I need a new combo....

Turtle71 · #1 10-01-2010, 06:35 PM

OK, here's the deal.

I just picked up a Ovation acoustic/electric. It's my first acoustic bass, so please forgive the newb questions.

I plugged it into my existing "gig rig" and after some knob diddling I was able to get a really nice tone, however I don't want to have to re-do all my settings whenever I switch between my electric basses & this one.

Sooo, I'd like some suggestions on some small-ish combos to go check out, something with 2x10" would be preferred, but if there is a nice single 12" or 15", fire away. I definitely want a combo, I don't want the headache of a head/cab set-up. (I already have a couple of those

) My budget is probably around $600-$800.

This need not be a powerhouse, I'll only be using it a practice and small gigs, If I do a larger venue I'll have FOH support anyway.

Thanks in advance!

waleross · #2 10-01-2010, 07:18 PM

I had a Fender Rumble 60 last year and it was a good combo amp. I never gigged with it but it was fine for the house, etc. I now have large headache set-up's but the Fender combo's I think are worth looking at.....here is a GC link ......good luck

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-R...88-i1500545.gc

drdunwoody · #3 10-01-2010, 07:22 PM

Sound preference is a big part of this and I don't know what that bass will sound like through these amps so you might bring it to a local store and just start plugging in to as many combos as you can. I did this 2 years ago (with an electric jazz bass) and played through the Fender combos (which sounded oddly compressed to me) and the ampeg combos (which sounded really weak for their supposed power) and ended up leaving with an SWR workingpro 12. I've played smaller gigs with it and it is my home practice amp. Nice and powerful, full frequency range all the way to the low B (which is important to me since I play a 5). It was the best sounding combo in my price range....I paid $550 for it and don't regret it at all. Comes with a 5 year warranty..not bad. They also make the same combo in a 15.

Turtle71 · #4 10-01-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drdunwoody

ended up leaving with an SWR workingpro 12. I've played smaller gigs with it and it is my home practice amp. Nice and powerful, full frequency range all the way to the low B (which is important to me since I play a 5). It was the best sounding combo in my price range....I paid $550 for it and don't regret it at all. Comes with a 5 year warranty..not bad. They also make the same combo in a 15.

It's funny you should mention the SWR WorkingPro series. My main gigging Rig is a SWR WorkingPro 400 head & a Ampeg SVT410HLF cabinet, I tend to favor the SWR amps, I've been thinking about going to check out one of those combos, (too bad they don't offer a WorkingPro 2x10" combo).

It's a shame they discontinued the Baby Blue & Baby Blue II (as far as I know) and I'd LOVE a Redhead 2x10 combo, but that's just simply out of my price range.

RickenBoogie · #5 10-02-2010, 07:10 AM

Just get yourself a BassBone pedal, which will allow for seperate eq settings for 2 instruments, plug both in, dial it in, and connect the pedal to your amp. Done.

Turtle71 · #6 10-02-2010, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Just get yourself a BassBone pedal, which will allow for seperate eq settings for 2 instruments, plug both in, dial it in, and connect the pedal to your amp. Done.

Thanks RB, I was actually going to post a question to see if there was such a pedal....looks like you saved me a thread!

Montanamike · #7 10-02-2010, 08:55 AM

I've played through a number of combos and I think the comments above are all valid. I prefer the GK MB series with the Neo drivers. They sound great, super light, in your budget and the sound versitility is amazing. I have a mb210 and it is 350 watts by itself and you can plug in a 8 ohm extention cab and it will pump out 500 watts. You can gig with this combo. It only weighs 29lbs, I don't know of a better combo.
Mike

mccartneyman · #8 10-02-2010, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle71

Thanks RB, I was actually going to post a question to see if there was such a pedal....looks like you saved me a thread!

I have the Bassbone and it works well for just the situation you describe. It also has an effects loop and boost that can be run separately or in combination. Chanel one has volume and three position switch for EQ, but I usually run it flat. Channel two has Bass, Mid Treble & Vol. I rotate five basses, none of which is like the other, into a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 with two 112 cabs and the Bone helps make for fewer headaches. effects loop is nice because you can keep things put of the chain until needed. It also functions as great DI. My soundman loves it.

You could also check out the EB MicroBass II, which does the same thing but allow you to dial up some distortion -- costs about $100 more than the Bone and can be hard to find to demo.

MODELL · #9 10-02-2010, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickenBoogie

Just get yourself a BassBone pedal, which will allow for seperate eq settings for 2 instruments, plug both in, dial it in, and connect the pedal to your amp. Done.

+ 1 on this idea. This pedal/DI should perfectly handle your objective........

Bassdirty · #10 10-02-2010, 10:07 AM

That GK 210 looks good to me.
Decent tone..light...inexpensive.

(thats how I'd roll)

Cant think of the name , and Im too lazy to do a search (hey , I'm just offering suggestions here.)

Theres a few threads here on TB about them.