Best gigging combo amp

[Matt Sto]

Markbass combos are superb. They're small and easy to transport, but they pack a serious punch! The watts they pack into such a small amp is amazing! Great sound too! The downside though is that they're a bit pricey =/. But Markbass is definitely my favorite.

 

[Fred19137]

Best combo is the one I still have I dont need a bunch of power just 150W so I got myself an Ibanez soundwave 15" combo and then got another 15 cab for a total of 240 bucks I love it and it will be a loooonnnnggggg time until I upgrade. I also like the way it sounds it has extra punch than other amps.

 

[HelloJerk]

Fender Bassman 400 of Fender Bass Pro-400 2 X 10 combo with great tone. Usually one of the least expensive combos as compaired to other major manufactors. You owe it to to yourself to try one before you purchase otherwise. Nice powerful combo @350 watts internal and 500 watts with extension cab.

I have used a Fender Bassman 400 combo fr a few years now, and really like it.

 

[Mystic Michael]

What is the best combo amp out there for the money? It has to be loud though as us bass players know ya gotta shake the room!

You're likely to get about as many suggestions as there are posts in this thread. There are undoubtedly a bunch of good ones, but the best ones I've tried are the ones I now own: an earlier-model Eden Nemesis NC210 (2x10), and its big brother, the NC410 (4x10).

Each one is only 200 watts, but surprisingly deep and loud for its size, due to the high-sensitivity drivers. The NC410 is louder because of the extra drivers, but the NC210 actually goes a little deeper. Each one is great for low-to-moderate volume gig, rehearsal and/or recording situations. And the current line - the RS series - features a 320-watt power section, for more beef.

MM

 

[sonicnuance]

I'd never bother with a combo live. I just don't like combos, with a stack, you can tailor it to your needs, use certain speaker combinations for certain venues and they tend to have a lot more power. Honestly, i'd get a cheap stack, like an ashdown MAG or something.

+1

I've blown too much money not going modular. I think combos sacrifice too much often in trying to make something small and light. If they don't they are generally large and heavy and you may wish it was modular.

However, when I went modular I didn't spend enough time on what I was looking for. Sold that system. Once I dedicated months researching and days in shops with my bass/effects/etc trying out heads and then the chosen head with cabs I finally was happy... until GAS sets in.

 

[fffreddy]

Good thread.

The best combo I've had so far was an SWR Basic Black, 120/160w, 15". It was clean yet had a kind of warmth to it. It was stolen.

Later, I eventually worked up to an SWR SM-900 w/ 2, Eden D115xlt's stack which I just sold. Awesome, but over-the-top and heavy for my needs.

Like you, I am now also on the hunt for the 'best gigging combo amp", but also looking at the uber-lightweight heads to pair with a neo cab. There are so many coming out right now that it's a little mind-boggling. I'm even thinking of picking up something used and inexpensive to tide me over (aided by a Sansamp BD) until all the 'bass-talkers' have sorted the best 'players.'

I'll stay tuned to your thread in the meantime in case a couple clear winners emerge.

Good luck.

 

[Stumbo]

You might want to check out some of the follow TB threads:
How many watts do you gig with?(poll)

30 light weight cabs,amps, combos
1 Buying a combo
2
Combos vs Head/Cab
Pre-amp/Power Amp vs Head/Cab or Combo

1 10s v. 12s v. 15s v. 18s
2
4x10 vs. 2-2x10 vs. 2x10/1x15 vertical stack
4x10 vs. 2x10/1x15
Using a full range cab (Carvin LS1503)

1 Happy with my rig
2

Micro-rigs of doom
Mini-rigs of doom
Cheap rigs of doom

 

[JimmyM]

I played the House of Blues in Chicago with a Markbass 121 combo. Opened for a "country star" and set it down in front of his bass players 810 ampeg and SVT head. Sound man kind of snickered and said, I think will just use a di for your bass. I turned it on and was noodling around and I saw him turn around. Then he walks up and throws a mic in front of my combo. He takes one look down at my amp, then up at the 810 in a road case and turns to me and asked how much mine weighed. I said around 25lbs, and his response was, "Nice, wish I was gonna have to help you load out instead of him." The small Markbass combo isn't for everybody, but with my bands sound and most places we play, it works just fine and then some. There are a lot of great combos out these days.

It is truly amazing what Markbass and Genz Benz are doing with tiny cabs and tiny high power amps. I used to own one of those 121 combos...I felt the same way about it for a while, but the one thing it wouldn't do that I really wanted was for it to sound like a giant cab. Yeah, I could mic it up and it would sound giant in a giant PA. But I have to listen to it, too. So guess what I'm using now?

Not that I don't use a small rig on some of my gigs. But I prefer them just a little bigger.

 

[uglyrumor]

Personnally I do not like combos, because the one thing bass produces, in good players and bad, is vibration. I play my head on top of a cab or stack, with a folded towel under it. Extreme, maybe, but I have years of trouble-free gigging. Don't load me in or out, help the drummer. I appreciate the thought, but...

 

[mat666]

markbass seems to have more pros then other brand but $$$$

 

[mtripper]

I use a swr spellbinder blue and absolutely love the tones I can get from it. It's a 160 watt 1x10 with horn that weighs 25lbs and is pretty small physically. It's normally enough but when I do need more I just slave an external class d power amp to it and use the cabs from my old rig. The entire combo weighs less then a lot of traditional heads.

 

[BassInUrFace]

way to dig up an old thread.

 

[Aaron_D]

I think the GenzBenz Shuttle combos are the best-value lightweight giggable combos out there right now

+1

 

[waleross]

+1 on the Fender Pro Series Combos , not cheap ($1000 +) but worth it..........................

 

[eyecandy]

I'd vote for Markbass CMD 121P, or the new Genz Benz Shuttle or Markbass F1

 

[freshbass]

Hi. Obviously I'm here since i can't answer this question on my own behalf! For years I've been carrying around huge cabs and rigs and to be honest I am totally tired of becoming a bodybuilder. my question for everyone is this. What is the best combo amp out there for the money? It has to be loud though as us bass players know ya gotta shake the room!

bang for buck=GK MB200 w/ a 15" speaker. Add the MB powered cabs as needed. If you can afford it? Markbass JB combo.

 

[Pushrod]

For weight considerations, I had good luck with one of the newer Fender Rumble 500 combos, and I put a 210 rumble cab under it for a 500 watt vertical 410 stack. In fairness though, I didn't think the speakers cared much for the B string on my 5er, so I changed them out for Faital Pro Neos. Combo and cab weigh in at about 30 lb. each.

 

[TheRealKong]

First, there is nothing like a "best gigging combo amp". Different animals have different needs, so as some people like 12" speakers, other people 10" - and lots of people 15". Some swear that they only can live with some solid iron in their Class A/B - amps, other argue that they can get great tones out of Class - D - amps. Other people can't live without tubes. So this reminds me to the "what is the best amp for Metal" - threads.

I was satisfied with my SWR Redhead Combo for a long time. About 16 years - until it went up in magic smoke. It lacked of mids, so I paired it with a sealed 410", the sound improved a lot.

Because I could not find another amp/cab/combo that was in the quality range of the SWR, I snatched a Marshall MB 4410 Combo for a steal with a small shipping damage. Besides it was even heavier than the SWR, it is a 410" - Behemot of a combo, I liked the tones of it. Some people laughed at me, playing this combo with built in "no good reputation", but they stopped when hearing it. I used the same 410" - extension - cab as with the Redhead, but changed to a SWR 212" @ 8 Ohm, so at 2,6 Ohm every speaker got the same ammount of power. Wow. Just wow. I still have this stack in my rehearsal - room, my students use it.

I am no longer the combo - type of guy, for some bigger projects I purchased some iron anvil amps, and I like how they produce transients and tone. So now I am fan of going modular, big backline for big venues, smaller for less big venues, and an Ibanez Promethean 5110 for small venues (coffehouse gigs). I still am a big fan of this small combo, about 13 lbs, with a huge tone. I think, the Promethean sounds not that boxy as those Markamps due to the speaker/cab, especially I like the cab of the Promethean powered up by my LM II.

When it comes to bigger venues, I love my Genzler Magellan, paired with a GenzBenz NeoX T. This is what I call a perfect match.

And I have a GenzBenz GBE 750 with a Tecamp L 215 and a GBE 1200 with a Tecamp L 810" for two of my really loud bands that play bigger venues. Important: This big amps do have knobs that allow every ammount of spl. You don't have to run them full open all the time.

When it comes to combos and lightweight, I often recommend purchasing a lightweight cab and a small, lightweight Class D - Amp. You are able to get a second cab later if you need to built up a modular stack, and you can leave one cab in the rehearsal room, the other at home, only moving the head. For me this is better than hauling a combo all the time. YMMV.

 

[Yango]

I think the guy probably has his amp by now... it's an eight year old zombie thread.