Sub-$300 Practice Combo Cage Match

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

Basically, I'm getting real tired of my 1x10 Peavey starter amp at mt band's practice space. I have an Ampeg BA115 at home that I like enough, but it's not very portable and regrettably, we do not practice enough to justify leaving my baby in my drummer's living room all week. I need a new combo for Christmas. Yes, I have done my searching.

It needs to be around $300, have a 15" (I can deal with 12", beggars can't be choosers) driver, and a clean sound at high volume (the whole reason reason I need a new amp is because my Peavey sounds like a fart at a loud enough volume to compete with drums).

Acoustic B100 100W is a great price and I enjoy Acoustics, altough I have not tried this particular one.

Orange CR50BXT 50W is also a great price, but it's exactly what I'm looking for. My local shop is an Orange dealer, though, and their quality is pretty impressive.

Peavey MAX 115 is a pretty great little amp, I have played on this one as well. The price is kinda hefty, but it's probably the strongest in the features department.

Last is the GK 200W MB112. I have not played this one, but searching around it's pretty obvious that GK is a well reputed brand, and alot of you have had good experiances. The 200W power is a pro, but I like !5" drivers better. I can deal.

Comments, questions, donations, etc. It's all good.

[tdub0199]

you can get the GK MB115 for $400... that would be my choice....

[knucklehead G]

Scrounge an extra $50 and get the Acoustic B200. You can dial in a decent Ampeg combo sound with it, and its not too obnoxious to move around. I put some casters on mine, but I'm not sure it was needed. Plus there is a DI-out so you really don't need anything bigger.

I love mine. With the gain up it starts getting grindy enough I forget there isn't a tube pre in there.

[OtterOnBass]

I suggest getting a cart or something with wheels, then using the amp you have. I don't know how different another 15" combo is going to be.

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

If I had $400 to spend, I'd get the Acoustic B115 stack and be done with it, but right now I'm on a student budget, and I can't justify that kind of dough on something I can only see every weekend.

[MUSHROOMSeAcOw]

Also, the band practice space is in an attic across town, so I need something to leave over there. Portability is not much of an issue. I'm not looking to get rid of my Ampeg or try for a different sound. The Ampeg has a DI so I gig with that and record DI or mic'd.

Thanks for the input so far everyone.

[IntrepidCellist]

Line 6 LD300 can be had used pretty regularly for $300. I gigged with one alongside a Fender Super Reverb 4x10, keys, and loud drummer for almost a year. Heavy, but not a bad carry, excellent DI and sounds, solid build quality, and freaking loud, especially when EQ'ed properly.

[HUnt49]

Originally Posted by IntrepidCellist

Line 6 LD300 can be had used pretty regularly for $300. I gigged with one alongside a Fender Super Reverb 4x10, keys, and loud drummer for almost a year. Heavy, but not a bad carry, excellent DI and sounds, solid build quality, and freaking loud, especially when EQ'ed properly.

+1 -- I helped a room-mate pick out a p-bass and an amp to start out on, and we found him one of these used for around 250.

He had a MIM P with flats and that amp -- and it sounded really great. He was jammin' to James Brown in no time, and the tone fit right in the CD mix.

The amp had plenty of punch to handle a practice, and lots of tone control to dial in a tone that would help you cut without having to just get louder.

OTOH...

If cutting is part of the issue, the 15 may not be what you need... a 210 might do the trick in a mix better, even though the 15 feels 'bigger' when playing out of a mix.

[RickenBoogie]

The BA115 combo is not that difficult to move. If you're going to spend money on an amp, why not get something that's an actual improvement on what you have, rather than owning 2 large combo's?