Little Amps . . . different thinking

#1 05-02-2010, 07:51 AM

I used to be one of those 'You gotta haul tone" people. But lately man . . . I'm really getting tired of hauling that SVT4 Pro around. I used to sneer at those little 4-5 pound amp heads. But now . . . this old man might be seeing the light, at least for rehearsals.

Anyways, I'm looking at GK, SWR, and Markbass. All make very small amp heads. I'm also looking for the loudest and most affordable small cab I can find. Can anyone suggest a good combination?

Tks.

mcapote · #2 05-02-2010, 07:56 AM

shuttle 9.0 and a fearful 15/6

/thread

TMadeTM · #3 05-02-2010, 08:00 AM

I'm real happy with my Carvin BX500 and BRX10.2 Neo cab. Great price on it also.

scowboy · #4 05-02-2010, 08:11 AM

TC Electronic RH450 and one or two RS210's. Luv it.

jtc_hunter · #5 05-02-2010, 09:54 AM

Its fun to look. And there is getting to be alot to look at out there. My " big" rig now is a GK MB-500 head and 2 Avatar SB-112's.( 3 lbs. 12 oz. and 39lbs.x2) Light and Low. My small rig is a GK MB115 combo.(35lbs.)

waleross · #6 05-02-2010, 10:33 AM

The shuttle 9.0 is the logical choice. When I am ready to sell off my SvT's and my 810 cabs then I might migrate in this direction:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqancBS121M

Good luck

Crabby · #7 05-02-2010, 10:34 AM

My LMIII sitting on top of my 56 pound Epifani 410 sure makes for a light and loud rig. It sounds very good to boot!

MusserMusic · #8 05-02-2010, 11:07 AM

When I can't use this...

I use this....
Markbass F500/Berg AE410. Lightweight has come along way...I'm no longer disappointed when I have to bring 'the small rig'. I'm even thinking of going smaller...that's insane!

I still want to go smaller if need be...like a Berg210 or a Berg12"

countrybass007 · #9 05-02-2010, 04:47 PM

An Orange Tiny Terror bass amp with an Orange SP212 is more than enough for small gigs. I add an Orange OBC115 and stereo with a Phil Jones Suitcase for the big gigs. Alot lighter and smaller than my Boogie D180 or my GK1001RBII with 810 cabs and 18in. cabs, but I'm still getting a great sound with plenty of volume. The 500 watt into either 4ohms or 8 ohms on the Terror is a great feature. I did scare the crap out of my band the first time I showed up with the small Orange rig, until they heard it.

Bongolation · #10 05-02-2010, 04:54 PM

A lot of people (me included) aren't going to take the little amps seriously until they come in rackmount config.

For the huge savings these things represent in manufacturing costs over conventional heavyweights, it's the freakin' LEAST they can do for the buyer. Wouldn't kill them to put it in a 1U or 2U case.

The cigar-box configuration just screams, "this is just a secondary rig...my real rig with the effects and stuff is at home...this gig wasn't worth bringing my pro stuff to."

IntrepidCellist · #11 05-02-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

A lot of people (me included) aren't going to take the little amps seriously until they come in rackmount config.

For the huge savings these things represent in manufacturing costs over conventional heavyweights, it's the freakin' LEAST they can do for the buyer. Wouldn't kill them to put it in a 1U or 2U case.

The cigar-box configuration just screams, "this is just a secondary rig...my real rig with the effects and stuff is at home...this gig wasn't worth bringing my pro stuff to."

Many of these can come with rack ears. And IMO, racks haven't been "in" for "looking like pro gear" since about 1992

Plus, 1U is much bigger than "fits in my gigbag pocket."

Munjibunga · #12 05-02-2010, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhan

I used to be one of those 'You gotta haul tone" people. But lately man . . . I'm really getting tired of hauling that SVT4 Pro around. I used to sneer at those little 4-5 pound amp heads. But now . . . this old man might be seeing the light, at least for rehearsals.

Anyways, I'm looking at GK, SWR, and Markbass. All make very small amp heads. I'm also looking for the loudest and most affordable small cab I can find. Can anyone suggest a good combination?

Tks.

I use my Eden WTX-500 every week at rehearsal. There's no doubt in my mind that its tone and power are gigworthy.

RickenBoogie · #13 05-02-2010, 05:17 PM

Mesa Walkabout head, (13lbs), atop an Uber 212, (46lbs), and I feel like I'm playing a rig 4x the weight, with nothing left out, tonally.

silky smoove · #14 05-02-2010, 05:25 PM

I've got just the thing for you in my signature

fesem · #15 05-02-2010, 05:39 PM

Markbass LMII or III and a 4 ohm Schroeder BMF 1212, cab is 38lbs and 800watts.

Bongolation · #16 05-02-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bongolation

The cigar-box configuration just screams, "this is just a secondary rig...my real rig with the effects and stuff is at home...this gig wasn't worth bringing my pro stuff to."

Quote:

Originally Posted by IntrepidCellist

Plus, 1U is much bigger than "fits in my gigbag pocket."

See?

That's what I'm talking about!

#17 05-03-2010, 07:35 PM

Thanks for the input everyone! I got some decisions to make.

D.Don · #18 05-13-2010, 05:41 PM

Phil Jones has horrible customer service, it started out really well, but in the end when they did not manage to solve the problem, they just stopped answering my communication.

I regret spending 1000 eur on the Flightcase BG-150, but now I cant do anything, not even return it as their former Swedish distributor stopped working with them some year ago...

=(

D.Don

Kmose · #19 05-13-2010, 10:05 PM

LMIII and an avatar 4x10 neo kicks serious butt!

will33 · #20 05-13-2010, 10:20 PM

If you want to get into the small stuff, consider a 212 replacing the 410. One with the speakers vertically aligned (one on top the other instead of side by side or diagonal). Big sound, a speaker up closer to ear level and a smaller stage footprint as well being easier to haul around. Can fit in small car trunk or tilt back and roll, etc. It's a rectangle, not a cumbersome cube. Modern 212's can do almost what a good old-fashioned big 215 used to do. That with the few hundred watts that are available from todays little heads should get you what you need. Could even make it a pair of 8ohm 112's if you have a need for a small practice/coffeehouse type rig.