my how things have changed in 28 years

jeff n · #1 03-05-2011, 04:38 PM

after 28 years, my boy, (Kraken), persuaded me to pick up my bass and play again. Joined a little local trio to play pubs etc, going great. But things have changed, AND HOW ! Amps no bigger than my new glasses case... songs with more than 3 chords in... and audiences who expect us to entertain THEM ! (on the plus side we do get free drinks and enough money for a packet of crisps... that`s one change for the better).
So Barny lent me his Ashdown and an effects pedal, but after 18 months of lugging this stuff around and not feeling any the younger for the exercise I am being seriously tempted by the `pop in your pocket` combos available these days.
Which leads me to my problem. I can go for a Ibanez Promethean, or if I saved up a lot, maybe a Markbass Mini, but what I am thinking is... why do I need all that gubbins on the amp ? I`ve got an effects pedal where I can programme the 4 or so sounds I want, I have tone controls on my bass, why do I need all the other stuff. Is there a combo consisting of just a power amp and cabinet. One input, one out and one vol knob.... shimples... Or am I missing something here ? All this new fangled etc etc etc... Help please, confused of Whitby.

Jeff Scott · #2 03-05-2011, 04:42 PM

The Markbass Minimark is almost that, already; very simple 'tone' controls (VLE & VPF), sounds great with them dialed down, what more can one want.

It all depends on how loud you need to be.

bassteban · #3 03-05-2011, 04:44 PM

*Crisps* I think I know; for *gubbins* I'll need a translation.
Most importantly, your son's named *Kraken*?

jeff n · #4 03-05-2011, 04:48 PM

Bassteban... sorry... his name on this forum is Kraken, but had I thought about it a little more 33 years years ago......
Jeff Scott... Barny`s Ashdown is a 300 watt thing I think, but I`ve never had it at more than 1/4 volume (anything louder would frighten the locals to death I fear)

ciubz · #5 03-05-2011, 04:51 PM

i'm not sure you are going to find something like that. if you like how your pedal sounds, just plug it in the efx loop (return) and you'll get the clean sound of your pedal without your amp's input stage. Or why not get a in-ear monitoring system, a bass vt pedal(or smth similar) and play directly through the PA.

If you want a inexpensive, lightweight, good sounding amp, get yourself a gallien Krueger mb 115 It has 200w, it weights around 20lb and it's more than enough for a trio doing pub gigs.

Hope this helps

Dr. Eagle · #6 03-05-2011, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff n

Barny`s Ashdown is a 300 watt thing I think, but I`ve never had it at more than 1/4 volume (anything louder would frighten the locals to death I fear)

Your local pub would never survive my Who Tribute band then...

bassteban · #7 03-05-2011, 04:55 PM

I see- & I didn't mean to be snarky, just making a little observation & bumping the thread to help you find a qualified answer. The thing about all the tonal options any amp gives you is that you don't have to use them, but they are there in case you want/need to.

BTW, we often called my now-5-yr-old daughter *the destroyer* though her actual name is Sophia.

jeff n · #8 03-05-2011, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciubz

i'm not sure you are going to find something like that. if you like how your pedal sounds, just plug it in the efx loop (return) and you'll get the clean sound of your pedal without your amp's input stage. Or why not get a in-ear monitoring system, a bass vt pedal(or smth similar) and play directly through the PA.

If you want a inexpensive, lightweight, good sounding amp, get yourself a gallien Krueger mb 115 It has 200w, it weights around 20lb and it's more than enough for a trio doing pub gigs.

Hope this helps

Great thanks, I`ll go and look it up now. Cheers, Jeff

Dr. Eagle · #9 03-05-2011, 05:00 PM

I use my amps that have lots of tone controls most are flat as I use a Line 6 modeling pedal. I also keep my basses flat (at least the active ones). I have played that little markbass amp, its pretty cool!

jeff n · #10 03-05-2011, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Eagle

Your local pub would never survive my Who Tribute band then...

Probably not... I`m sure I caught an earful of Baba O`Reily on the westerly breeze the other night... I say, you ARE loud aren`t you...

will33 · #11 03-05-2011, 05:02 PM

Yorkville/Traynor makes some pretty good sounding bass combo's. You guys still own Canada??? Maybe they're cheap in the UK.

Really though, a couple hundred watt combo with a 15 in it will handle pub gigs with a trio. They weigh like 50-60lbs. (25-28kg.)

Most of even the smallest stuff now has multiple eq knobs, places to patch things in and out, probably even a place to plug in your ipod. Pretty hard to find something that's just bass, treble and volume.

jeff n · #12 03-05-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

I see- & I didn't mean to be snarky, just making a little observation & bumping the thread to help you find a qualified answer. The thing about all the tonal options any amp gives you is that you don't have to use them, but they are there in case you want/need to.

BTW, we often called my now-5-yr-old daughter *the destroyer* though her actual name is Sophia.

Yes of course.... I know.... just being a bit stingy I suppose, hoping that a combo stripped down might be a bit cheaper...

"stingy" pronounced `stin` as in `shin`, `gy` as in `gee whiz`, definition... to be a bit tight, a bit `careful` with money...

Dr. Eagle · #13 03-05-2011, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff n

"stingy" pronounced `stin` as in `shin`, `gy` as in `gee whiz`, definition... to be a bit tight, a bit `careful` with money...

AKA Thrifty as a Scotsman!

jeff n · #14 03-05-2011, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Eagle

AKA Thrifty as a Scotsman!

Glad I didnt say that... I`m sure there will be a few reading this... oops....

jeff n · #15 03-05-2011, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by will33

Yorkville/Traynor makes some pretty good sounding bass combo's. You guys still own Canada??? Maybe they're cheap in the UK.

Really though, a couple hundred watt combo with a 15 in it will handle pub gigs with a trio. They weigh like 50-60lbs. (25-28kg.)

Most of even the smallest stuff now has multiple eq knobs, places to patch things in and out, probably even a place to plug in your ipod. Pretty hard to find something that's just bass, treble and volume.

Yeah thanks, I`ll keep my eyes open and if I see one I`ll give it a try, just had a look on their website, seems ok. Cheers, Jeff

waleross · #16 03-05-2011, 05:33 PM

I can't figure out what you are looking for but for a small rig try an Ampeg210AV with a small pedal power amp (8ohms) its called a 44 Magnum Amp good for guitar or bass. This whole rig is ultra lite (not my cup of tea) and very expandable . Not enough ? then get a 215 cab and some 1000 watt head such as a Fender TB1200 with a 215 pro cab. Combo amps you can find on your own..... whatever you get don't forget to have fun with it.......

jeff n · #17 03-05-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waleross

I can't figure out what you are looking for but for a small rig try an Ampeg210AV with a small pedal power amp (8ohms) its called a 44 Magnum Amp good for guitar or bass. This whole rig is ultra lite (not my cup of tea) and very expandable . Not enough ? then get a 215 cab and some 1000 watt head such as a Fender TB1200 with a 215 pro cab. Combo amps you can find on your own..... whatever you get don't forget to have fun with it.......

Havin` fun... exactly !!
I think I was asking whether anybody has ever come across a, I believe they call it `transparent`, small, combo. Just an amp in a matched cabinet.... no more than say 200 watts, with just a volume control, one input, one output. Really simple, really clean, really light, really small.
I will have fun... I will have fun.... I will have fun.... I will have fun...

**nostatic** · #18 03-05-2011, 06:20 PM

One thing that really is different than 28 years ago is the size/quality factor. I personally wouldn't buy a combo amp given how good micro heads have gotten. You can put the head in your bass gig bag, then just carry the cabinet. If you need more oomf, add a second (or larger) cab.

That said, depending on your budget, GenzBenz makes some very nice, rather transparent combos (Shuttle 6.0/12 would likely cover everything you need). They are on the pricey side though. While more aggressive sounding, a GK MB200 head is tiny, and you could pair that with a small 1-12 cab for a rig that would likely work.

One thing that hasn't changed though - you can find a 28 year old GK 400RB and it likely will still cover what you need.

ihixulu · #19 03-05-2011, 06:24 PM

At least in terms of power amp, the SWR amplite might fit the bill:
http://www.swrsound.com/products//se...tno=4415050000

AQUANOVA · #20 03-05-2011, 06:26 PM

I have a 1983 Gallien Krueger 400Rb and it stills works perfectly.