$300 dollar small amp challenge.

[Music Man Dan]

I considered the Ampeg but lack of a line out was a dealbreaker.

Slow down....not so fast. The Ampeg BA210v2 is a great combo with a lot of flexibility AND it has a DI out AND it has a 1/4" jack for an extra 8-ohm extension speaker. I've seen them used at around your $300 price point. I have one and I really like it. Plus it's a wedge design, perfect for hearing yourself and projecting your sound.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

Hey guys,

I would like suggestions for a budget amp to fill a need of mine. My main rig is a GK700RBII with 2 112’s. It handles my electric, full band gigs no problem.

However, I find myself getting more and more three piece semi-acoustic gigs lately. Acoustic guitar, Electic bass, and Congas. Everyone sings. I have been going direct and that’s OK, but I think a small bass amp with a good di would make things better for me. We usually carry at least one powered sub to these gigs so FOH is good to do the heavy lifting, but I seem to want for a little more stage sound. My rig with one cab does the trick, but I’d like to find a small one handed grab and go solution.

Is there an amp that will do it for under $300? Used is OK. I’m considering a Rumble 100. Is there something else that I should be considering.

The Eden TN2251 is a nice little 225-watt, 112 combo for ~$599 new. Used, it should be about half that if you can find it. I have the amp that's in it and a separate Eden EX112 speaker. Bought the amp used for $275 with shoulder bag (amp weighs 4.7-lbs) and the speaker was $269 new. The speaker in the combo is a better cab simply because it has a separate horn tweeter whereas mine has the whizzer cone (cone within a cone) to cover the high-mids and highs. I liked my set up so much, I bought another EX-112cab and would use the two 112 cabs on medium sized clubs.

So that combo will sound at least as good as my separates, and my separates sound superb. The amp has two semi-parametric controls so you can dial in low-mids and high-mids to whatever frequency you like. I set one of them to ~250Hz and boost it to about 1 o'clock. Gives me great definition. Also has a bass boost switch, which sounds particularly good in small rooms and lower levels. it has an auto compressor that you can turn on or off and is better sounding that the one in my WT500/800. It uses that "magic ear" chip to get the warmth that Edens hybrid amps do. it's just a really nice and light small amp.

Below is what my separates look like next to the TN2251 combo. Combo would easily do the trick if you can find a used one around $300:

And, oh yeah...it weighs a total of 37-lbs.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

I see 2010-ish Fender Bassman 250/210 or 115 combos for $200-250 on a pretty regular basis. They're excellent, often overlooked amps!

I have a 250/210 that's my main medium amp, found on Craigslist for $225. The contour and room balance controls are brilliant, similar in function to the VLF and VPF controls on my Markbass stuff, where it's easy to get a great tone with a flat EQ and just those knobs. If there's one available locally, give it a listen.

 

[JohnnyBottom]

Rumble talk...the Fender Rumble 40 with the $100 mod of the speaker is just great.

 

[sonojono]

GK MB108. Surprisingly loud for the type of gigs you’re getting and is also a good bedroom amp

 

[BarfanyShart]

[Rumble Club comes together like Vultron]

LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!!

 

[Jay2U]

Maybe something Behringer? I've been using their BXL1800A for ten years. I never had any problem whatsoever with it.

 

[pbass888]

Rb400 purchased last year for $125 on reverb... combos maybe an old peavey bass amp like the one from the early 80s. Cab is an old flite amp that is a 12 inch 12 lb. and cost 200 used on Craigslist.

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I got a Rumble 100 recently and it does a good job. I am in a classic rock band that plays for mostly older crowds, like my age, and I line out to the PA with either a passive direct box or the mxr m80. I can usually hear the deep lows coming from the PA speakers.
On a side note about weight,
Our new keyboard player has a big 1x15 Behringer combo that weighs 3 times that of the Rumble 100 and he doubles on guitar and has another guitar tube amp. If we get back to being real busy I want to see how he holds up. He bought ramps for the drummer's big trailer and yesterday, for the first time, we rolled his loaded cart of equipment into the trailer. Instead of buying ramps he should have gotten a lighter amp.

This kind of thing frustrates me so much. There is no excuse to be lugging around heavy gear in 2020 in my opinion.

 

[Marc valero]

This kind of thing frustrates me so much. There is no excuse to be lugging around heavy gear in 2020 in my opinion.

You are right, I am 65 and can still handle heavy stuff, but why push it, when there is already the PA to move and set up. The keyboard player is near my age and can afford to buy anything he needs so we will see if he makes any changes to lighter equipment.

 

[Rocksolid]

Small low volume gigs like that I like my amp pointing at me. I often take a Behringer powered wedge. A B112D and a preamp pedal like a THDI or a host of other good options.

 

[getBAK]

What about a lightweight head that could act as a backup for your GK700RBII? Then you could just take 112 and drop the micro head into a shoulder bag with the cables, flashlight and strings. Same amount of carry as a combo, but much more useful and generally better quality.

GK mb800, mb500, mb200 all seem like good candidates here. Tiny and 5 lbs or less.

Best advice. You can fit a micro head into the pocket of a gig-bag. No need for a cheap combo if you've already got a decent 112

 

[Jack Butler]

Ok it's over $300, but still: Gallien-Krueger MB200 200W Ultra Light Bass Amp Head | South Shore Music & DiCenso's Drum Shop | Reverb

They have come up a lot for ~$200 on TalkBass classifieds.

Yup. This is the obvious answer.

 

[bassliner50]

Yep Rumble 100 is a great choice . If you could spring for a few more bucks ($500ish) , Traynor SB112 or SB115 from Canada sounds sweetest. I have both the Fender and the Small Block 115. You wont be sorry to own either one.

 

[burgerdj]

Ibanez Promethean is a great little 300w combo and can drive an extension cabinet. Easy one hand carry, nice build quality and low end extension. I got mine lightly used for about $225. The GK combos are also great.

 

[chiphaleonbass]

Personally, I'd get a nice pre-amp DI (VT Bass DI, Scrambler etc..) and get a solid powered speaker, can use the DI on big gigs when running through the board (essentially whatever sound you're interested in) and still have the powered speaker for stage, either as a monitor or to help fill out the sound in a club.

 

[motleyh]

GK mb112 or mb210 If you can find one used.

I was able to find my GK mb110 combo new for about $300. It's coffee-house capable and has DI.

 

[CrackBass]

Guitar center had a Peavey Max 100 in stock. Didn’t buy it but I played it for a bit. I’m a little bit impressed with that amp. It’s got a very solid sound for such a small package. Seems like it will have more than enough steam for my needs and it’s small. Probably 2/3 the size of one of my 112’s and just a shade over 20 lbs. It’s also cheap. Definitely a contender.

 

[CrackBass]

Well I bought the Peavey Max100. It’s a smokin’ little amp. I took it to a rehearsal. Full electric with a miked bass drum. Obviously a single 10 with 100 watts can’t quite compete. A line out and things got manageable. The amp is pretty impressive for its size and price. I’m pretty sure it would work for what I intend, but....
I kinda got to thinking about getting something just a bit more capable. You know buy once, cry once. So I returned the amp and ordered a used GK MB112. We’ll see how things work out next week when it gets here.

 

[cm3ohana]

Although I’m an Ampeg and Fender fan and owner, I would suggest, like a few others, to pick up an MB200 head to use with one of your 112 cabs to keep your tone/sound familiar and consistent.

However, if you’re going for something completely different, I would suggest the Rumble 100 v3 which should cover what you’re looking for.