Combo Amp Advice?

[rogerbmiller]

Hells yeah you can get a great combo amp for a good price. I went rig shipping two years ago and I had an unlimited budget. I ended up with a GK MB210 neo combo and matching extension cabinet. Colossal sound.

Check out the GK my series. Your mind will be blown.

 

[pfschim]

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.

ok, Gearhead, I appreciate your reasonable reply, but I still respectfully disagree with you and other's like Dr Jim.
OP plays jazz and doubles on slab and UR. No demonstrated need to huge volume. Players like this don't need the volume that a Black Sabbath tribute band might demand, and are usually looking for convenience, so the combo's mentioned most so far from Mesa, Genz and GK all fit that bill very well. In this same scenario (small jazz groups) I have happily used my Mesa Walkabout 12 outdoors 100's of times with great results. Remember the old GK MB150, it was a hugely popular combo with doublers because of all the reasons I mentioned above.

and to whoever suggested upthread that combos are bad because they rattle the amp too much.
***? .. don't you suppose that an amp sitting on top of a cab gets pretty much just as much kinetic energy thrown at it as an amp that just happens to be housed inside the cabinet.

side note: I see you list Arlington Hts as your location. You go to school at Prospect ? I graduated in '75 (yes, old dude), lived over on E Wing St, by the Miner/Windsor School area. Ahh, the old days. Have not been back in many years.

 

[iualum]

Hey folks, I would love your opinion on combo amps.
Is there such a thing as a decent quality combo that provides a good amount of power for most small/medium size venues both inside and outside? I looked at a used Peavey BAM 210. I loved the sound and the various effects but the weight scared me away. (95 pounds) I play in mostly jazz groups with some light rock and blues gigs as well. I usually play on a Fender Jazz using flats. I am trying to get a really warm sound that is balanced both high, medium, and low. It would be nice to be able to use it with my stand up as well (I know that is apples v. oranges) My usual stand up rig is a Phil Jones set-up and it is great for small inside venues, but fairly worthless for anything larger or outside.

A lot to ask I know. I realize that there are tons of variables. I am a fairly new player and live in an area where there are not a lot of options to try combos. Price is not an issue within reason. I would love some advice. Thanks!

If price isn't much of an issue, then go separates. Pick up a used 300-500 RMS amp & a used 115 or 210 (or even 212 or 410) cab. Your true/realistic budget will determine more specific suggestions. What's yours?

 

[iualum]

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

There is no "sound" of 10" neos. There is no "sound" of 12" neos. Or a "sound" of any other diameter neo (or ceramic, for that matter) driver. There is only the "sound" of a specific driver(s) with its specific characteristics in a specific box. If you happen to like the Carvin packages, great.

 

[bebass]

ok, Gearhead, I appreciate your reasonable reply, but I still respectfully disagree with you and other's like Dr Jim.
OP plays jazz and doubles on slab and UR. No demonstrated need to huge volume. Players like this don't need the volume that a Black Sabbath tribute band might demand, and are usually looking for convenience, so the combo's mentioned most so far from Mesa, Genz and GK all fit that bill very well. In this same scenario (small jazz groups) I have happily used my Mesa Walkabout 12 outdoors 100's of times with great results. Remember the old GK MB150, it was a hugely popular combo with doublers because of all the reasons I mentioned above.

and to whoever suggested upthread that combos are bad because they rattle the amp too much.
***? .. don't you suppose that an amp sitting on top of a cab gets pretty much just as much kinetic energy thrown at it as an amp that just happens to be housed inside the cabinet.

side note: I see you list Arlington Hts as your location. You go to school at Prospect ? I graduated in '75 (yes, old dude), lived over on E Wing St, by the Miner/Windsor School area. Ahh, the old days. Have not been back in many years.

I think you make a good case for a combo and I do agree, even though I personally prefer the separates.
I do think we should differentiate combos on this thread, and I see someone did mention it but I think it deserves more discussion. Basically there are two classes; one that is designed to be self-contained, max output as a stand alone instrumental tool, and a type combo designed to be stand alone AND with a cab type combo - which generally cost more. I can give examples from the Traynor line as that is what I am most familiar with. The SB115 is designed as a stand alone combo and the DNB115 is designed with more power and to utilize a 2nd cab, IF NEEDED. Therefore a person needs to seriously consider their need as the lower priced combo may just end up being the better tool. In the OP's case, it appears that a large amount of the time the lower priced, not designed for expansion type combo would be perfect, but then comes the outdoor requirement that suggests that hey, perhaps the designed for expansion would be better. And the answer of course really depends on how loud it needs to be. Chances are, in the example I give above, the SB115 would meet the needs perfectly, if there is very good PA support. If outdoor punch is needed, then absolutely get the more powerful type combo where a speaker can be added.
I have a GB contour combo that I got just because it was such a good deal and quite like it. I think with PA suport it could be played indoors or outdoors. If there is not good PA support outdoors I wouldn't dare show up without the 2nd cab.

There is no "sound" of 10" neos. There is no "sound" of 12" neos. Or a "sound" of any other diameter neo (or ceramic, for that matter) driver. There is only the "sound" of a specific driver(s) with its specific characteristics in a specific box. If you happen to like the Carvin packages, great.

But there is a sound of the particular neo 10's/cab and the particular neo 12's/cab (different - NOT alike) he chose; isn't that what he was referring to?

 

[pfschim]

I think you make a good case for a combo and I do agree, even though I personally prefer the separates.
I do think we should differentiate combos on this thread, and I see someone did mention it but I think it deserves more discussion. Basically there are two classes; one that is designed to be self-contained, max output as a stand alone instrumental tool, and a type combo designed to be stand alone AND with a cab type combo - which generally cost more. I can give examples from the Traynor line as that is what I am most familiar with. The SB115 is designed as a stand alone combo and the DNB115 is designed with more power and to utilize a 2nd cab, IF NEEDED. Therefore a person needs to seriously consider their need as the lower priced combo may just end up being the better tool. In the OP's case, it appears that a large amount of the time the lower priced, not designed for expansion type combo would be perfect, but then comes the outdoor requirement that suggests that hey, perhaps the designed for expansion would be better. And the answer of course really depends on how loud it needs to be. Chances are, in the example I give above, the SB115 would meet the needs perfectly, if there is very good PA support. If outdoor punch is needed, then absolutely get the more powerful type combo where a speaker can be added.
I have a GB contour combo that I got just because it was such a good deal and quite like it. I think with PA suport it could be played indoors or outdoors. If there is not good PA support outdoors I wouldn't dare show up without the 2nd cab.

all good bebass, but thandy says he is a jazz doubler (his avatar even shows an upright) and cats like that (I have been there) generally do not need much volume or punch (like a cover or rock player probably might), just something to match the volume of a sax player and (hopefully) a tastefully moderate volume jazz drummer. Even outdoors, small jazz groups are not usually super loud (at least IME), thats why the old GK MB150 was (is?) so popular with jazz doublers back in the day (back in my day anyway - late 70's thru the 80's ).

 

[Gearhead17]

ok, Gearhead, I appreciate your reasonable reply, but I still respectfully disagree with you and other's like Dr Jim.
OP plays jazz and doubles on slab and UR. No demonstrated need to huge volume. Players like this don't need the volume that a Black Sabbath tribute band might demand, and are usually looking for convenience, so the combo's mentioned most so far from Mesa, Genz and GK all fit that bill very well. In this same scenario (small jazz groups) I have happily used my Mesa Walkabout 12 outdoors 100's of times with great results. Remember the old GK MB150, it was a hugely popular combo with doublers because of all the reasons I mentioned above.

side note: I see you list Arlington Hts as your location. You go to school at Prospect ? I graduated in '75 (yes, old dude), lived over on E Wing St, by the Miner/Windsor School area. Ahh, the old days. Have not been back in many years.

I appreciate the two of us are not arguing in this thread and further annoying everyone here. I graduated from Palatine High School in 2002. My background with live shows is performing in loud Chicago/Suburb bars, hollow outdoor stages, and playing with the modern day equivalent of Bam Bam (Flintstones) on drums. I have used Ampeg BA 210 and Hartke LH 500 combo setups on stage with a full band. These setups did not cut it and it was a lousy experience for me.

As a gigging musician, I believe in getting gear useful for all genre's and playing situations. I don't believe in a special rig for each type of gig I do. I know how to mess with frequencies and the volume knob to adjust my gear to work just about anywhere. You save money that way.

Lastly, I have never played in Jazz ensemble. The only person I had the pleasure to see was Eddie Gomez and it was an amazing experience to see and hear upright bass like that. Very little amplification too. Would my gear suffice? Yeah, but I would probably scare myself off the stage with how loud I actually was!

 

[Jim Carr]

...Is there such a thing as a decent quality combo that provides a good amount of power for most small/medium size venues both inside and outside? I looked at a used Peavey BAM 210. I loved the sound and the various effects but the weight scared me away. (95 pounds) I play in mostly jazz groups with some light rock and blues gigs as well. I usually play on a Fender Jazz using flats...

That Peavey combo is rated at 350 watts at 4 ohms. Not huge, but probably a good minimum for what you describe below. I've used a 3.5 lb. Ampeg Pf-350 @ 4 ohms head, a 5.0 lb 600 watt @ 4 ohms Genz Benz Shuttle head, and a 800 watt at 4 ohm Gallien Krueger head with a good neo 410 cabinet (Epifani UL1 210 8 ohm). Head was small light enough to put in a gig bag. The cabinet could be carried in one hand (~33 lbs).

These setups were all fine for upright (with a pre and Gage piezo), and assorted 4 and 5-strung electrics, fretted and fretless. I've used these rigs for Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock, Latin, etc. All you need to use a typical bass amp for a piezo-equipped upright is a pre amp with a high impedance input (1 million ohms or more). Feedback is the main limiter, as always with acoustic instruments.

I am trying to get a really warm sound that is balanced both high, medium, and low. It would be nice to be able to use it with my stand up as well (I know that is apples v. oranges) My usual stand up rig is a Phil Jones set-up and it is great for small inside venues, but fairly worthless for anything larger or outside...

Remember, 600 watts is not "capable of twice the loudness" of 300 watts, 3000 watts is "capable of twice the loudness" of 300 watts.
10 to 1.

 

[jthisdell]

After demoing a Bergantino HD122 cab I decided I would never buy another combo, that great cab and and decent head would beat any combo and give you the flexibility to change heads, cabs, etc

 

[bebass]

all good bebass, but thandy says he is a jazz doubler (his avatar even shows an upright) and cats like that (I have been there) generally do not need much volume or punch (like a cover or rock player probably might), just something to match the volume of a sax player and (hopefully) a tastefully moderate volume jazz drummer. Even outdoors, small jazz groups are not usually super loud (at least IME), thats why the old GK MB150 was (is?) so popular with jazz doublers back in the day (back in my day anyway - late 70's thru the 80's ).

In a roundabout way I was trying to make the point that possibly the more inexpensive non-expandable cab may be the best for this application.

 

[iualum]

There is no "sound" of 10" neos. There is no "sound" of 12" neos. Or a "sound" of any other diameter neo (or ceramic, for that matter) driver. There is only the "sound" of a specific driver(s) with its specific characteristics in a specific box. If you happen to like the Carvin packages, great.

But there is a sound of the particular neo 10's/cab and the particular neo 12's/cab (different - NOT alike) he chose; isn't that what he was referring to?

That's exactly what I said. You have to talk specifics.

No. No, it isn't. It's possible that's what he meant. It isn't at all what he said.

 

[bebass]

That's exactly what I said. You have to talk specifics.

No. No, it isn't. It's possible that's what he meant. It isn't at all what he said.

It was my interpretation that is what he meant. Maybe not.

 

[High Camp]

Hey folks, I would love your opinion on combo amps.
Is there such a thing as a decent quality combo that provides a good amount of power for most small/medium size venues both inside and outside? I looked at a used Peavey BAM 210. I loved the sound and the various effects but the weight scared me away. (95 pounds) I play in mostly jazz groups with some light rock and blues gigs as well. I usually play on a Fender Jazz using flats. I am trying to get a really warm sound that is balanced both high, medium, and low. It would be nice to be able to use it with my stand up as well (I know that is apples v. oranges) My usual stand up rig is a Phil Jones set-up and it is great for small inside venues, but fairly worthless for anything larger or outside.

A lot to ask I know. I realize that there are tons of variables. I am a fairly new player and live in an area where there are not a lot of options to try combos. Price is not an issue within reason. I would love some advice. Thanks!

My upright-friends all play Trace Elliot.
And I would have to agree with them: it does the upright justice IMO.
Now, I myself own a 90's TE (a GP7 SM 300 combo), which handles normal bandgig volumes for bassguitar.
It weighs less than 29 kg (65 lbs) and is built like a tank.
>> so my advise is: buy a used 90's TE combo.
(used price in the Netherlands: about 350 Euro, to give you some idea)

 

[High Camp]

By the way, I heard an upright with a Peavey once: makes an upright sound a bit muddy

 

[iualum]

It was my interpretation that is what he meant. Maybe not.

Why leave anything up to interpretation? Why not clearly say what you want to say?

 

[thebreakman]

Love my GK MB115 combo

I have the newer 115 as well and I've never had an issue being underpowered. Can't say enough good about it.

 

[thandy]

all good bebass, but thandy says he is a jazz doubler (his avatar even shows an upright) and cats like that (I have been there) generally do not need much volume or punch (like a cover or rock player probably might), just something to match the volume of a sax player and (hopefully) a tastefully moderate volume jazz drummer. Even outdoors, small jazz groups are not usually super loud (at least IME), thats why the old GK MB150 was (is?) so popular with jazz doublers back in the day (back in my day anyway - late 70's thru the 80's ).

Wow! This is why I love this site, great advice from all kinds of users. Thanks a lot guys and gals. I think a head and cabs are in my not too far future, but for now I went with a combo. May be back whining about it next week. Will gig with the new amp this weekend. (Outside...hmmm...) We'll see how it goes. One thing I do know, this sound tinkering never ends. I love it all but my god what a money hole!! It's a good thing I started rather late in life and that a nice growl makes it all worth it!

 

[thandy]

Try Lightning Joes in Arroyo Grande. They'll hook you up...

Thanks Buzz E. Joes is where I tried that nice but heavy Peavey. Great store and good people but they didn't really have what I needed, at least on that day. Not much else here on the Central Coast.

 

[thandy]

Hey folks, for those who posted with combo advice, I went with the Fender 500 and gigged with it today. Beautiful! Exactly what I wanted and I got a great sound. Thanks very much all!!

 

[Zoot H Rollo]

After lots of research i recently went with a yamaha dsr115.

850W lf/ 450w hf.

Yup... It's a PA monitor. Effortless.

I love it.

Fire away!

 

[1stnamebassist]

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

I agree. Great bang for the buck. A
lot of reliable amp for small money.