What is the ultimate gigging combo?

eddievanbassman · #1 08-10-2011, 01:44 AM

Based on size, price, tone, and power.

What's yalls ideas?

**bassybill** · #2 08-10-2011, 03:19 AM

You will probably get several dozen answers, all different.

Try giving more detail about what you're after. What sort of band(s) do you play with, what's the line up, how loud do you need to be (what are you "competing" with), what size of venues/style of gigs do you tend to get, what sort of sound are you after (examples would help), what basses do you play (4/5 strings?), how portable do you need it, what's your budget, what sort of gear have you had/seen/heard/tried/used that you liked or disliked and why, et cetera.

I own the perfect combo for me based on size, price, tone and power. At the moment, I have no clues as to whether it would be worth you checking it out, or not.

Just trying to help you get decent advice.

Joe Louvar · #3 08-10-2011, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eddievanbassman

Based on size, price, tone, and power.

What's yalls ideas?

IMO - the GK MB115.

waleross · #4 08-10-2011, 03:27 AM

I don't have one but if i did, I would look toward the Fender Rumble, Genz benz and warwick.

icks · #5 08-10-2011, 04:13 AM

mesa/boogie buster bass

RobertUI · #6 08-10-2011, 06:44 AM

We definitely need MUCH more information to make any kind of judgement for you. My main rig is technically a combo (Ashdown AL-AD600 mounted in an Ashdown AL-C210H) but at around 60# it's hardly portable. The one that I have for sale is also a killer combo, but at ~40# is not terribly portable either.

The best lightweight combo that i have played through was the GK-MB210 but it was lacking some of the low end thump that I've grown accustomed to. 12s or 15s are a must for me, yes I bring an Ashdown AL-115 to most shows along with the combo.

Xavier Zed · #7 08-10-2011, 06:45 AM

GK MB212 is what I use. I play rock, reggae and some ska with a Fender Jazz/P and a RIC. All sound brilliant, loud and powerful. I like 12'' speakers which gives me the tightness of 10'' and the bottom of 15'' and it weighs like 33lbs.

RobertUI · #8 08-10-2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xavier Zed

GK MB212 is what I use. I play rock, reggae and some ska with a Fender Jazz/P and a RIC. All sound brilliant, loud and powerful. I like 12'' speakers which gives me the tightness of 10'' and the bottom of 15'' and it weighs like 33lbs.

Yeah... I really want to try one of these, and keep thinking that I should sell off all of my big heavy speakers (and I own quite a few at this point) and pick up one of the 2x12 combos. Glad to hear that it's all that!

morbina · #9 08-10-2011, 07:05 AM

The two I have that work well are the gk mb212 and the fender 250/210. If I have to go up stairs or I need a quick grab and go amp solution the gk mb212 is my first choice. I haven't met a gig it couldn't cover. The fender I picked up for $150 dollars and while being heavier than I would like, it is still manageable and sounds fantastic.

JSK5String · #10 08-10-2011, 07:09 AM

That's a really open ended question, but since you asked, I think this (with my VT Deluxe in front of it) is the perfect gigging combo:

Your opinion may (and probably should) vary...

orangeball · #11 08-10-2011, 08:08 AM

GK800RB bi-amped into a 210RBH and 115RBH. Sounds good quiet and loud.

scottfeldstein · #12 08-10-2011, 08:15 AM

Everything depends on how loud it's going to need to be. Which of course depends on the style of music, how may other musicians, the size of the house, what kind of PA support you can expect, etc.

Also I'm assuming you mean a combo by itself, not one with the capability to drive an external cab if need be. (In which case it's not technically a combo anymore, I think.)

Making some assumptions and throwing out some guesses... You'll play rock music in a quartet. For up to medium sized bars and clubs. The PA may or may not provide sufficient bass support.

Given all that, I wouldn't show up with less than 2x12s, like the GK MB212. It's a pretty big and heavy combo, but it does overcome the problem with most other combos: they aren't big enough to cover a lot of common scenarios.

Smokin' Toaster · #13 08-10-2011, 08:18 AM

For metal or not?

Martin89 · #14 08-10-2011, 08:32 AM

DI with an awesome PA and Soundguy

RickenBoogie · #15 08-10-2011, 11:13 AM

...*MY* favorite combo is the Walkabout Scout, but I wouldn't consider it adequate for gigging by itself. My favorite gigging combo is not a combo amp.

bgavin · #16 08-10-2011, 06:24 PM

A banjo and kazoo.
Light, easy to carry, one trip to the vehicle.

Sid Fang · #17 08-10-2011, 07:31 PM

My EBS Drome is the best studio/rehearsal combo I've tried, but while I've gigged with it, it's a little underpowered for medium/large venues. For those occasions, I use an HD350 head and a Neo 212 bottom, which I find fabulous, but of course YMMV. I've never played through one, but essentially the same configuration is available in a single package as the NeoGorm combo.

Yeah, yeah. I love my SVT, but color me an EBS fanboy.

primusfan1989 · #18 08-10-2011, 09:06 PM

the markbass jeff berlin model is the best ive ever used, i usually hate combos but this one made me a believer

JimmyM · #19 08-10-2011, 10:46 PM

Ampeg B-15.

seanm · #20 08-10-2011, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

Also I'm assuming you mean a combo by itself, not one with the capability to drive an external cab if need be. (In which case it's not technically a combo anymore, I think.)

Nowadays I almost always use an extension cab with my combo, and I still call it a combo. I still consider it a combo since I *can* use it by itself. It's just I need something to raise it off the floor... the extension cab works well for that

With the advantage that I have the second speaker when I need it.

I think this is the best pic I have of my combo amp: