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Double Bass Amp Compare--Combo vs Separates
- Thread starter gypsydjango
- Start date
If the Clarus and Upshot get loud enough for you, then your volume requirements are somewhat modest.
I find I am usually happy with a rig that is rated for at least 124dB. The UpShot is only rated for 113dB. It would be fine for jazz trio...but that was only a small part of my job.
I am not saying the pickup can not be a factor regarding how loud you can play. But there is a difference between pushing the rig beyond it's limit and not being able to attain sufficient gain before feedback. My problem with the AI cabs is none of them are capable of giving me the desired minimum headroom. Their loudest cab AI made was the DoubleShot, and it was only rated for 118dB.
Another aspect. When you push a rig to it's limit, distortion and compression increase. IMHO both of these tend to reduce gain before feedback. So if you are pushing an UpShot close to it's limit, you will have more feedback problems than if you use a similar cab that has more headroom.
I played separates for many years, but for the past several years I’ve been very happy with a Markbass CMD-121 combo. It’s light, sounds good on both upright and electric, and is loud enough for my gigs, which for the last few years have been mostly jazz standards in small groups. I do have a NY112 extension cab to use if I need more volume, but I think I’ve only used it once in the last five years (playing electric in a New Orleans R&B group). The older I get, the more convenience and ease of schlepping matters!
Since I started on a Alrilne 62-9020 Supro Thunderbolt, which at the time was one of the lightest and smallest amp around I’ve always “kept to small”. Personally, I’ve only owned one fridge sized amp and then went with a used B-15N(C) that only weighed 65 lbs and fit in the trunk of my 64 Chevrolet Bel Air. Nowadays a Traynor SB 106 is for the most part all I need unless it’s outside of a MainStage show. Then I have a Grace Preamp and either a powered MAS 1/8 or MAS 4x5.5 which by most peoples standards are tiny cabinets.
I like the idea of a combo, but am pretty hooked now on the flexibility of separate heads & cabs.
The only logistical disadvantage is having to hook up one more cable. Even I can deal with that.
I wouldn’t say no to the right deal on another combo. But it’s kind of hard for me to justify as long as my Acme Low-B1 cabinet keeps working. (Last I checked, can still get woofers for them. Nothing else on em wears out…)
The only logistical disadvantage is having to hook up one more cable. Even I can deal with that.
I wouldn’t say no to the right deal on another combo. But it’s kind of hard for me to justify as long as my Acme Low-B1 cabinet keeps working. (Last I checked, can still get woofers for them. Nothing else on em wears out…)
This is where I'm at as well, but unfortunately I just haven't found a combo that moves enough air for my gigs. The loading and unloading of gear is enough at times to make me want to stop gigging.
Earl
Supporting Member
If the Clarus and Upshot get loud enough for you, then your volume requirements are somewhat modest.
Well that may be somewhat true. I mainly play acoustic jazz (straight ahead, swing, free) and when I play most gigs in NYC like Smalls, Mezzrow, Django etc. I use no amp/pickup and am heard fine. Other gigs where people are talking I will use an Upshot, PJ Double Four, Traynor SB 106 etc. which for me are loud enough to cut through the chatter. I do not play fusion. Once in a while I will play a blues/R&R gig on upright and then I will use a Krivo through a Fender Rumble or something similar.
Since the class D wave hit and most heads have become effectively trip-neutral in a shoulder bag, for me the schlep now favors the modular approach. Especially when you can leave a speaker cab in your vehicle. (I have been doing so for many years, without any harm that I can discern.)
I guess what we now consider separates (head & Speaker cabinets) are now so small (think a TC Electronics BAM 200 and a AT 110) are really “break apart” combos.
Nobody has yet mentioned this combo amp: Gollihur Series Bass Acoustic Array Pro Amplification (Exclusive)
I bought the first one several years ago (my serial number is 00000000). I still Love this amp.
I just bought an MAS 18 and have a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2 velcroed to the top of it. I think I will take both of these to the gig tomorrow (and maybe Saturday) and switch back and forth with my A/B footswitch. If the 18 doesn't come out the clear winner I will probably put it back in the classifieds.
I'm never going to sell the Genzler Acoustic Pro.
I bought the first one several years ago (my serial number is 00000000). I still Love this amp.
I just bought an MAS 18 and have a Genz Benz Shuttle 6.2 velcroed to the top of it. I think I will take both of these to the gig tomorrow (and maybe Saturday) and switch back and forth with my A/B footswitch. If the 18 doesn't come out the clear winner I will probably put it back in the classifieds.
I'm never going to sell the Genzler Acoustic Pro.
Rick,
Congratulations you finally scored a used MAS 1/8! It’s a “horse of a different color” in comparison to your Genzler Acoustic Array. I’m curious as to which version of the 1/8 you ended up with? There are quite a few variations that Mike built. Some are 3 way designs others are 2 Way. The last ones used a Ciare 8” Driver vs the Eminence that was used for most of the run. The tweeters are different in the two I have. I’d recommend giving yourself time to adjust to the MAS sound before you making any decisions. Some cabinets were built entirely out of Okume plywood while others are only partially built from that lighter weight material. They aren’t as influenced by placement on the floor as other cabinets I’ve owned. Best of luck.
I would love to try one of those Gollihur Genzlers at some point. Looks like an incredible design!
While I know 150 watts RMS is plenty of power for most gigs ( heck my little Traynor SB 106 only puts out 50 watts RMS), I’m hesitant to purchase the Genzler Bass Array at this point. Especially when the new GR Acoustic costs just a few dollars more, has nearly all the features of the Genzler weighs 19.5 lbs and puts out 800
watts with a 12” speaker. Just my take of course, I’ll have to reserve judgement until I can demo one.
My experience with both the MAS 16 and 18 is that they perform much better when raised off the floor.
I went with separates, mainly because I like to mess around with building my own cabs. But then I continue to yearn for a one piece solution, so I've solved that problem by strapping my rig together with a bungee made from an old bike innertube. It's great. In addition to holding my amp down, I can strap everything else on: My cables, charts, everything. It's a tidy package, but it'd be disingenuous for me to claim that I prefer separates at this point.
The only combo I really loved was the SWR Baby Blue II which just worked so well in so many situations. By todays standards it a bit big and heavy. But it can drive a 4x10 and always sounded great. Wish I had never sold it.
I like a separate head and cabinet because I can mix and match to tailor the rig to the room.
A great point. Most combos don’t have the speaker surface for big venues or outside stages. That’s where the MAS 4x5.5 and 4x6 do so well for coverage when there isn’t a FOH system or there’s a big stage with the band spread across it.
