Looking for amp (combo?) recommendations for a trio. Other instruments are piano and saxophone, neither mic'd or amplified. Mostly in small club situations. Power and speaker insights or brand/model experience would be very helpful. I have a suitable pre-amp so onboard effects or equalization aren't priorities. Mostly concerned about not taking enough/too much amp to gigs. Apologies if this has been covered - it's possible my search terms weren't on point.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Amp for jazz trio (no drums)
- Thread starter autokinoton
- Start date
Yes, this has been discussed many, many times before.
Search words: Genzler, Gollihur, Fender, Ampeg, Traynor, Ric Vice,
small combo, Rick Wolff, Markbass, Fender Rumble, Ampeg Rocket Bass, GR Bass, Acoustic Image, ELF.
Search words: Genzler, Gollihur, Fender, Ampeg, Traynor, Ric Vice,
small combo, Rick Wolff, Markbass, Fender Rumble, Ampeg Rocket Bass, GR Bass, Acoustic Image, ELF.
Last edited:
Almost anything of modest size would work. A Rumble 100, for instance. would be a popular choice. I think an ELF 1x10 or 2x8 combo would be well suited to the situation described. Just to confirm, we are talking about amplifying a bass guitar and not an acoustic instrument, right?
Pretty much anything above the chinese starter pack level should do the job for you.
100W and a 1x12 would be a very safe choice. Add Markbass and Warwick to the list of brands above.
100W and a 1x12 would be a very safe choice. Add Markbass and Warwick to the list of brands above.
For years (18, I think), I've played bass in a trio along with piano and drums. My Rumble 40 works just fine, and it's super light-weight.
I second the Rumble 40 recommendations…I played several gigs with a guitar/piano trio with one. The keyboard player sang as well so we had a modest PA and I went direct from the amp to the PA and used the combo as a monitor. It worked fine for every venue we played.
If I were starting over or buying specifically for that gig, I probably would go for the Rumble 100, just to have a little bit more capability. But, I already had the 40 and it worked just fine. All of the Rumble amps are very light, but don’t bother buying anything smaller than the 40.
If I were starting over or buying specifically for that gig, I probably would go for the Rumble 100, just to have a little bit more capability. But, I already had the 40 and it worked just fine. All of the Rumble amps are very light, but don’t bother buying anything smaller than the 40.
For a low price, the Ampeg rocket combos are surprisingly full range and musical. My RB110 sounded 98 percent as good as my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 10t with my electric upright bass, and I love that Genz Benz combo. They both made my GK MB112ii and MB110 sound quite bad by comparison.
Do you have a budget in mind? Also, is this the only need you have for an amp, or do you think that you might need something that you could scale up if needed?
QSC K10.2 is what you want. You have the preamp. Can be used in many different ways too!
???
When I play electric bass with everyone playing acoustic, I use my Phil Jones Bass Cub Pro. Awesome tiny amp. If the venue is louder you can use a second c2. The sound is very clean, what you want for Jazz, etc.
P: BG-120 Bass Combo Amp “Bass CUB Pro” | Phil Jones Bass
www.pjbworld.com
Rumble: Not a fan. On the other hand, a local place I frequent, does open mic with keys electric guitars full drum kit, and somehow, they are getting away with a Rumble 25. I don't think it works for passive basses, but the active bass guys seem to get away with it, (It is not a huge venue, lots of hard surfaces, IDK why it works), they are very inexpensive!!!
Can't speak to Ampeg Rocket, have not played it.
ELF and 1x10 - had one, not bad IMHO, lightweight, more for rock, baked in tone , sold it.
Another great choice would be Genzler 350 with a Genzler 10 inch speaker. Really depends on your budget. Have the 350, great amp.
Also, if you are looking at weight, and have pre-amp, etc. look for an active speaker, possibly GR Active cab series. Have not played.
Last edited:
You for sure should get a 'fridge'.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ll-black-edition-4.4-high-capacity-bar-fridge
Kidding of course. I know its a bit heavy but the Mesa Walkabout (Silver face) is amazing.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/de...ll-black-edition-4.4-high-capacity-bar-fridge
Kidding of course. I know its a bit heavy but the Mesa Walkabout (Silver face) is amazing.
I've done many similar gigs with my ToneHammer 500 and either a Barefaced One10 or my Berg 112 or 210.
Important to know what kind of budget you have in mind.
Important to know what kind of budget you have in mind.
While you could probably get by with a Rumble40 or the similar size Ampeg RB110, I think you would benefit from the additional headroom either the Rumble100 or Ampeg RB112 would provide you. Depends on what jazz pieces, and styles, you are playing, but you could end up coming up a bit short with the R40. A lively piano or bone player could drown you out. Weights of the amps are similar, only slight size difference, plus another hundred or hundred fifty bucks or so, so better to have it and not need it?
I use a Warwick Gnome into a Barefaced 110T for that type of gig. It has always been enough power and sounds great.
They do not make them anymore but the Acoustic Image Combo's are awesome little things. I use them for everything. For current production, I think you will be best serve by the Genzler Magellan 350 Bass Array Combo and the head will be detachable as well. If budget constrained the Fender Rumble will not disappoint. Head to the Rumble Club here how to use it properly. Agedhorse has great words to say about the designer and if I am not mistaken had input towards it in the early stages.
Another thing to think about are Fishman Loudboxes, anything larger than the mini although I've used the Mini with a 5 string for really low volume.
Another thing to think about are Fishman Loudboxes, anything larger than the mini although I've used the Mini with a 5 string for really low volume.
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,079
- 46,042
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
The little Traynor combos or a Genzler rig would be high on my list. This DIY 110 rig weighs 26 lbs. and is great for drummer free jams of whatever flavor:
IMO for BG this blows away the smaller Rumbles, Ampegs, old AI or EA combos, PJB D4 or Bass Cub, etc., all of which I've played and liked, FWIW. I'd expect the Traynor combos to be pretty comparable to my rig, although I have no direct experience.
I put one of the 8" drivers from the Fishman Loudbox Artist series amps in a DIY sealed box, meant mainly for acoustic guitar, but it's also pretty sweet for low volume bass. I've been wondering about the Spark Edge as well, as the battery power option is appealing for my use cases.
IMO for BG this blows away the smaller Rumbles, Ampegs, old AI or EA combos, PJB D4 or Bass Cub, etc., all of which I've played and liked, FWIW. I'd expect the Traynor combos to be pretty comparable to my rig, although I have no direct experience.
I put one of the 8" drivers from the Fishman Loudbox Artist series amps in a DIY sealed box, meant mainly for acoustic guitar, but it's also pretty sweet for low volume bass. I've been wondering about the Spark Edge as well, as the battery power option is appealing for my use cases.
Latest posts
-
Do the new Rickenbacker 4003s sound like the 4001s from the '70s?
- Latest: Asllan Pizzatto
-
-
-
-
