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Can Someone Name An Inexpensive, Tiny Combo (That Doesn't Completely Suck)?

#21
Ashdown Electric Blue 12. A great little amp. 180 watts, 12 inch speaker. It has an extension jack so you can hook up a second 8 ohm and do a small gig. Small enough to have lay around the house and plenty of power so it doesn't sound like you are using a little box. The go for about $300 at American Musical.
 
#22
KPJ said:
Ashdown Electric Blue 12. A great little amp. 180 watts, 12 inch speaker. It has an extension jack so you can hook up a second 8 ohm and do a small gig. Small enough to have lay around the house and plenty of power so it doesn't sound like you are using a little box. The go for about $300 at American Musical.
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That's actually way more than I'd need- I've got an Epifani combo that's 300w already- I just need a tiny practice one. Thanks for the suggestion though.

MeYHymN said:
What about a preamp or a processor that has a headphone jack. That's something you could actually use in more situations than just nannying. Just my $0.02
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Already have what I need for other situations- I want something specifically for when I'm nannying (and earphones are no good for that).

Thanks for all the suggestions so far- I'll research everything mentioned over the next couple days :)
 
#25
+1 on the SWR Workingman 10. 80 watts, 10" woofer, D.I. out and it's very compact. More compact than any 20-35 watt practice amp I have seen. I usually don't like SWR stuff but this compact amp is impressive as a practice amp.

I think SWR is discontinuing them so GC is blowing them out. I have seen them going for $225.00

I use a Behringer BX300 30 watt amp in my bedroom. It's not what you would call a good sounding amp but it's gets the job done for low volume practice, has an effects loop, and CD input. I have had it for a year and a half and it has been trouble free. It was $90.00 out the door @ GC.
 
#27
+1 Bassman 25, GREAT tone, nice kickback feature, but it's not "loud" even for a 25W amp IMHO.

+1 Peavey Microbass.

NEW - GK Backline 110
I LOVED this amp, which was pretty loud for a 110 combo, really nice tone, nice kickback feature (I REALLY like this in a small combo), and had 2 switchable channels as well as aux in and headphones out. I think you can get them new for under $250, as well. Just sold it to a good friend who uses it for both upright as well as 5 string electric. I replaced it with a Roland Cube 100 I got a really good deal on. I actually like the GK tone better, but wanted some of the features of the Roland.

-1 SWR WM10 (IMHO).
I tried one and it sounded very dull to me, and the horn's nasty personality is well known. There's even posts where people have hated it so much they simply turn it off and live without the high end, or literally mod the crossover to make is "useful".
 
#30
Vic said:
-1 SWR WM10 (IMHO).
I tried one and it sounded very dull to me, and the horn's nasty personality is well known. There's even posts where people have hated it so much they simply turn it off and live without the high end, or literally mod the crossover to make is "useful".
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With a single 10" in a practice amp, you don't really need a tweeter, and the WM10 sounds pretty nice even without it.

WM10 is a hissy bugger, but is otherwise pretty darn nice IMO.
 
#31
I never thought it would happen to me.. honest. Whenever anybody woul ask about a practice amp I alway replied B15 (N or F). Until one day I needed a "practice amp" real bad.. I mean real bad. I bought my gosH... this is hard to say in public.. a Class Act at Walmart.
In all actuality it wasn't to bad, basically loud enough for a bedroom and a coffee shop gig and sounded kinda.. dare I say deep? with my Guild set deep (and it goes way low) the amp didn't distort if the bass knob was at a1/2 or less. With my MIM Jazz it was fine all the way around. I think I paid about $50 for it on sale. I did return it and bought a used BA-112.
As a side note, while at a store with some friends (knowledgable, skilled and competent)I tried a Micro bass, the guitaristjust looked at me and kinda shook his head no. IMHO the class act sounded better. but heck, at that point you are in the under a hun arena. If you can afford more, go for it. My other practice amp is a Trace Elliot BLX 80 and I like that alot also.

Best of Luck,
Wesley R.
 
#32
pickles said:
With a single 10" in a practice amp, you don't really need a tweeter, and the WM10 sounds pretty nice even without it.

WM10 is a hissy bugger, but is otherwise pretty darn nice IMO.
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That's true, but I think the SWR was designed to be used with the horn, since the one was in there, so even with it disabled, it seemed high end was being stripped from the 10". Again, just MHO, but I really disliked it.

Amps, such as the GK, for example, designed to run without, sound just fine to me.
 
#33
jokerjkny said:
omg,

my bass teacher has THE SINGLE most killer little combo i've ever heard in my life, and yet, for the life of me, i cant remember its stupid name!

i'll ask at tomorrow's lesson.
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i found out:

its a solid state traynor 30 watt bass combo from the late '70s, early '80s, and good lord, it sounds awesome. fat, full, and very jaco'like. the panel is on top ala vox amp style in letting that looks very AMP'esque. uber cool amp that i'm currently hunting for.
 
#36
funknjazz said:
What about the Roland cube 30? It sounded good at the store and has good reviews. Seen them used for under 200.
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I'd jump on that. The only reason I didn't mention it was because this thread was all about "inexpensive" and USUALLY, you gotta spend at least $300 for one of these. In particular, if you can get enough output from the 30W, it's my favorite one, because it has an aux in. I have the 100W model, and it doesn't. I got it because I got a GREAT deal on it, and also because I wanted to be able to use it in church ensemble without an extension cab.
 
#39
Trevorus said:
fender bassman 25. one of the older ones with a single 10. Those things were fantastic.
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+1 (The original ones covered in black carpet; I think they were called the RAD)
Easily the best low wattage combo I've ever played through. It actually made you want to play!;)

Here's a link to review of one:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
#40
JOME77 said:
+1 (The original ones covered in black carpet; I think they were called the RAD)
Easily the best low wattage combo I've ever played through. It actually made you want to play!;)

Here's a link to review of one:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
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Yup, that's the RAD Bass combo I was referring to, above. That little sucker still sounds good, even compared to the rest of my gear! :smug:

Tom.
 

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