*15 Pound and Under Combo Amps*

tallboybass · #1 06-08-2010, 12:56 AM

This is sort of a continuation of Vin*Tone's "Ridiculously tiny lightweight combos" thread.

I'm looking at either the GB Shuttle 3.0-8T or the MB MicroMark (50 watts, 1x6") combo amps, or if I'm REALLY feeling strong, maybe the 3.0-10T at 18 pounds. Is there anything else available in this category that sounds decent? This would be a rehearsal or ultra-quiet-gig only amp. I've got amps to cover anything louder.

Thanks,
Alan

JimmyM · #2 06-08-2010, 01:06 AM

the minimark is way better than the micromark imho. but the big winner in that category is the shuttle 3/8t, imho. i came very close to buying one a couple years ago, but i was in long island and had to fly it home and didn't want to. by the time i got home, my svt had to go back in the shop so i gave up on it.

honestly, i have yet to hear an amp that size that's better than the shuttle. did not try the 3/10t, but bigger is always better for bass, so if you can stand it, i'd get it before the 8t.

tallboybass · #3 06-08-2010, 01:30 AM

Thanks Jimmy, I'm leaning heavily toward the 8T. I've played both the 8T and the 10T....loved them both but I know the 10er will extend a little more into the world of giggery. I played through a MiniMark at GC, it sounded pretty amazing but I'm trying to keep size and weight to an absolute minimum.

Hoping there's something else out there to compete with the littlest Shuttle.

vin*tone · #4 06-08-2010, 02:18 AM

I've posted this before but I'd go with the Shuttle too. The Micro can sound great but if the 3.0/T is going to give you more grunt while needing two fingers to lift it rather than one - thats a price I'd be willing to pay.

I picked up my MB micro bc. it was a screaming deal at the right time - no regrets at all - but you're in the realms of 'so light it doesn't matter any more' so go the slightly larger one IMO.

tallboybass · #5 06-08-2010, 10:52 AM

...and I love GB tone vs. MB tone. A 'deal' would sway me either way at this point.

I was hoping there was something else out there in this weight category though. Anybody?

BTW vin*tone, love your avatar! Did you photoshop that yourself?

KJung · #6 06-08-2010, 11:19 AM

For anything more than practice at home, these very small amps are a waste of money IMO. They aren't cheap, and the difference in size and weight between them and a nice, small, lightweight 12" loaded combo or cab and head is even trivial to 'Mr. Weight Sensitive' himself

Don't bother. Hundreds of dollars for an amp that can hardly hold its own with an acoustic piano played softly..... fail!

The Genz Shuttle 12 or Markbass 112 Combo would be as small as I would go. If you dig a warm, midrange punch, the classic GK MB150 would also be in the money.

lomo · #7 06-08-2010, 12:27 PM

I have a 3-8 T and love it. For solo practice it's superb-sounds far better than any of the cheapo combos IME and is 13lbs. Has all the features I want (aux and phones) the combo can get over a normal drummer for parctice when put on top of a 210 or 112. It's expensive for a small practice combo (that's also excellent for quiet playing sans drummer) but it's also excellent at what it does. It would never be my only rig, but I loooove its' convenience and quality. If your budget can accomodate it, it's a useful tool IMO.

**JxBass** · #8 06-08-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

If you dig a warm, midrange punch, the classic GK MB150 would also be in the money.

+1. I owned this combo and it's a terrific piece of engineering IMO and sounds really, really good. Add the 12 lb extension cab, which I also had, and it can carry its own in moderate band settings.

EDIT: Ok, so at 25 lb it doesn't meet the weight criteria, but it's so darn compact that it's worth the extra 10 lbs IMHO.

tallboybass · #9 06-08-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The Genz Shuttle 12 or Markbass 112 Combo would be as small as I would go. If you dig a warm, midrange punch, the classic GK MB150 would also be in the money.

Hey Ken, I've already got that range covered....the MB210 at 32.5 lbs. blows both of those away volume-wise IMO. Looking for the ultra-light super-quiet gig/rehearsal amp that will fit in a purse.

....just kidding with that last bit.

thudfromafar · #10 06-08-2010, 01:09 PM

the genz 8t should be amazing. I have the 10t which I use for jazz combos and other such things, and it works well. If you don't need that volume the 8t should be great.

KJung · #11 06-08-2010, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tallboybass

Hey Ken, I've already got that range covered....the MB210 at 32.5 lbs. blows both of those away volume-wise IMO. Looking for the ultra-light super-quiet gig/rehearsal amp that will fit in a purse.

....just kidding with that last bit.

That little Genz 110 is a nice one then!

tallboybass · #12 06-08-2010, 01:29 PM

Can you think of any other options in this ultra-light class?

Musicman20 · #13 06-08-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

For anything more than practice at home, these very small amps are a waste of money IMO. They aren't cheap, and the difference in size and weight between them and a nice, small, lightweight 12" loaded combo or cab and head is even trivial to 'Mr. Weight Sensitive' himself

Don't bother. Hundreds of dollars for an amp that can hardly hold its own with an acoustic piano played softly..... fail!

The Genz Shuttle 12 or Markbass 112 Combo would be as small as I would go. If you dig a warm, midrange punch, the classic GK MB150 would also be in the money.

Im kinda glad you said that Ken, as I was tempted for a very small combo. Id NEVER be able to gig it though, so its a good job I rationalised it and realised it was a waste. May as well just get a nice lightweight cab(s) and use the quality amp heads I already own.

joehaven · #14 06-08-2010, 02:17 PM

The minimark is a over your weight requirements, but not by much. There is also something about the shape of the amp which makes it very easy to carry (ok that sounds stupid, but I hope it makes sense). I love mine, and use it for a lot more than I thought I was going to. I'm using it for a show right now, playing with a loud (for theater loud, not rock and roll loud) drummer, grand piano and sax (both of them going through the house). I don't think it could handle much more than that, but I've gotten nothing but complements on my sound from the music director and the sound engineer.

tallboybass · #15 06-08-2010, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joehaven

The minimark is a over your weight requirements, but not by much. There is also something about the shape of the amp which makes it very easy to carry (ok that sounds stupid, but I hope it makes sense)...

Thanks Joe, totally makes sense. The GK MB150 combo is the same...thin profile amps are easier to carry for sure.

rok51 · #16 06-08-2010, 05:25 PM

I have got to testify for the 3.0 10T...I was looking for a practice/small gig combo to slot under my GS112 setups. The 6.0 12T was right in the range of my LMII/GS112, so I didn't see the point. The smaller Shuttle has far exceeded my expectations for an 18 pound combo. I have used it for full rehearsals-not at insane volume levels-and found that it covered quite well...i.e.: I could hear myself and so could everyone else. Did I dominate? No...but I just want to blend in. It handles the "B" string with aplomb and gives me a lot of flexibility in tone shaping. I also have the matching 10T extension cab which adds to the little guy's versatility. It doubles as my bedroom practice amp and it is so unobtrusive that it is a joy to just grab a bass off the wall, plug it in and make some noise (I never have admitted to being a player...

) A very surprising thing is to take this little head and plug it into a big cab...or two, if they are 8 ohm...very, very impressive...not necessarily what I'd grab for a loud gig...but...in a pinch...it surprised the stew out of me...

Kim

tallboybass · #17 06-08-2010, 05:32 PM

OK then, I went to the local Genz dealer and got a good deal on the 3.0-10T. It was a slam dunk between this and the 8T. The 10T, with everything flat except for the 'low' button being pushed, rumbled out some quite astonishing low-end from a 5-string. The 8T sounded fine but didn't respond to the 'low' button. AND, holding the 8T in one hand and the 10T in the other, I couldn't feel much of a difference in weight! ALSO, the 10T has the kick-back stand and the 8T doesn't.

thudfromafar · #18 06-08-2010, 07:12 PM

congrats! you'll love it

SteveC · #19 06-08-2010, 07:21 PM

I used a 3.0-10T for my only amp for a long time. It's great. I went to a 6.0-12T for a little more umph. I loved that little 10 though. Puts out a great sound for what it is.

powerbass · #20 06-08-2010, 07:39 PM

Glad you got the GB, I have the 8t and contrary to what people say I gig w/mine w/a loud jazz drummer and full jazz ensemble, playing an EUB. The sound has gotten better over time as the speaker broke in. Sometimes I even carry my whole set up via bicycle and a trailer. The beauty of the Shuttle series is you can add extension speakers for an ultraportable rig