Best Portable Amp for a Student? BG and/or DB...

[loociek]

I'm a student bass player getting their first serious amp, now that I know a little something about tone, watts, etc. Any recommendations? I need something portable (definitely less than 50 lbs, and preferably a lot smaller), and versatile enough to work with a bass guitar or a double bass, maybe with the help of a preamp.

Throw out your favorites!

[fdeck]

Well, I've got a favorite, but I'm not throwing it out.

I've had a GK MicroBass combo for over a decade. It's a compact, rugged amp. These amps turn up from time to time in the Classifieds, otherwise there's RMC Audio. I've used my combo for both BG and DB.

It doesn't get stoopid loud. That's the tradeoff with any compact amp.

Now, a decade ago I would have said that a combo is absolutely the way to go for "grab and go" portability, but the new micro heads have changed the rules of that game. Check out offerings from:

Euphonic Audio
Genz-Benz
GK

I know that GK has just come out with a tiny little head, the MB200, and it would be lovely for somebody to be the guinea pig and let us know how it behaves!

I am pretty sure all of these amps have high input impedance, so they are worth trying without a preamp.

[hdiddy]

An old AI Focus SA (600 or 800 watts), Fishman Pro Plat EQ (or similar pre), and a good cab (Epi UL110 or Wizzy 10). Maybe bigger speaker (or add a second one) for EB. Light (<30 lbs), powerful, configurabl, lots of tone shaping through the Pro Plat.

Either that or maybe a Flightcase 300 if you want a single combo that's big enough for small venues.

[pasta4lnch]

MB minimark is super small, and super clean . . . I gig w/ mine all the time - it's pretty loud

[Ike Harris]

Been using the MarkBass 121p for a couple months. Will do anything I need to do so far. It's as light as a GK combo and has 500 watts. Need I say more?

Ike

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

It depends on your need for volume. The little GK combos are good but as Fdeck said, they don't go very loud. However, they will drive an extension cabinet and do very well. Their newer combos are also worth checking out.

Yes, the new micro heads make it a new game, but there is something very convenient about a combo.

[moles]

I've been using an old silverface Eden Nemesis 2x8 combo, that was a NOS find at a pawn shop. Does great for both. Not the lightest or loudest, but it was cheap, sounds good, and has a second channel input which I could use for doubling purposes if I didn't have my other options for that.

On the "loudness" issue - I actually used it at a loud rock gig with my slab this weekend, at a bar with reeediculous amounts of low end bleeding on to the stage from the FOH subs. Using it just for mids and top end worked out just fine. I've also filled a 2-300 seat theatre with a Big Band with just that amp too (and been asked to turn down) - so it's probably louder than I let on.

[vin*tone]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

MB minimark is super small, and super clean . . . I gig w/ mine all the time - it's pretty loud

I've been pondering this one.

I have the Micromark.... the tiny one. It's surprisingly good with EB but totally STINKS with DB. (Maybe the input impedance - I'll report back after running through a Baggs). I use a Gage Realist.

So far the Micro seems perfectly tuned to accentuate all the finger noise and clackery. You can also hear the note in there somewhere.

That said - I hear great things about the Mini and given the tone joy I get playing the EB thru the Micro I'm pretty confident the Mini would be a sweet sounding little box with both.

[vin*tone]

Anyone tried the Ibanez Promethean with DB?

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by loociek

I'm a student bass player getting their first serious amp, now that I know a little something about tone, watts, etc. Any recommendations? I need something portable (definitely less than 50 lbs, and preferably a lot smaller), and versatile enough to work with a bass guitar or a double bass, maybe with the help of a preamp.

Throw out your favorites!

Loociek,
Most of the student players I know use the GK MBE or MBS (my personal preference). There rugged, reasonably priced, and frequently for sale used. You could add one of the GK MBX cabinets and that definitely gets you under the 50 lb weight. That's your best bet price wise and weight wise IMHO.
Alternatively, if you have a little more cash on hand then I think the new Acoustic Image Ten2 combo might be something to look at or the Euphonic Audio Doubler and a Wizzy 12 M line. Both of these rigs are in the $ 1.300.00 to $1,500.00 price range though.

Ric

[bolo]

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Anyone tried the Ibanez Promethean with DB?

Here's a short, recent thread.

[vin*tone]

^^Good reports so far. Hard for me to try out myself - there isn't one to try out in a 100k radius and I'd need to haul my DB and BG with me

[bolo]

loociek, research them all here. See which writeups seem to speak to you the strongest. Then try them out for yourself.

If I were you, like others here have said, I would probably research Genz-Benz, Markbass, GK, Phil Jones, and the Ibanez. That said, I haven't used any of them. I have however used AI and EA gear. But like Ric said, that stuff is pricey.

BTW, here's the link for the DB classifieds, if you haven't seen it yet.

Yes you should probably consider a preamp for your DB pickup. I like the HPF-Pre for the price and feature set.

A belated welcome to TB. You've come to the right place.

[chancletarock]

I have a Markbass CMD121 P - it's the Little Mark II (or is it III now? I donno) head with a 12" speaker & tweeter. It sounds great with my setup (Upton Hybrid Deluxe, Spirocore/Obli set, and Revolution II pickup). Everyone's bass could sound different, etc. etc. etc.; but I will say that sometimes I think it's not on, because it sounds so much like my bass. It's 29 lbs, but boxier than the GK amp. I've played a bit out of the Microbass and the AI contra combo. For me the GK amp sounded tinny for the DB in comparison, but I know a lot of people have success with them; obviously they're great EB amps. I found the opposite for the AI contra; sounded great with the DB, but my electric's pickups were way too hot for it.

Best thing you can do is bring both axes into wherever you can test one out. The guitar center dude thought I was a total weirdo for doing like three 30 min sessions (you gotta step away from it to make sure you're not honeymooning!) with the DB and EB side by side, bowing, plucking, having the employee play it (well sorta), and all that jazz. The way I see it though is that this is a big investment, and it's worth more in the long run to minimize that feeling of "man I would like what I just played if it didn't sound like a tin can with rubber bands on it."

Good luck!

[powerbass]

I would check out the Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 w/either the 8" or 10" speakers, they sound fantastic and are extremely portable. You can add extension speakers to increase volume as well. I would also recommend an Fdeck Preamp to go along with whatever amp you choose. This helps dial in a nice sound for the DB regardless of the amp.

[bolo]

Originally Posted by powerbass

I would also recommend an Fdeck Preamp to go along with whatever amp you choose. This helps dial in a nice sound for the DB regardless of the amp.

Yup. Reminded though how much I like my SansAmp BDDI for slab too. Excellent tone shaping capabilities for EB, no matter what amp is behind it.

[FMartin]

SWR Baby Blue II

[john m]

I love my line 6 studio 10".

It has an XLR out for PA support if a PA is available.

[mje]

Assuming "student" implies "not too expensive", check out the GK MB112. 200 watts into a 12" speaker in a small package, and a lot of EQ for just under $300.

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Are they finally done with those?