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

[shirojiro]

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

I believe it’s rated to put out 350 watts alone. It’s a 2x10. The matching Fender Rumble 2x10 cab looks cool as a stack. I don’t need one, but I kinda want one!

 

[Slevage]

I had a Line 6, 1-10 combo. It was 75 watts, so that made it “coffee shop” gigable.
I sold it and bought an Elf, 1-10 combo. It’s a “real amp” that I use for pit gigs with FOH support.

 

[Aussie Player]

I think a lot of the smaller 10-15w practice amps sound better than the supposed stage volume combo's.

Maybe that's why Brian May had a tripple row of Vox AC 30's instead of the usual double stacks back then?

 

[subdude67]

Many thanks for a lot of useful suggestions.
I should clarify what I mean by "amp for practise", it's playing alone along a playback track at a decent volume. I have amps and cabs for band/live situations, I am looking for a combo that is portable but still sounds reasonably well without the farting out and distorting even at low volumes. I'm happy to spend around 350$.

 

[Geogio]

Describe what a "normal volume" is to you.

I do have a practice amp , but it really is just enough to override the sound of the laundry which is off the kitchen by the exit to the garage. It is 10watts and accepts headphones.

Had I known beforehand I would have purchased the Markbass Jeff Berlin "student" amp he recommends. It's more of a light duty dual purpose.

A Hartke kickback 35 works good for a dual purpose. Mine has been sequestered for the Yamaha P-120.

Perhaps a processor and a good pair of studio headphones might be worth consideration.

 

[DJ Bebop]

View attachment 7449110
This 12” combo is 300 watts and cost me $1,500 over a decade ago. Definitely not a toy.

 

[subdude67]

Describe what a "normal volume" is to you.

I do have a practice amp , but it really is just enough to override the sound of the laundry which is off the kitchen by the exit to the garage. It is 10watts and accepts headphones.

Had I known beforehand I would have purchased the Markbass Jeff Berlin "student" amp he recommends. It's more of a light duty dual purpose.

A Hartke kickback 35 works good for a dual purpose. Mine has been sequestered for the Yamaha P-120.

Perhaps a processor and a good pair of studio headphones might be worth consideration.

I like playing along at a volume loud enough that you have to raise your voice when when in the room.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I bought a Ashdown Studio 15 combo not too long ago. It's light and generally-speaking has enough power for a group
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.

Don’t count out separates. More expensive? Maybe,
Not as
Much as you think. I bought a SWR 12” “Monitor” kickback cab for $100. It’s better than the WM series. And a TC electronics head $250. Played it for a few years. I got all kinds of compliments on the sound. I recently brought that setup to my restaurant gig. The guitar/singer said it sounded much cleaner than my Rumble 100. If you are able to move a cabinet around 40 lbs, there are plenty of great cabinets available. Some boutique brands like efiphani. Me? I am not exactly young and weight is now a factor. Now, the less the weight the more the cab costs.
To me, it’s easier to get a good sound from separates than a combo. Plus you can easily carry a backup head. But, I sometimes still take my rumble 100 to my gig. Too easy to grab & go.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Don’t count out separates. More expensive? Maybe,
Not as
Much as you think. I bought a SWR 12” “Monitor” kickback cab for $100. It’s better than the WM series. And a TC electronics head $250. Played it for a few years. I got all kinds of compliments on the sound. I recently brought that setup to my restaurant gig. The guitar/singer said it sounded much cleaner than my Rumble 100. If you are able to move a cabinet around 40 lbs, there are plenty of great cabinets available. Some boutique brands like efiphani. Me? I am not exactly young and weight is now a factor. Now, the less the weight the more the cab costs.
To me, it’s easier to get a good sound from separates than a combo. Plus you can easily carry a backup head. But, I sometimes still take my rumble 100 to my gig. Too easy to grab & go.

Yep, I had an SWR Baby blue 2 for years that weighed twice what my Rumble100 does yet didn't put out as much sound. I loved it, as long as I didn't have to move it.

Rumble100 is very clean but you have to mess with the EQ settings, depending on the bass.

 

[mpdd]

we just got a spark mini, not sure about the advanced practice options, however it does look kind of toy like due to the size

 

[SJan3]

Many thanks for a lot of useful suggestions.
I should clarify what I mean by "amp for practise", it's playing alone along a playback track at a decent volume. I have amps and cabs for band/live situations, I am looking for a combo that is portable but still sounds reasonably well without the farting out and distorting even at low volumes. I'm happy to spend around 350$.

Then any 1x10" 40/50 watt combo should get you there. Ampeg, Fender, Peavey or MarkBass black line are good choices.

 

[JTNuney]

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).

I know someone’s already agreed with this, so I’ll double-agree: I really like the BA108v2 I got lightly used for the princely sum of $40 U.S.

One, it sounds like an (adorable little) Ampeg, which is a sound I like. Two, it’s built like a brick outhouse - everything about it just feels well-made. Sure, it doesn’t move enough air to blow back a drummer’s mullet, but it doesn’t *feel* like a toy.