I'm mainly a singer songwriter, but play some bass. I'm looking for a combo amp for myself that can "handle" a small to medium club. Maybe 50-100 max people and "quiet" drums at small venue, and perhaps 100-200 people max at medium club venue (bit louder drummer) Clubs will usually (but not always) have sound that can be run through their set up. (I'm guessing a 200 W amp might be adequate) Your opinion? Thanks for the input.
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"Best" 200 watt combo bass amp?
- Thread starter jpowell
- Start date
More information is required, what type of bass?
What is the style of music?
Do you like a lot of bottom end? Or do you like more mids and highs in your sound?
The go to amps many people here own like this (200 watt combos) are the Ampeg Rocketbass and the Fender Rumble.
Both have a baked in tone that could be generically described as Ampeg = Rock, Fender = Blues, Classic rock, Country but those are not absolutes.
I don't think 200 watts is really going to be sufficient for what you describe.
If you find the Rumble to your liking I would recommend upgrading from the 200 to the 500.
The 500 is only $70 more and puts out 350 watts without an extension cabinet.
The 200 only puts out 140 watts, you need an extension cabinet to get the full 200 watts. With an extension cabinet the 500 puts out 500 watts.
I once stated I didn't understand why anybody would buy the 200 unless they just loved the single 15" speaker format, the 500 is more powerful and costs barely more. I got criticized for that viewpoint but I don't think a 140 watt combo is going to do it for you.
The 500 is essentially the same size (just taller which is actually a good thing, the controls fall more easily to hand) and only weighs 2 pounds more.
The $70 more for the 500 is 12% more expensive; like I said I don't know why people bother with the 200 when it is barely cheaper.
If weight is not a concern I would look at used gear, TONS of choices there and the heavier combos of yore tend to be pretty cheap.
Analogeezer
What is the style of music?
Do you like a lot of bottom end? Or do you like more mids and highs in your sound?
The go to amps many people here own like this (200 watt combos) are the Ampeg Rocketbass and the Fender Rumble.
Both have a baked in tone that could be generically described as Ampeg = Rock, Fender = Blues, Classic rock, Country but those are not absolutes.
I don't think 200 watts is really going to be sufficient for what you describe.
If you find the Rumble to your liking I would recommend upgrading from the 200 to the 500.
The 500 is only $70 more and puts out 350 watts without an extension cabinet.
The 200 only puts out 140 watts, you need an extension cabinet to get the full 200 watts. With an extension cabinet the 500 puts out 500 watts.
I once stated I didn't understand why anybody would buy the 200 unless they just loved the single 15" speaker format, the 500 is more powerful and costs barely more. I got criticized for that viewpoint but I don't think a 140 watt combo is going to do it for you.
The 500 is essentially the same size (just taller which is actually a good thing, the controls fall more easily to hand) and only weighs 2 pounds more.
The $70 more for the 500 is 12% more expensive; like I said I don't know why people bother with the 200 when it is barely cheaper.
If weight is not a concern I would look at used gear, TONS of choices there and the heavier combos of yore tend to be pretty cheap.
Analogeezer
Budget? Great SALE going on now @Musician's Friend for select Markbass combo amps. There's a 1x12" and a 2x10" combo, both $699.
GK MB112-II. Much louder and fuller than you’d expect.
Yeah, there’s one on Reverb right now for $459.99 + shipping. I’m not affiliated, but it’s on my watch list.
Things that I do similar to what you describe are completely adequately handled by a 112 cabinet (various heads) or my current main Hartke HD500 (250 watt 210), so I would imagine the same would be true of most of the available 100 and 200 watt combos with a 1x12, 1x15 or 2x10 speaker configuration. One thing to note is most gigs (all bigger gigs) are on IEMs, but the same would hold true with monitoring through wedges.
I recognize that my experiences aren't universal, but, to me, 100-200 ppl means pa support at *any* professional level. "Proper" sound for 200 ppl simply dictates that IMO/E.
Fender, Ampeg, GK, Hartke, Eden and some others all have offerings that could meet these kinds of needs. For me, it's mostly a matter of feature comparisons.
Good luck with it.
Why don't you think that? Please, what is the real-world scenario people are facing that I'm missing or not understanding?
Two hundred watts can be more than enough, depending on:
1. The volume of the group;
2. The noise made by the audience;
3. The size of the room;
4. The size and efficiency of your speakers.
I gigged for years with nothing more than 100 watts, often in large noisy rooms and without PA reinforcement... but that was in the era when speakers were big and heavy, and nothing but vocals went through the PA.
The move to smaller and lighter bass gear - which I welcome! - means that watts are cheap; but don't expect to see a big difference in volume just from "more watts."
I learned the other day that you can call someone an arsehole on this forum and apparently not run afoul of the rules when someone called me an arsehole
To the point...I'm really not intending to be an arsehole here, just in case, but there's not a single thing you said that is surprising or that I didn't know, and none of it answers what I was asking...which is, "what is a real-world scenario that people regularly face that causes the (general) idea that something like a Fender Rumble 200 or even 100 would be insufficient for a situation like the op posed?"
These kinds of threads usually have some number of people offering this opinion that runs completely counter to my experience. I was asking about it directly.
I don't get it...what is it in someone's experience and knowledge that, given the scenarios of "singer songwriter playing some bass, 50-100 max people and "quiet" drums at small venue to perhaps 100-200 people max at medium club venue with pa support", would make them offer the opinion that "something like a Fender Rumble 200 won't cut it". That is the opposite of what I believe and have experienced in similar situations.
I learned the other day that you can call someone an arsehole on this forum and apparently not run afoul of the rules when someone called me an arsehole
To the point...I'm really not intending to be an arsehole here, just in case, but there's not a single thing you said that is surprising or that I didn't know, and none of it answers what I was asking...which is, "what is a real-world scenario that people regularly face that causes the (general) idea that something like a Fender Rumble 200 or even 100 would be insufficient for a situation like the op posed?"
These kinds of threads usually have some number of people offering this opinion that runs completely counter to my experience. I was asking about it directly.
I don't get it...what is it in someone's experience and knowledge that, given the scenarios of "singer songwriter playing some bass, 50-100 max people and "quiet" drums at small venue to perhaps 100-200 people max at medium club venue with pa support", would make them offer the opinion that "something like a Fender Rumble 200 won't cut it". That is the opposite of what I believe and have experienced in similar situations.
I think I was pretty much agreeing with you, i.e., 200 watts would generally suffice for the OP's needs ... I'm not sure why any of us falls into the "arsehole" category.
- Feb 5, 2013
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- Endorsing Artist: Used Fender Lead Sleds and Hartke cabs with bent grills
I own a 200 watt combo and I would not use it even for band practice, it simply does not get loud enough. It's also a real 200 watts, not the 100/140 the Ampeg and Rumble models are which are quite popular here.
My personal experience at band practice and small venues (only vocals and acoustic guitar through the PA) of less than 100 people is 350 watts through a 2 x 10" works pretty well, but is about as small and low in power as I would go.
I am talking rock music with a drummer playing an acoustic kit.
There is a reason cars have higher top speeds than the speed limits, you need more than just the minimum requirement.
Analogeezer
- Feb 5, 2013
- 1,686
- 2,281
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Used Fender Lead Sleds and Hartke cabs with bent grills
I dunno ... IME some of these newer small 1x12 combos around 200 watts are, in some cases, plenty loud for a band without PA. I've played my little KB12 (250 RMS) on it's own with a loud drummer and a guitarist playing a PV Classic 50 and it carried a small room. Never farted on 5 and stayed tight and clear. And I feel like the Ashdown OriginAL combo (180 watts with just the internal speaker) was even louder. On 4 it was trying to rattle stuff off the walls, and stayed clean and clear. I have read here of guys gigging the 200 watt Fender 1x12 in rock bands.
Is it ideal? Not for some. More power is always better. But I wouldn't rule out any combo without trying it. Buy the combo you can afford and an XLR cable just in case. You might be surprised how loud these things can get while still staying clean. The volume knob goes to 10 for a reason.
For years I had a small rig (combo), a medium rig (PV MiniMax and Avatar 2x10), and an outdoor rig (PV Max 700 w/ two Avatar 2x12s). I'm an old man now. No matter the size of the gig I carry a KB12 in one hand, a bass on my back, and a small bag in the other hand that contains an XLR cable and a DI for backup. One trip.
Is it ideal? Not for some. More power is always better. But I wouldn't rule out any combo without trying it. Buy the combo you can afford and an XLR cable just in case. You might be surprised how loud these things can get while still staying clean. The volume knob goes to 10 for a reason.
For years I had a small rig (combo), a medium rig (PV MiniMax and Avatar 2x10), and an outdoor rig (PV Max 700 w/ two Avatar 2x12s). I'm an old man now. No matter the size of the gig I carry a KB12 in one hand, a bass on my back, and a small bag in the other hand that contains an XLR cable and a DI for backup. One trip.
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Best small combo for gigging:
Markbass CMD 121p or 102p
Best 200 watt combo:
GK MB 112 or 115
Best 200 watt on a budget:
Rumble 200 or Rocketbass 115
(IMHO of course)
Markbass CMD 121p or 102p
Best 200 watt combo:
GK MB 112 or 115
Best 200 watt on a budget:
Rumble 200 or Rocketbass 115
(IMHO of course)
Yes. We do not seem to disagree on this subject.
Since you were apparently responding to my post (which was a question and the only thing you quoted), I was just saying that your response wasn't an answer to my question. To me, that unavoidably felt a bit hostile, which was the reason for the whole arsehole thing; to say that I wasn't intending to be a jerk....apologies, I can see how the starting with that tangent could and might still cause confusion.
I guess I'm not 100% sure what type of response I was expecting on the side of gaining some understanding, but that doesn't feel like that was it
I do appreciate your responding directly to my question in your way though. Thanks for taking the time and effort.I just can't resolve that my experiences and opinions on this thread are polar opposites from yours in apparently similar circumstances, and this type of thing is repeated over and over in a context where people are seeking advice. That leaves me curious (and sometimes exasperated) as to why/how people can have such divergent experiences and opinions. I can't help wonder if some fundamental points are being missed. Admittedly, I'm probably being overly dramatic, but what value can these kinds of discussions have when opposite "advice" is so often given?
I guess I'm not 100% sure what type of response I was expecting on the side of gaining some understanding, but that doesn't feel like that was it
I just can't resolve that my experiences and opinions on this thread are polar opposites from yours in apparently similar circumstances, and this type of thing is repeated over and over in a context where people are seeking advice. That leaves me curious (and sometimes exasperated) as to why/how people can have such divergent experiences and opinions. I can't help wonder if some fundamental points are being missed. Admittedly, I'm probably being overly dramatic, but what value can these kinds of discussions have when opposite "advice" is so often given?
I have to wonder if your expectations for congruent "advice" are a little unrealistic. We are always going to see some in the "You need at least 500 watts" camp and some in the "I gig all the time with 100 watts" camp... both camps could be right within their contexts. Many of us seem so focused on one context (classic rock, country, jazz, classical, etc.) that we have trouble stepping out of that context. It's the nature of a forum like this, and we need to cut some slack. Speaking of "divergent experiences and opinions," I'm just happy that religion and politics are out of bounds here!
At any rate, I think the OP got some solid recommendations.
I don't believe I have a real desire to see every suggestion, recommendation, and opinion in perfect alignment, that would just be wrong, boring and completely uninformative. Just...it would be nice ("it would be nice" being a hallmark of unrealistic expectations) if more often, things that are 180 degrees out could be resolved in the discussion, be explained. I think if more people recognized that their experiences and opinions and aren't universal or solely valid, it would go a long way toward that.
But yes, a real expectation that forum dynamics will somehow change in a meaningful way is certainly unrealistic.
