Combo choice in the €300 range

[Triad]

Hello! I'm in the market for a combo... I'd use it to test my basses and, maybe once in 10 years, for rehearsals or small jams.
I've sold my big amp 'cause it was spending its whole life in my garage, unused... too big to be carried around and too powerful for home practice.
These are the combos I'm looking at:

1) Warwick Sweet 15 - 150w with 15" woofer. 24kg - €298 new;

2) SWR LA15 - 100w with 15" woofer. 22.5kg - €250 new;

3) Hartke A100 - 100w with aluminium 15" woofer. 23kg - €270 new;

4) Gallien Krueger MB112 or its 115 brother - 200w with 12" or 15" woofer. 12kg and 16 - €300 and €380 new (but they're hard to find);

I wanna stay under 25kg so I'd avoid Ashdown. A DI is welcome. Without going used - what would you do?
I could even buy a small amp head and build another cab... but I'd rather buy a combo. (Lazy!)

[BulbousMoses]

Eveything you've listed is 100 watts or more so I don't know if that's your "cutoff point" for power. Having said that, look at the Line 6 LowDown Studio 110 if you can get it in Europe.

http://line6.com/lowdownstudio110/

[Triad]

Well, I wouldn't go under 100w as in the possible scenario of a small jam it's really the lowest value to be heard (usually).

[BulbousMoses]

Originally Posted by Triad

Well, I wouldn't go under 100w as in the possible scenario of a small jam it's really the lowest value to be heard (usually).

Depends on what kind of jam..with a loud drummer and guitarist, you'd have a tough time but if the volume levels are reasonable, the Line 6 will keep up.

Of the amps in your list, I'd vote for the GK MB112....plenty of power and it doesn't exceed your budget.

[Triad]

Yes, and it's the lightest of the bunch.
200w but it has the 12"... maybe it's as loud as a 100w with a 15". I'm actually looking for a shop that has this combo ready to ship... but they're hard to find down here.
I'd like to read impressions of players who had a chance to A/B this GK with a "standard" 100w combo like the ones I've put in the list. Unfortunately I have no way to test them.

[BulbousMoses]

Originally Posted by Triad

Yes, and it's the lightest of the bunch.
200w but it has the 12"... maybe it's as loud as a 100w with a 15". I'm actually looking for a shop that has this combo ready to ship... but they're hard to find down here.
I'd like to read impressions of players who had a chance to A/B this GK with a "standard" 100w combo like the ones I've put in the list. Unfortunately I have no way to test them.

This is one of the main drawbacks of not being able to try before you buy. The solution in that case is to make sure the store has a very good return policy so that if you don't like the amp, you can return it, no questions asked. I'm not sure if music stores in Europe have that kind of policy.

[Triad]

Yes but it's still hard to find this combo ready to ship. A store in UK has the 15" (costs €70 more) and I must say I'm tempted...

[BulbousMoses]

Originally Posted by Triad

Yes but it's still hard to find this combo ready to ship. A store in UK has the 15" (costs €70 more) and I must say I'm tempted...

What country are you in?

[Triad]

Italy - a good place for many things but not for music, I fear

[Stumbo]

How about Markbass combos? Arent' they made in Italy?

Here are a few links you may want to check out:

>30 light-weight cabs,amps, combos
TB micro-amp tone reviews

1 Buying a combo
2
Opinions/experiences-great small combo amps
The ultimate custom built combo?

[Triad]

My last amp was: Markbass LittleMark II and a self-made 2x12" with Eminence Neo woofers and a Ciare tweeter. It was 500w/4Ohm/19kg. As I said, the stack sounded awesome (woofers vertically aligned for the best dispersion) but it was way too powerful and expensive for my needs. And the cab, even if the weight was low, was a bit too tall.
This is why I was looking for something in the €300 or so range. I wouldn't have budget problems but it doesn't make sense to me spending 1000 bucks for an amp that will probably spend its whole life in my garage

[Pollinator95]

If distribution is a problem, I live in Spain and my buddy just received a guitar from Thomann. He was pleased with them. I don´t know if there´s a major shipping price difference though.

[Triad]

Thomann is wonderful but they don't have the combo in stock and don't know if they can get it in a short time... we'll see, but I'll keep my eyes open for a good alternative.