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Combo Question(s)

PUCKBOY99

PUCKBOY99

Sep 17, 2007
207
18
S. FLORIDA
#1
Hello all.........in my search for a small portable practice amp, I thought I'd tap into the knowledge here on the board.

If you were getting one of the following, what are the pros/cons of your choice...or any other option you would throw out there:

Ampeg BA108V2/RB108 (and what's the difference between the BA & RB Rocket Bass line)
Hartke HD15
Fender Rumble 15

And why are so many bass combo amps covered in carpet instead of tolex ? Carpet is horrible...looks like it needs to be vacuumed daily ! LOL

Thanks in advance !
 
#2
The 20W BA/RB with the 8” speaker won’t give you the quality of sound that the higher powered others offer. RB is a new and improved model, compare the spec sheets on the Ampeg site.

Carpet’s an inexpensive alternative when compared to vinyl. A vinyl cover will resolve your dust concerns.
 
#5
PUCKBOY99 said:
Hello all.........in my search for a small portable practice amp, I thought I'd tap into the knowledge here on the board.

If you were getting one of the following, what are the pros/cons of your choice...or any other option you would throw out there:

Ampeg BA108V2/RB108 (and what's the difference between the BA & RB Rocket Bass line)
Hartke HD15
Fender Rumble 15

And why are so many bass combo amps covered in carpet instead of tolex ? Carpet is horrible...looks like it needs to be vacuumed daily ! LOL

Thanks in advance !
Click to expand...
AMPEG BA108 or RB108 all day. Fender RUMBLE 15 is anemic sounding in comparison, IMHO. I agree go with 10" versions if you can but if strictly a practice amp the 8" will be fine.
All my larger cabinets are carpet. I have no problem with them and if handled with care, I feel is more durable than tolex.
 
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#7
I honestly don't think you could go wrong with any of those. The 8" is going to lack both thump and openness because it simply can't move the same amount of air, but for noodling in your TV room it would be just fine.
I tried out the BA108, RB108 and RB110 in a store, you can see the info about that in the Rocket Bass Combos thread.

The difference between the BA/RB is in the design aesthetics and the voicing. The BA is a little bit more modern and 'clinical,' the RB108 is louder and has a certain vintage feel to it without being muddy. I'd try both if you can, they're definitely different but neither is objectionable.

The Fender is a Fender, but it is underpowered compared to both of those Ampegs. That said, it sounds like all Fenders always have. If you like that sound, just get the Fender and you won't be disappointed, but probably go with a Rumble 25 or Rumble 40 instead.
 
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#8
I don’t have any experience with the Hartke, but both the BA108 and the RB108 will outperform the Rumble 15. 8" speakers are fine for a practice amp, IMHO, but the Rumble 15 has severe limitations in comparison with the rest of the line. I’d recommend moving up to the Rumble 25 or even the modeling version, the LT25.
 
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#10
SJan3 said:
AMPEG BA108 or RB108 all day. Fender RUMBLE 15 is anemic sounding in comparison, IMHO. I agree go with 10" versions if you can but if strictly a practice amp the 8" will be fine.
All my larger cabinets are carpet. I have no problem with them and if handled with care, I feel is more durable than tolex.
Click to expand...
I guess it really depends on what you want from an amp. I bought one of the little 8” Ampegs and it was completely anemic. All it was good for was a headphone amp and even then it paled next to my PJB Bighead.
 
#11
If you can save a few more bucks, you can get a lot more bang for the buck with something like a Fender Rumble 40. Still not going to gig with it unless the guitars are unplugged acoustics, but you'll get a lot more "bass" sound from the larger amp. Not trying to spend your money, but trying to help you not waste it either.
 
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#12
Thanks for the info/comments/suggestions. Yes, this would just be for chilling watching tv, carry upstairs without killing myself, garage....my daughter just started playing drums (not a heavy hitter....yet !) so something I could bring to her place without her mother screaming bloody murder (hey, she bought the drum kit !).

I'm off in the next few days & will check some local places to see what they have. In the meantime, keep the suggestions coming. I only mentioned the ones above because they seem to be readily available on Reverb & occasionally on craigslist. I even thought of another Tech21 Power Engine & throwing a pedal in front. Can also chain it with my current set up.....which is kind of where I'm leaning at the moment.
 
#13
fhm555 said:
I guess it really depends on what you want from an amp. I bought one of the little 8” Ampegs and it was completely anemic. All it was good for was a headphone amp and even then it paled next to my PJB Bighead.
Click to expand...
Ah, but did you audition the Fender, "choke" Rumble 15? I'm comparing that to the AMPEG. I had them side by side and I preferred the AMPEG.
 
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#14
PUCKBOY99 said:
Hello all.........in my search for a small portable practice amp, I thought I'd tap into the knowledge here on the board.

If you were getting one of the following, what are the pros/cons of your choice...or any other option you would throw out there:

Ampeg BA108V2/RB108 (and what's the difference between the BA & RB Rocket Bass line)
Hartke HD15
Fender Rumble 15

And why are so many bass combo amps covered in carpet instead of tolex ? Carpet is horrible...looks like it needs to be vacuumed daily ! LOL

Thanks in advance !
Click to expand...

Carpet? I have rat fur on all my Eden gear. Unless you have pets (especially cats that just can’t leave the dang stuff alone) or a very dusty environment, like it’s stored in a wood shop, it’s no that much of a problem to keep it presentable.

I’m sorry I can’t help you much with the pros and cons of the electronic parts of your selections. Best wishes.
 
#15
dbsfgyd1 said:
Carpet? I have rat fur on all my Eden gear. Unless you have pets (especially cats that just can’t leave the dang stuff alone) or a very dusty environment, like it’s stored in a wood shop, it’s no that much of a problem to keep it presentable.
Click to expand...

It's funny you mention Eden. I was looking at an Eden TN2252 2x10 on reverb. Hard to find any demos of the 2x10 combo, but the clips of the amp head sound good. You familiar with that model ?
 
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#16
PUCKBOY99 said:
It's funny you mention Eden. I was looking at an Eden TN2252 2x10 on reverb. Hard to find any demos of the 2x10 combo, but the clips of the amp head sound good. You familiar with that model ?
Click to expand...

I’m not familiar with that particular model. But the two stacked units on the left are two Eden combos, an Eden Nemesis RS-320 the 1-15, and an Eden E-320 2-10 both rated at 320 watts each that kick butt. Especially when slaved. Definitely not light, but built to last.
upload_2021-10-11_19-34-18.jpeg




If I’m not mistaken, the TN series is a good 180 watts, and with two 10s should hold up very well vs the competition listed.
 
#18
I’m happy with my Rumble 25. The Rumble 40 costs twice as much, at least new. Oddly, it’s lighter; that may be because the 8” speaker in the 25 has a heavier magnet to give the low end one wouldn’t normally expect.
 
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#19
Between the Rumble 25 and the BA108, the former might be a touch more low end and louder, but the BA108 sounds better, IMNSFHO.

The Rumble is in my living room for noodles and light jamming, the BA108 is in my bedio (altho' I've now changed to the PF500t with a VHT 1x10") for recording.
 

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