Advice for new mini/micro setup

[BloozBass]

Inga,

My theatre situation seems almost identical to yours, and it's the majority of my playing these days. Most small local theatres without FOH support are 200 seats and less. I've used many varied rigs over the years to try to get the sound I wanted, and was happiest with my old Ampeg B15T. It sounded great from the pit or backstage, but I was not real happy with the sound the audience was hearing (as evidenced by videotapes made of the productions).

A couple of months ago, I bought the Ampeg Micro SVT head and 210AV cab, and the 2 shows I've done with it so far have convinced me it was the way to go. I'm hearing pretty much the same thing the audience does, and it's got plenty of punch without being overly loud. Of course, that will vary by venue so I'll need more time to decide if it's the correct long-term solution, but so far so good. Weight of the 2 pieces together is less than any small combo amp I've ever owned, and it's small so it moves in and out of cramped quarters easily.

Of course, it may not be for you, as YMMV, etc, but I just wanted to throw that out there from a fellow theatre bassist.


Blooz

 

[newbold]

If you can find one, check into:

Mesa Walkabout
Ibanez Promethean
TC. Electronic (combo or head/stack)

I would also suggest you find a used Yamaha BBT500-110 or 115 combo
That's what I play and it's extremely versatile.

 

[Inga51]

Thanks for the input guys. I was really hoping to get some feedback from people gigging with 112 rigs on the cab options available to me.

 

[MIJ-VI]

Hey TBers. I'm very new around here and have read several threads on similar topics with people sharing their rigs and debating the merits of this cab over that etc...but not many people seem to mention what style of music they play as a reference point for their opinions.

Here's where I'm at... I have been playing for quite a few years and mainly played at a smallish church of 100 or so in a 4-5 piece, until recently when I've been playing a lot of musicals in various sized theatres. In the musicals I play everything from slap & funk to solid rock to diso to slow ballads, so a versatile sound is a must. My current setup consists of a Warwick 5 string Active Corvette (sometimes using a Boss GT-6B for minor effects in shows), running into a Yorkville XM200 15" combo. While I get a decent tone out of this set up, it's not that great (somewhat sloppy), and more importantly the 57lb weight of the amp is putting some serious strain on my back (lugging it around several times a week for rehearsals and shows).

I had thought that the Markbass 121P (or 121H) might be a good option for me but am concerned that the 1x12" cab might not cut it volume or dynamic range wise. Weight-wise it's a great option at less than 30lbs. I played a Markbass 102P (?, 2 x 10") combo at my local music store yesterday and loved the warm yet punchy and clear sound it produced...but at 40odd lbs it's not a huge reduction in weight from my current rig but a massive $$$ investment that I'm not sure I can justify as an amateur.

The idea of a separate head and cab appeals to me but obviously comes at a premium price point.

The situation is made worse by the fact that I'm based in Perth (Western Australia) and our selection of music stores and boutique brands is very limited. It's a shame that Markbass limit their amps regionally by the voltage transformer that's built in otherwise shipping one from the US would be a very cost effective option. Still shipping a cab might be an option after buying a head here.

So I'm wondering what suggestions / advice you all might have for my situation.

Cheers

The new (shipping soon) Gallien-Krueger MB212 (500 watts RMS @ 4 Ω, 2x12" neos, no ext. spkr. out, 39 lbs.) is worth a test drive based upon the largely favourable feedback on the other two new G-K MB combos:

- the MB115 (200 watts RMS, 1x15" ceramic, no ext. spkr. out, 35 lbs.), and;

- the MB210 (350 watts RMS @ 8 Ω, 2x10" neos, an ext. spkr. out, 33 lbs.)

--------

G-K in Australia:

ELECTRIC FACTORY
188 PLENTY RD.
PRESTON 3072 VICTORIA
11-613-9474-100
[email protected]
www.elfa.com.au

 

[JxBass]

I'm pretty much settled on the LMIII head as I love the sound and overall feel I get from this product.

Great choice!

The Epifani 112s seem to get good reviews on here

A terrific sounding cab at 30 lbs. Another great option is a Schroeder 15+L. http://www.schroedercabinets.com/15+.htm It pairs very nicely with a Markbass LMII/III and a 4 ohm version really pumps. And just 30 lbs!

 

[jordie65]

hey inga i currently have an avatar 212 and 112...sound great with my shuttlemax 12 but thats unavailable to me this weekend so i am borrowing a LMII for my a rehearsal on sunday..PM me if you want some detailed feedback on the avatar with LMII..you can get them in Oz now thanks to a guy in frankston over here and i really like the tone of their 12s!

 

[biobass]

Okay folks, this subject has come back up for review and I've been doing a lot of reading here on TB and am a little confused....

I've been saving my $$$ and am looking at purchasing a separate head and cab rig that needs to be ultra light for small venue and theatre work. For more details on what it will be used for please read my earlier posts.

I'm pretty much settled on the LMIII head as I love the sound and overall feel I get from this product. I did have a look at the GK micro heads and didn't like it at all, and think I prefer the LMIII over the GB Shuttle 6.0. So the questions I have realted to cabs...

I think that a good quality 112 cab will be sufficient for my needs and will be lighter than a 210 cab in most cases, although I'm not ruling the 210 option out if it can be had for a good price and the right weight. I think the cab will almost certainly need to have NEO speakers. Being based in Perth I do not have access to play any of the cabs that I am interested in unfortunately, so this purchase will be a bit more difficult.

I hear a lot of good things about the Bergantino 112 cabs but don't know much about the difference between the AE models and ER or HT models. The AE's are significantly lighter and the others are really pushing the limits of what I'm willing to carry. The Epifani 112s seem to get good reviews on here, as do the Avatars (which I'm not sure I can get in Australia that easily).

So, I'm all ears on suggestions and what people feel will be the best cab for my purpose.

Thanks,

Chris

Chris,

I, also, primarily play musical theater these days in theaters varying from 200 or so to 2000 or so seats. In the larger theaters we generally have FOH, in many of the smaller theaters we don't. For years I'd been using a Hartke Kickback12 with excellent results. I'm fortunate that most of the musical theater drummers that I work with are professional caliber and know how to play solidly, crisply, with dynamics, while controlling volume. I've never needed more than a single 12, although I have to say I do prefer the sound of multi cab set ups, I generally don't use them.

For the last 2 years or so, I've been very happy using either a GB Neo-Pak or a Shuttle 6.0 with a Berg HT112 or EX112. I've tried the HT112ER extensively with both amps in my local great bass store, Bass Specialties, in Bensalem PA or online (I have no affiliation except being a very satisfied customer!). I have not tried the AEs yet.

The Bergs sound fantastic. When I was auditioning for new cabs, I tried pretty much all of the available ones, aguilar, EA, GB, MB, GK, Eden, ampeg, Bag End, and many more which I'm just not remembering now. In most cases I was able to A/B a fair number of them directly. I decided on the Bergs after extensive (about a year's worth) of researching and audtioning). They are not the deepest sounding nor the lightest, but to my ear what they had in spades was a musicality to their sound that just worked for my needs. There is a smoothness and clarity to the sound throughout the spectrum which is very pleasing to my ear and which works exceptionally well for theater work.

I bought the HT112 and the EX112 shortly before the ER versions came out. While the ER versions do go somewhat deeper in the low bass, it is not enough different from the older versions to make me switch, although I have been tempted.

My number one problem in many of the theaters that I work at is boomy rooms with standing waves in the low to mid bass. Actually, I find that to be the problem in most places (bars, clubs, etc). Perhaps it is a generational thing, I'm 57 and have been playing out for 45 years, or just a personal preference, but I generally find the way bass is EQed in most situations is way to heavy on the low and mid bass. When I was in my teens and 20s and used big Ampegs, I did want that thunder in your chest feeling, but I soon realized, that for me, I really wanted the fuller spectrum of sound from my instrument as well. Please - this is not a knock against anybody else's preferences. I'm just trying to explain why I like the Bergs..

In summary, I am very happy with the older Bergs, had the ERs been out at the time, I probably would have bought them.

BTW I just finished a run of "Rent". What a blast to play! It is the first bass book that I've seen scored with the ghost notes, slap and pop, Jacoesque harmonics, fretless, effects (octave divider and chorus) very specifically notated. Great fun! Play it if you can.

Cheers,
Dennis

 

[T. Alan Smith]

Another fan of Bergs here. I've been jammin' with an HT112 for a few years now and it hasn't ceased to amaze. As the above poster mentioned, they're not the lightest nor deepest, but they are the most musical. I match mine with a Little Mark II head and think it's a tremendous bang for buck/quality over quantity rig.
All that said, take your time and have FUN searching out your new rig. Best off finding something that inspires your playing.

 

[Inga51]

Wow, thank you so much for the details feedback, very helpful.

PS: I love Rent, haven't had the chance to play it...yet!

Chris,

I, also, primarily play musical theater these days in theaters varying from 200 or so to 2000 or so seats. In the larger theaters we generally have FOH, in many of the smaller theaters we don't. For years I'd been using a Hartke Kickback12 with excellent results. I'm fortunate that most of the musical theater drummers that I work with are professional caliber and know how to play solidly, crisply, with dynamics, while controlling volume. I've never needed more than a single 12, although I have to say I do prefer the sound of multi cab set ups, I generally don't use them.

For the last 2 years or so, I've been very happy using either a GB Neo-Pak or a Shuttle 6.0 with a Berg HT112 or EX112. I've tried the HT112ER extensively with both amps in my local great bass store, Bass Specialties, in Bensalem PA or online (I have no affiliation except being a very satisfied customer!). I have not tried the AEs yet.

The Bergs sound fantastic. When I was auditioning for new cabs, I tried pretty much all of the available ones, aguilar, EA, GB, MB, GK, Eden, ampeg, Bag End, and many more which I'm just not remembering now. In most cases I was able to A/B a fair number of them directly. I decided on the Bergs after extensive (about a year's worth) of researching and audtioning). They are not the deepest sounding nor the lightest, but to my ear what they had in spades was a musicality to their sound that just worked for my needs. There is a smoothness and clarity to the sound throughout the spectrum which is very pleasing to my ear and which works exceptionally well for theater work.

I bought the HT112 and the EX112 shortly before the ER versions came out. While the ER versions do go somewhat deeper in the low bass, it is not enough different from the older versions to make me switch, although I have been tempted.

My number one problem in many of the theaters that I work at is boomy rooms with standing waves in the low to mid bass. Actually, I find that to be the problem in most places (bars, clubs, etc). Perhaps it is a generational thing, I'm 57 and have been playing out for 45 years, or just a personal preference, but I generally find the way bass is EQed in most situations is way to heavy on the low and mid bass. When I was in my teens and 20s and used big Ampegs, I did want that thunder in your chest feeling, but I soon realized, that for me, I really wanted the fuller spectrum of sound from my instrument as well. Please - this is not a knock against anybody else's preferences. I'm just trying to explain why I like the Bergs..

In summary, I am very happy with the older Bergs, had the ERs been out at the time, I probably would have bought them.

BTW I just finished a run of "Rent". What a blast to play! It is the first bass book that I've seen scored with the ghost notes, slap and pop, Jacoesque harmonics, fretless, effects (octave divider and chorus) very specifically notated. Great fun! Play it if you can.

Cheers,
Dennis

 

[Inga51]

Looks like a Berg 112 is a good option, now just need to decide whether to go with the heavier but deeper ER or the lighter AE model.

I would have loved something with handles on the side (like the AE210) but I don't think that's going to happen.

 

[JimmyM]

I generally like heavier deeper, but if I was doing pit bands and having to go from here to there a lot, I'd get the smallest good amp/cab I could deal with. So I'd get the AE.

 

[4-string]

The Schroeder 1212BMF is 38lbs, and should be loud enough and then some. Match it up with a head of your choice. The Carvin BX500 is available from Carvins site, and I believe they will ship it directly to you.

 

[woolysock]

Don't know that I can address your situation perfectly but I can simply say I went from a MarkBass CMD112P combo to a Berg HT112ER with a used Aguilar AG500SC and could not be happier. I found the MarkBass combo wonderfully light weight but problematic in many live applications. The rear port makes things sonically awkward sometimes. But the Berg cab is fabulous: punchy, full, rich, musical, even top to bottom. Has a much nicer top end than the MB combo. Berg cabs and AG500s come up in the TB classifieds from time to time. I got the Aggie head used for $500 Cdn. Get a collapsible dolly and you're set. By the way, I liked the Berg cab so much I got a second one. Two together is stunning!

 

[bareass]

i just bought a ampeg 210AV to run with my eden traveller head. sounds great. tonally wise it is extremely (and surprisingly) similar to my 71 flatback 810. the thing has got balls too. easily shakes the ceiling tiles in my basement. i played a 400 persong gig straigth off stage with super clean tone.
but best of all at the price compared to the competition, you can buy 2 for the slightly bigger gigs.
i would SERIOUSLY consider this cab! i too thought it was a toy until i tried it!

 

[AMJBASS]

The Bergantino AE 1x12" is a great little cabinet. Pricey though. I gig frequently with a 1x12 setup(Euphonic Audio Mirco 300 through Aguilar GS112's). The Bergantino is going to be lighter in weight. Another option would be the Shroeder cabinets. They are very efficient and light as well.