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First post. Finding a basic combo amp

W

Wheat Williams

Nov 30, 2009
6
0
wheatwilliams.com
#1
Please forgive me if this question is asked here all the time.

I'm in my 40s and I'm an ex-bass player trying to get back into the game. I am not quitting my non-music part-time day job, but I want to start playing freelance in classic rock or country cover bands in bars and the occasional outdoor event in my city.

What would be a good combo amp for me to buy, considering that I'm only going to be able to afford to own one amp for now? I would want something portable by one person, and reasonably affordable (let's say around US$500), but I would not want to show up at a bar gig and have somebody tell me, "No, that amp is not powerful enough."

I would also like everything in one package, so having a built-in XLR direct/line-out, a compressor and possibly some basic signal processing would be good, too.
 
#2
Welcome!

Everything that you want is in the Ampeg PF-500 amp and PF-115HE cab. Great product, professional features, and a lot of thump for your buck. Not a combo but the head latches to the cab so it's as basic as a combo.

At $800 it is slightly over your budget but well worth considering. The PF-350 amp is more affordable at $100 less but doesn't offer as many features. You get a lot more amp for the extra money in the PF-500.
 
#4
Wheat Williams said:
Please forgive me if this question is asked here all the time.

I'm in my 40s and I'm an ex-bass player trying to get back into the game. I am not quitting my non-music part-time day job, but I want to start playing freelance in classic rock or country cover bands in bars and the occasional outdoor event in my city.

What would be a good combo amp for me to buy, considering that I'm only going to be able to afford to own one amp for now? I would want something portable by one person, and reasonably affordable (let's say around US$500), but I would not want to show up at a bar gig and have somebody tell me, "No, that amp is not powerful enough."

I would also like everything in one package, so having a built-in XLR direct/line-out, a compressor and possibly some basic signal processing would be good, too.
Click to expand...

Then it is no longer basic now is it?
 
#7
Get a good combo- 200+watts(will very likely have a useable DI- if you want *good* you'll need to add one)- and a multi-fx pedal(which also often faetures a DI, often better than the amp's unit). Onboard FX(on amps)are pretty weak, IME. The multi's are not awful & will give you a good idea of what you really want in the way of processing.
Welcome back to the dark side, BTW. :cool:
 
#10
GK MB210 would work well. 350W and you can use an 8 ohm extension cab (now 500W @4 ohms) if you want to add more to your rig. They're $600 new, but you can find them used in the price range the OP mentioned. I've used mine in an 80s cover band with two loud guitarists and it held it's own.
 
#12
Wheat Williams said:
Well, beyond the "basics", online I've read about some "modeling" combo amps like the Roland Cube and Line 6 LowDown which have digital signal processing built in, and they have models that are also in my price range. Any thoughts on those?
Click to expand...

Line 6's Lowdown LD300 Pro is an excellent combo. I've owned mine for five years and used it for numberous gigs and studio sessions with excellent results everytime. I take it when I don't need to haul my 810 around.
You can pick one up for $350.00 that's in very good condition.

TD
 
#14
I would suggest skipping the combo for one big reason- speakers. Most all combo amps are a huge compromise in the speaker dept., and that's an important factor. better to find a used bass head for cheap, 200-500 watts, and fimd a good used 4x10 or better, 2x12. Still easy to schlepp, but much more versatile, and able, because you have adequet spkrs.
 
#16
I had an Ampeg BA-210sp(which had onboard FX, but I have plenty of pedals and never use the amp's stuff)- 76lbs, IIRC, and pretty ballsy for it's claimed output & cost(cheap, but I got it used). There was a 1x15 version, and I think non-FX models in both cab/driver configs. I also really liked the Hartke KB-12 I had yrs ago, although it likely wouldn't quite have the muscle you want in louder situations. My all-time favorite combo was an Eden CXC-110+CX-110 ext cab- small, not pig-heavy & plenty of power. Not too common, but you can get a WT-330/405 head if you are love w/the tone, which very much was. :)
 
#17
After a 47 year hiatus from music - so I could reliably feed a family - I got back into playing and bought a 600Watt combo.

If I had it to do over, I'd buy a head and then cabs to go with it, always matching brand and driver size/number in the auxiliary cabinets.

But - being the hard head I was, I did it my way, and although without regrets, it could have been better going modular.

The biggest thing in my eyes - is to buy a piece of gear that specializes and does it's one thing well.

One would not appreciate a jazz bass with a garden hoe attachment - at least I think not.

What I mean here is to get a solid amp that doesn't have a lot of gimmicks and modelling devices as a legacy component.

If one needs more than that, there's always effects pedals/stomps to modify in areas that one wants.

If one of the effect pedals doesn't do it for you, then you only have to change it and not the whole-combo-with-many-gadgets-that-do everything-sorta-but-not-anything-great-or-everything-badly.

That's my idea.
 
#19
Wheat Williams said:
Well, beyond the "basics", online I've read about some "modeling" combo amps like the Roland Cube and Line 6 LowDown which have digital signal processing built in, and they have models that are also in my price range. Any thoughts on those?
Click to expand...
I don't care for modeling amps. Jack of all trades, master of none. They're usually decently priced, and they work, but digital amps just don't sound good to me...it's like the difference between a well mastered CD and a low bitrate MP3.
 

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