The Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head is a Warwick amplifier, currently around $785.63. Close alternatives include the Mesa Boogie TT-800 and the Orange Amplifiers OB1-300 300W Single Channel State. It pairs well with the Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature and the Boss ODB-3.
Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head
Warwick · amplifier
The Warwick DS 500 Double Stage is a 500-watt bass amplifier head from the German manufacturer. The Double Stage designation points to a two-stage preamp arrangement, which typically allows a clean and a driven voice to be blended or switched. Independent coverage of Warwick amplification is limited compared with the company's bass guitars, so this description does not assert the exact preamp configuration. Buyers should confirm with the seller.
What stands out
“Bassists value the DS-500 Double Stage for its punchy, clear, flexible bass voice and reliable build, a solid gigging and recording amp”
— from the community notes
“Its strengths are the versatile EQ, the punch, and the DI; the caveats are a modern voicing”
— from the community notes
“The Double Stage designation points to a two-stage preamp arrangement, which typically allows a clean and a driven voice to be blended or switched”
— from the listing
“A punchy, clear, full-range bass voice with flexible EQ that covers fingerstyle, slap, and rock tones, plus a DI for direct recording and front-of-house”
— from the reviews
“A dependable bass amp”
— from the community notes
- stage
- solid
- eq
- clear
- punchy
- di
- direct recording
- gigging
Good for
- Live
Price updated Oct 25, 2026
Genres the Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head is commonly used in
- Rock
- World Music
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Acoustic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Folk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Pedals that stack with the Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head
Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature
Ashdown
23% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
Run Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward low gain
Goes in front of the amp
Boss ODB-3
Boss
18% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → low gain)
Run Boss ODB-3 into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward low gain
Goes in front of the amp
Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII
Sola Sound
17% matchclean platform takes the driveA clean, high-headroom stage takes on dirt it can't generate by itself. (transparent → fuzzy)
The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Goes in front of the amp
EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter
EarthQuaker Devices
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep EarthQuaker Devices Grand Orbiter after Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head in the signal chain, clear of Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head's own gain stage
Goes in front of the amp
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
9% matchshapes the dynamic responseShapes how the tone responds to picking dynamics rather than its frequency or gain.
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive leans toward smooth, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Goes in front of the amp
Mr. Black Bloodmoon
Mr Black
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Mr. Black Bloodmoon in Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head's effects loop, clear of Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
T-Rex Reptile Delay
T Rex
6% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run T-Rex Reptile Delay in Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head's effects loop, clear of Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Sits in the amp's effects loop
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchGoes in front of the amp
Tone City Dry Martini is voiced for a clean amp's front end — Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head gives it exactly that
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Mesa Boogie TT-800
Mesa Boogie
44% similarityShared character: punchy, gig, stage
Orange Amplifiers OB1-300 300W Single Channel State
Orange
42% similarityShared character: punch, punchy, clean
Trace Elliot TE-1200
Trace Elliot
41% similarityShared character: punchy, gig, stage
Orange OB1-500
Orange
41% similarityShared character: punch, punchy, clean
Laney Nathan East Signature 1000-Watt Bass Head
Laney
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Laney Digbeth Foundry DBF200H 2-Channel 200W Bass Head
Laney
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head?+
The closest matches in character are the Mesa Boogie TT-800, the Orange Amplifiers OB1-300 300W Single Channel State, the Trace Elliot TE-1200. Boutique upgrades: Ampeg All-tube SVT, Ampeg SVT-3PRO Bass Amplifier Head, Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 Bass Head.
What pairs well with the Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature, Boss ODB-3, Sola Sound Tone Bender MkII — Run Ashdown Geezer Butler Signature into that transparent platform and it finally leans toward low gain.
How much does the Warwick DS 500 Double Stage Bass Amp Head cost?+
Around $785.63 (live listing price, updated Oct 25, 2026).
Compare
- vs Laney Nathan East Signature 1000-Watt Bass Head
- vs Laney Digbeth Foundry DBF200H 2-Channel 200W Bass Head
- vs Mesa Boogie Subway WD-800 Bass Head