Combo amps, where is the cutoff between toy and tool?

[rojo412]

My tipping point was figured out when I got a GK MB210.
350w, 2x10" speakers. It's the NEO one, so about 40 lbs. Not super small, but still plenty portable.

I used to have an SWR Workingmans 10 combo, which I thought was great... until I realized it barely cut the mustard in a majority of situations. It was a fancy bedroom practice amp, which actually didn't even sound great for that.
And not long ago, someone gave me a Fender Rumble 15 and that was absolutely nothing. Pretty much like if a headphone amp was able to make honking noises without headphones attached.

What they seemed to lack was THE ABILITY TO MOVE AIR. That kinda determines an amp's capability for me.

Nowadays, you can easily find older amps that were meant to be used with a band, cheaply. If I were spending $100 on an amp to play in my office here, I'd probably get an older Peavey TNT with a 15" speaker and like 100w. Heavy and old school, yes... but inexpensive, built to last, and capable of playing with a full band. Or, just turn it down and play in a bedroom.

If you have a budget to afford one though, something like the MB210 is way more sonically capable and also likely half the weight.

 

[brianrost]

I'm not really sure I understand why anyone needs performance level volume, or tone for that matter, in order to "practice" at home.
How loud are you "practicing"?

I need neither. A stage amp turned down works just fine and definitely sounds better than any “practice amp” I’ve played through.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I use a rumble 100. Good for practice and my small restaurant gig. Granted it does not have the best sound. I also use a 12” cabinet and 250w head. It sounds cleaner.

 

[Zooberwerx]

My ideal combo would be something like a single 12" but with enough horsepower top-side to feed a second 12" ext. cab. No immediate need but definitely on my wish-list.

Riis

 

[antfarm]

I would take a look at the 10”, 12” and 15” combos from Ampeg (Rocket Bass), Fender (Rumble) and Ashdown (Studio).

 

[Gervais Cote]

My ideal combo would be something like a single 12" but with enough horsepower top-side to feed a second 12" ext. cab. No immediate need but definitely on my wish-list.

Riis

I played through two Ampeg RB 112 connected in send/return and it was powerful , loud and clear, even with a big drum kit.

My show kit is more powerful and costly than that but quite honestly, I would be happy enough with these two combos altogether.

 

[KenSmithFan]

I dissagree.

that’s your right, but if you actually read this thread about 10 to 1 agree with me.

 

[Topkat13]

For me it depends on my mood.

 

[klyph]

There are few stores in Kenya and those who sell halfway decent gear are crazy expensive. I would buy and import one. I have 2 cabs and 2 amps but I'm considering a combo that's easy to move but sounds reasonable at volume you would play on a very small stage with a very quiet drummer.

Okay, at that point the size of the room comes into play. It sounds like you need at least a 12” speaker pushed by at LEAST 150 watts. Another poster mentioned the GK 210, which would be a good start. A few players around here use Hartke kickback amps for small gigs, or big ones with PA support. Those are real workhorses, and can get loud, although the tone is not for everyone. You may want to get a Rumble 200- another popular small room amp. Would you be trying to import from the US, EU, China? I don’t know what’s popular in EU or UK.

 

[iqi616]

I use a rumble 100. Good for practice and my small restaurant gig. Granted it does not have the best sound. I also use a 12” cabinet and 250w head. It sounds cleaner.

Is that the earlier Rumble 100? I've just bought a new one and it sounds great with my basses.

 

[Iristone]

For practicing I use Beyerdynamic headphones (dt-990 and dt-770). For rehearsals I use Phil Jones C2 cab with TC Electronic BQ-500.

This 100%. Although I prefer Etymotic IEM to anything over-ear, I still prefer practising through headphones for a disturb-free experience and much better sound quality than low-power practice amps.

 

[shirojiro]

I have had practice amps in the past and found them to be very disappointing, so I simply plug headphones into my Rumble 500 for practice. One amp for all purposes. Works well for me.

This amp comes up over and over as a good, moderately priced amp that is light and sounds good to most, and has features like aux in, headphone out, and can drive another 8 ohm cab to get 500 watts out of it.

I have one, and agree that even though the sound isn't my all time favorite, the Rumble 500 is super useful and hits a lot of buttons.

The biggest thing for me is that it is insanely portable compared to my older gear.

 

[darev]

I bought a Ashdown Studio 15 combo not too long ago. It's light and generally-speaking has enough power for a group without drums.

After I bought it I realized we are in the age of lightweight Class D amps and cabs. Why should I have bothered with a combo? It's also Class D so no big savings on weight or mass. I could have bought a better amp and speaker and the advantages of portability with the combo is already there with the new lightweight stuff.

Of course, I paid very little for the combo relatively-speaking (used) and a separate amp and speaker would be much more expensive. However, the two component-route would sound so much more glorious (and louder) compared to my combo.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Is that the earlier Rumble 100? I've just bought a new one and it sounds great with my basses.

I've been happy with my Rumble 100 for a few years, good sound, portable, reliable. My only complaint was the DI being post master volume.

I recently snagged a Line 6 Studio 110 Lowdown, 75 watts, 10" speaker, the DI is pre amp controls and more than sufficient for our group as a stage monitor. I've only had it since last fall and all gigs since then were indoors here in wintery Wisconsin. Great little amp, too bad they aren't made anymore. Once we move to outside in the summer if it isn't enough I'll grab the Rumble which I've had for about 4 years.

 

[Bassdirty]

Every amp I played that was advertised as practise amp sucked. They were all cheap around 100$, they all sounded terrible, some had hum from external power supplies, distorting, farting out at low volumes etc....
What should I be prepared to spend on a combo amp for practising at normal volume?

Do you mean "practicing alone" or "with a band"?

Because those are 2 totally different sets of requirements, IMO.

Practicing alone: Basically, anything that makes sound, although I think 10" min speaker if you want "decent tone" along with being able to hear your bass amplified.

Practicing WITH a Band (not playing shows with a band): If you want only ONE speaker, make it a 15" (of a name brand) and 200 Watts min.
Or 210" with 200+ watts. (Might get away with 1 12" in a combo, but I prefer 212s with a band, I also play 5 string, that B takes a lot of power to reproduce, and more speaker area to get good toanz).

YMMV.

 

[BassHole1]

This amp comes up over and over as a good, moderately priced amp that is light and sounds good to most, and has features like aux in, headphone out, and can drive another 8 ohm cab to get 500 watts out of it.

I have one, and agree that even though the sound isn't my all time favorite, the Rumble 500 is super useful and hits a lot of buttons.

The biggest thing for me is that it is insanely portable compared to my older gear.

So is it only 250w if you just have one? And you can drive another slave speaker cab to get the full 500w?

 

[SJan3]

I bought a Ashdown Studio 15 combo not too long ago. It's light and generally-speaking has enough power for a group without drums.

After I bought it I realized we are in the age of lightweight Class D amps and cabs. Why should I have bothered with a combo? It's also Class D so no big savings on weight or mass. I could have bought a better amp and speaker and the advantages of portability with the combo is already there with the new lightweight stuff.

Of course, I paid very little for the combo relatively-speaking (used) and a separate amp and speaker would be much more expensive. However, the two component-route would sound so much more glorious (and louder) compared to my combo.

Not necessarily. Brands like GK and MarkBass make lightweight combo amps with no compromise in power or tone with the added convenience of "grab n go". And you'll likely save $$$ over separates.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

Is that the earlier Rumble 100? I've just bought a new one and it sounds great with my basses.

Latest version. Played my 12” cab and 250w head. Guitar player said it sounded cleaner. I have tried several suggested tone settings. Glad you like yours.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I'd put the cutoff at "Can you gig it with it sounding good?"

 

[BassNugget]

I've been pleased with my Ampeg BA8. Maybe I have low standards (likely), but I never heard any complaints when I used it to jam with a single guitar and a one armed drummer (stroke victim).

Agreed. 25 very loud watts and an 8 inch speaker that delivers the goods! This is my favorite practice amp that can also do coffee house gigs. Don't be afraid that it is only an 8 inches....it is well designed to sound good.