Trying to accept that a combo may be enough for me.

[father of fires]

I have been a big rig guy for many years. I was all into amp worship and doomy rigs. Recently my gigging has slowed down considerably but I am still jamming with a few friends.

I just played with a drummer friend of mine in a cool little practice spot in the middle of a yuppy neighborhood in DC. I brought my SWR SM400 and my Schroeder 2x15 (this is the smallest rig I have had in years) and it was way overkill. I couldn't turn up very loud (COPS!) but I was loud enough. As I was loading everything into my car I couldn't help think that a combo would be way easier.

Here's my problem. I feel comfortable with a big rig behind me. It may be an image thing but I want to stand next to a rig as big as me. Plus my ears aren't in my feet.

I have played the GK MB combos at GC (I even owned a MB115 for at home practice for a short while but I had to return it when my dog needed surgery). I know that one of these would sound good and be plenty loud but I can't picture myself on stage with one.

Anybody have any thoughts on the subject?

[rpsands]

Card board svt

[father of fires]

Originally Posted by rpsands

Card board svt

I almost made a joke about that in my post.

Or I could get a drum case for my drummer and draw speakers on the top. Then stand it up when I play!

[Russell L]

Nothing wrong with combos. Just get one with enough oomph, and make sure you don't mind however much it weighs. I suggest going neo.

[jeff7bass]

Nothing wrong with combos, but I like the flexibility of separate components and since many of these new heads are small and easy to move, the point of a combo is becoming moot IMO.

[father of fires]

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

Nothing wrong with combos, but I like the flexibility of separate components and since many of these new heads are small and easy to move, the point of a combo is becoming moot IMO.

Unless the combo incorporates small head technology and is even lighter (like Carvin and GK).

[RFord04]

I know the feeling...

However, I just recently switched from a bigger rig to a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0-12t combo with another GB 1x12 and the combo by itself cranks! With the extension cab, I'm confident I can cover any gig I get at this point, and it actually fits in my Malibu, so that's a big plus as well.

We practice in our singers basement in a shady part of town, so it's nice to be able to take my rig with me to and from every practice as well.

I can't recommend the Genz stuff more. It's sounds great, and it's very portable. My combo and extension cab both have a kickstand on them to point up at your ears as well... yet another nice feature.

Good luck finding a nice combo. There are some great ones out there.

[SpruceApple]

I suggest a lightweight GK combo w/extension cab stacked vertically....meets both of your concerns (image and light weight) as long as the sound suits you!

[Phalex]

I've been gigging my Carvin combo for about a year now. 400w into a 1x15 is plenty loud! For an outdoor stage I might want more, but the combo is more than adequate for 99% of what I do.

The biggest plus in my book is that the damn thing weighs a little more than 50lbs! That's probably 12lbs more than my head, and close to half of my 410. Easy on, easy off!

[dmrogers]

Originally Posted by jeff7bass

Nothing wrong with combos, but I like the flexibility of separate components and since many of these new heads are small and easy to move, the point of a combo is becoming moot IMO.

I agree. I have two heads and three cabs that I use (main/backup). They are small, easy to load in/out, have tons of power, and I can mix and match accordingly. This is the way to go (for me anyway). I can use any combination for an almost limitless set of options (within my needs and budget).

Originally Posted by father of fires

Unless the combo incorporates small head technology and is even lighter.

Even with small heads and smaller, lighter cabs, components are a big plus. If you have a small head (and maybe a backup head) and a couple of cabs, with them being component items your options for packing/transporting the equipment are more open.

For instance, lets say you get a Genz Benz Shuttlemax 12 and two twelve cabs. You can take the head and one cab, or the head and both cabs depending on your needs. However, you could also match that same head with two 4 ohm 4x12 cabs (two separate channels) and have a monster! Or you could take the same head and have 2x112 per side for another option.

Just something to think about......

[Mojo-Man]

Originally Posted by father of fires

I have been a big rig guy for many years. I was all into amp worship and doomy rigs. Recently my gigging has slowed down considerably but I am still jamming with a few friends.

I just played with a drummer friend of mine in a cool little practice spot in the middle of a yuppy neighborhood in DC. I brought my SWR SM400 and my Schroeder 2x15 (this is the smallest rig I have had in years) and it was way overkill. I couldn't turn up very loud (COPS!) but I was loud enough. As I was loading everything into my car I couldn't help think that a combo would be way easier.

Here's my problem. I feel comfortable with a big rig behind me. It may be an image thing but I want to stand next to a rig as big as me. Plus my ears aren't in my feet.

I have played the GK MB combos at GC (I even owned a MB115 for at home practice for a short while but I had to return it when my dog needed surgery). I know that one of these would sound good and be plenty loud but I can't picture myself on stage with one.

Anybody have any thoughts on the subject?

I hear you.
Sold my SVT and 8x10 cab last year.
I prefer separate head and cab.
I have a Genz Benz "Streamliner 600" with a custom Schroeder 2x15. Cab is 45 lbs, and head is 6 lbs.
Lightweight rig with all the power and thump I need.
I would rather have it, and not use it, than to not have it and need it.

[jtc_hunter]

I honestly have asked people in the crowd about "how a rig looks", and 99% of the crowd dont know or even care about what is behind or next to you. They look at you, not your rig.

[jrfrond]

From a purely technical service standpoint, combos have always been less reliable because they are subect to lots of vibration. This goes double for all the new stuff built to RoHS specs with brittle lead-free solder. There's little isolation between the chassis and the speaker. Still and all, there are lots of good, solid combos that are gigworthy as everyone knows.

I don't like neodymium speakers, nor do I like Class D amps or switching power supplies. The whole featherweight combo thing bothers me technically and sonically (I've service enough to know), therefore I stick with a good, solid, yet weighty combo (Peavey Combo 300). It may not be the skinniest babe in town, but she's built for rough cruisin'!

[Joebone]

Originally Posted by jrfrond

From a purely technical service standpoint, combos have always been less reliable because they are subect to lots of vibration. This goes double for all the new stuff built to RoHS specs with brittle lead-free solder. There's little isolation between the chassis and the speaker. Still and all, there are lots of good, solid combos that are gigworthy as everyone knows.

I don't like neodymium speakers, nor do I like Class D amps or switching power supplies. The whole featherweight combo thing bothers me technically and sonically (I've service enough to know), therefore I stick with a good, solid, yet weighty combo (Peavey Combo 300). It may not be the skinniest babe in town, but she's built for rough cruisin'!

Hear hear. I have a genz benz 3.0.10T I use for rehearsals and really small things, but when I really care about my sound, It's an Eden WT405 or Thunderfunk 750, with one or two 12" cabs. I know the switching amps go plenty loud, but something about them does not sound or feel quite right to me. I can't state it clearly, it might all be in my head, but it is what it is...

[kaputsport]

I can think of two ways to make what you want.

1: Get a smaller 2x10 or 1x15 combo that has power, and weighs little.

2: Get a micro head/cab for your set up. Something like the new Ampeg fliptop head and a 4x10 or 1x15 wit tweeter.

Both could be light, and powerful.

Another thing to look into is the Marshall combos out there. Tons of power and 2x10/4x10 and 1x15 setups, with available extension cabs.

[parsons]

Tell the yuppies to go suck traffic on Wisconsin Ave! The problem here is that you're playing in the nice part of the city. To be loud you have to play in the hoods outside of NE and SE like my band does.

All kidding aside, you could keep your head, just get a smaller cab thats light and something you can crank up if needed. Atomic had two Bag End 15" cabs two days ago that they wanted around $200 for, each. They're light as hell and can get loud if needed.

[Chopshonky]

yeah man my first ever massive bass error was buying the biggest baddest amp I could afford. Face it unless you're a proper freaky star YOU will be shifting the bugger. I am now down to 2x10 cab and a modern light-weight head. but I do miss an Ampeg rocket-bass 300 combo with 1x15 that I had back in the 90's. It sounded great, looked the business (in a kitchy way) and handled any gig, your amp becomes a stage monitor for you at any real gig, (including outdoor) so don't worry about filling up the room with presence from the massive amp itself - make it a medium-volume, lightweight, ballsy-toned combo and stop proudly at that. leave the rest to your talented sound man.

[WhoDidTheElf]

I hear what you're saying. The only problem with me is that I'm constantly changing things up depending on what I want.

Even if I'm going to go jam with a friend, which I do a lot of, I always want to bring something that works well with my bass. I used to have a nice combo, but I found there was only so much it could do when I wanted so much from it. Don't get me wrong, having to throw around a combo compared to a rig is sweet, specially when you're done late at night and the last thing you feel like doing is heavy lifting, but it killed me on the inside knowing that my sound was limited to the combo.

Tone probably means way too much to me, but oh well. Vices will be vices.

[babebambi]

I feel that OP is not soliciting suggestion of a combo to replace his rig; or even questioning whether a combo will be able to do the job of a full rig

So let's not confuse "needs" with "wants"

IMO, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting/using a big rig
if you have the capacity to buy it, store it, and move it
well, it also helps if the venues don't despise big rigs

I'd give the 1+ hr of load in/out,
to get the 3+ hrs of gigging satisfaction
bring what makes YOU happy and play better
thou if it's just jamming, then I'd consider something smaller

[rodl2005]

I agree, but, damn these days, some of the light stuff is very good. Mark Bass 1x15 combos-esp the J.Berlin model imo.
A decent powered combo & a matching ext cab would be fine.
Is yr Schro. 2x15 the light model? A GB 900w head would kill with that too.