+1 for the Fender Rumble 200/500 combo. Affordable, loud and lightweight. Decent tone.
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Best lightweight combo with biggest punch
- Thread starter Ironbar
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- best combo lightweight punch
If you’re not in a huge hurry, I recommend hunting down something used. As long as it functions as it should, if you end up finding it’s not the perfect fit, you can probably sell it for what you paid for it and get something else.
It’s not local to you at all, but the below CL posting caught my eye...sounds like exactly what you need and within your budget.
It’s not local to you at all, but the below CL posting caught my eye...sounds like exactly what you need and within your budget.
IMO, Rumbles and the GK MB’s are the kings of the combo space, when you consider tone, price, portability, power and reliability. However they are on different ends of the classic fender vs modern tonal spectrum. I own and have giged steadily for a few years with both.
This rig gets my vote for small and punchy. The cabs are rated at 300 watts and head at 200, so it's not super loud, but the mid voiced cabs really do get very punchy and loud enough to get over a very heavy handed rock drummer and two guitarists playing 80's hair metal.
The entire rig weighs less than 35 pounds, and is an easy carry. With some used gear, you could get this for 500-600 dollars US.
My favorite cabinet is the GK 212 cab, it's the most versitile cab I've ever ran. It can cover the most ground, balancing small and light with power, voicing, and volume. Where my SVT and Trace Eliott rigs are on the ends of the spectrum, the GK cab can handle a wide array of power amps, and can cover most medium sized venues. I will double this up with a GK neo 410 cab to cover most stages if I need the volume. I use the 200 watt ELF to power them sometimes, and you would be amazed on the volume you get with 200 watts.
The entire rig weighs less than 35 pounds, and is an easy carry. With some used gear, you could get this for 500-600 dollars US.
My favorite cabinet is the GK 212 cab, it's the most versitile cab I've ever ran. It can cover the most ground, balancing small and light with power, voicing, and volume. Where my SVT and Trace Eliott rigs are on the ends of the spectrum, the GK cab can handle a wide array of power amps, and can cover most medium sized venues. I will double this up with a GK neo 410 cab to cover most stages if I need the volume. I use the 200 watt ELF to power them sometimes, and you would be amazed on the volume you get with 200 watts.
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
Yeah, the Rumble 200 is a very lightweight, loud, punchy amp. Played through one recently and it sounded great! I've been thinking about grabbing one for situations where hauling 120 lbs of amp and cab is less than desirable....
Pbassmanca
In the pocket n' thumpy. So woody, so greasy...
I think that the Rumble 200 is also within your budget....Yeah, the Rumble 200 is a very lightweight, loud, punchy amp. Played through one recently and it sounded great! I've been thinking about grabbing one for situations where hauling 120 lbs of amp and cab is less than desirable....
I would also give a tip of the hat to the Traynor SB112 in that general price range. It's a nice lightweight little package that puts out surprising volume for its size.
I have no experience with the other offerings people are listing (most notably the Fender Rumble or the GK MB combos). There is certainly some really nice stuff if budget is not an issue. Older Genz stuff and newer Genzler combos as well as MarkBass stuff. And although not combos, there are plenty of lightweight micro heads and compact and powerful single 12's out there.
I have no experience with the other offerings people are listing (most notably the Fender Rumble or the GK MB combos). There is certainly some really nice stuff if budget is not an issue. Older Genz stuff and newer Genzler combos as well as MarkBass stuff. And although not combos, there are plenty of lightweight micro heads and compact and powerful single 12's out there.
I tried out a little ampeg practice amp at a studio couple of weeks ago. I don’t know if it was a 12 or 15 but it sounded great. Real fat real clear. I wish I could give you more info on it but I just don’t really know what it was I didn’t pay that much attention at the time.
Just went through the exact same thing. Went to my local GC fully intending to buy a rumble and on a whim plugged into a Markbass combo. Worlds apart in terms of sounds and punchiness imo. I know the rumbles get a lot of love here so they definitely work for some, but the Markbass was significantly superior to my ears. Nice and light too
YES! the MarkBass CMD121p. The best item in their entire product line. 14" cube, 32 lbs. 350W. 500W with an add-on cab. HUGE sound. When I bought mine it just blew away every other combo in the Guitar Center store regardless of size. I can play ANY indoor gig with mine. This is the ONE item I would instantly replace if lost or stolen.
I see them used for around $600. They also have a lower cost version now - I am seeing them on the used market also.
I see them used for around $600. They also have a lower cost version now - I am seeing them on the used market also.
OK folks, I went to the local Guitar Center tonight to try out some small combos. Thank you all for the recommendations by the way!
MarkBass 1x12 - Sounded muddy. Loud, but very muddy.
Acoustic 1x12 - Sounded weak and thin. No punch.
TC Electronic BG250-112- Sounds virtually identical to my BG250-115 (which is good), but the damn things weighs almost as much too!
Fender Rumble 100 - Didn't sound quite as good as the TC, BUT it weighed probably a good ten pounds less than the TC. So, as of this moment, the Rumble 100 is the front runner. However, I'd really like to try one of those GK112's, but I have no idea where to go locally to try one out.
CG didn't have an Ampeg 112 to try, but I'd like to give that one a go too.
MarkBass 1x12 - Sounded muddy. Loud, but very muddy.
Acoustic 1x12 - Sounded weak and thin. No punch.
TC Electronic BG250-112- Sounds virtually identical to my BG250-115 (which is good), but the damn things weighs almost as much too!
Fender Rumble 100 - Didn't sound quite as good as the TC, BUT it weighed probably a good ten pounds less than the TC. So, as of this moment, the Rumble 100 is the front runner. However, I'd really like to try one of those GK112's, but I have no idea where to go locally to try one out.
CG didn't have an Ampeg 112 to try, but I'd like to give that one a go too.
Seems to me if the Markbass sounded muddy at GC, it has more to do with the acoustic environment at GC than with the amp. Markbass amps are known for their punchiness! I have two Made-in-Italy CMP 121Ps and they kick butt.
I clicked just to see how soon fender rumble would come up... post 5! Not bad. does that amp have, dare I say... mystique?
I have the CMD121P - it's loud and clean, and pretty punchy. That said , depending on your ears and your bass, it can be a bit "boxy" or "woody" - it's got that low-mid voicing. That said, it shouldn't be muddy.
They have a vintage loudspeaker emulator (VLE) control, plus another tone shaper. My guess is that the VLE was on full, hence the mud, and the VPF control might have been set badly too. Then again, maybe not.
Not saying your choice isn't valid (and yeah, the Markbass is in a different price range) but I'm surprised it sounded muddy.
Edit: I was set to mention the Orange terror bass amp, which is actually a 2x12 in a 1x12 package (somehow) at 500w I think - a friend of mine has the non-combo option, and it's powerful - but I realize that's even more expensive. It definitely fills a room, though.
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I know this is a minor thing, but the other issue that knocked the MarkBass out of contention is that is has no Aux In and no headphone out jacks. Gotta be able to practice with headphones on when the wife & kid are home.
I also cannot find a GK MB112 locally to try out. Really wanted to give that one a go since so many of you recommended it.
I also cannot find a GK MB112 locally to try out. Really wanted to give that one a go since so many of you recommended it.
5 Star Guitar in Beaverton is the only local GK dealer now. They do not have much in stock so maybe call first unless you want to go anyway.
Have you check Portland music on Beaverton-Hillsdale hwy? I have not been there in a while to tell you there current stock, the Miwaukie location just has the Rumble and an eden 2x10.
For random used that is usually good and clean gear not available form GC and GK pop up at occasionally is Trade Up Music in Portland, they have two locations one at 4701 SE Division Street Portland, OR 97206 and 1834 NE Alberta Street Portland, OR 97211.
Also Hum Strum Drum on Capital hwy 7645 SW CAPITOL HWY PORTLAND OR 97219.
Something not mentioned here may be at one of these places that may tickle you more than what you tried already.
Also If it is just a matter of not wanting to physically carry your current combo but are happy with it in other ways, how about a Folding Hand Cart?
Just wheel it from the car to the stage with a few fingers, no bulk weight. This is what I do with my 2x12, it is only 47lbs but the size requires two hands to carry. With the cart it is one hand, almost no weight is on that hand and it frees the other hand for Bass and/or door opening.
