Help needed, Coffee shop rig

renascence · #1 08-02-2011, 05:31 PM

Hi,

I need to make a final decision on a rig for playing in an acoustic 3 piece at coffee shop type gigs. The line up is Acoustic guitar, bass, Electric drums with real cymbals and vocals. Sometimes this will shrink to just Vocals, acoustic and bass. Average venue size is from 40 to 60 people.

The rigs I am deciding between are a Trace Elliot 7215 combo (200 watts into a 15", price $500AU used) , Eden WXT550 ($520AU - $680AU), Eden ENX260 ($450AU ) or a Markbass LM250 ($770AU ). The heads would be run into a compact 15" or 12" cab.

I've played through the Trace, it sounds fine and is the cheapest. But it weighs a tonne. I've also played through the Markbass, which sounds great, but is the dearest option. I don't have access to the Eden gear to try it out, but I have heard great things about them.

Any advice from people who have used any of the amps in a similar situation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

**StrangerDanger** · #2 08-02-2011, 05:41 PM

The little Fender Bassman TV combos are worth a look. Also the new Ampeg Mini Stacks. Both sound pretty good, would fit your needs and if it matters, look really cool.

carl h. · #3 08-02-2011, 05:42 PM

A little Bassman is plenty for a coffee shop.

will33 · #4 08-02-2011, 06:10 PM

What are the electric drums run through? If it has enough depth to make them sound good, it'll sound good with a bass too. Otherwise most any 100/200 watt 112/115/210 combo will do the job. Just find something with a nice tone at lower levels and don't worry about big power/volume.

will33 · #5 08-02-2011, 06:12 PM

If they're running the drums through a powered mixer and little 12+tweet tops spread apart on stands they're not gonna sound that great.

**IvanMike** · #6 08-02-2011, 07:52 PM

The eden 550 head should be fine - It won't be as light as the markbass, but it's no heavyweight at about 15 or so lbs.

Weight (as in the mass of a combo), can really be a bummer long term. Just sayin...

Crabby · #7 08-02-2011, 08:30 PM

How about looking around for a used Mesa Walkabout/Scout? Best coffee house tone I have ever heard!

**IvanMike** · #8 08-02-2011, 08:37 PM

FWIW, the OP is in AUS, and frequently when they post their options - that's it.

bassdaddyfive · #9 08-02-2011, 08:40 PM

I run the guitar, bass, and e-drums through the P.A. for small size gigs. Powered mixer, yamaha and 2 carvin 12" on poles. Vocals too..........

renascence · #10 08-02-2011, 10:13 PM

Hi guys, thanks for the advice. A lot of the coffee shops have their own in house systems ... and I don't always trust them. I do have a Mackie PA sitting in the back of my van 18" - 900 watt sub and a pair of SRM450 top boxes with a soundcraft desk, DBX driverack and lexicon effects. But, this is a friends deal and he has his own stuff, which works ok for the drums, but I tried running the bass through it, to put it bluntly it sounded bad.

I've listed the options that are available within my price range, so unfortunately I have to stick with those. I just don't want to buy something and then regret it later.

999Brent · #11 08-02-2011, 10:39 PM

I have just got a Bassman TV 15 for the very same type of gig, and I couldn't be happier with it.
The tone is great for an acoustic setting

Munjibunga · #12 08-02-2011, 10:47 PM

My acoustic trio plays a lot of coffee shops, and I go through a Radial J48 straight to the board. Our speakers are JBL PRX612Ms, and I never have any problem getting volume or bottom out of them. In fact, they sound great. If I were going to use a rig in a coffee shop, it would be one of two: either my Aguilar AG500-112C combo with a GS112NT extension cab, or my Eden WTX-500 and D-210XST. If I were feeling lazy, I might substitute a Berg AE210 for the D-210XST.

T. Alan Smith · #13 08-03-2011, 07:43 AM

Cafe's are my primary gig these days. I started out on a borrowed Peavey Minx(1x10") combo that worked fine, but shortly moved up to a MarkBass Litttlemark II/Bergantino HT112 rig that offers the headroom and extended fidelity I preferred. This pushes 300W thru a 1x12" cab. On a tighter budget, I'd recommend the Roland Cube 100.

dougjwray · #14 08-03-2011, 07:58 AM

This should work just fine:

Ampeg: Bass Amp Series - BA112

T. Alan Smith · #15 08-03-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougjwray

This should work just fine:

Ampeg: Bass Amp Series - BA112

Those are very nice. IME, I've always had to work to wring inspiring tones out of them...but they're in there if you put in the effort.
There are a lot of options these days, meaning a lot of chances to piss your $$$ away, however, combos have come a long way and you can get reasonably high performance if you go with a 1x12" and at least 100W.

dougjwray · #16 08-03-2011, 08:29 AM

I've actually had no problem at coffeehouse gigs (vocals; acoustic guitar; drums w/brushes, or percussion; occasionally, quiet keyboards) with my Ampeg BA110 (older version: 30 watts).

This is for another thread, but I've found that the passive Fender/flatwound strings combination goes well with a strummed acoustic guitar. The flatwounds don't fight with all of that harmonic content, and you need less voltage than expected, to be heard.

Just my $.02.

bob atherton · #17 08-03-2011, 08:38 AM

I have just ordered a Gallien Krueger (spelling?) MB112 just for coffee shop gigs and practice. I normally use a Markbass LMIII and one or two TC 2x10 cabs but this would be overkill for small jazz venues.

The weight of this highly portable and small 1x12 200 watt combo is about 26 lbs IIRC. It has cost me 261 UKP. Will report back in a week or so when it is here and gigging.

fourfinger · #18 08-03-2011, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob atherton

I have just ordered a Gallien Krueger (spelling?) MB112 just for coffee shop gigs and practice. I normally use a Markbass LMIII and one or two TC 2x10 cabs but this would be overkill for small jazz venues.

The weight of this highly portable and small 1x12 200 watt combo is about 26 lbs IIRC. It has cost me 261 UKP. Will report back in a week or so when it is here and gigging.

+1 to the GK MB112 !!

I don't know if you can get them in Australia, but if you can, I would bet you'd love it. I find mine perfect for covering that size acoustic gig.

SJan3 · #19 08-03-2011, 10:15 PM

I'd be thinking small combo amp for this type of gig. Maybe an SWR WorkingPro 10 or 12?

cableguy · #20 08-03-2011, 10:19 PM

If the PA cab handle e-drums it would most likely sound OK with a good bass DI like a tone hammer or sansamp BDDI. I used to do practices and small gigs with a keyboard amp for me (sansamp BDDI), Drummer (e-drums), guitarist (line 6 pod) and a vocal channel. It sounded pretty good for what it was. Even a decent PA with a good bass DI should sound alright. Any decent combo with over 100W should do fine for coffee house stuff.