Amp Purchase Paralysis

[kmon]

How did you come up with these choices? Do you have an " out the door " budget. I can think of other rigs I would prefer depending on your budget.

I can think of 20 different options that I'd prefer but I have budget constraints.

Out the door budget is about 700. These are some choices available to me now in the used market.

 

[Humabass]

Ok, got it. I understand. Well, if i had to pick from that list only I think I would pick the Rumble 800 combo. Bands that play rock music " from all eras" have a potential to need some pretty heavy bass. I think 800 watts and 210s make the most sense. While I love Epifani cabs ( have had 15 of them ) that's a pretty big cab and probably getting a bit dated.

 

[InhumanResource]

Last rigs were Mesa/Bergantino and were mind blowing both in tone and price. I've started playing out a bit again and I'm going down market. I'm looking for opinions.

The band plays rock covers from all eras, gigs every other month or so. Prices represent my used market today. Weight is much less important than tone and the ability to hold its own in a band setting. Which rig do you pick?

1. GK MB-500 & Epifani T-212 -- $400 -- ~70 lbs

2. Fender Rumble 800 210 Combo -- ~ $700 - ~29lbs

3. GK MB212 Combo -- ~$650 -- ~41lbs

4. Fender Rumble 500 210 Combo-- $400 -- ~31lbs

5. Markbass CMD 121 Combo -- $400 -- ~30lbs

I’ve got the MB212 and it’s been a great solution for me.

 

[Dana R Gregory]

The Rumble 800 is an excellent amp with 400 watts rms. The GK MB 212 is a full 500 watts rms. Either one should be all the amp you need.

 

[Monkey]

I use the Markbass CMD 121 combo and have gigged it successfully in many different situations. Lightweight, great tone, takes pedals well, and I can add my NY121 extension cab (only 30 lbs) if I need more firepower.

 

[ashtray]

I’m a big fan of those original Epifani cabs. Heavy, but packs a punch! Heck, I’d probably run it with even an old GK RB or RB3 head, but a more recent head would probably be more reliable.

 

[RColie]

I voted the Rumble 800 combo. It's a bit cleaner and clearer than the other Rumbles. Very light, very loud, lots of features, If you shop around, you can get a good discount on a brand new one that would put you not far from $700.
Good luck!

 

[Stranger Danger]

I think you will miss the Mesa/Bergantino combination.

This

All day

 

[Leisure Weaver]

I just recently bought a Rumble 800, also wanting to go down-market a bit. I wanted the most powerful and lightest standalone combo I could find and it fit the bill perfectly. I can get a great tone plugging straight into it and even better with some outboard effects. I have played through better sounding amps, but I also paid a lot more for those. For what I do now, which is a straightforward funk-rock trio, it works out great. That I can carry it in one hand is also amazing, and I can leave my dolly behind.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Fender Rumble 800 210 or the GK MB212
If you want to settle on one and still have paralysis, the Fender Stage 800, you can also find them under $700! I’ve played it in person and you can get some amazing sounds out of it, the Super Bassman models in it sound incredible, as do the GK, Ampeg and Orange models. You can get into the weeds with the sounds it has to offer, but it also just has a Rumble setting, I’ve been super tempted to buy one of those myself but haven’t pulled the trigger on downsizing since my current rig is modular enough as it is for my needs.

 

[wyleeboxer]

I would not recommend the GK and MB cmd 121… I’ve had several of the same of both amp brands and can tell you from first hand experience they have reliability issues. I’d recommend either Quilter, Traynor, or Mesa. All of which have better QC in my opinion.

 

[Boneless]

Markbass doesn't have much of a rock tone. It's a versatile amp, but it sounds clean-ish and mid-forward in a way that is better suited for other genres in my opinion.

Fender Rumbles can be dialled to have more of a rock tone, but I think you'd be better served by the GK head.

 

[lokikallas]

I couldn't gig with just a 210, I need a 212, or a 410. I would get the rumble 500 head and a 212 cab.

 

[Topkat13]

All those work. Don't worry about the frying pan brah...focus on the grub.

 

[definenredefine]

Don't know much about Epifani cabs but GK heads are stellar, especially in combination with 2 12s.