Light, loud, decent tone?

[michaelgilleran]

Reading this title, everyone probably though "Markbass"

I got accepted to calarts as a tuba player for next fall (Charlie Hayden and Alphonso Johnson teach there btw), but I plan on playing a lot of electric bass while Im there as well. I have a kustom stack, which is great for what Im doing now, but the cabinet is like 70 LB and the head is pretty heavy too and not ideal for carrying around LA

So my plan is to sell that rig, and buy a new one when I get to LA.

So, TB, Im looking for something 300-400w, and some configuration of 10inch speakers. I like markbass, but I might as well check out everything, so recommend me some stuff!

Also, I wanted do do two 2x10 cabinets so I could leave one at home for smaller gigs, but then I was thinking, "I dont wanna really have to deal with carrying a head and a cabinet and a bass." So does anyone think its realistic to buy like, a 350w combo, and then buy a 2x10 cabinet, and then hook up the 2x10 through an external speaker jack when I need the extra power?

Is this idea just stupid? And if so, how come?

Thanks for the advice ahead of time

[bherman]

As someone who's had both, I've never liked combos - they are too limited for expansion options. I definitely like the 2 cab option (that's what I have - 2 Aguilar 112's) and you can always start with one and add if you need a second one. The new compact heads are so light and small that I carry mine (a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0) in a padded laptop backack with my cables, music, and tuner, etc so really all I have to carry is my bass and speaker cabs. I've had both a Markbass LMIII and the GB and they are both very good amps. Almost always good ones available used on this forum, so you should be able to get set up for a reasonable price.

[Dave in LB]

It's a litttle bigger than some of the Micros but check out fenders Rumble 350 2x10. Lound and holds it's tone. I was impressed with it over several other more boutique names and it's $500 at local Guitar Center/Sam Ash locations. Now If I could ony convince myself I don't need a TC

[DubSound]

Originally Posted by bherman

As someone who's had both, I've never liked combos - they are too limited for expansion options. I definitely like the 2 cab option (that's what I have - 2 Aguilar 112's) and you can always start with one and add if you need a second one. The new compact heads are so light and small that I carry mine (a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0) in a padded laptop backack with my cables, music, and tuner, etc so really all I have to carry is my bass and speaker cabs. I've had both a Markbass LMIII and the GB and they are both very good amps. Almost always good ones available used on this forum, so you should be able to get set up for a reasonable price.

+100 for the GB

I carry my Shuttle 6.0 in a shoulder bag designed for an Xbox 360, fits perfect!

[MuthaFunk]

Have you looked in to the Mesa Walkabout Scout? Small combo with the stand alone head option with the twist of a screw driver.

[michaelgilleran]

Originally Posted by Dave in LB

It's a litttle bigger than some of the Micros but check out fenders Rumble 350 2x10. Lound and holds it's tone. I was impressed with it over several other more boutique names and it's $500 at local Guitar Center/Sam Ash locations. Now If I could ony convince myself I don't need a TC

Rumble as in fender?

Ehhhhhhhhh

I think I can do better than that. Its not even fenders flagship bass amp line

The only experience Ive had with GB is their guitar stuff, and lets just say, I wasnt impressed. Is there somewhere I can try the bass stuff?

[Rick Auricchio]

Decent tone is always in the eye of the beholder. That said, you should play several different bass rigs to see what types you like and dislike. That would narrow things down.

[michaelgilleran]

Originally Posted by Rick Auricchio

Decent tone is always in the eye of the beholder. That said, you should play several different bass rigs to see what types you like and dislike. That would narrow things down.

Yea...thats why Im asking what the must check out brands and models are in TB's opinion

[iabssplyr]

My rig: A GK MB210 (350 watts) combo for rehearsal and then add my GK MBE210 cab for shows. It bumps up to 500 watts with the extension and puts out a nice tone. 60 lbs together and little hassle. The price wasn't too bad either. Check them out at your local GC.

[michaelgilleran]

^

If thats the GK Im thinking of...

Idk. Ive played a few of GK MB series, and I was not really impressed. Much heavier than the markbass stuff, and a lot of GK's develop weird circuitry issues within a few years

[tdub0199]

Sounds like you want a Markbass rig to me..... why not just go with that?

[THORRR]

MarkBass LMIII + Avatar Neo Speakers

see www.avatarspeakers.com

I love my LMIII with 2 B410 Neos for great gig flexibility
and fabulous volume & tone. Sounds like you'd do great
with 2 B210 Neos.

Ultra reliable setup too.

[Creese]

I know you said 10's, but check out a MiniMark if you can. Super portable, astounding tone/volume for it's size and fairly powerful if extended. It's no monster rig, but don't let it's size fool you. Bass/Mini/backpack = comfortable walk to gig.

[mikkejohansson]

GK MB500 or MB Fusion + two 2x10s of your choice would be ideal. The head goes in your bass gigbag!

[bassplayerbob]

i am loving my Genz Benz shuttle 3.0 combo. just add another 1x10 and you got 300 watts in a 30+lb package.

[GrowlerBox]

My teacher has the Shuttle 3.0 combo, and it's a really nice sounding little amp. I use a TCE RH450, which comes in a combo form with a 210 (arranged vertically, too), from which the head slides out if you don't need the cab. I also have a Markbass F1, which is extremely light (2.1 kg, if memory serves) and small. The possibilities are almost endless -- these three heads all sound quite different to me, but all are very good.

[lpdeluxe]

Originally Posted by bassplayerbob

i am loving my Genz Benz shuttle 3.0 combo. just add another 1x10 and you got 300 watts in a 30+lb package.

I have the same setup with another 10T speaker box. Plenty loud enough to hear over the drummer, good tone, and a total of 29 lb. I have a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout as well, and it's a wonderful sounding amp, but at 65 lb it's not much better than your Kustom. Fenders tend to be heavy: I have an 80 lb Bassman 400 210 that has the same 300w rated power as the other two. It sounds good, but why deal with all that avoirdupois if you don't have to?

[bassplayerbob]

Originally Posted by lpdeluxe

I have the same setup with another 10T speaker box. Plenty loud enough to hear over the drummer, good tone, and a total of 29 lb. I have a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout as well, and it's a wonderful sounding amp, but at 65 lb it's not much better than your Kustom. Fenders tend to be heavy: I have an 80 lb Bassman 400 210 that has the same 300w rated power as the other two. It sounds good, but why deal with all that avoirdupois if you don't have to?

That's my next purchase, the matching single 10.

[GRAHAM SG1]

Originally Posted by michaelgilleran

^

If thats the GK Im thinking of...

Idk. Ive played a few of GK MB series, and I was not really impressed. Much heavier than the markbass stuff, and a lot of GK's develop weird circuitry issues within a few years

If the GK MBs are `much heavier` than the Markbass stuff then how light is that gear ?? I didnt think it got much lighter than the MBs ?

[IntrepidCellist]

Amps:
-Genz Benz (Shuttle 3.0, 6.0, 9.0, 12.0, and Streamliner 600 and 900)
-GK (MB500, MB200, MB Fusion)
-Eden (WTX260, WTX500) (slightly heavier: WT550, WT405, WT400)
-TC Electronic (RH450, Staccato '51)
-Ampeg (PF350, PF500)
-Mesa/Boogie (Walkabout)
-Aguilar (TH500)
-Acoustic Image
-MarkBass (LittleMarks, F1/F500, SD800, MoMark)

Cabs:
-Barefaced Midget/Compact
-Schroeder
-AudioKinesis Thunderchild
-GK MBE cabs
-GK Neo-X cabs
-Avatar Neos

Combos:
-Markbass (CMD121P)
-Line 6 (LD Studio 110)
-GK (MB115, MB210, MB212)
-GB Shuttle combos