Moderately sized gig combo amp, low cost?

Exemonium · #1 05-31-2010, 12:58 AM

I'm looking for something that's going to get me going with small to moderate gigs. A combo amp is best for me, and I'm looking for inexpensive. I just didn't really see any threads of something like this, nor do I know much about amps. It took me long enough to figure out what I like in the basses themselves. lol Is there a certain wattage I should be looking for, or certain size speaker I assume at least a 12", but I don't really know. Any tips/ideas are very very welcomed!

Thanks in advance everyone!

**garmenteros** · #2 05-31-2010, 01:03 AM

I suggest you look used first and foremost. You'll get a lot more bang for your buck. Look out for old peavey combos, they weigh a ton but are built like tanks and can get quite loud. I've played through quite a few that have not let me down in practice venues. As of late I've been playing thru a 100 watt warwick sweet 15 i think it is combo. It keeps up with a loud drummer and a 120watt peavey xxx guitar half stack. Very decent tone. Seems to bring out the worst in crappy basses for some reason but handles my stingrays and alembic well.

twangman · #3 05-31-2010, 01:25 AM

right now you can get the b200 at musicians friend for about $350 brand new.. 200 watts 1x15 combo... plus if you get it by tuesday they give you 15% off if you use the code HEROES

perogato02 · #4 05-31-2010, 01:52 AM

+ 1 on buying used.

I've had a Hartke VX3500 (it is a combo with a Hartke 3500a amp and a 4x10 VX cab): loud, reliable (for me it was ... there are concurring opinions on that matter

) and versatile ... and not too expensive.

Exemonium · #5 05-31-2010, 01:57 AM

Oh yea, I'm certainly going used! haha I'm keeping an eye on craigslist and looking in the classifieds here, but unsure of what to look for here. So far I think what might work best of what I've found is an Ampeg 115T for $250. Not too sure how good that is though, or if Maybe there's better for cheaper out there.

JimmyM · #6 05-31-2010, 02:50 AM

ba115t is hard to beat in its price category. not my favorite ampeg combo ever, but it's decent and better than most at that price. i think the b100r is a much better ampeg combo, though it's recently been discontinued, and you should be able to find a used one for not much more than a ba115t.

Exemonium · #7 05-31-2010, 03:52 AM

ooh thanks, I'll start looking around! :-)

heavyfunkmachin · #8 05-31-2010, 04:30 AM

i can only talk about what i know...

and i know if youcan score a cheap roland db-500 you'll have a 160 watts combo with sweet tone and loud lows and you'll never look back!

ljazz · #9 05-31-2010, 04:53 AM

Why a combo?????

With some of the lightweight heads out there now, it's almost as easy schlepping separates. And then you're not locked into whatever is in the combo. Upgrading a cabinet is easier than upgrading the entire combo.

I was just pricing the GK MBX cabs, and with the MB500 head, you can score a new, portable, killer sounding rig for just a few bucks more than a combo...... and be able to add on or upgrade as needed. In the end, I've always believed combos to be more "costly", as you end up looking to get rid of them later because you need more.

I run a GK700rbII and a GK112 most of the time. With the head in the shoulder bag, it's really an easy to carry rig...... and it sounds great! Throw my 212 cab underneath, and I can do just about any gig that comes our way.

And a +1 on shopping used.

Ljazz

Exemonium · #10 05-31-2010, 05:05 AM

The reason I just want a combo is because a majority of my gigs so far are playing for musical theater. if I had a stack, I'd blow them out of the world! Plus I'll be moving a bit and I'll need something that takes up a bit less space for transportation. Once I settle in, I'm all for heads and cabinets and such.

ljazz · #11 05-31-2010, 05:32 AM

That does not have to be the case...... a separate head and cabinet need not be any larger than a combo, and believe it or not, they have volume knobs as well!

Add another cabinet, and you're all set for bigger stuff too.

I just hate seeing cats spend money on combos, and then a year later, the situation changes, and they're trying to sell off the combo (usually at a loss) in order to get a bigger rig. I've been in that situation, and have been "anti-combo" ever since. In the long run, I would have come out several hundred bucks ahead. Give me a light weight head, and a couple of different cabinet options...... then I can do whatever comes my way.

Exemonium · #12 05-31-2010, 05:35 AM

Hmm, ok...You've got me thinking on it now. But I mean, how cheap can I get something started? I'm on quite the tight budget. I've been looking at beat up combos for under $200 just to get me by.

Gintaras · #13 05-31-2010, 06:00 AM

Keep and eye out for used Ashdown electric blue. 130 watts with internal speaker and it will except an external 8 ohm cab and take you to 180 watts.

My friend just bought one in mint condition on craigslist for $175.00.

Nedmundo · #14 05-31-2010, 07:06 AM

I generally agree with ljazz about going head/cab for the long term, but if you're buying used you won't lose much if you decide to sell it later. Plus, I think it's nice to have a grab-and-go amp, and something compact is good for musical theatre. Unfortunately, most truly compact head/cab solutions will be on the more expensive side. Watch for deals though. I once bought an SWR Workingman's 10" cab for about $100, and it was a darned nice little cab.

You probably won't need much power at all, so look for an Ampeg BA112. If you see a Carvin PB-100, it will probably be dirt cheap, and they sound decent. Watch for the 15" speaker version, because the 10" probably won't be enough. IMO, the ideal amp would be a Roland Cube 100, because it sounds great and has compact dimensions. Even used, it's probably above your price point, but they're worth a look. The older Roland DB-500 would be great, but they're heavy.

Turock · #15 05-31-2010, 07:32 AM

If you buy a used combo, someone has already taken the depreciation hit. I'd look around for a used Ampeg B100R. If I didn't have time to wait, and if it was in good shape, I'd probably take that BA115T.

honestjohnny · #16 05-31-2010, 07:52 AM

Carvin BX515N

jtc_hunter · #17 05-31-2010, 09:38 AM

A. Used Peavey TKO around $150

or:

B. New GK MB115 around $350

JimmyM · #18 05-31-2010, 12:03 PM

with all the respect in the world to ljazz, a combo can be a wonderful thing for small gigs. get in, get out. but he is right that if your tastes change, you're stuck with the whole combo. but just buy one you like in the first place

**jmattbassplaya** · #19 05-31-2010, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljazz

That does not have to be the case...... a separate head and cabinet need not be any larger than a combo, and believe it or not, they have volume knobs as well!

Add another cabinet, and you're all set for bigger stuff too.

I just hate seeing cats spend money on combos, and then a year later, the situation changes, and they're trying to sell off the combo (usually at a loss) in order to get a bigger rig. I've been in that situation, and have been "anti-combo" ever since. In the long run, I would have come out several hundred bucks ahead. Give me a light weight head, and a couple of different cabinet options...... then I can do whatever comes my way.

+1

Go the head/cab route. It`s much easier to upgrade and downgrade as needed and it`ll save you money in the long run.

I have a MAG300 2x10 combo and more often than not it`s not enough, but sometimes it`s also too much. May I recommend getting a used lightweight head and either two 2x10s or two single 12s.

And remember, even big cabs have volume knobs. It`s better to have too much and never need it, then need it and not have enough.

**jmattbassplaya** · #20 05-31-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exemonium

Hmm, ok...You've got me thinking on it now. But I mean, how cheap can I get something started? I'm on quite the tight budget. I've been looking at beat up combos for under $200 just to get me by.

Under $200? Yeah you`re stuck with combos. That really isn`t an ideal budget when it comes to amps. Now with $500 we could make some magic