Better bass amp -> better sound from PA??

If most of your house sound is coming through the PA, then getting a new combo isn't going to help. I'd opt for a high quality DI. Also, 300-400 really isn't enough to net you much of an improvement from what you already have.

 

How well do you hear yourself with the little combo? You could go for a sansamp deluxe and keep using the combo if it's enough.

Otherwise you're on the right track with a small combo with a good DI. Too much rig makes a mess of the house sound.

 

Depends how big your PA is. A lot of smaller PA speakers are rubbish for bass. If the room is small enough to be carried by the stage sound then IMO you should upgrade your combo. .... Get a combo with a decent DI/preamp and have the best of both worlds.

 

I would get the MB115 since it not only will sound WAY better, but GK’s have a nice direct out sound from my experience. If there’s a reason for removing you from the FOH mix, you’ll still have enough to Rock the Church!

 

Good point. I assumed getting by with 40w meant there is already significant PA in the joint.

 

Yeah, you likely would get a better tone out of a better combo's XLR, but how much better is debatable. I know nothing about the Crate's XLR, but old practice amp XLR outs tend to not be the best of quality. Still, they do work and get the job done, as you've seen. $300 and $400 combos generally are a little better with the XLR but some are better with it than others.

So in other words, that's up for you to decide if it's worth it.

 

Can you hear yourself properly? If so, you probably don't need a new amp.

If you don't spend the money, do you lose it? Or can you carry it over to next year and have a bigger budget?

If you are worried about the sound in the FOH, assuming you can hear yourself, I would just get a nice DI.

 

This.. Plus and someone correct me if I am wrong but unless you either have a good PA or a sound an who knows what he is doing often getting good bass sound from the PA can be problematic depending on the size of the room. I struggled for years at my church once I got a decent head because I was going through the DI with the amp set for POST EQ so by the time it hit the speakers what sounded great on the platform was boomy and very buddy. Now I go PRE EQ through the DI on my head and I have most of the sound coming from my 212 with the rest augmented over the PA but the bulk of the overallntone is coming from the platform which is IMO better anyway.

 

+1 get the GK. It'll have a better DI & you'll be stoked with yr sound.
Ime, that leads to better playing also

 

The general consensus here - that a $300-400 amp upgrade won't significantly improve your PA sound - is probably true. I would also agree with BurningSkies' recommendation of finding a decent DI box. Stick that DI between your bass and your amp, and use the parallel out to go to your amp while the xlr runs to the PA.

This is solid advice UNDER ONE MAIN CONDITION. Do you like the sound of your bass? If so, you're golden. If not, your $300-400 dollars will be better spent (in this situation) on a bass that you like and a decent, traditional DI.

 

I dunno about that .. he has a 40W Crate Bx40 ... If anything a GKMB115 would give him more power and tonal possibilities where he wouldn't have to push the amp so hard and perhaps depend on the PA more for augmentation than to be heard at all. I was in a similar situation with a SWR La-15 a few years back.. and that was a better amp than the one he now has.. I say if the church is going to pay for it upgrade and don't look back. I had to do my own upgrade at my church.

 

Yep. I''d rather have a good tone & enough power onstage & have a PA like the one stated 'augment' my sound, than rely on a possibly poor sound man & ok front of house speakers to provide it all.
But-just my 2c

 

Exactly. Use the PRE-EQ on the GK direct out and it’s a clean balanced signal for the PA guy to work with. Maybe not quite as good as an expensive direct box but good enough. POST-EQ is fine if you and your sound guy establish some guidelines, but that means he’s a good sound man AND he trusts you. I had plenty of sound guys run a line from my old GK 700rb with no complaints. Most just want PRE-EQ on so there’s no spikes if I started twisting knobs. DUMP THE CRATE. Good stage sound is also important. The GK is probably lighter than that old dumpy Crate to boot.

 

+1

I lived the OP's situation for years. Those JBL's are decent speakers, but without a sub, they're best reserved for midrange and treble instruments. A sub would be ~$1K, so that's out.

A better DI is a waste with at system, too, since the JBL's desperately need some help at the low end. I say, get the G-K combo.

The G-K's acoustic output will work to reinforce the PA, getting the bass out into the room without stressing the FOH speakers. The vocals will sound better once you stop making the FOH speakers do the heavy lifting for the bass guitar. Be sure to mention that, so that the sound guy will be listening for the improvement. With him onside, it will easier to sell your idea.

The G-K's pre-EQ DI is a plus, too. The line out from the Crate is post-EQ, and tuned to suit a dinky combo speaker. A heavily scooped and bass-boosted signal is the last thing those JBL's need.

Using the G-K DI will give the sound guy a better signal, and allow him to sneak a bit of clean, solid bass back into the FOH mix, if he's got enough headroom left. And if he doesn't, well hey, at least you've got the G-K!

The secret in these situations is to establish a rapport with the sound guy. Establish hand signals so he can tell you if you're too loud or too soft. This gives him confidence, makes him feel like he's in control, and gives him a sense that you've got his back. As a team, you can accomplish far more than either of you could alone.

 

Can you talk keys and drummers into giving it up for a sub system?