Compact combo for low B?

[Thundar]

And once again, we have someone asking about a "combo" and people just ignore that and give him their recommendations for heads/cabs.
Yes, a Mesa Subway D800+ and a Subway 212 cab would be my recommendation if he wanted a head/cab solution and if his budget allows it...shoot for the moon!
BTW, don't be confused...that GK BACKLINE 12 Combo isn't anything like GK's current line of combos, so I am not surprised at all that he is having difficulty with it handling a 5 string.

 

[Syd Rayne]

I have that exact Backline 112 but I would never gig my 5-string thru it. Other than to gently test the wiring or to tune it up. If you look, you can unplug the internal 12 on the rear panel, and run some other 8ohm cabinet. I've connected my Hartke 412, and it sounds good. Not as great as that 5-string going through my Backline 600 head into a pair of 15in speaker cabs, but decent. The G-K 112 does sound great with all my 4-strings (haven't done drop D yet). I generally do things on the cheap - so there is a big pawn shop here that had a raw Ampeg 15in speaker. Bought it for $30. Then Goodwill had a Behringer 115 cab locally that I got for a bid of about $32. Put the Ampeg in that cab (removed the tweeter), and now have a nice $62 cab with a beefy 15 (at 8ohm). More cab that you probably want to tote around to a small gig - but I can run stuff thru it at room-rattling volume. I've been meaning to hook the G-K Backline 112 to it.

 

[Pep]

The Acme Low B 1 allegedly does but I haven’t tried one in person. They have a reputation for needing lots of watts, which is the sensitivity tradeoff mentioned by @agedhorse.

If you’ve got the coin, a boutique solution like the Barefaced Big Baby or Super Compact might be of interest. I have owned each and the Big Baby 2 (they’re now up to #3) is quite nice but it is large enough that it pushes the definition of compact (not that it’s huge).

You might benefit from a second of the same or similar cab to get a 2x112 rig, but I’m unfamiliar with the low end performance and specs on your cab.

I have a Low B1 and two Low B2s. The B1 will do it but the B2 is phenomenal. The best I’ve ever used or heard.

 

[dreamadream99]

I have the Gallien-Krueger MB150. It is a lightweight portable 12 inch, that can handle the low B just fine. But it is only 100 Watts— 150 with an extension speaker. It’s really more of a personal monitor for you. It will not carry a room larger than a small or medium-sized coffee house. If you have to provide the bass sound for the whole house in a larger venue, you are going to need something much larger. If you are, and you have PA support, I don’t understand why you need that much low end on stage.

 

[Ben Clarke]

Except that the Tuba 24 doesn’t go “stupid low”… it”s -3dB at 75Hz and -10dB at 60Hz. What you are hearing as “stupid low” is the huge hump at 80+ Hz.

Perception of low frequencies is a tricky thing, your brain doesn’t work as most people assume.

Definitely true that my brain doesn't work as most assume. Relationships have been tricky.

You're right, of course. You wouldn't post the comment if you didn't know that. I like that about you.

It went stupid low for me because I used a crossover and EQ and treated it like a PA sub, not a bass cab. For me, it was very correctable for 5 string and Moog lows. Not just at 80, but with a lot of response down to 30-40Hz content. At the time I was working daily with really excellent horn subs working for a PA manufacturer. I didn't measure the BFM boxes, but did play around (emphasis on play) with test material that I believe was relevant, even given the perceptual nature of it.

It really played stupid low. It was not worth the tradeoffs, and not a box I would have much use for - the PA does that on the current gigs when I need it.

I didn't just plug in and go "hey wow that's beefy", but I agree with your concern that I might have, and that others would think that and go down a foolish or wasteful path for their situation. Without processing, I wouldn't recommend it as a tool to chase stupid lows, if that is the goal.

 

[Aram]

Apologies in advance as I know OP is hoping for a combo, but I have to throw another vote behind the Acme B1. I’ve gigged that cab in many, many settings over the past couple decades and it has never let me down. You’d be surprised what you can get away with with proper placement.

As agedhorse alluded to, the low end reproduction comes at the expense of efficiency, but amps are so powerful (not to mention lightweight and relatively affordable) these days that’s not nearly as much of an issue as when the cabs first came out.

If you go this route, highly recommend a head that has a variable HPF to controls the lows. I use the WD800 (my go-to) and BB800 (backup), but there may be less expensive options as well.

 

[FuzzyToeBean]

Just for laughs…. I have a 35 year old 350 watt ampeg b2. It sounds great on the low B… it also weighs just over 100lbs for a 4x8 hence I’m finally replacing it.

 

[Andychn]

See my post on the Markbass r58 151 pure combo.
Playing Fretless five light wave Zon Sonus which is about as deep and resonant as you can get and a Sonus fretted five through it. It not only handles the low B, if you stand in front of it it will move your insides!
Super light and absurdly low price for 300 watts of pure, punchy power. I wonder if I play loud and hard enough if I can get it to slide across the floor?