Best medium sized/portable amp

[Chris Paget]

I have been lugging around a 4x10 Hartke cabinet with a 450 watt head for all my gigs (and using it with both upright and electric bass). I have found that there are times when I just don't need that big of a setup. It takes up a lot of stage room and I'm also planning for some more listening-room type gigs where I definitely wouldn't want that big of a rig.

What would be the best compact size setup that is great with an upright and has a good amount of power? I seem to see a lot of people using Gallien-Kruegers, and the Acoustic Images look nice. Also trying to not pay a huge penny though (thinking about the price of the AIs in particular)..

Any help is appreciated!

[MrSidecar]

I don't know about your electric sound, but IMHO in your case, I wouldn't vote for the AI stuff. The "ambient" character produced by downfiring speakers is not really what I'd want for my electric sound (if I had one). Galliens combo is somehow a favorite for many players, again IMHO the sound is certainly not electric bass friendly (I dislike it for double too). Phil Jones Bass comes to mind. Super Flightcase, that is- Very neutral, but very flexible as well. Also reasonably small.

There's also an option that's named after what you're doing- the EA doubler. I don't have any experience on that one, but if it's aptly named, that's something to check out.

Best

Sidecar

[oldno7]

I use a 400rb G.K....4x10 G.K Cabinet and a 1x15 cab at the bigger gigs. at little shows and at rehersals I find a 2x10 works just fine!

[Chris Paget]

Thanks, guys. Man, the PJB Flightcase in red looks awesome! Love the combo of upwards and forward-facing speakers too.

[Co.]

The best medium sized setup for both EB and DB is the Markbass 121P and if you want an extension cabinet. The Markbass has much more power than GK or AI combos and is a better all around amp, while both GK and AI are almost useless for EB.

[shadygrove]

Originally Posted by Co.

The best medium sized setup for both EB and DB is the Markbass 121P and if you want an extension cabinet. The Markbass has much more power than GK or AI combos and is a better all around amp, while both GK and AI are almost useless for EB.

That's a rather sweeping generalization... if you're comparing to the GK MB-150 series then what you say about power is true, but I believe the GK MB-210 puts out more watts than the 121P as a combo at 350 and 300 respectively. The MB-210 puts out 500 watts, same as the 121P, with an extension cab. The MB-212 and MB-115 both put out a full 500 watts as combos. I have not personally A/B'd the new GK amps with DB and electric, but I'm certainly planning to before making a purchase as at $599 the MB-210 is 2/3 the price of the CMD121P

[kittyboy]

Originally Posted by Co.

The best medium sized setup for both EB and DB is the Markbass 121P and if you want an extension cabinet. The Markbass has much more power than GK or AI combos and is a better all around amp, while both GK and AI are almost useless for EB.

+1 this is a great suggestion to the OP

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by Chris Paget

I have been lugging around a 4x10 Hartke cabinet with a 450 watt head for all my gigs (and using it with both upright and electric bass). I have found that there are times when I just don't need that big of a setup. It takes up a lot of stage room and I'm also planning for some more listening-room type gigs where I definitely wouldn't want that big of a rig.

Any help is appreciated!

Chris,
Here's a couple of things to consider. The MB2 500 has been through a whole lot of "revisions". I played through one of the first ones to arrive at Guitar Center here in St. Louis. I loved the EQ section because it reminded me of the older GK's. There was warmth that's IMHO been lacking in the newer Micro Bass amps. I owned both the 200MB and the MBE. GK is a great company, I'm sure that they have got the bugs out by now, but I'd really check into that to make sure I had the newest version of the amp.

Markbass amps are really great as well, but you have to deal with the VLE and VPF controls that to my ears, influence the sound of that preamp. I loved it on EB, but not so much for DB, so you're electric will sound great and you'll have to compromise a little on the DB sound, this kind of depends on your pickup and bass, so I'd want to play through one on a gig. The Mark Acoustic is more expensive but Wilbyman swears by that amp and I trust his ears. Plus it's a two channel head.

Ric

[Co.]

Originally Posted by shadygrove

That's a rather sweeping generalization... if you're comparing to the GK MB-150 series then what you say about power is true, but I believe the GK MB-210 puts out more watts than the 121P as a combo at 350 and 300 respectively. The MB-210 puts out 500 watts, same as the 121P, with an extension cab. The MB-212 and MB-115 both put out a full 500 watts as combos. I have not personally A/B'd the new GK amps with DB and electric, but I'm certainly planning to before making a purchase as at $599 the MB-210 is 2/3 the price of the CMD121P

I was talking about the MB-150. Somehow only this one comes to my mind when GK is mentioned. I never played the newer high powered GKs.
I don't think anybody will hear a difference between 350W and 300W. It's much more important how the amp sounds when you have on that edge. That's why a 300W Ampeg is at least as loud as a 600W transistor amp. Even more important for bass amps is in my opinion the speaker effectivity: How loud it is and how controlled it is when you feed it with loud bass frequencies.

[AMJBASS]

Agreed about the Markbass Mini CMD121 combo. It is probably one of the best options for what you are looking for. Lots of volume. Clean clear sound, and light weight. That said, I regularly gig with my Gallien Krueger MB150 combo(sometimes with an extension cabinet), and it works just fine for doubling. Sounds great in fact. Depends on the style/venue you are playing of course...