• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Best lightweight combo for those live conditions

Lebowsky

Lebowsky

Effects Forum Resident
Supporting Member
Mar 18, 2007
1,655
708
Switzerland
#1
hey guys,

I'd like some advice on lightweight combos. Already read a few threads, and the one that seems to popup the most often is the 12" genz-benz 6.0. seems to have a lot of love around here.

before I start going trying a few ones, I wanted to try and narrow the possibilities down a bit with your help. heres the thing:

we started a new project with a friend around a year ago. 1 electric guitar, 1 bass, and a laptop for the drum samples. I also play a lot of effects, while he plays the guitar clean. I play a musicman Bongo 4.

since there are no drums, and the music is kinda minimal/intimist, we play rather small places. my current amp is a 2x10+1x15 GK which has been overkill for those places and anyway, and an overkill to move as well.

so I was thinking a small lightweight combo would most likely to the trick for those small gigs, and if we sometimes have to play somehwere big, I can always haul the GK over.

what kind of combo would you recommend? 1x12, 2x10? which brand? I'd rather have somehting loud enough just in case. most of the times I don't have PA support.

thanks in advance for your advices :)
 
#2
Genz-Benz, and Markbass are worth checking out. Good, light, and LOUD.

Please ensure that your bass amp evaluation process includes finding out where you could have any prospective rigs repaired--before you buy one...
 
#6
I can't speak highly enough about my Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0-12T. I definitely recommend trying out the others, though. I've never played a Bongo, but I do wonder if the very happy mids of the GB amp might be too much for a bass voiced the same way? Just food for thought as you experiment...

BTW, I am continually amazed at just how much oomph the GB combo offers. Three times now I've been in situations where the room size and/or band volume was much greater than I expected, and the amp sounded great. On that third time, the keys were also running through the amp, and both instruments came out like a million bucks. When I think of just how good this thing sounds, I really start giggling like a schoolgirl when I remember it only weighs 32lbs and will easily fit under a baby grand piano.
 
#8
My experience is limited & somewhat dated, but take it FWIW:
Best I have: Hartke HA-1400+Flite 2x10; light, cheap & almost enough oomph for loud stuff
Best I've had: Eden CXC-110; perfect except for me bordering on not-really-lightweight(39 lbs, IIRC)
Honorable mention: Hartke Kickback 12; impressive far beyond it's rating but a tad heavy(49 lbs)
 
#9
I have a Shuttle 6.0 and a NeoX 212T cab. The cab is light and does the kick and roll, so the combination is _VERY_ portable. Overkill for the scenario you've described, though.

I use the Shuttle with an inefficient 10" cab in church and I have no problems hearing myself. The Shuttle has plenty of power. I've used it with an Ampeg Portabass 1x10 cab as well - it wasn't enough for a rock band with a drummer, but it had a lot of cut. Very nice.

I would go with the 12" Shuttle cab if I were you. It's getting great reviews - see especially KJung's post on page 2 of this thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=565399&page=2

I agree with Ken - there's little reason to get the 10" or 8" - you lose a fair amount of low end without gaining that much in terms of a size advantage. There are a lot of good 1x12 cabs out there. I'm suggesting sticking with Genz Benz because you'd get the bracket for the head and because I've had good luck with my own Genz Benz cab.

OTOH, Mark Bass, being Italian, might be more cost effective for you in Switzerland. I have no experience with Mark Bass. They get a lot of love. I picked the Shuttle 6.0 because I can fit it in my bass's gig bag.

Good luck.

KO
 
#10
I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. I am currently considering the GB Shuttle 112 or the MB CMD 121H. This weekend, I am going to test both of them side by side and will follow up with a review. Last weekend i compared the MB 102p with the Mesa Boogie Walkabout Scout. The Mesa's tone impressed me alot more than the MB. I am hoping that the 121H will provide much more warmth than the 102p and think that i will due to the 112 and custom horn. The 121H is really the amp i am gunning towards since its only $950.
 
#11
I use my Nemesis RS115 and it works great for bars and smallish mid-sized rooms. I couldnt imagine going with anything smaller tho, but I hear the walkabout scout 12" can really get the job done... I just hate pushing a small speaker for 3-4 hours, however, I feel its good to know what each combo's limitation are and be really familiar with each gig situation. If its a new place I've never played I through an extra cab in the car just in case!
 
#12
I'd certainly vote for the Mesa Walkabout too, have one - love it, but, unfortunately, I think the Mesa European pricing might make the Markbass and Genz stuff more attractive to you .... particularly Markbass. What about the TechAmp TC line ? that stuff is Dutch or Belgian made, probably easy to find for you.

good luck
 
#17
pfschim said:
I'd certainly vote for the Mesa Walkabout too, have one - love it, but, unfortunately, I think the Mesa European pricing might make the Markbass and Genz stuff more attractive to you .... particularly Markbass. What about the TechAmp TC line ? that stuff is Dutch or Belgian made, probably easy to find for you.

good luck
Click to expand...

oh yes, the prices for the scout (boogie in general) in europe (austria) are heavy, very heavy - next is - i tried to get one but the distributor (meinl) had not one since month - on the other hand the 1 x 12 scout with removable head, real tube pre, 2 ohm stable (i hope so when i need a little bit more power) is the most interesting bass combo at least for me, so i have to wait to get one for testing - i hope i don`t like it so i have not to spend that much money, but unfortunatly i think i like it

sound :)

price :crying:

from the european brands - i like ebs for example - there is nothing like the scout - okay, techamp is not bad but it`s just not my thing - i like it more "old fashion" and i hope in a few month is "boogietime" for me
 
#18
jamesie said:
oh yes, the prices for the scout (boogie in general) in europe (austria) are heavy, very heavy - next is - i tried to get one but the distributor (meinl) had not one since month - on the other hand the 1 x 12 scout with removable head, real tube pre, 2 ohm stable (i hope so when i need a little bit more power) is the most interesting bass combo at least for me, so i have to wait to get one for testing - i hope i don`t like it so i have not to spend that much money, but unfortunatly i think i like it

sound :)

price :crying:

from the european brands - i like ebs for example - there is nothing like the scout - okay, techamp is not bad but it`s just not my thing - i like it more "old fashion" and i hope in a few month is "boogietime" for me
Click to expand...

I'm afraid you will like the Scout very much. I did. Nothing else comes close in that size. I live in Canada so we get hit pretty hard price wise too. That didn't stop me though. I even managed to convince my wife about the Scout's superiority by playing it in the store along side a couple lesser amps its size. She can hear the difference and she's not a musician.

It'll handle a 2 ohm load. I've done it.

Have fun with your new Scout combo. :)
 
#19
62bass said:
I'm afraid you will like the Scout very much. I did. Nothing else comes close in that size. I live in Canada so we get hit pretty hard price wise too. That didn't stop me though. I even managed to convince my wife about the Scout's superiority by playing it in the store along side a couple lesser amps its size. She can hear the difference and she's not a musician.

It'll handle a 2 ohm load. I've done it.

Have fun with your new Scout combo. :)
Click to expand...

thanks

oh yes, i`m afraid too that i like the scout and congratulations - your wife must be beautiful :)
 
#20
Had a Markbass CMD 102P for quite a while and I really liked that combo!

But recently traded it in for a Markbass CMD 121H (which is what I wanted originally but they weren't yet available here in the U.S.) and I LOVE that combo a whole LOT!

(FWIW, I play fretless, small venues, small jazz combos (bass-piano-drums or just bass-piano) and occasionally back an acoustic guitarist or 2.)

JMHO
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back