• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

combo recommendations

B

bassfiend

Sep 9, 2009
4
0
Seattle,WA
#1
this is my first time posting at TB, but i've been doing a lot of reading, and you all seems to have some good advice.

I'm looking for a small combo amp: lightweight, good for gigging and practicing. I play a fender fretless p and I want something that will really give me the tone of the bass and my fingers. almost like it sounds when i play without any amp at all. I'd also like something that will work for my upright, right now i just have an SM57 strapped to the bridge. eventually i will want to upgrade that or get an EUB (but that's a topic for another thread/day).

I have liked playing through that markbass 12 inch combo. Also I was very impressed with a PJB briefcase, but i'm not sure it could really get the volume i'd like. I didn't really like the flightcase though. I really like playing through a genz benz gbe 630 (i forget if that was the exact number...) but i don't think i can afford a cabinet and head right now, though i'm not opposed to it if it's cost effective and not too big.

any advice of amps or details i should keep an eye out for when i'm shopping?
:ninja:
 
#2
Only advice I have is don't go too small if you want to gig with it. Something like the Markbass 121P or the Shuttle 6.0/12 is about as small as is practical to gig with and still be able to compete with a fairly loud band. Personally, I like a 115 combo better, but if size is an issue, a single 12 is the absolute smallest I'd go.
 
#3
JimmyM said:
Only advice I have is don't go too small if you want to gig with it. Something like the Markbass 121P or the Shuttle 6.0/12 is about as small as is practical to gig with and still be able to compete with a fairly loud band. Personally, I like a 115 combo better, but if size is an issue, a single 12 is the absolute smallest I'd go.
Click to expand...

+1. I owned the Markbass 121P and it sounded great but lacked oomph when really pushed. I upgraded to Markbass 151P and wow! Same great tone with real depth and no oomph issues.
 
#4
For low budget, dependability, versatility, XLR out, I would suggest you put the SWR Workingman 12 and 15 on your clipboard.

I'm not sure about the upright sound through them, though, so another TBer could weigh in on that subject.

Their one downside is weight, but if you affix a good suitcase-type folding handcart to them they are quite manageable. And/or, I suppose, eventually a neo driver.

And the tilted-up dashboard is just a fantastic idea, beautifully executed.
 
#5
I've commented before on AI, but check out the acoustic image combos. They're powerful, lightweight and very transparent.

They're made for upright, which I don't play. I borrowed a friend's coda series II and couldn't believe the sound from this 20lb black 3 gallon bucket. It had 200 watts.

I ordered the series III which had 400 watts. Used it during the trial period with a fender precision lyte both by itself and pushing a trace elliot 2x10 and 1x15. Loved it, but a week into it I saw where they have new models, including one with 2x10, so I sent it back and I'm waiting on the ten2. It's 800watts, removable head, 1 downward firing 10 and one front firing. Hoping it will have a little more forward output than the coda which has a front 5 and down 10. The ten2 weighs 28lbs.

When I purchased my TE stack, I was 28. At 43 now, I'm all about light weight and clean tone. When the trace amp cooked this year, I couldn't believe how far amps have come in 15 years. I'm using a LMII with the TE cabs now. Sounds good, but for most of the small stuff I'm doing I'd rather not lug the cabs around.

The AI's are kind of pricey, but the series III's are discounted now since the new ones are out. I think $1160 for the codaR, which has two channels and also makes a fine acoustic guitar/vocal rig for a solo venue.

If you only want one channel the contra is $1050.

I don't see many on the used market, which says something IMO.

So, in summary, for $1400 no tax no shipping I'll have an incredibly portable 2x10 combo that will be powerful enough to drive big cabinets out front for large gigs at 2 ohms, leaving the unit itself as a nice monitor. I can also use it for my acoustic/singing solo gigs by itself or driving some front PA speakers. It even has effects built in.

That's the rationale I used on my wife, and she bought it, so it must make sense.

Sorry to ramble. I probably sound like an infomercial.
 
#6
I'll toss out a recommendation for the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0-12T. I'm continually amazed by this rig, and now that I've added the 12" extension cab, it's even more versatile. I used that setup last week on two gigs (one outdoors) with a large band, and had plenty of oomph...and more than ample headroom. I use the combo (no extension cab) in my living room for practicing at low volumes, and it sounds great there too. A buddy of mine who plays upright loves it as well, for what that's worth.

Not sure it qualifies as being inexpensive, but in terms of value per dollar spent, I'd give it a very high rating. Lightweight, small footprint, incredible sound...bada boom. I'd certainly recommend at least including it in your list of rigs to test drive. Good luck...
 
#8
Make sure to try out the newly released Gallien-Krueger MB210.

I played one at GC last week and it floored me. 350 watts into 2 10" speakers, with an extension cab it can go up to 500 watts. It got very loud in the store and seemed to handle the low end of a 5-string with no problems. GK says it weighs 33 lbs., but it felt like even less than that when I picked it up. You could easily carry with one hand. It was marked at $600 at GC, which means it will probably be even less than that through a place like RMC Audio.

I'm not saying it is better than the Genz or Markbass stuff, but it deserves consideration, especially when you factor in the price. Upright bassists have been using the MB combos from GK for years.
 
#9
It would really help if you gave a price range. IMO I'd avoid SWR if transparency is a primary concern. To MY ears they always add plenty of SWR color to whatever I play through it (Fender Jazz with & w/o fret, Warwick Corvette Std., Peavey T-40 which also happens to be for sale, Ibanez SDGR300DX) But really a price point would aid greatly in offering any sort of real direction advice. Good luck, enjoy, play as many as possible, and when the sweet sweet syrup starts to run through your ears you'll know you've found her.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back