Combo Amp Advice?

[alaskaleftybass]

There's a GK MB 410 combo that looks pretty awesome. Probably can handle outside shows too.

 

[Gearhead17]

I suggest you should avoid combos all together and get a 50lb 210 and a 300-700 watts micro bass head (5lbs). More volume and better tone at your fingertips right away. With a combo, you are always limited by the cabinet as most combos don't project as much volume as a typical bass cabinet.

 

[lancimouspitt]

My experience is limited,but on paper its hard to beat the rumble for biggest bang for the buck.

I have an ampeg ba 112 that sounds great but only pushes 75 watts. Does not cut it for most situations.

I also have a fender bassman 200. Good sounding amp,but even at 200 watts it still would struggle to be heard in certain situations and had reliability issues.
The rumbles are well reviewed and push enough power to get you heard.

 

[pfschim]

I suggest you should avoid combos all together and get a 50lb 210 and a 300-700 watts micro bass head (5lbs). More volume and better tone at your fingertips right away. With a combo, you are always limited by the cabinet as most combos don't project as much volume as a typical bass cabinet.

guy asked our advice about combo's. so combo info is what everyone (until your post) has provided. why don't we try (for a change) to not have this type of thread turn into combo vs head/cab.

Pro level combo's are not at all limited in the way you are describing, all of them that I am aware of have ext outs for addl cabs if needed. Pro level combos can be very functional for certain kinds of gigs and certain kinds of gigging situations (urban player using public trans or cabs doing multiple gigs on any given working day).

 

[Gearhead17]

guy asked our advice about combo's. so combo info is what everyone (until your post) has provided. why don't we try (for a change) to not have this type of thread turn into combo vs head/cab.

Pro level combo's are not at all limited in the way you are describing, all of them that I am aware of have ext outs for addl cabs if needed. Pro level combos can be very functional for certain kinds of gigs and certain kinds of gigging situations (urban player using public trans or cabs doing multiple gigs on any given working day).

To pfschim: I understand where you are coming from, but I believe the majority of modern day combos are a large waste of money. For the weight requirements (below 95lbs obviously) my suggested 50lb cab and 5lb head fit the bill beautifully. Continuing on, the OP wants to hear himself in an outdoor situation - I have never played a combo that held it's own outside. I don't want to see the OP spend his hard earned money on something that will most likely NOT cut it in the majority if situations. Lastly, the OP is asking for advice and I am providing it. If you are playing a combo amp that is working for you, great. I know I will NEVER spend my money again on a combo amp.

 

[Kmonk]

I have an Ampeg BA500 which as two 10 inch speakers. It also has a jack to connect a speaker cabinet and can run at 500 watts. It is heavy though, about 90 pounds. I also have an Ashdown combo. I have used the Ampeg at smaller venues but for gigs I use an Ampeg SVT6PRO with either one or two 410 cabs.

 

[aftereight]

Mesa Walkabout 15 if you can afford it. If you can't, save money
Or try a Markbass CMD 102P if you can't afford the Mesa.
They are not the same at all, the Markbass is very neutral (almost cold), but you will for sure take something out of it in a minimum weight.
The Mesa is tremendous.

 

[matthewbrown]

You may want to look beyond combos. One problem with loud combos is that they rattle the amplifier components when you play VERY loud. Internal wiring and components have often come loose even in good combos when you play them loudly, and then you either have to fix it yourself or it's week or so in the shop. Another problem with combos is that they lack the flexibility you get with separate heads and cabs. Finally, get more bang for your buck with separate components, IMHO.

For small gigs, I use a GK MB200 and a 1X12 cab. I can stick the head into the pocket of my gig bag and walk in with the cab in hand. For louder gigs I use a pair of 1X12's and a Carvin BX head that gives me 350 watts. Much louder than that I go through the mains. Two Eden cabs and the two amps all cost less than combo of equal quality and power, I think, and still quite small, lightweight and portable.

All that said, if you're set on a combo, I'd call a repair tech in a busy shop and ask which ones he never has to fix.

 

[Thornton Davis]

Gallien krueger has some cool combo amps. I got an mb410 which is basically a 410 cabinet with a 500 watt head built in. they also sell powered cabinets you can add to the combo for extra speakers and wattage

Adding a MBP410-II (powered cabinet) to a MB410-II combo looks like this. You can add on as many MBP powered cabinets as you want. This rig satisfies all gigging needs. I take the MB410-II (500 watts) to smaller gigs and then add the MBP410-II for larger gigs which gives me 1000 watts and 810's. It's the smallest 810 rig that I've ever seen. Its total weight for both cabs is under 100 lbs.

I prefer 10" NEO's so that's why I bought the 410, but the MB212-II has the same power and configuration capabilities if you prefer the sound of 12" NEO's.

TD

 

[Medicine Man]

I play a markbass cmd 102p, and for most bar and club gigs it works fantastic at 45 lbs. I find it underpowered for outdoors and play an svt or mesa stack if we're playing outside. You can power an extension cab off the markbass, but it wont keep up with a refrigerator.

 

[FirewalZ]

I use a GK MB212-II as my main "rig". It has two 12's, about 35-ish lbs, a full 500watts, very simple eq and controls. GK is known for plenty of clean power and punch at high volumes, and I have yet to push it beyond 20%. It exceeded my overall requirements of tone, portability, power and price.

 

[soxhats]

I recently got one of the new Ampeg combos -- the BA210 V2 -- and am extremely happy with it. I have the option of pairing it with an Ampeg PF210HE cabinet. Kicks some serious booty.

I agree the new Fender stuff is very good.

 

[danster]

Love my GK MB115 combo

 

[smogg]

Hmmm...OP plays mostly is jazz groups & plays upright as well as passive electric. IMHO the CARVIN MB1515 Micro Stack would be a prefect candidate. Light, modular, flexible EQ, and the sealed 15's should rock on upright. MB1515 Micro Bass Amp Stack – Carvin Amplifiers

 

[Bodeanly]

Just throwing this out there: There are currently two used Fender Rumble 500 combos in the TB classifieds. For $100 below new, you are not going to find much better bang for your buck.

 

[Joebone]

I get the combo thing - they are convenient, especially when swapping out with other bands, or places with security issues. There are some good options - the GK combos, with add-on powered modules, seem quite sensible. The mark bass combos with the 500 watt head that can run a second cabinet are also an option, although I'm not a fan of their speaker/cabinets. The new ender Rumble seems popular, but I have no experience. I do have some experience with the Genz Benz contour 500-115, which can run a second 8-ohm cabinet and pull 500 watts. I have one, and am amazed at how good it is, especially for the pricing as they were blown out when GB was evaporated by Fender. In a mid-size bar, have seen it sound and project better than an SWR 8x8. The Mesa Walkabouts are quality units if you dig that sound, but won't provide the same power for driving a second cabinet.

 

[Gearhead17]

The GK MB combos are the only combo units I can recommend. I have played many in person and the output on this model series is quite good. Other combos? No thanks.

 

[bikeplate]

Been down the combo road. It's a lonely road. I'd recommend no to combo. I'd find a powerful micro head with the tone you like. I'd pair it w a neo 2x10. Doing it this way gives you the ability to use the amp with different cabs.

 

[Jim Carr]

Been down the combo road. It's a lonely road. I'd recommend no to combo. I'd find a powerful micro head with the tone you like. I'd pair it w a neo 2x10. Doing it this way gives you the ability to use the amp with different cabs.

Sage advice there, IMHO.

With a modular rig, one can then change heads but not cabinets, change cabs but not heads, or add a cabinet. Obviously, if you have two identical cabinets, you can decide to take one or two. Combo's seem easier until you want to make a change—then it gets harder. Their are those who dearly love their combo. That is understandable.

Buying a modular rig requires more information than a combo, thus more research and effort. That is the real attraction and easy part of a combo amp. You avoid the bewildering choices and fear of making a poor selection. "Once and done." But changing it is hard. Selling a typical 200 watt combo to fund a modular rig will nearly always fall short. The market for used combos quickly bumps into the low price of some new ones, driving the used prices down. Modular rig components are somewhat more desirable and thus cost more.

The path to a modular rig through a combo costs more that just getting the modular rig. The difference is the cost of the combo, minus what it will actually sell for, if you actually sell it. Many bassists just keep the combo as a practice amp or pass it along to a needy kid—which is great, BTW!

Big powerful combos, especially like the ones above with two cabinets, perform well. They are not so cheap (new GK MB410 combo = ~$850, powered ext. cab is another $850 extra), and tough to find used. A little searching on TB and cruising of the TB classifieds or craigslist can be eye-opening. All IMHO.

 

[Jim Carr]

I recommend a top quality used cabinet and a ~500-600 watt @ 4 ohms used bass head, preferably a 4.5 lb micro. You can probably do that for $800 total or less. You will likely not need another rig, and can sell it later for what you paid, LOL.

Or you can add a cabinet when you join that Grind Core Country Hip-Hop Fusion band and hit the road.

BTW, never underestimate how helpful it is to have a very light micro head and two identical cabinets.