Help Me Choose an Amp (battle of the light weights)

[IncX]

i decided to come up with a portable rehearsal set-up and hauling an ampeg svt 4 pro with a Hartke 220 pro is just something i don't wanna do more than once a month.

i need something:

-light (of course)
-loud enough to get me heard in a 60 person club while playing metal. i won't be, but, just in case
-not bulky, because i have to have it shipped my way to the Philippines and i dont wanna spend too much on shipping.
-something that's not beyond $800
-tone wise, just something that's not too trebly or farty that i cant EQ them out. my basses are active, modern types (warwicks, stingray, ken smith).

i currently have it narrowed down to 4:

1.) GK MB 115
2.) Markbass cmd 102p
3.) Shuttle 3.0 combo
4.) Ampeg Portaflex 350 with PF115

i have never seen those amps in real life ... so i dont know if they fit my criteria above.

now TB, i need your help

[gjbassist]

I have the Ampeg PF-350 with a PF-115he cabinet and love it. It's got great tone and has a simple, easy to use EQ section. I use mine in a bar band setting with a loud drummer and a guitar player with a Marshall stack. So far I've had no issues being heard and have had several positive comments on my tone.

[MuthaFunk]

The Ampeg pf350 is the best bang for the buck in bass amp land that I've seen. It can output a lot of sound and costs about the same as a practice amp. I can't speak to the matching 115 cab but I've read many positive comments on it here on TB.

[lomo]

None of those combos alone will suffice for metal, even in a small bar. The loudest willbe the Ampeg and Markbass offerings, and the Markbass may edge out the Ampeg as the cone areas are similar but it has more power.

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by IncX

i decided to come up with a portable rehearsal set-up and hauling an ampeg svt 4 pro with a Hartke 220 pro is just something i don't wanna do more than once a month.

i need something:

-light (of course)
-loud enough to get me heard in a 60 person club while playing metal. i won't be, but, just in case
-not bulky, because i have to have it shipped my way to the Philippines and i dont wanna spend too much on shipping.
-something that's not beyond $800
-tone wise, just something that's not too trebly or farty that i cant EQ them out. my basses are active, modern types (warwicks, stingray, ken smith).

i currently have it narrowed down to 4:

1.) GK MB 115
2.) Markbass cmd 102p
3.) Shuttle 3.0 combo
4.) Ampeg Portaflex 350 with PF115

i have never seen those amps in real life ... so i dont know if they fit my criteria above.

now TB, i need your help

Those are good combos but you may want to checkout a GK MB500 amp with two GK 115MBE (8ohm) speakers - super lightweight, powerful, and within your budget.

EDIT:
Correction - a little over budget, but worth it.

[IncX]

cool suggestions... im taking everything into consideration.

i checked out the GK suggestion, i cant seem to find the cab to pair with it though.

ampeg is leading... just because its $200 less than the markbass

[Russell L]

I'd stay at 300w minimum, preferably at 8 ohms. I was gonna suggest a Little Mark III with a single 15, but it would be more pricey. Nonetheless, my LMIII + 151P cab will kick butt in a bar situation, but amp and head together will run you $1200 new.

[IncX]

im thinking of selling my Ampeg SVT 4 pro, so i guess im really going with a slightly higher budget this time.

so far i like the GK MB500 ... as for the cab, which one is better?

im looking at a 210 and 115 ultralight cabs... the 210 is $150 cheaper, and they share almost the same dimensions except the 210 is 10 lbs lighter.

is the 210 better for me?

[Yorick]

I'm running an Ampeg PF350 into a couple of Ashdown 2x10 cabs. A great sound/combination.

[anonymous122511]

Originally Posted by lomo

None of those combos alone will suffice for metal, even in a small bar. The loudest willbe the Ampeg and Markbass offerings, and the Markbass may edge out the Ampeg as the cone areas are similar but it has more power.

The Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 10T by itself will not suffice. I own one and like it so much I recently bought a Shuttle 6.0 12T that does work for louder situation by itself and goes as loud as I ever wanna play with an extension cab. With a 4ohm extension cab a Shuttle 3.0 would probably do the job. I've used the head for blues band bar gigs with a 4ohm 2x12 cab and been happy.

IncX if you decide on a Shuttle 3.0 I'll give you a very good price on mine. I love the thing but with the 6.0 I don't need it anymore.

[lpdeluxe]

I have a Genz-Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T with an extension 10T speaker. This is sufficient to hear over a reasonably loud drummer. It's over your budget, unless you find a used one, but it's an 18 lb combo with a 16 lb cab. You might look for a Shuttle 6.0-210T, which is pricier, but more powerful. It's 32 lb. A friend has one and he has played outdoor gigs with it.

[ulynch]

Originally Posted by IncX

i decided to come up with a portable rehearsal set-up and hauling an ampeg svt 4 pro with a Hartke 220 pro is just something i don't wanna do more than once a month.

i need something:

-light (of course)
-loud enough to get me heard in a 60 person club while playing metal. i won't be, but, just in case
-not bulky, because i have to have it shipped my way to the Philippines and i dont wanna spend too much on shipping.
-something that's not beyond $800
-tone wise, just something that's not too trebly or farty that i cant EQ them out. my basses are active, modern types (warwicks, stingray, ken smith).

I have similar criteria: light, loud, budget, metal. My solution was a Carvin BX500 and a GK 212MBE. The Carvin's 6 pounds, 500 watts at 4 ohms, happy at 2 ohms, with tons of EQ-ability, and goes for about $300 used and $380 new. I racked it with the ridiculously overpriced $35 faceplate.

The 212MBE cab runs $400 new, and weighs 34 lbs.

Together, the rig stands up easily to two guitar 100 watt half-stacks, and a drummer with no dynamic control at all. I carry it all in one trip.

Hope this helps.

- D

[Pilgrim]

I have the Shuttle 6.0. Go with it over the 3.0. FANTASTIC amp!!

[xUptheIronsx]

As far as cabs go, I love my Avatar 4x10. It weighs about as much as my bass drum from my drumset. I can lift it by myself. I play in a very loud Thrash/crossover and, and it hangs. I am running a Yamaha P3500s amp, so that won't meet your weight requirement for the amp...but the cab is the best sounding cab I have ever heard or had.

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by IncX

im thinking of selling my Ampeg SVT 4 pro, so i guess im really going with a slightly higher budget this time.

so far i like the GK MB500 ... as for the cab, which one is better?

im looking at a 210 and 115 ultralight cabs... the 210 is $150 cheaper, and they share almost the same dimensions except the 210 is 10 lbs lighter.

is the 210 better for me?

If you are only going to get one speaker cabinet and you know for sure you are never going to add a second speaker cab - get the 4ohm 115 or 4ohm 410 speaker cab. But I suggest you get two matching 8ohm 115 speaker cabs for the GK MB500. \M/

EDIT:
BTW, if you can get Barefaced products in the Philippines checkout the “Supper Fifteen“ , “Big Twin”, etc http://barefacedbass.com

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by gjbassist

I have the Ampeg PF-350 with a PF-115he cabinet and love it. It's got great tone and has a simple, easy to use EQ section. I use mine in a bar band setting with a loud drummer and a guitar player with a Marshall stack. So far I've had no issues being heard and have had several positive comments on my tone.

Word. I've got this rig and ordered a second PF115he to go with it. Sounds a lot like the old B-15's.

[bassgod0dmw]

60 person club? My living room can fit 60 people in it...

Anywho, if you're looking at the PF350, why not just go for the PF500?

[Joe Louvar]

Originally Posted by IncX

4.) Ampeg Portaflex 350 with PF115

+1

Hmm, sorry I missed this -

Out of the original four posted this one will get the job done and gets my vote.

[Koog]

I use a Mark Bass CMD 102P with a Mark Bass STD 102HF stacked, plus a Mark Bass Traveler 102 stage opposite for shows. This works well in all but the most small settings. It has also served me well for major outdoor events without additional sound support. In small venues I use the CMD 102P alone. I also use the CMD 102P alone in rehearsal sessions. The CMD 102P and STD 102HF each weigh about 45 pounds. The Traveler weighs about 29 pounds.

The band I'm with plays classic rock, honky tonk, country, rockabilly and blues. We'll finish the year with about 80 dates for 2011. My band mates and I are all very particular about tone and balance in the mix. We've all been playing music on stage for more than 30 years and a couple of us close to 50 years. Point here is the Mark Bass equipment is reliable, no one criticizes it (in fact they compliment it) and I haven't wished for something else.

As a practice amp in my home studio I use a Mark Bass Mini CMD 121P. I have also used it in rehearsal sessions very successfully.

I'm a former Ampeg SVT Classic with a 6X10 HLP user. I was dedicated to Ampeg, but these Mark units do the job for me with no tone or volume compromise. In fact, the only thing I've lost since using them is maybe a little more hearing and the weight of the Ampeg units. The Mark stuff is great when it comes to load in and load out.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Koog.

[Sav'nBass]

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I have the Shuttle 6.0. Go with it over the 3.0. FANTASTIC amp!!

+1 ... the 3.0 will leave you with less room to grow.. get a 6.0 at least..