Best lightweight combo amp under 35 pounds

[Jason Hollar]

I’ll jump on the GK bandwagon. I’ve been gigging the Legacy Neo 800 1x12 for three years now and it really is a remarkable amp. I would absolutely love to try one of the larger models like the 15 or 2x10 but the 12 is about as much as I can schlepp without hurting myself. That said I use a Rock n Roller cart and I also have the neo 1x12 extension cab which is a ridiculous little stack.

I’ve also gigged the venerable Markbass cmd 121p for probably over ten years now. I find it to be very portable but not near as crushing in terms of volume and perceived power. It does have a rear port in contrast to the Legacy cab. I find this useful for upright gigs whereas the GK rules on 5 string electric bass.

I’ve had some up close experience with most of the Rumble combos. The are loud, freakishly light, and very inexpensive. However our school already had one go down with no hope of repair. These things are basically disposable. I contemplated buying the Rumble 12 combo and just leaving it in the car year round as a backup but that hasn’t happened yet.

Good luck and keep us posted! Definitely try a GK though!

 

[John D Harris]

I’ll jump on the GK bandwagon. I’ve been gigging the Legacy Neo 800 1x12 for three years now and it really is a remarkable amp. I would absolutely love to try one of the larger models like the 15 or 2x10 but the 12 is about as much as I can schlepp without hurting myself. That said I use a Rock n Roller cart and I also have the neo 1x12 extension cab which is a ridiculous little stack.

I’ve also gigged the venerable Markbass cmd 121p for probably over ten years now. I find it to be very portable but not near as crushing in terms of volume and perceived power. It does have a rear port in contrast to the Legacy cab. I find this useful for upright gigs whereas the GK rules on 5 string electric bass.

I’ve had some up close experience with most of the Rumble combos. The are loud, freakishly light, and very inexpensive. However our school already had one go down with no hope of repair. These things are basically disposable. I contemplated buying the Rumble 12 combo and just leaving it in the car year round as a backup but that hasn’t happened yet.

Good luck and keep us posted! Definitely try a GK though!

That helps a lot!

Having a 5 string, that is encouraging!

Thanks!

 

[John D Harris]

I know this is backsliding a bit WRT separates / combos, but (long shot) has anyone tried a Quilter 800W head with a GK Neo IV 112 AND compared that to either the GK Legacy 112 combo or a Quilter 800W head with a Barefaced Super Compact?

That would be some really helpful feedback!

The new Quilter BB V803 is really the only 'affordable' head that tempts me to go with separates instead of a combo (if money were not a consideration, the tempter would be the new Bergantino Forte HP2X).

I'm certain the V803 w/ the Bf SC would 'SLAY', but I'm quasi-convinced, that the Legacy 112 might not sound that much different in a band scenario with the right EQ (?) ...

 

[John D Harris]

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.

I will check it out - I have a pretty decent audio sound system.

 

[John D Harris]

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.

Yeah, the 12's sound great (the 212 sounds really great)!

The 115 sounds awesome!

 

[Jim C]

GR or Ampeg FTW.
Hated the Fender Rumble I had. Peavey was OK not great.