Small, portable combo amp

BrianS198 · #1 02-09-2011, 09:44 PM

Hi everyone! I'm planning to be an exchange student to a university in Montana for a year, and I'd really prefer not to bring my entire rig with me. As a result, I've been researching combo amps that are light-weight, yet loud enough for my purposes. That being said, here are my needs.

1. Good sound for electric and upright bass.
2. Loud enough for most jazz settings and maybe even smaller coffeeshop gigs, etc.
3. Not heavy as hell!

I'll be staying with a friend there that has an SWR set up if I really needed something super loud. That being said, I've been keeping my eyes on the MB combos from GK.

http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....Amp?sku=423667

I'm aware of the lack of bracing and such, which is a modification I would most likely make if I purchased one. The big question however, should I get the 115 instead? Or is there a better option out there for the price?

Thanks a lot!
Brian

waleross · #2 02-09-2011, 10:09 PM

More $$$ but its a Genz Benz http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend....mbo?sku=482108

BrianS198 · #3 02-09-2011, 10:15 PM

Oh, I know! It's so good. I just don't think I can afford it at the moment.

Stumbo · #4 02-09-2011, 10:20 PM

I checked out the Acoustic combos in this price range and they are at least double the weight.

There are many TB threads on GK combos. Here are links to the biggest/longest thread:
1
2
I suggest reading through the posts before making a decision on the speaker size.

Here are a few more links you may want to check out:
Micro-rigs of doom
>30 light-weight cabs,amps, combos
Opinions/experiences-great small combo amps

You may also want to check out the DB side of TB for threads on this topic.

BrianS198 · #5 02-09-2011, 11:11 PM

Yeah, I've checked these threads out! It was definitely informative. I just was trying to get some opinions given my needs. Thanks for the resources man!

wiseguyst · #6 02-09-2011, 11:25 PM

I highly recommend the Ibanez Promethean. Watch the demo videos on their site...get's very jazzy to a crisp modern. I have really appreciated the aux input and headphone out for quiet practices and learning bass lines. The combo weighs ~30lbs, head is removable via 4 thumb screws and gives 250 watts @ 8 ohms, and 500 watts @ 4 ohms. I've been very pleased with it. The 110 combo would be sufficient for coffee shops and smaller jazz clubs.

BTW, a really convenient thing about this amp is that I can run the 110 combo with another 210 for a nice mini stack that is loud enough for most 100-200 person clubs, or any combination of my 110, 210, 410 or 115. Highly versatile.

Which college town are you moving to?

BrianS198 · #7 02-09-2011, 11:46 PM

That Ibanez sounds pretty sweet! I'll definitely look into it!

I'm moving to Missoula, Montana if the paperwork works out, heh.

wiseguyst · #8 02-10-2011, 10:01 AM

Sweet, my hometown is the other college town, Bozeman, MT. You'll have a lot of fun in Missoula!

BrianS198 · #9 02-10-2011, 11:25 AM

Oh really? I think I've been through Bozeman, heh. Thanks man! I'm really looking forward to it if it goes down.

I think I've settled on the MB series, I just have to decide between the 112, 115, and the 210. ><

Thanks for your help so far guys.

tappingtrance · #10 02-10-2011, 11:27 AM

Mark Bass 1X12 is a brilliant amp, I use it for upright, fretted and fretless 5 strings. May be one of the best purchases I have ever made (and since you don;t know me that means nothing LOL) really an excellent versatile amp combo.

Stumbo · #11 02-10-2011, 12:37 PM

If you don't have a preamp for the upright, you might want to check out the one made/sold by Tb's Fdeck: http://personalpages.tds.net/~fdeck/bass/hpfpre.htm

It helps control the upright bass pickup when run through a bass amp.

BrianS198 · #12 02-10-2011, 12:44 PM

I love the MB stuff! I just can't afford the price tag, you know? A good friend of mine (jbo) is crazy about their stuff.

And I really should get a nice preamp for my upright. I just haven't found a good use for it yet. I have a Realist which I think has a built in preamp, but I'm probably wrong on that. Do you own an Fdeck? Do you have good luck with it?

Thanks!

MODELL · #13 02-10-2011, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tappingtrance

Mark Bass 1X12 is a brilliant amp, I use it for upright, fretted and fretless 5 strings. May be one of the best purchases I have ever made (and since you don;t know me that means nothing LOL) really an excellent versatile amp combo.

I 2nd this as a choice. Go on Guitar Center's used area of their website. There are a ton of these for not too much more than the GK you referenced. I use mine with my Jazz Bass and my 5 string acoustic/electric and couldn't be happier with the tones...........

Chrisk-K · #14 02-10-2011, 12:56 PM

I bought a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0/10T for $660. Amazon sells it for $699 and zZounds beat the price.

BrianS198 · #15 02-10-2011, 01:01 PM

I'm sorry, but every MarkBass cab I found wasn't any less than 900 bucks. New or Used.

I should really check eBay as well. Those Genz Benz Shuttles look KILLER.

bertbassplayer · #16 02-10-2011, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguyst

I highly recommend the Ibanez Promethean. Watch the demo videos on their site...get's very jazzy to a crisp modern. I have really appreciated the aux input and headphone out for quiet practices and learning bass lines. The combo weighs ~30lbs, head is removable via 4 thumb screws and gives 250 watts @ 8 ohms, and 500 watts @ 4 ohms. I've been very pleased with it. The 110 combo would be sufficient for coffee shops and smaller jazz clubs.

BTW, a really convenient thing about this amp is that I can run the 110 combo with another 210 for a nice mini stack that is loud enough for most 100-200 person clubs, or any combination of my 110, 210, 410 or 115. Highly versatile.

+1, I just picked up the 110 Combo Promethean for $379 used at GC today (though I think it's $700 or so new). It gets pretty loud, sounded good even with my Dean Pace EUB (flat but using the Vibe knob tuned more mellow to get rid of the peizo quack). I love the Vibe knob, allows you to tune in a modern sound or back it off for more of a mellower sound... almost like having two different amps in one box. I mainly got it for the head to pair with my two 15" Schroeder cabs, but the combo is great... will prob get more use than the cabs.

BrianS198 · #17 02-10-2011, 01:07 PM

I love the Promethean! I just don't know what kind of deals I could find with it, you know? Plus, I'd prefer to have something a little bigger than a 110.

Nedmundo · #18 02-10-2011, 03:06 PM

The Roland Cube 100 is a good option, if you can find one used for a good price. It's versatile, durable, provides great tone, and is much louder than its 100 watts and 1x12" config would lead you to believe. Buying new, and with gigs in mind, I'd go for the G-K MB115 over the Roland.

nanookofnj · #19 02-10-2011, 03:16 PM

For what it's worth, my MB212 was used by an opening bluegrass band last show and the bassists upright sounded amazing thru it during their set. At 200W each for the MB112 and MB115, it's a toss up, the 115 has the additional boost control I think.

Mojo-Man · #20 02-10-2011, 03:19 PM

Ampeg B100R. or a Walkabout Scout.