Cheap, good combo for DB

nathanmcnathan · #1 08-06-2008, 10:42 AM

Hi everybody! I'm going to be going to college in about a year, so I figure now's a good time to upgrade all my gear, while I can afford to. I'm going to be selling my overly large Electric Bass rig (GK 400RB head, Behringer 115 cab), and I want to buy a combo for DB that will be small, but loud enough for a jazz trio or quartet. I'll probably have $400-$500 to spend on it at the most. Any reccomendations?
Thanks!

bolo · #2 08-06-2008, 11:18 AM

I think some of the Yorkville bass combo amps get some good reviews if you search this forum a bit. [ Edit - Yorkville is a.k.a. Traynor I think].

**Francois Blais** · #3 08-06-2008, 11:52 AM

Furthermore, Yorkville stuff is made in Canada, so it should be quite easy for you to get them...

The smallest ones are 50W and 100W respectively.
With a drummer, I wouldn't go lower than 100W though.

salcott · #4 08-06-2008, 11:58 AM

Yorkville/Traynor is good stuff. That said, I'd try to scrounge some more bucks and get the GK combo amp-the one w/out chorus. It'll pay off in the long run with quality sound (both for BG and uprite) and longevity. It'll drive an 8ohm extension cab pretty well if needed as well.

nathanmcnathan · #5 08-06-2008, 02:26 PM

Which GK is that? I have the first 400-RB head right now, and it's not too good for my bass.

EDIT: I ust did some research, and it looks like the MB-150 (I think that's what you're talking about) is out of my price range. I'll have $500 at most to spend, including taxes.

charlespf · #6 08-06-2008, 02:36 PM

He's probably talking about the GK MB 150.
You could probably pick one up used for around $400-500, and they're high quality.
With your budget, you'll probably want to look in the used market.
Older AI combos can sometimes be had within your budget, and you also may want to look into a used Polytone.

bolo · #7 08-06-2008, 03:02 PM

I was going to mention that there is a TBDB Classifieds forum here, for those that haven't seen it yet. But it looks like nathan beat me to the punch and already has his old stuff listed for sale. Ha! Well maybe it well help someone else who reads this thread in the future. I think the GK combos and AI Contra's and Coda's do show up for sale there from time to time.

nathanmcnathan · #8 08-06-2008, 03:21 PM

Well, I've got lots of time to sell my stuff. I don't leave until about a year from now, and I think that's lots of time to find a good amp. I'm still going to check back here for ideas, and this thread will hopefully be helpful to others in my position.

EDIT: I think I'm going to post a wanted ad in the classifieds, so if anybody has a nice combo they're looking to get rid of, PM me!

Ric Vice · #9 08-06-2008, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan

Hi everybody! I'm going to be going to college in about a year, so I figure now's a good time to upgrade all my gear, while I can afford to. I'm going to be selling my overly large Electric Bass rig (GK 400RB head, Behringer 115 cab), and I want to buy a combo for DB that will be small, but loud enough for a jazz trio or quartet. I'll probably have $400-$500 to spend on it at the most. Any reccomendations?
Thanks!

Nathan,
You might want to wait until the new GK MB 500 comes to market, and save you're pennies for. It's about a $100.00 above what you want to spend. It has the features that could make it a great lightweight DB amp.
Coming on the heels of the 200MB and MBS design this amp has real potential. You could keep the Beheringer cab until you could get a new one. The amp is supposed to come to market by the end of August, which is actually the beginning of September.

Ric

nathanmcnathan · #10 08-06-2008, 04:01 PM

I really don't want to keep the cab, too big and heavy for me. I have some lower back problems (I know, I'm only 17

), and I don't want such a big amp for when I go to college. Also, the amp won't fit in any cars with my bass, and since I can't get a smaller bass, I'm forced to get a smaller amp.

Ric Vice · #11 08-06-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan

I really don't want to keep the cab, too big and heavy for me. I have some lower back problems (I know, I'm only 17

), and I don't want such a big amp for when I go to college. Also, the amp won't fit in any cars with my bass, and since I can't get a smaller bass, I'm forced to get a smaller amp.

Nathan,
I hear you, well then, hmm? The GK MBS combo is probably one of you're best bets. They are very durable and sound good. You can usually pick them up used for a reasonable price.

Ric

robgrow · #12 08-06-2008, 10:05 PM

+1 for the GK MB150S combo. A very cool little amp that's an industry standard used by many professionals. Used, they often sell in the $300 to $400 range. I'd recommend looking for a Series III, which is the current version.

bribass · #13 08-07-2008, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by salcott

Yorkville/Traynor is good stuff. That said, I'd try to scrounge some more bucks and get the GK combo amp-the one w/out chorus. It'll pay off in the long run with quality sound (both for BG and uprite) and longevity. It'll drive an 8ohm extension cab pretty well if needed as well.

Steve I have to differ here. W/ DB I've been pushing the **** out of my little 50 watt Yorkville since 1999 (sometimes in school gyms w/ loud drummers) and the 10" speaker has sustained 0 damage. The same w/ the rest of the amp even after it tumbled down half a dozen or more granite steps of NYC bulding. It also sounds really good IMO and is a small box that weighs 26 lbs.

Better and warmer than the cold, compressed sounding GK combo (w/o chorus) that I used extensively in the early 90's. BTW-the GK fell over forward w/ the cable in its input and never worked right after several ($$) repairs because their design has the input imbedded right into the circuit board. W/ almost any other amp made at the time that would have been the simplest of repair jobs w/ the soldering of two wires.

I paid $225 for the Yorkville and I think the new version (now Traynor again) can be had for under $300. The bigger 100 watt version w/ the 15" is like under $400. That one sounds huge great w/ BG as well.

They have a great 2 year warranty on all their gear. For the $ (and more) you just can't go wrong w/ their stuff.
I am NOT a Yorkville endorsing artist, just a fan.

BG

nathanmcnathan · #14 08-07-2008, 08:34 AM

OK, I've just had an offer for my gear: trade for an SWR Workingman's 12. Anybody have experience with this amp?
Thanks!

bolo · #15 08-07-2008, 09:00 AM

Search this forum a bit. This cab has been commented on before too.

Michael Glynn · #16 08-07-2008, 10:46 AM

A good inexpensive one I've used is the Eden Nemesis N28S. 120W, 2x8-inch speakers. I've used one even on big band gigs and got by just fine. It is discontinued now, but still available a few places. In fact, I see that it is only $299 at Musician's Friend right now because it is on clearance. I think they normally retailed more in the $450 range, so that's a pretty great deal.

**Francois Blais** · #17 08-07-2008, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan

OK, I've just had an offer for my gear: trade for an SWR Workingman's 12. Anybody have experience with this amp?
Thanks!

Go for it!
A bit ackward to move around (the handle is not exactly at the gravity center; at least was not on mine) but very nice, furthermore if you double on BG.

nathanmcnathan · #18 08-07-2008, 02:21 PM

I think I'm going to go get it this week, seems like a good amp.

trounsontime · #19 08-10-2008, 03:20 PM

The Workingman's 12 is very very heavy, and furthermore mine has completely given up the ghost, making a very unusual sound when I turn it on sounding something like a synth self-oscillating, can't really recommend it even though it does sound awesome.

bolo · #20 08-10-2008, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nathanmcnathan

I think I'm going to go get it this week, seems like a good amp.

If there is any way you can try one w/ your DB first, I would recommend it. Sort of "look before you leap." I think the SWR's have a colored sound that seems better suited for a "modern" or "clean" slap type sound for EB. I had an older WM 15 for a while that I really tried to like. But it was a less than two years before I turned it over and got something else.

But that's just me. A friend of mine who I really respect loves his WM 12 for EB. And that's why I encouraged you earlier to search this forum a bit. You'll find impressions both for and against, but probably mostly "for".

I think the basic character of the SWR is different than the GK, and much different than the AI Contra. So it depends on what you like. Might work great for your needs.

I also don't know how much the sound and the feature set has changed over the last say 5 years or so, including the Fender acquisition. So just urging you to try one first if you can. And to post your impressions if you do.