Class D combo with external amp input?

[dougjwray]

I know that there are guitar combo amps (Fender, for one) which allow you to unplug the amplifier section from the speaker(s) and plug a different amplifier into the speaker(s).
Are there any Class D bass combos with this feature?
I'm a little obsessive about bringing spares of everything to gigs, and for that reason I shy away from combos. Instead, I bring one cab and two heads.
But if could bring a combo and have the option of using, say, an Elf head as my backup, it would cut down on the load-ins and load-outs.
Two-bass gig bag in one hand, combo in the other, and backpack with Elf, cables, tuner, DI box, vocal mic, sheet music, gaff tape, etc. on my back. (And one more trip for the mic stand, music stand and guitar stands. )
Anyone?
Thanks!

 

[SJan3]

I know that there are guitar combo amps (Fender, for one) which allow you to unplug the amplifier section from the speaker(s) and plug a different amplifier into the speaker(s).
Are there any Class D bass combos with this feature?
I'm a little obsessive about bringing spares of everything to gigs, and for that reason I shy away from combos. Instead, I bring one cab and two heads.
But if could bring a combo and have the option of using, say, an Elf head as my backup, it would cut down on the load-ins and load-outs.
Two-bass gig bag in one hand, combo in the other, and backpack with Elf, cables, tuner, DI box, vocal mic, sheet music, gaff tape, etc. on my back. (And one more trip for the mic stand, music stand and guitar stands. )
Anyone?
Thanks!

MarkBass for one.

 

[agedhorse]

Yes, many.

Genzler and the old Genz Benz are two examples.

 

[dougjwray]

Thanks for your help.

 

[Carl Hillman]

I know that there are guitar combo amps (Fender, for one) which allow you to unplug the amplifier section from the speaker(s) and plug a different amplifier into the speaker(s).
Are there any Class D bass combos with this feature?
I'm a little obsessive about bringing spares of everything to gigs, and for that reason I shy away from combos. Instead, I bring one cab and two heads.
But if could bring a combo and have the option of using, say, an Elf head as my backup, it would cut down on the load-ins and load-outs.
Two-bass gig bag in one hand, combo in the other, and backpack with Elf, cables, tuner, DI box, vocal mic, sheet music, gaff tape, etc. on my back. (And one more trip for the mic stand, music stand and guitar stands. )
Anyone?
Thanks!

But, what if your speaker fails?

Not trying to be glib, but I think I’ve had amp trouble twice in about 6,000 gigs. In those instances, I plugged into the PA and had the sound guy put me through a monitor. Everything was fine. Nobody got hurt.

 

[B-string]

Something to keep in mind, many class D output modules supply aux power for the preamp. If the output module goes down, you may find the preamp down as well. Carrying a backup is a pain, until you need a backup and it's not there and the FOH or band PA can't handle your bass.

I can be of no help with a combo that can have it's speaker powered from an outside amp.

 

[eric_B]

I converted my Rumble V3-100 combo several years ago to be able to use an external amp or speaker: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-rumble-v3-mod-separating-amp-and-speaker.1218031/
It is still holding up fine after all the years.

 

[brianrost]

But, what if your speaker fails?

Not trying to be glib, but I think I’ve had amp trouble twice in about 6,000 gigs. In those instances, I plugged into the PA and had the sound guy put me through a monitor. Everything was fine. Nobody got hurt.

I’m sure I’m not anywhere close to 6000 gigs yet but my experience is similar…one amp failure on a gig in 45 years, I had just retubed the amp and a tube failed in the first song of the night

I used to bring a spare amp with me and it only got used by guitarists who blew their own amp up. So that was that. Better to buy a beater combo as a spare if you are paranoid.

 

[agedhorse]

I’m sure I’m not anywhere close to 6000 gigs yet but my experience is similar…one amp failure on a gig in 45 years, I had just retubed the amp and a tube failed in the first song of the night

This is why I usually recommend leaving an older but otherwise perfectly functioning tubes alone. What you experienced is not all that uncommon.

 

[dougjwray]

But, what if your speaker fails?

Not trying to be glib, but I think I’ve had amp trouble twice in about 6,000 gigs. In those instances, I plugged into the PA and had the sound guy put me through a monitor. Everything was fine. Nobody got hurt.

I've had the same history. I guess I'm just a bit more obsessive.

 

[KeithAlanK]

Back when I played guitar in hard/heavy rock bands, I liked to add my small practice combo to drive the bottom 4x12" cabinet. The amp had a totally different EQ stack and distortion characteristics, being solid state instead of tubes, so it would add a level of richness to my sound. I would mic them both to FOH.
The practice amp saved my butt one night in Vermont of all places when my tube head went down.

All I did was mount a 1/4" jack on the back of the combo connected to the speaker, and solder a 1/4" plug to the speaker wires coming out of the amp section. Back then it probably cost me $7, but Speakons will be a bit more.