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A Friendly Bass Combo Discussion

#42
Riss said:
Hey Hello,

I am currently looking for my first bass combo for practising, recording and smaller gigs. The price is also some factor, but I tend to pay the price if the product is really worth it. I have done some research, as well as testing, and my opinions are quite clear.

From the top, I liked the most the Hartke sound. Either it is the Kickback 12/15 or HD150. My problem here is that I don't really understand the purpose for Kickback Series since they have no outputs and really plain overall and still have the 500W. Would like to hear if, in your opinion, there is any reason to choose it over HD Series, apart from the weight.

The other choice (so far), would be EBS Classic Session 120 MK2. I really like the sound of that. I can't see much people playing on those though... Anyone got some experiences?

One more honourable mention is TC Electronic BG250 with 12" speaker. It's got great features and looks solid sounding but it is so hard to find. They apparently stopped producing it. Ideas?

My short opinions on the other competitors are:
Ampeg BA-112/115 V2 - they are good quality but I think not for my style of sound;
Warwick BC150 - quite nice and modern sounding, you get all the clarity you need but the sound is somewhat skinny; doesn't really sound like bass combo
Fender Rumble 100/200 - no clarity at all, it is too boomy; out of the question

I would love to hear anything about any bass combo that I mentioned. You can prove me wrong without any hesitation. I am open to all opinions.

Also, I heard a lot of good things about the Trace Elliot stuff but I cannot find much about the newest options.

The bass is 2016 Fender MIJ Jazz used for funk, slap and jazz.
Click to expand...
You need a Phil Jones BG-400. It a thousand bucks, but it will sound better than anything mentioned. Its super small, but a little heavy. You can add extension cabs to it too. Great DI out. Hartke is good gear, but I played a 2x10 Hartke one rehearsal day when my amp wasnt available and was blown away that I couldn't get a good sound from the Hartke. Like playing with a big pillow right in front of the speaker.
 
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#43
Nothing like it out there now, but the one I enjoyed and played the hell out of ? A Peavey Combo 300 with that row of knobs, sitting on top of a 115BW cabinet. Had the tone of a box of corn flakes, but geez it would get loud, fit the two pieces in a 70's Honda Civic, and you could throw it down a flight of stairs and it always, always worked. They DON'T make 'em like that any more.

Today? Easy. Until Andy convinces Mesa to make a Subway Combo, the Demeter Flip-Top. Loud, compact, Demeter tone and reliability, sign me up.
 
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#46
Honestly, i think most combos from popular brands are going to sound good, but you just have to get one with enough wattage to perform. I wouldn't consider anything below 200 watts, personally. Gallien-Krueger, Markbass, Fender, Ampeg, Hartke...all worthwhile. Personally i would go with a Gallien-Krueger just because i know how they sound and know it will work. But i also have little doubt the other brands i listed will sound good too for most any style of music.
 
#49
I continue to truly enjoy my TC Electronic BG250-112. Seems like there's no gray area from TB users on this one -- you either know how great it is... OR you're trying to chase it off the site with torches and pitchforks. :cool: It's got fantastic tone, solid reliability, TonePrint effects (which sound excellent and fun to use), a built-in tuner, low weight and a low price (new for around $300). For small gigs, it's perfect.

But...

I will say that if you can pick up a used head and cabinet, you're probably going to end up with something with more power, even if you end up paying a chunk more. The Mesa D800 and D800+.. the Genz-Benz Shuttles and several other rock-solid heads are easily available on the used market. And an inexpensive, quality 1x12, 1x15 or 2x10 is pretty easily to pick up on the cheap. Again, a higher price tag, but I'd take a little rig like this over any combo amp any day of the week.
 
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#51
Plus 1 for the GK stuff. Really like the old metal cased ones, but they're expensive to fix now that they're old.
Now play one of these and it checks all the boxes.
_5281402.jpg
_5281400 copy1.jpg
 
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#54
Riss said:
Hey Hello,

I am currently looking for my first bass combo for practising, recording and smaller gigs. The price is also some factor, but I tend to pay the price if the product is really worth it. I have done some research, as well as testing, and my opinions are quite clear.

From the top, I liked the most the Hartke sound. Either it is the Kickback 12/15 or HD150. My problem here is that I don't really understand the purpose for Kickback Series since they have no outputs and really plain overall and still have the 500W. Would like to hear if, in your opinion, there is any reason to choose it over HD Series, apart from the weight.

The other choice (so far), would be EBS Classic Session 120 MK2. I really like the sound of that. I can't see much people playing on those though... Anyone got some experiences?

One more honourable mention is TC Electronic BG250 with 12" speaker. It's got great features and looks solid sounding but it is so hard to find. They apparently stopped producing it. Ideas?

My short opinions on the other competitors are:
Ampeg BA-112/115 V2 - they are good quality but I think not for my style of sound;
Warwick BC150 - quite nice and modern sounding, you get all the clarity you need but the sound is somewhat skinny; doesn't really sound like bass combo
Fender Rumble 100/200 - no clarity at all, it is too boomy; out of the question

I would love to hear anything about any bass combo that I mentioned. You can prove me wrong without any hesitation. I am open to all opinions.

Also, I heard a lot of good things about the Trace Elliot stuff but I cannot find much about the newest options.

The bass is 2016 Fender MIJ Jazz used for funk, slap and jazz.
Click to expand...
Check out the peavey max 208. TC has a nice 2x8 combo too.

But, out of the ones you threw out there, id go with the Ampeg. Ampeg tone is perfect for every style of music. Tight, round, and huge...Ampeg.
 
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#57
My no 1 piece of advice is that this is not a marriage. You are allowed to chop and change your bass rig just as much and often as you like and no-one will look down on you. Some people round here get through more bass rigs in a year than I have in my entire life.

No 2 bit of advice is that you will probably change your mind umpteen times about what you like as you progress.

So my conclusion is that you should by something that is readily available cheap on the local second hand market from a major brand that's going to be easy to move on. Fender Rumble is an obvious fit, but there are others too. As you don't like that choice, why not pick whichever of the others on your list comes up first at a reasonable price on the local secondhand market?
 
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#58
gigetto said:
But here in Italy is not available, do you know if in Europe someone sells?
Click to expand...
Traynors are Canadian. I would start by contacting Long & McQuade, a major music gear supplier in Canada. Here is their website.
Canada's Music Store, Musical Instruments | Long & McQuade They may work with or have outlets in Europe.
Or maybe someone else on Talkbass is familiar with finding Traynor amps in Europe.
You should know the small block series comes in 3 sizes. SB110, SB112, SB115. I own the SB115 as well as other bass combo amps (Fender, Ampeg etc.) . The Traynor is clearly my favorite. It is easy to transport and always sounds surprisingly good in all settings with little or no EQ adjustments. Just a pleasure.
sb112.jpg
 
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#59
lomo said:
With a combo, if there's a problem with the amp, you're also without a speaker, and vice- versa.
Click to expand...
I have an Ampeg B-2 15"combo I use it with a 4x10 cab, when needed I can use it as a cab for my SWR 350 basic Amp together with my 4x10. I can find every sound I like within these configs. If the amp brakes down I still can use it as a cab. If the speaker brakes down I still can use the amp on the 4x10.... therefore I think your argument doesn't count... versatility is all in the mind....
 
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#60
swink said:
I have an Ampeg B-2 15"combo I use it with a 4x10 cab, when needed I can use it as a cab for my SWR 350 basic Amp together with my 4x10. I can find every sound I like within these configs. If the amp brakes down I still can use it as a cab. If the speaker brakes down I still can use the amp on the 4x10.... therefore I think your argument doesn't count... versatility is all in the mind....
Click to expand...

...sure, but if either element of the combo needs repair, you may be without both of its' elements. Also, if the combo's amp needs repair, and removing the head is difficult or if trouble shooting requires both parts, you'll have to transport the whole box......and if you want to bring just the head somewhere to use as a DI, or for use with headphones, or as a backup or upgrade over a provided backline, you're stuck bringing the whole enchilada (unless of course your combo is really a cab with a head mounting bracket....which means it's an expensive head and cab with a well-deisgned bracket :-) )
 
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