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Combo amps with good tone

#63
RickyWoo said:
Actually, both have the same 4 band active EQ controls (lo and hi mids). I prefer the voicing on the GK but that's just me. You might prefer the Fender. And that, frankly, is what matters. The reason I was sold on the MB series was the powered extension cabs. They double your wattage, opposed to just moving more air with a Fender extension. Both are great amps.
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I think you just sold me on getting a GK amp, I'll go try one out. Is guitar center a dealer?
 
#65
Steadfast said:
The Rumble 500C is 300 watts. With the extension it is 500 watts. Not sure how that plays into volume versus a powered extension---but the 500C is so loud it can over power any venue where FOH isn't used. So--it definitely is more than enough volume wise even for the loudest of the loud.
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Just curious on the cost? ---you can chain 2 rumble 500Cs together. I saw where someone in the Rumble Club did it.
 
#66
+1 for the Trace combos.
I would also check out used:
Warwick CCL
SWR Silverado or Basic Black
SWR Super Redhead
Eden Metro
it might be difficult to find the Metro or Redhead in your budget tho.
 
#67
I bought a used Fender Bassman 250 combo amp about a year ago for $350 off craigslist. Mine is a 210, but there is also a 115. The speakers are 4 ohms, so you don't need an extension cabinet to get its full power, and its been plenty loud for all of our band's rehearsals. Also has a DI so you can plug into a PA. Its heavy compared to all the new combo amps coming out (Rumble especially), but it has casters. I really like it, but it's probably tough to find one locally.

Looks like this:
bassman.jpg
 
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#68
It all depends on the needs. If it is primarily recording, coffee house things, small bar gigs, weddings, whatever. for $300-$400 you can get a very workable solution, particularly used.
While I am a combo lover, separates can also work. You can get some very usable gig able speakers for $200 or less and a use able head for $200. Please note that if you need light, loud, deep you may well experience budget creep.
 
#69
I am offering a real simple choice that fits your budget and easy to find. I wanted enough power to play with buds in the garage, with the ease of a practice amp as I just started playing and do not want to keep buying up. My budget was to try to stay under $250. I am very happy with my new amp.
I just bought the Ampeg BA112v2 from the Ampeg eBay store. It is a B stock, the issue being a 3 inch scratch on the back top edge of the cabinet that you can't see from the front, and is hard to see when you know where it is. The cabinet feels very solid, the lift handle is strong, and at under 40 pounds, it's easy to move. It's rated at 75w @ 4 ohms, has the adjustable overdrive, high/mid/low tone settings and "ultra high/low tone shaping" switches for a lot of tone shaping possibilities, inputs to add another cabinet, a footswitch, headphones, plays mp3/I phone with its own volume so you can play along or just listen, integrated DI and more. I got it shipped to my door three days after I bought it, total price was $189, new off the floor they are over $300.
I'm sure you could do better if you spend a lot of time constantly rechecking every site there is for a deal on something as I did until I found mine. But mine was "new", warranteed, and is sitting in my living room waiting to be played, right now. If you have only one amp, I think this is a real good option.
 
#73
I've got to be the one to be a fly in the ointment;
Way out of the budget and heavy as hell.

But, best sounding combo I ever heard.
Never owned one, but tried it.
AER Basic Performer.

I know, was of no help at all.
Carry on.
 
#77
jlepre said:
That's the combo. What's the cab?
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MB 212 Specs

Combine it with the 212MBP and you're golden.



That GK is a fantastic combo...but at $800 new it's waaaaaaaaaaaaay over the price limit of $300-$400 that the OP stipulated. Even used they usually go for more than $500. However, there is one now on GC for $449, that would probably end up around $500 after taxes and shipping.
 
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#78
Moopahtroopa said:
I was just wondering if I were to get a small stack in what ways would it be better than a combo amp?
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If you don't like the cabs, you can replace them and keep the amp. If you don't like the amp, you can replace it and keep the cabs. If one part of it fries, you can replace that one part. On a combo, (normally) if one part goes bad then the whole thing is a goner. I love combos for their simplicity, and because (like basses) there are so many great ones out there are decent prices. They have an inherent risk, but I don't think it's enough to prevent a purchase if it fits your needs.

After playing combos all of my life, I was looking to upgrade again last year. I was looking at the GKMB210, The Ampeg BA210, Fender Rumble 500, and some others. I was talking to someone about weight, and they suggested that I look at the Ampeg SVT210av. But wait...that's not a combo! That's out of my comfort zone.

Long story medium, I now have an Ampeg PF500 and an SVT210av I got at really decent prices. I purchased the PF500 off of the Ampeg reseller on ebay, and got the SVT210av for a great price used from GC. I can carry the amp and all of my cables in a backback, my bass in a case in one hand, and the cab in another. I love it so much, I want to add another cab, but those things must be really loved by their owners. Finding one used is difficult, and finding one used at a price that doesn't make you say "why don't I just spend a few bucks more and get a new one?" is even harder.
 
#79
wintremute said:
MB 212 Specs

Combine it with the 212MBP and you're golden.



That GK is a fantastic combo...but at $800 new it's waaaaaaaaaaaaay over the price limit of $300-$400 that the OP stipulated. Even used they usually go for more than $500. However, there is one now on GC for $449, that would probably end up around $500 after taxes and shipping.
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I was just giving an example really. The MB115 is totally in budget for the OP. The MBP115 might not be. 200 watts is normally enough in a class D amp. Let alone doubling it to 400 with a few extra hundos. That's all.
 
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