses have been carefully recorded and modelled to provide unparalleled choice. On top of this, the variety of articulations that have been recorded and combined within the round-robin sample selection technology is insane. You can walk around your MIDI keyboard playing note after note like you were really sliding up and down the fretboard of a bass guitar. Truly awe-inspiring sound comes from geniuses at Spectrasonics and it’s worth every cent of it’s $299 price tag!

TL;DR

Bass is important. It makes up so much of all music and really helps to drive a sense of power and rhythm. Overlooking the quality and design of your bass VST could be your undoing. If you’re interested in synths and want to make some crazy, complex sounds, try out Native Instruments Monark or Massive. When you’re crazy for 808 basses, Substation is the best VST for you. If you’re interested in something a little more realistic, there are a few VSTi libraries you can check out. NIs Scarbee line is fantastic, particularly their Jay-Bass. Equally, anything from the team at Orange Tree Samples will provide great quality bass. If you’ve got the funds and you want the best, you’ll want to check out Trilian. With over sixty modelled electric basses, it’s all you’ll ever need!PreviousMixing With Samples: How to Make Samples Work with Your Mix

Recording directly is as popular as ever nowadays. Loading up an amp sim is great for conveniently jamming, practicing, and recording bass without having to assemble a ton of gear.

With this ongoing trend, there is a vast virtual sea of amp simulators on the market to choose from (free and paid!)

Unfortunately, the majority of amp sims today are heavily tailored towards the six-string guitarists, while the bass players only get a fraction of bass amps and presets to choose from.

About This Post

From my experience learning bass and my love of amps sims. I have taken the time to construct this roundup post of the best amps simulators that are more tailored towards the bass players in 2019.

Jargon Busting

Plugin: (A programme application that can open within a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) to enhance audio-related functionality.)

Standalone version: (A software that can open independently within the desktop without requiring to open inside a DAW to make use of its features)

#1 – Amplitube 4

• Price: €149 (base version)
• Bass amps: 1
• Standalone version: Yes
• Demo version: Yes
• Plugin: Yes
• Win/Mac
• 64-bit only

Created by IK Multimedia, Amplitube 4 is one of the top dogs when it comes to amp simulators. Amplitube 4 includes the most detail and depth when it comes to tone sculpting and the most realistic sounding selection of bass amplifiers on the market.

In my opinion, this software is one of the best-paid amp simulators, offering players iconic and infinite amounts of tone creation with an impressive level of detail and sonic realism.

The interface also looks visually appealing and very easy to navigate for creating an arsenal of bass presets at will.

The level of customization in Amplitube 4 is insane, everything from…

• Iconic modeled amps (guitar and bass)
• Effects (stompboxes, distortion, reverb, modulation, delay etc)
• Room ambiance simulation
• Microphone selection and placement
• Cabinet customization
• Rack effects
• Power tube customization
• Built-in recording suite
• Impressive visuals and interface
• Tuner

I could go on for days about how detailed this programme is when it comes to tone sculpting. There is so much in this programme that will satisfy most tone freaks including the bass players.

The interface is easy to set up your ideal rig which can run in both standalone for practicing and jamming or a plug-in to record within your selected DAW.

The Base Version

When it comes to usability for bass players presets, the Base version only offers a single solid-state bass amp.

With that said, the level of customization with all aspects of your rig will be enough to keep you going and offer a lot of tone-sculpting options.

However, when you want to expand in tones with the likes of more bass amps, effects and presets here’s where the problem begins.

The negative with this sim is not the features and tones because they are spot on, the problem with Amplitube 4 is its pricing structure! Let me explain…

Pricing Structure

The negative with Amplitube 4 is as detailed, real, and accurate the presets sound. To get the full experience with a satisfactory amount of bass amps, cabinets, effects, and bass presets. You have to be willing to shell out a small fortune.

Either in the form of buying the ‘deluxe version’ which is not cheap at €299. Or buying the base version and paying for the official ‘Ampeg expansion packs’ or paying for individual amps and effects via the ‘IK Custom Shop.’

(The ‘IK Custom Shop’ is an online store to purchase and download extra packs or separate amps to your rig.)

Most Affordable Option

The Deluxe version includes a ton of regular guitar amps but when it comes to the bass players, the deluxe version only includes a grand total of 3 bass amps (they do sound great though.)

The cheaper option would be to buy the ‘Base version’ at €149 and purchase the separate bass amps/packs and or any patches or effects you want from the IK Custom Shop.

The IK Custom Shop good for hand picking the amps, effects or whatever you want in your custom rig.

The problem is however, this can rack up a big bill fast as separate patches do not come cheap when purchased independently which quickly turns this amp sim into an endless money pit.

Why Amplitube 4?

Amplitube 4 is the option for bass players who want to invest a fair bit of money into a solid, usable, and fantastic sounding amp sim with tons of tone customization.

It is true that you pay for what you get in life and this is definitely the case with this software.

This option It is a little pricey but you will be rewarded with the investment of a solid amp sim to use for years to come with a crazy amount of tone customization and great sounding bass tones.

Which Version?

The version you go for depends on how far you want to invest for all of the bass presets.

Having the full programme would be ideal if you play guitar on the side or an avid recording bassist who wants the full palate of tones at their disposal.

In this case, Amplitube 4 is one of the most popular and overall best amp sim to give you an infinite amount of tones for your bass recording and jamming requirements.

Pros

• Amazing sounding guitar and bass presets
• Endless tone customization
• Tons of features
• Easy to create presets and your ideal rig
• Use as standalone version or plugin
• Ultimate all in one amp sim

Cons

• Expensive investment
• Have to invest money to get additional bass amps
• Only supports 64-bit systems
• Cheaper alternatives

2# – Bias Amp 2

• Price: $299 (Elite version)
• Bass amps: 4
• Demo version: Yes
• Standalone version: Yes
• Plugin: Yes
• 32 & 64-bit systems
• Win/Mac

Bias Amp 2 is somewhat different from most amp simulators. Most sims give you a selection of amps to twiddle and tweak the EQ parameters or even a few boost options.

However, Bias Amp 2 essentially allows players to build and design your own ‘custom bass amp’… literally from the ground up.

Players have the option to tweak the smallest details that go into amp design such as transformers, power tubes, preamp tubes, biasing, power supply and shelf frequencies.

And all these small details will affect the overall tone of the amp. For example, the way you tweak the transformers will affect the sound of the upper midrange.

This is a single example of how amazingly detailed this amp sim can be for sculpturing and creating your perfect core bass tone which will please all the tube amp players out there.

Features

The programme includes 4 bass amps presets which as mentioned, can be heavily tweaked and customized to your personal preferences when it comes to amp design.

This is before dialing the amps EQ or playing around with the selection of microphones, microphone placement, and cabinet speaker selection.

This programme gives the heavy tweakers and tube amp purists a field day when it comes to shaping your perfect bass tone.

This amp simulator focuses heavily on the level of customization that goes into the core amps design and elements which is good for tube amp purists.

Other features include the ‘Tonecloud’ which is an online community allowing users to upload and download amps presets created by members of the community.

Allowing users to audition and download some of the best presets rated and uploaded to the cloud adding users to share their best tones.

A noise gate is included and a selection of reverbs types to choose from with customizable parameters to dial in an ambient reverb to go with your perfect bass amp.

Sound

When it comes to sound and authenticity of a real tube amp, Bias Amp 2 has redesigned the previous engine used in the original Bias Amp.

Improving the responsiveness and realism when it comes to the dynamics, frequencies, and nuances of the sound of their line of tube amplifiers and cabs.

This new engine software, the tones are authentic and sound great when DI through any recording software adding a level of realism to any dry bass signal.

The Negatives

The only let down about this sim is there are no usual stompbox effects such as distortion, overdrive, flanger, phaser, or special effects etc like in other sims.

Another negative is that you have to pay the full price for the elite level to get the full experience which is not cheap at $299.

Saying that however, with the level of customization from this sim there is a lot of features and some great professional tube amp tones available from Bias Amp 2.

Pros

• Detailed and in-depth amp sim designer for bass and guitar
• Authentic and responsive sound
• High level of tone customization
• Standalone version
• Tonecloud community
• Amp matching feature

#3 – Helix Native

• Price: $399
• Bass amps: 13
• Standalone: No
• Demo Version: Yes
• Win/Mac
• Plugin: Yes

Helix Native by Line 6 is one of the most expensive amp sims on this list but offers a huge array of presets. Including 60 amps, (13 bass amps), 30 cabs and 100+ effects accommodating nicely for bass players.

Helix Native features the most bass amps on this list all modeled form popular and iconic bass amps from ‘Hiwatt,’ ‘Ampeg’ and ‘Mesa Boogie’ for example.

Features

The interface follows a simple design of dragging, dropping presets into the signal chain with each aspect of the rig can be shaped with the designated sliders to change the dynamics of the sound.

This sim caters in the effect department with everything you could want for shaping your ideal tone and experimenting with sounds.

• Distortion
• Dynamics
• EQ
• Modulation
• Delay/Reverb
• Pitch Shift
• Filters etc
• Wah
• Synth

This amp sim may not be the most visually appealing. But with lots of things going on inside a DAW, users can be thankful for the simple function of creating authentic bass tones without a cluttered interface. Excessive menus and other bells and whistles can distract from the usabailityin my opinion.

The Negative

The elephant in the room with this amp sim is the price! It is one of the most expensive options n this list and seems a lot of money for an amp sim just for using for bass.

On the plus side, you will have professional bass and guitar recording producers covered with a large number of amps, effects, and features.

This option would be a suitable option if you are a bass player that plays guitar on the side. Or if you happen to record other guitarists as a producer in a home studio situation.

Pros

• Simple interface
• Versatile selection of bass amps and cabs
• Realistic tones
• Large selection of effects
• High level of tone customization

#4 – Softube Bass Amp Room

• Price $149
• Presets: 1 amp, 3 cabinets
• Standalone Version: No
• Free Demo: Yes
• Plugin: Yes
• Win/Mac

Bass Amp Room by Softube stands out from most sims. Most programmes aim to please the masses with a ton of presets, effects and other bells and whistles. ‘Bass Amp Room’ from Softube however, do things differently…

Bass Amp Room only includes the one charming bass amp and a selection of 3 cabinets to choose from. So why am I recommending this considering the lack of bass amps?

The reason is that Softube have focused all their time and energy achieving the most ‘accurate’ and ‘realistic’ core sound from both head and 3 cabinets using their advanced modeling technology.

Although the interface looks simple, don’t underestimate the quality of tones from this sim. They are one of the most authentic that I have heard from any bass amp software.

What’s Included

The one available bass head replicates the iconic ‘Hiwatt DR103’ head while the bass cabinet is based off a classic ‘Ampeg’ 8×12 cab.

Bass Amp Room does an incredible job of simulating the tonal and sonic qualities of a bass tone down to the tee. Although added features are scarce, I will admit, the bass amp sims are one of the most authentic tonally.

The tone shaping abilities offer a good level of customization allowing you to modify the core building blocks of a tone. Everything from…

• Amp Head EQ
• Click and drag microphone placement
• Microphone tilt (off axis)
• DI EQ controls
• Pickup input gain
• Tone blending features

Unfortunately, Bass Amp Room doesn’t include any stompbox effects or features such as tuner, additional bass amps or a standalone version but does include a free 20-day demo version to test it out.

A good way to utilize this programme is to use it in your DAW to create an authentic raw sounding bass tone.

Then enable desired plug-ins to build on the tone in the form of effects adding ‘icing on the cake’ sounds and effects that are unavailable in the software.

Pros

• Authentic sounding bass tones
• Versatile tones for most genres (rock, metal, funk, jazz, etc)
• Enough tone shaping customization
• Solid sounding bass tones for recording in a DAW
• Dial a tone in quick without overcomplicating anything

Cons

• A tad on the pricey side for one bass head
• No standalone version
• No stompboxes or effects
• No additional amps or cabs to expand in sounds

#5 – GTR-3

• Price: $49
• Bass amps: 7
• Standalone: Yes
• Plug-in: Yes
• 64-bit only
• PC/Mac
• Free Demo: No

GTR-3 by Waves for the price, includes a great number of bass amps and stompboxes rolled into a simple and compact interface for easy tone customization. This software is well equipped for bass players with the inclusion of 7 bass amps.

The GTR-3 replicates bass tones with impressive accuracy adding a level of realism to any bass signal with any DAW and audio interface.

The pedalboard allows 6 designated spaces for stomp boxes with a selection of 26 effects which can be modified to add a surprising level of tone sculpting. It also runs a standalone version for running on the desktop without having to load it up as a plugin in a DAW.

I must admit, GTR-3 is not as heavily loaded with features as the other amp sims, excluding some features such as microphone customization, room ambiance, built in recording etc.

However, for the price, you do get a lot of great sounding amps and effects which in the grand scheme is great value for money.

Best for

This programme may not be for the tone twiddling freaks out there like other amp sims. However, this programme does not make too much of a deal and is designed and marketed to be simple and straight to the point.

GTR-3 is a good option for any bass players who are maybe new to the amp sim world. Possibly looking for an easy to use guitar modeling software who are not looking to spend a fortune first time around.

Pros

Best Real Bass Vst Plugins

• Simple easy to use
• Affordable
• Authentic sounding amps and effects
• Standalone version

#6 – GK Amplification 2 Pro

• Price: $79
• Bass Amps: 3
• Free Demo: Yes
• Standalone: Yes
• Win/Mac
• Plugin: Yes

GK stands for Gaillain and Kruker. For all of you who are unaware, GK is a high-end bass amp and cabinet manufacturer based in the US.

GK Amplification 2 Pro is an affordable and versatile bass amp sim offering 3 popular emulated versions from their line of bass heads for adding to your mixes or jamming on the side. The heads available are the popular CK bass head models.

• GK MB150
• GK 800RB
• GK 2001 RB

This sim also offers a large selection of cabinets to match with your ideal bass head. A good feature is combining 2 speaker cabs for a mash and blend of cabinet sounds allowing a good level of tonal customization.

The main tonal options you can customize with this amp sim are…

Best Bass Vst Plugin

• Bass Head EQ
• Boost option
• Voicing filters
• Microphone positioning
• Microphone type selection
• Microphone angle
• Cabinet tone blending

GK Amplification Pro 2 programme includes a metronome and track recorder which is useful for recording moments of inspiration and creative ideas in the standalone version. This programme is available for use as a plug-in within a DAW.

Overall this programme is an affordable, easy to use and great sounding amp sim for dialing in solid bass tones for recording or jamming. There are no effects in the form of stompboxes which can leave users feeling a little empty handed for experimenting with sounds.

I would say this software is more geared towards recording in a DAW for adding addition plug-ins for effects, therefore, adding more tone shaping capabilities.

Pros

• Gallain-Kruker bass tones
• Simple interface
• Recording track
• Metronome
• Affordable
• Good amount of tonal shaping
• Standalone version

#7 – Ignite Amps SB-1

• Price: Free
• Presets: 1 Amp
• Standalone version: No
• Win/Mac
• Cabinet plugin Required: Yes
• Plugin: Yes

The SHB-1 is a virtual simulation of the actual real-life SHB-1 amp head created by Ignite amps for the bassist Frederico Fulceri of metal band ‘Subhuman.’

Every component in the real amp including the circuitry and tube technology was considered to create the most accurate and well represented simulated version of the SHB-1 bass head as functional plugin.

It’s no surprise then the SHB-1 plugin is a modeled aggressive sounding bass tube head, transforming a dry bass signal to a distorted, aggressive and mid focused metal sound without changing the core dynamics of the bass tone.

For me, this is where the plugin sounded at it’s best as it is voiced to sound aggressive and metal. What I liked about this plugin was the simple interface with a good amount of EQ and tone shaping controls for a free plugin.

I must say the amp head is surprisingly versatile, I have used this preset (before going to paid simulators) on many projects and was able to shape a number of bass tones across a range of genres.

I must admit, the SHB-1 plugin sounded at its best for sculpting an aggressive and distorted tube amp tone for my metal tracks.

When it comes to function, this plugin serves as a recording tool inside your DAW than a ‘standalone programme’ for real-time practicing and jamming. This programme also requires a matched cabinet simulator when you load up the plugin inside your DAW.

Overall, the SHB-1 serves as a great free simulator for creating a versatile palate of bass sounds for recording and achieving a range of worthy studio bass tones within your recording software.

Pros

• Free
• Simple interface
• Great sounding bass tube head plugin
• Supports 32 and 64-bit systems
• Great amp sim for recording

Top Tip

When recording bass inside your DAW, activate up to 3 separate tracks, each track with a different amp sim enabled. This will blend a range of sounds to achieve a unique tone allowing the bass frequencies to stand out ever so more in a full instrument mix.

You could also assign each individual amp sim to focus on the frequencies ranges of the tone. For example, one on the high, one on the mids and one focusing on the lows.

Best Professional Vst Plugins

It’s always a good idea to utilize a few amps sims instead of relying on one to provide 100% of the tonality and do all the work.

Final Word

Before buying a paid amp sim, I always recommend first downloading the free demo version of the programme. So you can trial which one sounds best to your ears and meets your requirements in a bass amp sim.

This post has brought you a selection of the best bass amp simulators for all of your recording and tone tweaking needs, thanks for reading!

Free Bass Vst Plugins

Before you go, there are other ways to amplify a bass guitar for practicing without amp simulators…

I recommended you read my post “Plugging a Bass into a Guitar Amp.” This will explain how to get a workable bass tone for practicing without needing to invest in a bedroom bass amp.

Best Free Vst Plugins