Lightweight combo for MM SR5

magic papa · #1 07-09-2010, 02:44 AM

Hi,

I'm looking for a (possibly lightweight) combo for my MusicMan SR 5. 150W-250W should be sufficient, it is mostly for rehearsals and perhaps small gigs. I've got a big Mesa rig, but it weights a tonne and I don't feel like lugging it to every occasion.

Sound-wise I would like something that can warm up the sound a bit as StringRay has a tendency to be a bit zingy sometimes.

Has anybody had any luck with SR 5 and a combo?

Many thanks

MP

lo-freq · #2 07-09-2010, 06:44 AM

Roland CB-100.

KJung · #3 07-09-2010, 06:59 AM

Here is a clip of my old MM SR5 through the little GK MB150 combo (the very small 112 combo made of metal). The very warm, mid present tone of that combo just makes the MM bass warm, punchy and articulate, with that little bit of GK growl to add additional 'warmth'.

For relatively low volume situations (this amp can easily handle a small club gig if you don't need big low end... surprisingly loud for its tiny size) where you want more mid presence than 'scoopy zing', it is a wonderful combination.

Skip to the middle of the clip, since it takes a while for the band to kick in. There is a solo bass chorus where you can really hear the tone of the bass nicely. The clip is 'live' with a mic in front of the speaker. The bass is strung with stainless steel roundwounds (at that time, I was using the Will Lee Dean Markley 'super wounds' or whatever they were called).

http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=116669

Edit: If you like that tone but need more volume and a bit more low end extension, the TC Electronics RH450 210 combo has a similar 'warm, articulate and a bit compressed' tone and would be able to do a pretty good size gig. Of course, it is three times the size and weight, but still relatively small and easy to schlepp.

shadow_FIX · #4 07-09-2010, 07:17 AM

I played on an Ampeg BA115 at a show this past weekend (backline for the gig, didn't feel like lugging my 410 rig because I was sitting in halfway through) and we were outside with no PA support for the bass. The thing is a workhorse, and it sorta kept up, barely. I think in an indoor venue under less demanding conditions it would perform quite well!

For a similar purpose to yours, I solved the problem with a micro head. Pair my LMIII with a small cab for portability, or a big cab for GERTH.

I used my SR5 as well. MM FTW!

CElton · #5 07-09-2010, 07:21 AM

I regularly gig my SR5 with a Mesa Walkabout Scout 12". Love the pairing.

You might also consider one of the new GK MB combos. Something magical about the GK Music Man match up.

KJung · #6 07-09-2010, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CElton

I regularly gig my SR5 with a Mesa Walkabout Scout 12". Love the pairing.

You might also consider one of the new GK MB combos. Something magical about the GK Music Man match up.

The Walkabout is another good one... a bit deeper and more sparkly than the combo's I recommend above, but lots of EQ control in the mids to control what can be a bit of a scoopy tone to the SR basses.

The new GK combo's would IMO be a bit in the wrong direction. I spent some time with the MB500, and it is voiced HUGE down low and super sizzly up top. The EQ is voiced well, but that head is VERY aggressive, and IMO would bring out the more modern zing that the OP seems to be wanting to move away from. The reliability of that series has been a bit of a disaster also.

shadow_FIX · #7 07-09-2010, 07:28 AM

The Walkabout Scout is currently the only thing I'm GAS'ing for...

Aside from the Markbass Distorsore. That's not GAS...I need that!

R Upsomegrub · #8 07-09-2010, 02:42 PM

I'm playing an SR5 thru a MarkBass 12" combo (the small one, can't remember the model #) and liking it.

phillipkregg · #9 07-09-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic papa

Hi,

I'm looking for a (possibly lightweight) combo for my MusicMan SR 5. 150W-250W should be sufficient, it is mostly for rehearsals and perhaps small gigs. I've got a big Mesa rig, but it weights a tonne and I don't feel like lugging it to every occasion.

Sound-wise I would like something that can warm up the sound a bit as StringRay has a tendency to be a bit zingy sometimes.

Has anybody had any luck with SR 5 and a combo?

Many thanks

MP

Dude - go Genz Benz!

Check them out: http://www.genzbenz.com/?fa=detail&mid=2260&sid=610&cid=95

The one on the link is a 175 Watt 10" speaker, but with an extension cab - like another 10 - it can pump 300 watts.

I actually own this version - except that I have an 8" speaker - and it sounds GREAT. It's amazing how much sound this little thing puts out. Plus, the head weighs less than 3 lbs. The 10" combo weighs about 18 lbs in all. My combo weighs less than my bass - lol.

They have other combos as well - like a 2 x 10 - and what's really cool is that you can remove the head to use on another cab if you want.

The smaller combos use a great sounding solid state head, but the larger ones, with the 6.0, use a tube/solid state combo that you can mix.

IMO you really can't go wrong with Genz Benz.

G RICH 5 · #10 07-09-2010, 02:57 PM

+ 1 for both GK, and Mark Bass. I use a sterling 5 H w/a GK MB2-500 and a Mark bass LM tube 800. Cabs are either a schroeder 1210 L, or a Markbass NY 121 (12/tweet).
The Mark bass seems to "tame down" some of the aggressive tones of the MM, and the GK adds more bump and sizzle to it. They both sound great, and either can give you any tone you need. Bottom line is check them both out if you can.

CElton · #11 07-09-2010, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

The new GK combo's would IMO be a bit in the wrong direction. I spent some time with the MB500, and it is voiced HUGE down low and super sizzly up top. The EQ is voiced well, but that head is VERY aggressive, and IMO would bring out the more modern zing that the OP seems to be wanting to move away from. The reliability of that series has been a bit of a disaster also.

The combos have a button to defeat the horn. Nice feature if you have a wide voiced instrument. I've only spent a little time with them in the music stores so take that for what it's worth.

magic papa · #12 07-09-2010, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJung

(...)
Skip to the middle of the clip, since it takes a while for the band to kick in. There is a solo bass chorus where you can really hear the tone of the bass nicely. The clip is 'live' with a mic in front of the speaker. The bass is strung with stainless steel roundwounds (at that time, I was using the Will Lee Dean Markley 'super wounds' or whatever they were called).

http://www.icompositions.com/music/song.php?sid=116669
(...)

Man, I love the sound! Great playing too

KJung · #13 07-10-2010, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magic papa

Man, I love the sound! Great playing too

Thanks! Yeah, as long as you don't need a ton of volume and low end, that little GK is made for warming and punching up the SR IMO. The other cool thing is that this little combo has a 'carry bag' that you can buy, so you can hang it off your shoulder. Pretty nice for the schlepp!

All these other small combo's recommended are very nice too... the Genz and the Markbass 112's. However, the Genz is voiced quite brightly and the Markbass is voiced much deeper than the little GK, which IMO might work a bit against the tone that I think you are going for. Nice stuff though, and again, the RH450 combo has a similar, warm, fat midrangey tone that would work well to 'tame' the inherent bigness and brightness of the SR.

Good luck with the search!