Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
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Big Hoss
Up note, down note, blue note, brown note...
- Sep 5, 2014
- 5,455
- 4,234
- Disclosures
- None
I also think that there's a traditional bias at work here - used to be that a separate head and cab was the only way to go for a serious bass player, as it was the only solution that provided the necessary combination of tone, features and power. That hasn't been true in a while, but the idea persists. But if you have the tone, features and power you need available in many different configurations, it makes sense to use other criteria than the traditional ones in selecting your rig. Of course, it's all about your sound, but if that's taken care of, other considerations come into play, and a combo may be the correct choice more often than many people seem to think. It may also be a phenomenon that mostly affects bass players. Guitar players don't seem to mind combos at all.
Just another view on this matter. The ONLY place I ever run into an anti combo bias, I mean at least for those of us that gig in small to medium venues / gigs is online forums. For the most part, 75% of the working bassists I see in my area are using combos. They are simpler for load in / load out, set up / tear down. Yeah I've seen the bands that are playing "mine's bigger" games, but for those setting up in a 6x8 "stage" in the back corner of a bar, if you, or your guitarist bring a giant stack, you are likely to get your butt kicked...
With the quality, volume, and tone of modern combos, there's not a real good reason to go with a head / cab pair EXCEPT for the paranoid that just want a spare just in case. If my combo croaks mid gig, I am going line out from my Zoom B3 straight to the board and going through the PA...
You did say that ..."used to be that a separate head and cab was the only way to go for a serious bass player, as it was the only solution that provided the necessary combination of tone, features and power. That hasn't been true in a while" and I whole heartedly agree. It was so long ago that it can be having a mid life crisis by now.
I think a BIG part of the anti combo animus is more an issue of status / class. Separate heads / cabs tend to cost more than combos, and as such as seen as "real amps" to the gear snob types. Of course guess where they are? You guessed it, only on the online forums. And there is no shortage of guys and gals (and whatever else there might be) in the real world selling off old, heavy as heck heads / cabs in favor of lightweight, easier to manage class D combos...
I don't let that sorta thing worry me, or i'd not take my descent basses to pub gigs either. Basses cost similarly as much out here as the above listed amps do.
I've been playing live in pubs since I was 14y.o. (1977) & haven't had one issue that was from the crowd or establishment.
I've had a bass & rig stolen in the early 80s, but it was from in my flat
I've also had a band member cause an amp issue - beer into rear of amp... pretty blue arcing lights.. amp repaired by the next week.... again, that was early 80s.
My Super Bassman will be at my gig tonight.
Watch out for a giant Fender thunderbird swooping out of the sky to snatch that lot up and bring it back to my house here in Australia loll .. dunno how I could get that rig any other way loll
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Break a leg tonight Rod..have fun!
I’m sure you’re right about this. No shortage of heavy rigs being flogged in my local classifieds. But if people do want to struggle with giant Ampeg fridge cabs and SVT heads, they’re more than welcome. I’ll just carry my Rumble 500c into the venue with one hand.
At yard sale prices and taking tremendous losses. Some are even giving gear away that won't sell no matter how low the price.
7am here and watching ELO Live at Wembley Blu Ray through my sound system at the moment with the missus and its waking up the neighbours..wait till i unleash the Rumble 500c/115 with my Peavey 5 string dyna bass and play along with Jeff Lynne and the guys.
Whats that flashing blue light outside darling at 8am?..lol
Whats that flashing blue light outside darling at 8am?..lol
Lee Pomeroy is the bass player on this Blu Ray..a left hander..plays a left handed Fender Bass strung right handed..E string closest to his knee in other words loll..looks odd but boy he cant bop it out and lay down the great bass line for this ELO concert...now all he needs is a Fender Rumble to complete the perfect rig and bass guitar combination.
Loll..thanks for that SR..i actually have that song on one of my old Time-Life CD collections but never seen that clip before..I need to make a little newspaper napoleon hat loll
The Rumble 500 Combo/115 Cab with the girls...2017 EB Stingray SR5, 1991 Peavey DynaBass 5, 1979 Peavey T-40, 2017 Rickenbacker 4003, My Wife's Sterling By MM S.U.B. 4
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The wife is learning and she loves that little Sterling by Music Man S.U.B. 4 bass I bought for her..I must admit it looks great..white with the black PG and it plays great too..I used it at a couple of gigs..not bad for an Indonesian made bass guitar for under $600 AUD (about $446 USD). Of course any bass guitar sounds great through that Rumble rig.That is one, nice family....
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You ARE wrong! 3 out of 4 of those boxes say "Rumble" right on them, from Fender Custom Shop. As for the 4th, I'm pretty sure that "Super Bassman" is an anagram for "Rumble Descendant"!
Who Here Wants To RUMBLE! Fender Custom Shop
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