Im having trouble..help!

Mattbass97 · #1 02-01-2012, 11:42 AM

This is driving me insane right now, I'm looking to buy a new combo that is sufficient enough to play at band practice and at small gigs. I play rock orientated stuff like foo fighters I also play many other styles from jazz to blues but rock being my bands genre I'd like the combo to be a good rock combo.

I've been looking at the combos from fender, Ashdown, G&K and Marshall but I just can't decide!! What's really best for me as I can't try half them out? I've played marshall and fender combos but the only worry I have with the fender rumble 150 is that I think it might muddy up and have no clarity when I max it out. Also wattage is obviously a problem i need 150 watts at the least (is that even enough?) and it has to be a combo as I have got the budget for head and cab. I'd like it to be loud reliable durable and good sounding!

What combo can you recommend me I'm in a lot of difficulty and would really appreciate your help!

My budget is £330. Please give me a hand I'd be very greatful.

Thanks in advance!

RickenBoogie · #2 02-01-2012, 12:32 PM

Any combo will get muddy and farty if you "max it out". Combo amps are convenient, but also a compromise. The weak link is the speakers. If I were in your shoes, and no able to get a decent head/cab, I'd be looking at combo capable of adding an ext cab, because that's what'll get you the volume you want, moreso than wattage will.

JimmyM · #3 02-01-2012, 12:34 PM

+1 for Ricken. To get a combo that would cut it for what you want to do, you'd have to up into another price bracket or two.

basscooker · #4 02-01-2012, 12:40 PM

def a 1x15 combo with your budget and loudness factors. i like those old peaveys, you could get three of them for what you've got (if 330 is more than $330 us) so go look around. that sort of budget should absolutely turn up a few good candidates TODAY in your local rag or CL. i agree that you should look for one with a speaker output.

DWBass · #5 02-01-2012, 12:59 PM

Check out the new Peavey TNT's. Lots of power and not too heavy. Decent pricing as well.

SolomonHelsing · #6 02-01-2012, 01:44 PM

Hi,
This Ashdown has served me well at a number of band practices minus a drummer and tommorow will be able to tell you how it copes with a full drums, guitar and bass set up,

It has a extra speaker output for getting another speaker at a later date.

Ashdown Engineering | Bass Amplification

I would say looking at prices online its just a bit above your £330 budget by about 20ish, you might be able to find it just under your budget however.

Also they do a 2x10 of the same combo but i dont quite know which would be better, i got the 1x15 for space and easier transport, the 2x10 comes up just above aswell but by about 40ish pounds.

Take it you from the UK/ England?

Vandy · #7 02-01-2012, 02:01 PM

I'm lovin' my Hartke HyDrive 210c . . .
Same room scenarios - semi-muscular drummer, 2-bank keyboardist & a guitar player w/a semi-conscience > 410 (2 tilted) Behringer . . .
It's kinda heavy (60lbs.), but it's throwing sound with 250 watts & you can get one around your budget ($500+US or about £330) . . .

Hartke — HyDrive 210C

Mattbass97 · #8 02-01-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SolomonHelsing

Hi,
This Ashdown has served me well at a number of band practices minus a drummer and tommorow will be able to tell you how it copes with a full drums, guitar and bass set up,

It has a extra speaker output for getting another speaker at a later date.

Ashdown Engineering | Bass Amplification

I would say looking at prices online its just a bit above your £330 budget by about 20ish, you might be able to find it just under your budget however.

Also they do a 2x10 of the same combo but i dont quite know which would be better, i got the 1x15 for space and easier transport, the 2x10 comes up just above aswell but by about 40ish pounds.

Take it you from the UK/ England?

Uk, Northern Ireland to be specific

**lowendfriend** · #9 02-01-2012, 03:42 PM

Try this:

Gallien-Krueger MB200 and 115MBE Bass Stack and more Bass Amplifiers at GuitarCenter.com.

dog1 · #10 02-01-2012, 04:04 PM

Hmm, well maybe. But I have to agree with Ricken and Jimmy. A low cost combo will not take you very far, and leave you wanting (needing) more.

Mattbass97 · #11 02-01-2012, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dog1

Hmm, well maybe. But I have to agree with Ricken and Jimmy. A low cost combo will not take you very far, and leave you wanting (needing) more.

I'm not planning on going very far though, I aint a big shot by any means so I'm too sure that I'd be needing the giant wattages and stuff, I'm just wondering though if that fender 150 rumble will have to cranked to be heard over a drummer and guitarist, drummer isn't a really hard hitter average strength id guess and the guitarist will use about 40 watts of solid state? Will the fender work for me?

Mattbass97 · #12 02-01-2012, 04:09 PM

So I'm not too sure**

klokker · #13 02-01-2012, 04:15 PM

I agree with getting a combo you can add a speaker to, but watch out. Sometimes on cheaper combos they have a speaker extension but you have to DISCONNECT the combo speaker to use it.

JimmyM · #14 02-01-2012, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klokker

I agree with getting a combo you can add a speaker to, but watch out. Sometimes on cheaper combos they have a speaker extension but you have to DISCONNECT the combo speaker to use it.

Or it reduces wattage instead of increasing it with the ext speaker. How to tell? If your combo runs at 4 ohms as it sits and it has an ext speaker jack, it reduces wattage when you add an ext speaker.

Matt, in your stated situation, a 150w combo would probably do alright. But I wouldn't buy anything without a good return policy just in case it doesn't.

Alex1984 · #15 02-01-2012, 05:03 PM

The GK MB212 is a good choice or the Ampeg PF series stuff. Try those out first.