Best lightweight combo amp under 35 pounds

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.
I can relate to this. The less I have to take and the lighter it is the better. While I'm not lazy, I am much older, not as strong as I used to be and have no desire for loud, long, late night gigs.

I'll leave those gigs to my past, and to those who are still enjoying doing those.

I am loving light, simple and easy gigs.
 
I'd like to add Guitar Sound System
Builder of the famous Sumo power amps, they also make great cabs and combos

Great quality and performances yet very affordable.


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Two of my recent gigs have required full on setup / tear down participation for the PA. That duty makes setting up / tearing down the bass rig to be just one more complicating chore. So, I went the route of rig simplification; and have been extremely happy with the GK Legacy 112, and a matching Neo IV 112 for bigger stages / venues.

Just about everything about the Legacy is intelligently designed. The DI is plug and forget, with the one limitation being that the input Trim control affects the DI level; so, can’t touch that one after sound check. Tone and Power are nearly perfect, EQ is intelligently designed and flexible, and Boost / Drive is perfectly designed for solo spots.

There may be better units out there; but this one gets my gigs done to perfection.



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Two of my recent gigs have required full on setup / tear down participation for the PA. That duty makes setting up / tearing down the bass rig to be just one more complicating chore. So, I went the route of rig simplification; and have been extremely happy with the GK Legacy 112, and a matching Neo IV 112 for bigger stages / venues.

Just about everything about the Legacy is intelligently designed. The DI is plug and forget, with the one limitation being that the input Trim control affects the DI level; so, can’t touch that one after sound check. Tone and Power are nearly perfect, EQ is intelligently designed and flexible, and Boost / Drive is perfectly designed for solo spots.

There may be better units out there; but this one gets my gigs done to perfection.



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Very nice, yes those are high on my list - I saw a pic of a GR Bass carbon fiber cab that looked like it got dropped on its corner and didn't fare very well.

Are those Delano PU's on that Sadowsky?

If so, how do you like them?
 
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Seems like a bit of a stealth sleeper of a combo here on TB, but I've only read high praise of them:

Traynor SB112 Bass Combo.

200W into the 4 Ohm 12" woofer w/tweeter.

Dimensions (DWH, inches) -- 14 x 15.5 x 17.5

Weight (lbs / kg) -- 25/11.3

Golihur's has them for $719

A new one on Reverb for $648

I'm thinking this in probably my entry level combo, unless I find a deal second-hand of something nice.

I believe I'd take this over a Fender Rumble whatever, unless I found a second-hand 800c in really good shape at a really good price.

The 800c may be light at 29 lbs, but it is somewhat bulky compared to my favorite combos.
 
Very nice, yes those are high on my list - I saw a pic of a GR Bass carbon fiber cab that looked like it got dropped on its corner and didn't fare very well.

Are those Delano PU's on that Sadowsky?

If so, how do you like them?
The GR gear looks amazing. Before I acquired the Legacy 112, I looked hard at the GR stuff. They were still sorting out their designs at the time, and didn’t have some of the current options, including the combo. I was also unsure about the wear and tear robustness, and support from Europe. Great options today, but still somewhat unsure about durability.

I was an early user of the Flite ultralight cabs 25 or so years ago. In particular, their eventual 115MH cab was a design I worked out with Kurt at Flite. That cab was constructed with lofted epoxy panels, was light, and sounded amazing. But, it literally fell apart as I gigged it over the next 5 or 6 years. I re-glued etc, but eventually sold it and moved on. I expect the GR gear is higher quality; but, I’m still careful about the durability issues.

Good eye on the Sadowsky pickups, which indeed are Delano JMVC’s. Those are by far my favorite humcancelling J format pickups. I still also appreciate and use the Seymour Duncan SJB-2 single coils, which have that characteristic single coil bite. But, the JMVC’s are more than close enough, while actually having a superior neck pickup P Bass emulation capability. They also have a slightly different, but as awesome slap capability. Overall, the JMVC’s are more useful for my cover gigs; but, there is nothing quite like outstanding single coils. Just different flavors of great.
 
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The GR gear looks amazing. Before I acquired the Legacy 112, I looked hard at the GR stuff. They were still sorting out their designs at the time, and didn’t have some of the current options, including the combo. I was also unsure about the wear and tear robustness, and support from Europe. Great options today, but still somewhat unsure about durability.

I was an early user of the Flite ultralight cabs 25 or so years ago. In particular, their eventual 115MH cab was a design I worked out with Kurt at Flite. That cab was constructed with lofted epoxy panels, was light, and sounded amazing. But, it literally fell apart as I gigged it over the next 5 or 6 years. I re-glued etc, but eventually sold it and moved on. I expect the GR gear is higher quality; but, I’m still careful about the durability issues.

Good eye on the Sadowsky pickups, which indeed are Delano JMVC’s. Those are by far my favorite humcancelling J format pickups. I still also appreciate and use the Seymour Duncan SJB-2 single coils, which have that characteristic single coil bite. But, the JMVC’s are more than close enough, while actually having a superior neck pickup P Bass emulation capability. They also have a slightly different, but as awesome slap capability. Overall, the JMVC’s are more useful for my cover gigs; but, there is nothing quite like outstanding single coils. Just different flavors of great.
Excellent info!

I used to be super careful with my gear, and I still try to be, but I know as I get older, strength goes down a bit, so lightweight and sturdy is what I'm hoping for and can be somewhat contradictory in that it's more difficult to put those two things together in an affordable package.

Yeah, those are my favorite jazz pickups - they have good definition along with a meaty upper bass / low-mids, and still very punchy!

Yeah, Sadowsky's are generally known more for that single-coil, super cut-through tone.

I love that tone, but it's really not my tone so much!
 
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The GR gear looks amazing. Before I acquired the Legacy 112, I looked hard at the GR stuff. They were still sorting out their designs at the time, and didn’t have some of the current options, including the combo. I was also unsure about the wear and tear robustness, and support from Europe. Great options today, but still somewhat unsure about durability.

I was an early user of the Flite ultralight cabs 25 or so years ago. In particular, their eventual 115MH cab was a design I worked out with Kurt at Flite. That cab was constructed with lofted epoxy panels, was light, and sounded amazing. But, it literally fell apart as I gigged it over the next 5 or 6 years. I re-glued etc, but eventually sold it and moved on. I expect the GR gear is higher quality; but, I’m still careful about the durability issues.

Good eye on the Sadowsky pickups, which indeed are Delano JMVC’s. Those are by far my favorite humcancelling J format pickups. I still also appreciate and use the Seymour Duncan SJB-2 single coils, which have that characteristic single coil bite. But, the JMVC’s are more than close enough, while actually having a superior neck pickup P Bass emulation capability. They also have a slightly different, but as awesome slap capability. Overall, the JMVC’s are more useful for my cover gigs; but, there is nothing quite like outstanding single coils. Just different flavors of great.
Did you compare the Fusion 112 to the Legacy?
 
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Currently using my GK MB212 a lot, it is the ideal mix of power and portability. Weight about 40 lbs.
If you want something smaller and money is no issue, then the AER Amp Three is the best small form factor combo that money can buy. The sound of that thing is insane.
 
Currently using my GK MB212 a lot, it is the ideal mix of power and portability. Weight about 40 lbs.
If you want something smaller and money is no issue, then the AER Amp Three is the best small form factor combo that money can buy. The sound of that thing is insane.
I think the MB212 is heavier and bulkier than I'm looking for.

I was considering the MB112 for a while, but I think for the money, I'd rather get the Traynor SB112.

AER is super nice with super price - like lotto amp!?!
 
Did you compare the Fusion 112 to the Legacy?
Great Q. I confess that I failed on that point. There was somewhat a cost consideration; and I already have a few tube preamp kinds of options. In particular, I have a Demeter VTBP-201 with the Minnie 800D inside it, which is my main go to. But, as much as I have found that Legacy to be useful, I have certainly reconsidered the Fusion.
 
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Great Q. I confess that I failed on that point. There was somewhat a cost consideration; and I already have a few tube preamp kinds of options. In particular, I have a Demeter VTBP-201 with the Minnie 800D inside it, which is my main go to. But, as much as I have found that Legacy to be useful, I have certainly reconsidered the Fusion.
Love the Demeter preamps - especially the one in that head & the original 1&1/2 space preamp.
I had the VTBP-201S which was close to the original.
The HBP-1 is very nice as well, a bit less tubey, yet it has some special 3-D'ness to it that was great!

The good clips I've heard comparing the two GK 112's, seemed like the Fusion hit a bit harder in that same range those Delano JMVC's do!

Synergy is a strange thing though, might be too much of a good thing going on down there, if you know what I mean.

Also, not sure that in a live stage mix, you could tell the difference - splitting hairs is sometimes pointless in the real world.
 
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Also, not sure that in a live stage mix, you could tell the difference - splitting hairs is sometimes pointless in the real world.
I agree. I've spent too much on high end gear that makes absolutely no difference on stage, no only for the audience but also for the band and myself. The quality of the cab makes a real difference though. The amp only needs to provide just enough EQ to control boominess and the presence in the mix.
 
I have the GK Legacy 115. Weight-wise, it's just a little above what you are looking for, but I wouldn't hesitate to get the GK Legacy 112, which would be more in your desired weight. (I looked at it a long time and almost went with the 112.)

The Legacy combos are amazing -- clear and ungodly loud. It's essentially the Legacy 800 head integrated into the Neo IV cab of your choice -- with a Speak-on out to pick up the remaining 400 watts if you ever need it. My 115 is built like a tank -- good interior bracing so the lightweight cab remains stiff -- and a spray-on rhino liner derivative instead of tolex. The line is a little heavier than others in the same size ranges, but I expect this should last for years.
 
Seems like a bit of a stealth sleeper of a combo here on TB, but I've only read high praise of them:

Traynor SB112 Bass Combo.

200W into the 4 Ohm 12" woofer w/tweeter.

Dimensions (DWH, inches) -- 14 x 15.5 x 17.5

Weight (lbs / kg) -- 25/11.3

Golihur's has them for $719

A new one on Reverb for $648

I'm thinking this in probably my entry level combo, unless I find a deal second-hand of something nice.

I believe I'd take this over a Fender Rumble whatever, unless I found a second-hand 800c in really good shape at a really good price.

The 800c may be light at 29 lbs, but it is somewhat bulky compared to my favorite combos.
I have a DIY quasi-SB110 combo with an SB200H, paired with an "airhead" cab a couple of TBers made:

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It's made from Baltic Birch and comes in right at 26Lbs with the tiny head mounted. The driver is an 8 ohm Eminence Deltalite II 2510, the former owner had a second matching cab so 4 ohms in this one wasn't the jam. My expectations were very modest, and I only planned to use it in mostly acoustic house jam situations, but I've ended up taking it to many decent sized open mics too and keeping up with a rational drummer and one of two electric guitars and sometimes keys has been no problem.

Side by side with a Rumble 40 there was no comparison at all. I've never tried the R100 but liked the R200 a lot, and IMO that was considerably better with my fretted fiver than the DIY combo. I greatky prefer having a tweeter too though, so my perception my have been a bit skewed. I do have a 4 ohm AudioKinesis cab as well and the Traynor would work fine with that for the sort of gigs I used to do before I retired. And I think it actually sounds better than the Acoustic Image and Euphonic Audio heads I used to own, especially with bass guitar. Great for EUB and AUB too though, IME.
 
I have a DIY quasi-SB110 combo with an SB200H, paired with an "airhead" cab a couple of TBers made:

View attachment 7069655

It's made from Baltic Birch and comes in right at 26Lbs with the tiny head mounted. The driver is an 8 ohm Eminence Deltalite II 2510, the former owner had a second matching cab so 4 ohms in this one wasn't the jam. My expectations were very modest, and I only planned to use it in mostly acoustic house jam situations, but I've ended up taking it to many decent sized open mics too and keeping up with a rational drummer and one of two electric guitars and sometimes keys has been no problem.

Side by side with a Rumble 40 there was no comparison at all. I've never tried the R100 but liked the R200 a lot, and IMO that was considerably better with my fretted fiver than the DIY combo. I greatky prefer having a tweeter too though, so my perception my have been a bit skewed. I do have a 4 ohm AudioKinesis cab as well and the Traynor would work fine with that for the sort of gigs I used to do before I retired. And I think it actually sounds better than the Acoustic Image and Euphonic Audio heads I used to own, especially with bass guitar. Great for EUB and AUB too though, IME.
Very cool!

I like!
 
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I have the GK Legacy 115. Weight-wise, it's just a little above what you are looking for, but I wouldn't hesitate to get the GK Legacy 112, which would be more in your desired weight. (I looked at it a long time and almost went with the 112.)

The Legacy combos are amazing -- clear and ungodly loud. It's essentially the Legacy 800 head integrated into the Neo IV cab of your choice -- with a Speak-on out to pick up the remaining 400 watts if you ever need it. My 115 is built like a tank -- good interior bracing so the lightweight cab remains stiff -- and a spray-on rhino liner derivative instead of tolex. The line is a little heavier than others in the same size ranges, but I expect this should last for years.
I need to take a trip and check out the difference between the Legacy 112 & 115.

I bet that 115 would cover almost any gig (maybe even w/o a PA).

The 112 is just plain cute to me and definitely easier to tote.
 
I need to take a trip and check out the difference between the Legacy 112 & 115.

I bet that 115 would cover almost any gig (maybe even w/o a PA).

The 112 is just plain cute to me and definitely easier to tote.
It really comes down to the difference in the cab and about 8 pounds. The 15 might be a bit louder because you are pushing more air, but nothing major. (Though it is about 150% of the surface area of the 12.) Both will go out to other cabs for the full 800, so I debated going with the 12 and adding the 15 later. I just liked the 115 better and didn't really need another cab right now.

The 12 sounds great though, and plenty of folks like it better than the 15. You can hear the difference at

(the combos seem to be really close the plain cab sound), Without good headphones, though, you'll miss a lot - the 15 sample won't be close to the actual sound, and a vid still doesn't have the effect of actually being in the room with them. In a mix, there probably won't be a noticeable difference -- but alone, the 15 has something about it I liked.

RAG also shares good info on the cab design in that vid.
 
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