Best lightweight combo amp under 35 pounds

[M-Mittlesteadt]

Of course, like many I'm going to recommend what I'm using. A Fender Rumble. Mine is the 100-V3 (22 lbs.), though any of them in the Rumble lineup would work. Try them out first.

As far as not being put together well...Hmmm. The new ones are nothing like their older ones. I never gave the old Rumbles a passing glance.

I never met a cab/combo I couldn't dial "my sound" into. Some want "their" tone baked into the cab, which is fine except it then limits your choices. There is a reason there are controls on our basses, ampheads, playing technique as well as a variety of preamp pedals available.

I can get any tone and volume I want/need out of my Rumble 100, from vintage to modern at the volume I need for gigs I'll be playing.

 

[Stewie]

Just checked, the Ampeg RB115 is less than 35 pounds and will sound great at any volume. It has no fan, so no fan noise

 

[SJan3]

I love my Genzler Magellan 350. It's about 23 pounds and puts out 175 watts at 8 ohms through a 10" woofer and 4 midranges in an array. Bought an extension cab for when I need all 350 watts.

Costs a little less than a Fender American Performer series jazz bass

That is a very nice combo. I had the Magellan 350 head. Very flexible and well made.

 

[walking Bass]

I recently heard a Markbass - amp and speaker - at a local concert and it sounded great. Years ago Abe Laboriel used a GK 112 and it was excellent.

If I had the money, I'd opt for a Bergantino Head (6 pounds) and their 12 w/ tweeter (29 pounds).

 

[Muttleybass]

I use a MarkBass CMD 121p. Amazing little 1 X 12. I'd love to get the GK Fusion (or maybe Legacy) 112, but it's $$$

 

[moon-bass]

I went thru this a few years ago - I was looking for an ultra lightweight/portable combo (portable/easy to carry is NOT the same as lightweight).

Ultimately I ended up with a Hartke HD500 as a combo - lightweight, and easy to carry because of it's size/shape.

While looking at combos, I also ended up with two "separates" - i.e. head and Cab.

One was a GR Bass One 350 and a Barefaced 1x10 for smaller, and then a GR Bass One 800 and a pair of GR 2x10's. Fairly similar to combos, but more flexible and IMO easier to carry.

The fender Rumble, some of the Markbass offerings - great amps, but due to size/shape they were much harder to lug around than the HD500 and teh modular systems. Not that they are bad amps, but the Rumble, the Markbass 12 combo - too boxy to carry comfortably. The GR cabs and the HD500 are more like suitcases.

 

[John D Harris]

I went thru this a few years ago - I was looking for an ultra lightweight/portable combo (portable/easy to carry is NOT the same as lightweight).

Ultimately I ended up with a Hartke HD500 as a combo - lightweight, and easy to carry because of it's size/shape.

While looking at combos, I also ended up with two "separates" - i.e. head and Cab.

One was a GR Bass One 350 and a Barefaced 1x10 for smaller, and then a GR Bass One 800 and a pair of GR 2x10's. Fairly similar to combos, but more flexible and IMO easier to carry.

The fender Rumble, some of the Markbass offerings - great amps, but due to size/shape they were much harder to lug around than the HD500 and teh modular systems. Not that they are bad amps, but the Rumble, the Markbass 12 combo - too boxy to carry comfortably. The GR cabs and the HD500 are more like suitcases.

This Markbass combo is shaped more like a suitcase, but I don't think it is sold in the USA.

Thanks, I will check them out.

 

[moon-bass]

This Markbass combo is shaped more like a suitcase, but I don't think it is sold in the USA.

Thanks, I will check them out.

That looks like the Traveller 2x10 with an integrated amp head. Pretty easy co carry, although I don't know why they don't have the handle going long ways, as it wold be so much easier to carry.

 

[John D Harris]

The Ampeg RB112 is excellent. And a bargain too. Much prefer it to the Rumbles I have tested.

I'm not sure 100W will cover what I might need - I play with a relatively soft touch!

 

[John D Harris]

Just checked, the Ampeg RB115 is less than 35 pounds and will sound great at any volume. It has no fan, so no fan noise

I'm not sure 100W will cover what I might need - I play with a relatively soft touch!

 

[John D Harris]

The Markbass Mini CMD 121 P V does look pretty good for the money and it's 26.6 lbs.

 

[John D Harris]

Mark Bass CMD 1x12 Combo 28lbs.
Good Di w/post & Pre switches & adjustable level.
Handles my active 5's well.
I considered the GK's but they are pricey.
I paid $950 for the MB at GC.
3 months later they ran a sale for $750.00

Looks good!

I think that's how it always works: wait months for a sale, give up waiting & buy your piece, next week, they have the sale!

 

[John D Harris]

If weight is such an important criterion, I'm curious: Why go with a combo? A head & a 4 ohm speaker will likely get you more power than most combos, and you can split up the weight if you need to. Just keep the head in a soft carrying case with a shoulder strap.

It's just more simple for me to grab one less piece of gear for load in/load out, plus easier to set up and tear down - IOW, I'm lazy.

I gigged for about 20 years with a 30 # rack, 100 # cabinet, 30 # gig bag, bass guitar + guitar stand & mic stand, etc.

 

[John D Harris]

That looks like the Traveller 2x10 with an integrated amp head. Pretty easy co carry, although I don't know why they don't have the handle going long ways, as it wold be so much easier to carry.

I don't think I want to pay shipping cost from Europe - shame, because it looks like a cool unit.

 

[John D Harris]

One1400 (2 x 700w) with AT212+ Slim
34lbs!


View attachment 7048122

Definitely above my pay grade.

This GR Bass 800W 1x12 combo is not too bad - cheaper than either of the new GK 112 combos.

 

[John D Harris]

Lots of wonderful suggestions thus far, but +1 for GR Bass if you can save up for it.

Everything I've heard or read has been overwhelmingly positive, and there's no beating the weight. Plus a 5-year warranty is one of the best going. Oh, and they just look so damn cool to boot.

I am trying to save for either a combo or active cab (probably a 12" or 2x10"), and I'm certain it will take care of 98% of my gigging needs.

GR Bass 112-800 combo - Boom!

 

[bottomzone]

I have one of these and am fairly impressed with it.

MB58R MINI CMD 121 PURE – Markbass

www.markbass.it

 

[Jesuguru]

I have a Rumble 500C, and like it well enough. Cheap, light, never failed me for years. If looking for a new lightweight combo, I'd recommend checking out the newish Markbass 58R. I tried one of their 210 combos at a GC, and was impressed - smooth, punchy, not lightweight sounding at all. Almost as light as the GR and cheaper (plus more widely available). Musician's Friend has a 15% coupon on them now.

 

[KohanMike]

My Carvin MB15 200w is vary compact for a 15" combo, and having them add a neo speaker, it weighs about 27 pounds, but they're not made anymore and hard to find used.

 

[Bassamatic]

MarkBass CMD121P - 1x12, 14" cube, 32 lbs. 350/500W, amazingly powerful and great sound! This is by FAR the best item in their entire product line, and my only item that would be replaced with the exact same thing if it were to be lost or stolen, etc. If you know how to place it properly, you can play any indoor gig with it. I've never needed to turn up the master to more than 11 o'clock. For outdoors there is plenty of power to run the extension speaker as well. When I bought it, it just killed every other combo in the GC store.