Smallest, cheapest practice combo you actually enjoy(ed)

Inconnu · #1 03-05-2011, 05:17 AM

Small, cheap, but good sounding, not farting out with lows, putting out an enjoyable sound.

Hnz · #2 03-05-2011, 05:30 AM

Line6 Lowdown 110 studio.

IT'S SMALL: 12x12x12" (24LBS)
VERY GOOD SOUNDING 75 watts
CHEAP: Is relative - ±$ 275,-
Holds a B-string well

NEW Ampeg BA110
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTA3JflUnA

lowfreq33 · #3 03-05-2011, 05:36 AM

My girlfriend has a peavey minx 110, and it actually sounds really good.

thunderstation · #4 03-05-2011, 06:25 AM

i also have a peavey minx 110 - i use it for recording and it has a nice versatile (for the money) sound

madmarvin · #5 03-05-2011, 06:27 AM

I like my Orange Crush 50BXT.

Russty1107 · #6 03-05-2011, 06:29 AM

I have a Fender Rumble 25.

SteveC · #7 03-05-2011, 06:32 AM

Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T. Gigged it last night with my jazz quartet and nit sounded fantastic. I may get the 110T extension for a little more umph, but I really didn't NEED it.

RickenBoogie · #8 03-05-2011, 06:48 AM

Ampeg BA112; B50R; Trace Elliot Boxer.

JGR · #9 03-05-2011, 07:22 AM

An old SWR Workingman's 12 and an Ampeg B100R.

Inconnu · #10 03-05-2011, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hnz

Line6 Lowdown 110 studio.

IT'S SMALL: 12x12x12" (24LBS)
VERY GOOD SOUNDING 75 watts
CHEAP: Is relative - ±$ 275,-
Holds a B-string well

NEW Ampeg BA110
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTA3JflUnA

I tried the LowDown a couple of times. Only issue I had was that the clean channel was peaking, at whatever input gain I would set it. Was that a faulty unit or just the amp that couldn't manage the power of a G&L L-2500?

Hnz · #11 03-05-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Inconnu

I tried the LowDown a couple of times. Only issue I had was that the clean channel was peaking, at whatever input gain I would set it. Was that a faulty unit or just the amp that couldn't manage the power of a G&L L-2500?

Can't be sure. When I had it, i did not have that problem as far as I can recal. Played it with a V-string aswell. It is a good 3 years ago though.

georgestrings · #12 03-05-2011, 08:02 AM

I have an SWR LA 15 I bought off of Craigslist for $75 that isn't too bad - in a quietish band, I might even be able to gig it with PA reinforcement... I did tape over the horn on it, and that improved it's sound - the horn was pretty sucktacular, and I like horn loaded cabs, generally speaking...

The above is saying something - here's my normal gigging rig:

CDRhom · #13 03-05-2011, 08:03 AM

I love my Roland Bass Micro Cube. It has everything I need including a drum machine, effects, and modeling. It sounds good with my electric or AEG bass. Best of all it has battery power so I can play it anywhere. I usually get at least 8 hours on the batteries.

main_sale · #14 03-05-2011, 08:10 AM

I have an old SWR Workingman's 10 that actually sounds very good but I much prefer my Ampeg B-100R. The SWR is much smaller and lighter however.

sricks3 · #15 03-05-2011, 08:19 AM

My SWR Workingman's 10 is a surprisingly nice amp, and it's just big enough to fit a 10" speaker and a tweeter. It has a direct out, and it kicks back using the extra handle on the bottom, so I've gotten a lot of use out of it monitoring my bass on stages with less than stellar PAs.

One of the coolest that I've ever played through but didn't own was the (now discontinued) Fender Bassman 60. It was actually pretty hard to get a bad sound out of it IIRC. That makes it great for less experienced bassists who need a good sound but may not need quite the tonal versatility of other amps. For something similar, the newer Rumble series reminds me somewhat of the previous generation Bassmans (Bassmen?).

Typically, though, I'm skeptical of anything with less than 30 or so watts and anything with only one speaker that's smaller than 10". Maybe I just had a bad experience with a cheap, used Ibanez amp, but at 10 watts with a (maybe) 6" (at best) speaker, it was barely usable for home practice. Even at very low volumes (and I play much more quietly that most people I know), my basses cause it to clip, and if I turn it up much more, I get speaker cone distortion. Oh well.

+1 for the surprising Rumble line and,
+1 for most small Peavey stuff. The Minx is pretty good.

Russell L · #16 03-05-2011, 08:34 AM

Gotta admit my little Bassman 25 has a great sound. But, of course I can't gig with it (unless it were an acoustic coffee house gig or similar).

But, my favorite all-time small amp is my Markbass CMD 121H. Unbelievable sound, volume-wise and tone-wise. One 12" speaker, 300w, and 39 lbs. in a box that sits in the front seat of my Ford Ranger. It's a dream come true. Oh...well...but it wasn't cheap, though.

AHDBassist · #17 03-05-2011, 09:00 AM

Ampeg BA115 (until it blew up)

Bassamatic · #18 03-05-2011, 09:06 AM

Probably an Acoustic B20 - 12", great sound, and only $129 new.

mowburger · #19 03-05-2011, 09:37 AM

Carvin ProBass 200, had a 15" speaker, not sure if that qualifies as practice or small, but it was pretty light and great for all kinds of practice and small gigs, great sound. I miss that amp.

BoRadBass · #20 03-05-2011, 09:45 AM

I am quite happy with mt GK Backline 112, however they aren't made anymore. A used one would be a great deal. Also the GK MB series have always been nice, check out the new MB112.