Looking for a cheap combo...

[Phil Mastro]

Hey everybody,

I moved a few months ago into a fairly small apartment, and I've just gotten back into playing a bit more seriously these past couple of weeks. I'm getting a bit tired of having my Peavey Microbass sound like it has a mouthful of hot potatoes when I pull out my 5-string. I've tried a couple different amps, and I haven't found anything that I really found awesome. Here's what I've tried:

-SWR LA 12
-Line 6 LD110
-Marshall MB30
-Mega 30 watt, dunno the exact name
-Roland Micro cube Bass RX
-Roland Cube 30 bass
-Traynor XM50C
-Traynor TB50

I'm not a huge SWR fan, I just don't like their sound very much, although I thought it was the amp I tried that had the tightest bottom. The Line 6 i tried might have been defective, every time I switched modelling modes, I'd have to mess with one of the knobs for the volume to come back. The Marshall was ok, but not particularly great. The Mega was pretty generic. The 2 Rolands I felt were offering a buch of sounds that I probably won't ever use, so I thought that would by kind of a waste. The two Traynors sounded pretty much identical, with the XM50C sounding a bit tighter. Good sound I guess. The knobs on the TB50 were kinda loose and felt cheap. From the same store as the glitchy Line 6, so maybe that's it.

In the end, when I plug into my Peavey, I like the tone quite a bit. The brands that I could get a hand on other than those I already mentionned are Orange, Hartke, Laney, and Peavey.

Does anyone have input on these brands I haven't tried yet? Any input would be awesome.

Thanks,
Phil

[Inconnu]

You can't go wrong with the Line 6 for your purpose. I really like the sound of these. The Roland 30 also sound good,but you're right, there's alot of features you probably don't need.

[kosmicwizard]

Ever thought of a combo like a Fender BXR sixty or something? The 15 in it sounds nice even with a B going through it. At least that is what my ears tell me. Cheers, by fellow left handed Canuck!

[steelhead2]

dunno i love mine with my fretless J for upright tones,with my P=not so much,,,had a buddy plug in an Aria pro with active pups and it sounded great(don't know wether to keep or sell,or buy a dif. fretted bass?),i might be posting it on a `well known auction site' it and buying an Ampeg 7Pro(hate to sell the combo 300=real handy),but,have to throw a carrot at the wife

of course there is always `effects' to be had to tweak tone but i prefer to minimise what-all i have to carry as well as hook together,i sold all my pedals,well,i wouldn't be on `amps' if i was`done' buying

[Phil Mastro]

The 300 is a lot bigger than what I'm looking for. I'm just looking for a low volume amp that doesn't crap out on the low b side of things.

Some amps I would like some info/feedback on would be the Peavey Max 115 and 112, Laney RB2, and an Orange CR50BXT.

I really dig the look of the Orange honestly, but it's the only one I wouldn't be able to test drive.

[seungkoo]

acoustic b10 or b20? ampeg b112 or a b110 if you can find any used

[alexcolaco]

Sorry for jumping on this thread but anyone can tell me wich one of these are best

ASHDOWN MAG410T
http://www.thomann.de/pt/ashdown_mag410t.htm

ASHDOWN MAG 414T DEEP
http://www.thomann.de/pt/ashdown_mag_414t_deep.htm

thanks in advance

[tdub0199]

^ ***?

[fenderhutz]

Originally Posted by alexcolaco

Sorry for jumping on this thread but anyone can tell me wich one of these are best

ASHDOWN MAG410T
http://www.thomann.de/pt/ashdown_mag410t.htm

ASHDOWN MAG 414T DEEP
http://www.thomann.de/pt/ashdown_mag_414t_deep.htm

thanks in advance

[alexcolaco]

Originally Posted by alexcolaco

Sorry for jumping on this thread but anyone can tell me wich one of these are best

ASHDOWN MAG410T
http://www.thomann.de/pt/ashdown_mag410t.htm

ASHDOWN MAG 414T DEEP
http://www.thomann.de/pt/ashdown_mag_414t_deep.htm

thanks in advance

wich one is the best to play with a ashdown bass head because of the ohms and the watts difference.

[bassphreak]

To the OP, I use the Line 6 LD110. It's nice, small, has decent power, usable effects and models and can handle the lower range. I don't have a 5er but do have a bass tuned to drop c.

I think there is one in the classifieds for cheap.

[C.Linton]

Have you tried an Ampeg BA115?

[Doelle]

Why not just try something like this?
http://www.thomann.de/dk/korg_px5d.htm

If it is just for playing with yourself?

.... naughty words ^^

[Phil Mastro]

To bassphreak, when you change modes on your Line 6, do you have to play with the controls to get the sound back to normal? The one I tried seemed to have a problem switching modes, and I had to tweak the octo or something knob to get some sound back. I'm assuming it was a problem with that particular amp, and not a standard operating procedure.

Regarding Ampegs, I haven't been able to find inexpensive Ampeg amps in Montreal, so I haven't tried them. I'd be looking probably into a 112.

After narrowing it down a bit, I'm looking for a 12" speaker that's around 30-50 watts. I already have a 100W 15" Yorkville Bassmaster, and it's quite a bit bigger than what I'm looking for.

[Thunderthumbs73]

Originally Posted by Phil Mastro

Hey everybody,

I moved a few months ago into a fairly small apartment, and I've just gotten back into playing a bit more seriously these past couple of weeks. I'm getting a bit tired of having my Peavey Microbass sound like it has a mouthful of hot potatoes when I pull out my 5-string. I've tried a couple different amps, and I haven't found anything that I really found awesome. Here's what I've tried:

-SWR LA 12
-Line 6 LD110
-Marshall MB30
-Mega 30 watt, dunno the exact name
-Roland Micro cube Bass RX
-Roland Cube 30 bass
-Traynor XM50C
-Traynor TB50

I'm not a huge SWR fan, I just don't like their sound very much, although I thought it was the amp I tried that had the tightest bottom. The Line 6 i tried might have been defective, every time I switched modelling modes, I'd have to mess with one of the knobs for the volume to come back. The Marshall was ok, but not particularly great. The Mega was pretty generic. The 2 Rolands I felt were offering a buch of sounds that I probably won't ever use, so I thought that would by kind of a waste. The two Traynors sounded pretty much identical, with the XM50C sounding a bit tighter. Good sound I guess. The knobs on the TB50 were kinda loose and felt cheap. From the same store as the glitchy Line 6, so maybe that's it.

In the end, when I plug into my Peavey, I like the tone quite a bit. The brands that I could get a hand on other than those I already mentionned are Orange, Hartke, Laney, and Peavey.

Does anyone have input on these brands I haven't tried yet? Any input would be awesome.

Thanks,
Phil

Because you seem to be looking for a lower wattage amp, I will mention that I LOVE the sound of my Roland KC-300 keyboard amplifier. Reasonably light. Nice sound. Versatile. 100watts, reasonably flat voicing (can be used as mini-PA, aside from kybd amp or acoustic amp), and most importantly for me, doesn't sound like a little bass combo amp with a strange voicing that sounds like it's trying to be a much bigger, bassier amp.

I feel it's a small portable amp that isn't crazy expensive that allows me to hear the characteristics of each bass, minus the small and inexpensive bass amp sound that is generally so prevalent in the smaller bass amp category.

Such a sound might be to your liking. Or maybe not.

[Phil Mastro]

I'm going to try out an Orange 35 watt tonight. Anyone has tried these before?

[Phil Mastro]

So I just came back from trying out the Orange amp... and I came back with a Peavey.

I really didn't like the tone of the Orange. I liked the tone of the Peavey. It was half the price of the Orange. I bought the Peavey.

It's a Max 110, 10" speaker and 20 watts. I just plugged it in, and it doesn't suffer from hot potato syndrome! w007!1! It's actually a big improvement over my Microbass. It was way cheaper than I was planning on spending, and I'm actually really happy with it. Now I have more dough to spend somewhere else... the evil never-ending circle of GAS.

Thanks for all your input.

[Ibanezbass671]

Originally Posted by Phil Mastro

To bassphreak, when you change modes on your Line 6, do you have to play with the controls to get the sound back to normal? The one I tried seemed to have a problem switching modes, and I had to tweak the octo or something knob to get some sound back. I'm assuming it was a problem with that particular amp, and not a standard operating procedure.

Regarding Ampegs, I haven't been able to find inexpensive Ampeg amps in Montreal, so I haven't tried them. I'd be looking probably into a 112.

After narrowing it down a bit, I'm looking for a 12" speaker that's around 30-50 watts. I already have a 100W 15" Yorkville Bassmaster, and it's quite a bit bigger than what I'm looking for.

I just scored a Ampeg BA-112 yesterday for $100 bucks, barely used and less than a year old. I'am impressed with this little amp. Tried it out lasnight with the band and sounds great to me. Though I have to have my PA assistin my bass, otherwise its a great sounding 50 watt amp.

[JimmyM]

ba-112 is serious. but it looks like the op's squared away now. emjoy the amps, both of you!