Which Combo?

[Grandad Paul]

Just in the process of looking for a combo amp. My budget will be about £350. Looking at the forum it seems that this can be a bit of a nightmare scenario for someone who really has not got a clue about these things.
O.K. I know that everyone has a different opinion, and that some will have had a bad experience with one amp, whilst someone else will say they are amazing.
Based on the fact that I will be doing small gigs with our band, and it wont be "heavy metal". What would you gentlemen recommend. I have a leaning towards either a Fender Rumble 150 combo, or the Ampeg 115, but I am open to suggestions.

Grandad Paul.

[gm2_in_co]

Personally, I'm not big on recent Fender offerings. Seems like you can never go too far wrong with Ampeg. I Like SWR quite a lot too.

[Stumbo]

Here are few links you may want to check out:
>30 light-weight cabs,amps, combos
1 Buying a combo
2
Opinions/experiences-great small combo amps
The ultimate custom built combo?

[KillerQuebec]

buy a nice GK rig used. way better than anything new for the money.

[Grandad Paul]

Gentlemen,
Thank you very much for the information. Between you I think you have given me an answer to everything I need to know. Unfortunately a lot of the information may not be relevant to the U.K.market. I am not 100% sure about that, but I am going to go to a good music shop and see what they have got within my budget that incorporates as much of your information as possible.
I take on board some of the comments in the links about buying second hand, what worries me is being new to this game I really dont know what is good and what is not so good. I have a good friend who will help me out but I feel it may be a risk I may not want to take.
Thank you once again,
Grandad Paul.

[capnsandwich]

GK MB210 or MB212. Great, light, tonal heaven, and right around $700 here in the States so more or less in your price range "before shipping." Musicians friend, RMC Audio, Music123, etc. should have them available and they should ship internationally, at least MF does.

Edit: You may need a transformer though, since we run 110 over here. I think you guys run 220, at least you did back in 1986.

[BassmanPaul]

I wouldn't recommend a combo to anyone. There's so much more versatility in the amp + cab format. I would also frown on buying something from this side of the pond. The voltage conversion could be as simple as changing a couple of wires or as complex as changing out the power transformer. You should visit every shop and try out what they have there. Check out the local for sale ads. to see what is available in your area.

Paul

[Adam Bomb]

Hi. If I were a Brit with £350 - however much that is - I would seriously consider some sort of Ashdown rig. I love mine. But also, +1 with the capn re the new lightweight GK combos. I love those more. They are a real game-changer re the traditional "combo vs. head + cab" analysis, IMO. Not qualified to opine on any voltage considerations.

--Bomb

[Grandad Paul]

Once again gentlemen, thank you very much for your advice.
I would buy from the U.K. for exactly the reasons you state. That is why I said in an earlier reply that some of the equipment may not be available in the U.K.
My friend has an Ampeg 115 HP and he thinks it is amazing. I am going to take the advice of going to every store within miles of where I live and try as many different types as possible. I am sure you may agree with me though that sometimes that can be more than a little mind numbing, and that eventually you make a decision based on what you prefer in the end.
Thank you,
Grandad Paul.

[tombowlus]

What kind of a tone are you looking for, Paul? And how loud are the musicians you will be playing with?

Tom.

[Grandad Paul]

Hi Tom,
We are all in our 60's and we will be playing everything from Rock'n'Roll to 60's music and singalong stuff in small venues, so obviously I am not looking to fill a stadium with sound. I would like the clarity to be good though, and none of us have huge ego's where we are trying to drown each others sound.
I am pretty new to this and at 63 years of age probably want to buy equipment for the longer term rather than short term. I have a Fender Jazz Bass which I doubt I will ever change, and really would like something to compliment it.
I would yet again like to thank you all for the amazing help you are giving me.
Grandad Paul.

[tombowlus]

Sounds like you guys are having fun!

If you are definitely wanting to stick to a combo, I would say that the GK combos should be a mandatory audition. They are really amazing combos, and IME, they are the price/performance leader. Just remember that the MB112, MB115 and MB212 are all designed to put their full power into the internal speakers, and the MB210 is designed to drive an extension cab (which would then put full power into the internal and external speakers). The MB210 may very well do the trick even without an extension cab, but note that it will not be putting out the full 500w.

The Hartke HyDrive combos are also quite nice, and fairly affordable. They will have a warmer/rounder tone, whereas the GK's will be more aggressively articulate. The Ibanez Promethean combos are also really good, though I'm not sure what the pricing is like on your side of the Pond.

There are some other combos that are really just amazing, like the Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout and the TC Electronics combos, but I'm not sure if they will fit your price range.

Hope this helps, Tom.

[Longshot]

I have had a Hartke hydride 15" combo for about a year now and have to say it's been a wonderful amp.