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Combo Question(s)

#22
TimB1226 said:
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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The weight difference is mainly due to the cabinet material. The 40 has a cab made from plywood, which is substantially lighter than the MDF used for the 25.
 
#23
SJan3 said:
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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Great, you preferred the Ampeg. I didn’t mention the Fender amp because even though I tried a small Rumble the day I wound up buying the Ampeg. It was the Ampeg I had time with and discovered that even though it sounded better than the other small amps i tried, it was still woefully inadequate as a bass amp when I got it home, even as a small practice amp. As usual I failed to properly express my feelings in my first reply. Rather than relate my personal experience with the Ampeg, i should have said the smallest amp I’ve ever had that didn’t sound like some Playschool toy was an SWR cube with 60W and a 10” speaker.
 
#24
I'd suggest also the GK MB108 or MB110. My son's MB108 can be heard throughout the house at modest volumes and eq settings and I can even hear it outside the house (not annoy the neighbor's volumes, but still it's audible). I've been consistently impressed by that little amp. I will say that GK's prices have gone up noticeably since I bought it a few years ago, but I think even with the increases, it's still a viable option. Sounds great, light weight, no carpet - might be worth a go for you. good luck in your search.
 
#26
BA108 is working fine for me for practice and jamming with a guitarist. I really love the sound, but I do not have enough experience to provide any details or comparisons.

Yeah - BA110 is surely better, but I refuse to do the "two-foot-itis" game right now. (two-foot-itis is from the boat world - "I'll be happy when I have 2 feet more boat - which can go on and on and on)

It's covered in some kind of vinyl, not carpet - at least mine which is almost a year old.
 
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#27
I have the Rumble 25 (and before that BA108 v1). Both great amps. I like the tone, and plenty of volume for playing along acoustic instruments and low level rock jams with a cajon.

If I knew for sure I was playing with a drummer I might be inclined to get a 10” though. I have a Rumble 100 for rehearsals also; holds up very well with a drummer, but could probably get away with a 10.
 
#28
fhm555 said:
Great, you preferred the Ampeg. I didn’t mention the Fender amp because even though I tried a small Rumble the day I wound up buying the Ampeg. It was the Ampeg I had time with and discovered that even though it sounded better than the other small amps i tried, it was still woefully inadequate as a bass amp when I got it home, even as a small practice amp. As usual I failed to properly express my feelings in my first reply. Rather than relate my personal experience with the Ampeg, i should have said the smallest amp I’ve ever had that didn’t sound like some Playschool toy was an SWR cube with 60W and a 10” speaker.
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Ah, I had an SWR Workingman's 10 for years! I didn't like it's tone until I put a Sadowsky preamp between it and my bass.
But it was a little workhorse and sounded much better with the WM 10 extension cabinet I purchased and wish I never sold.
Oh well, live and learn.
 
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#30
SJan3 said:
Ah, I had an SWR Workingman's 10 for years! I didn't like it's tone until I put a Sadowsky preamp between it and my bass.
But it was a little workhorse and sounded much better with the WM 10 extension cabinet I purchased and wish I never sold.
Oh well, live and learn.
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Mine predates a working man’s 10.
 
#33
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 !
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i hated my rumble 15 - it sounded like a guitar amp, and i know this because i compared it with a small guitar combo with the same basses. the rumble 25 has more bottom and sounds like a bass amp, although i ended up with a rumble 100 and just keep it turned down, but it is bigger than the rumble 15 if that's a factor.

my husband has the hartke HD15, and it's got lots of bottom end, which as it's really small really surprised me. it's like a triumph over physics :D

ampeg is good if you like the ampeg sound. i tried a few of them with different basses in guitar centers back in the day.

how small and how portable are you looking for? the roland micro cube bass RX is quite small, battery powered and has some fun effects. it only sounds good quiet (imo), but it's great for late at night or when you need to play quietly due to neighbors or whatever.

there's also the phil jones double 4. very nice. if the budget won't stretch, perhaps you could find one used.
 
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#36
fhm555 said:
I think it’s a first gen LA cube. Most pictures are of the later generation LA with double handles on it. Mine has a single rubber handle across the top, but is otherwise dimensionally the same and has the same guts.
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Ah yes, the LA series. I didn't know the LA10 had that much power. My WM10 was 80 watts @8 ohms/ 100 @ 4ohms. With the WM10 extension cab, it was louder than you'd think.
 
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#37
SJan3 said:
Ah yes, the LA series. I didn't know the LA10 had that much power. My WM10 was 80 watts @8 ohms/ 100 @ 4ohms. With the WM10 extension cab, it was louder than you'd think.
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I’ve used mine with a couple of strats through Deluxe Reverb amps. The drummer played a cocktail kit and both guitarists understood volume control and the little SWR on a stool did the job just fine.
 

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