So, I have a couple of options for a combo amp... Just seeing what you guys think. I'm looking at something I can take with me to different band members houses that hopefully will get above a drummer not playing too crazy loud. Guitarist is just using a little 15watt combo. Oh yeah music style is anywhere from MGMT, Dashboard, Joy Formidable, Silversun Pickups
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Combo Amp Choices
- Thread starter Konigstiger22
- Start date
depends on the drummer, some are loud and some 15 watt tube guitar amps are really loud - it's better to have more bass than you need than not enough 
the guitarist doesn't have enough power either. i can make a suggestion, tho, if you's guyz are all noobies and broke. go in together on a decent KEYBOARD amp or powered portable PA. it will have enough power for you both, and has multiple inputs, so you'd each just need whatever pedals. i'd say to be comfortable, a good 75+ watt amp. pushing a 12 or 15 with a horn. peavey, kustom, others including those BEH... guys make something that should work for you quite well, and isn't going to be any more than a 1x15 combo. you've got bass, guitar and vocal amplification for whosevers house.
i have the BEH... (i cant even type it ) 90 watt, 3 input one with a 12 and a horn. it has one mic input and some fx. it also has two 1/4" inputs and seperate volume and fx send for each. seven band master eq, and two rca inputs for audio. we use it as the only source of amplification for a three pc raw rocknroll jam i do every so often. i combine it with the same brand 502 number mixer for added mic space, or who knows, maybe a KEYBOARD
i just wanted to bring it up. at the start, consider all options to get amplified over the drummer. for both you and the guitarist.
i have the BEH... (i cant even type it ) 90 watt, 3 input one with a 12 and a horn. it has one mic input and some fx. it also has two 1/4" inputs and seperate volume and fx send for each. seven band master eq, and two rca inputs for audio. we use it as the only source of amplification for a three pc raw rocknroll jam i do every so often. i combine it with the same brand 502 number mixer for added mic space, or who knows, maybe a KEYBOARD
i just wanted to bring it up. at the start, consider all options to get amplified over the drummer. for both you and the guitarist.
Ampeg. I gigged with one for a couple of years. Great sound, not too difficult to lug around. I carried my bass and the Ampeg to jobs in the back of my Matrix. The only reason I traded it off was to get a modular Mesa/Boogie setup that was lighter with more power.
My wife bought me a GC house brand Acoustic 200-b combo; 200 watts@ 4 ohms; 6 band semi parametic, with notch filter, horn and D I. It is plenty loud to gig with. Need more power? Use the DI into PA.
I tried every amp at GC; all distorted on the B string except the Acoustic. I like the tone of Mark Bass, even though it couldn't handle an active bass, but for hundreds $$ less $349 a few years ago, Acoustic 200-B CAN'T BE BEAT. IMHO.
I tried every amp at GC; all distorted on the B string except the Acoustic. I like the tone of Mark Bass, even though it couldn't handle an active bass, but for hundreds $$ less $349 a few years ago, Acoustic 200-B CAN'T BE BEAT. IMHO.
I was recently shopping for a small practice combo that I could use when jamming with friends. I tried the Fender, which I certainly didn't like, and I tried the Ampeg, which has a very nice sound. I ended up buying a Roland 120 cube, a 120W combo which has a few nice built-in effects, decent sound modelling, built-in tuner and sells for around 550. Its little 80W brother goes for about 380. I would give it a try. Otherwise you can't really go wrong with the Ampeg.
I was playing through the Ampeg you've got listed this weekend, and also the BA115 and I thought the BA115 sounded better overall. Also in the really great sounding combo category is the Peavey stuff though a little more expensive. For another $100 the Peavey Tour TKO will take you a bit further down the road than a less powerful amp, and really made me think hard about plunking down for the Markbass combo I ended up with... It was that good.
Acoustic b200, get one when they go on sale at GC for ~300 or ~$200 used.
Sounds better than the Ampeg imo.
Sounds better than the Ampeg imo.
without a drummer... or when we're rehearsing at the drummer's house I just use a 100 watt Fender Bassman combo - light enough to carry with one hand but loud enough to be heard in that situation. however, at our normal rehearsal spot - the drums and guitar are just too loud for that size combo.
Acoustic B200. I picked one up used for $160 not too long ago and was pretty happy with it. I just wanted it as a practice amp, but it blows away my friend's SWR 210C for tone, volume, and clarity. I couldn't believe it, but it really was a far superior sound.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
Probably don't want to hear this, but I don't think combo's are a good value. I am not saying there aren't good sounding combo's—it's that they are so inflexible and basically not upgradeable.
A head and a cab can be combined with other gear and each part can be replaced as your needs, budget, and the gear scene change.
If I HAD to get a combo, I'd probably get a MarkBass CMD 102p, but I'd rather have the head and cab (a Little Mark lll head and 102P cabinet).
A combo is actually a much more expensive choice, in the long run.
A head and a cab can be combined with other gear and each part can be replaced as your needs, budget, and the gear scene change.
If I HAD to get a combo, I'd probably get a MarkBass CMD 102p, but I'd rather have the head and cab (a Little Mark lll head and 102P cabinet).
A combo is actually a much more expensive choice, in the long run.
I'm with Jim on this in that I would (and did) pick up a small cabinet and a head seperately on my local CL.
It takes patience, but in my opinion gives you a lot more options. My example is a Peavey TXV 210 cabinet that I picked up for $105 and a Fender Bassman 400 that I bought for $150. I much prefer my $255 investment over the above options.
I'm better that with a little patience you could score a good head and small cabinet in your area as well.
When time, money and opportunity allow I will pick up a 410 as well and
I'll have two strong setups.
It takes patience, but in my opinion gives you a lot more options. My example is a Peavey TXV 210 cabinet that I picked up for $105 and a Fender Bassman 400 that I bought for $150. I much prefer my $255 investment over the above options.
I'm better that with a little patience you could score a good head and small cabinet in your area as well.
When time, money and opportunity allow I will pick up a 410 as well and
I'll have two strong setups.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
+1
ALL of the amps (cabs, heads, poweramps, preamps, rack, etc.) that I currently own (and use) I purchased USED, mostly on TB or Ebay. In the US, if the new cash price of a typical piece of gear at a music store is $1000, I would bet you could buy it for $600 or less USED.
ALL of the amps (cabs, heads, poweramps, preamps, rack, etc.) that I currently own (and use) I purchased USED, mostly on TB or Ebay. In the US, if the new cash price of a typical piece of gear at a music store is $1000, I would bet you could buy it for $600 or less USED.
