16lbs... 200watts all usable great tone.
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For portability: Rumble 40 vs. Micromark 801?
- Thread starter odrive
- Start date
16lbs... 200watts all usable great tone.
I’ve played through the Micromark a few times in a store and really liked it. I’ve also had a Traynor SB106, but found it lacking in highs.
I would suggest a Traynor SB110. I liked it better than the Micromark & SB106 (and is also cheaper). It’s a little bigger (14” cubed, 21 lbs) but has a good tweeter (with defeat switch) as well great sounding 10” speaker and can put out 120W. Plus a great warranty and made in Canada.
I have played through my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-8T many times over the years in different band settings and if I ever had to replace it, for comparable size and sound I would choose the Traynor SB110.
SB110 – Traynor Amps
I would suggest a Traynor SB110. I liked it better than the Micromark & SB106 (and is also cheaper). It’s a little bigger (14” cubed, 21 lbs) but has a good tweeter (with defeat switch) as well great sounding 10” speaker and can put out 120W. Plus a great warranty and made in Canada.
I have played through my Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-8T many times over the years in different band settings and if I ever had to replace it, for comparable size and sound I would choose the Traynor SB110.
SB110 – Traynor Amps
Very interested in that Trace Elliot. Even the 1x10 version is under 20 pounds. I have not seen or heard a TE since the 1980s. What does the ELF sound like compared with a Fender or Markbass or Phil Jones combo?
Also adding that little Vox and maybe a used Micromark 2x6 to the contenders.
Also adding that little Vox and maybe a used Micromark 2x6 to the contenders.
The 2-6 is actually the Minimark. I got mine in the mid '00s, been a wonderful amp all these years.
I have a Line 6 Studio 110 that puts out 75 watts and is about a 12 inch cube. I have played a lot of dates with it, and it has a line out for a feed to the PA if needed. I don't think they are available new any more, and their weight might exceed your requirement. I think mine weighs in at about mid to high 20 pound range.
Thump on,
One_ Dude
Thump on,
One_ Dude
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
- 2,444
- 4,402
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- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
Your active pickups might serve you well. My comment about needing a preamp was based on passive EBGs and upright with piezo. Are you anywhere near New York State? I have all the amps we've been discussing and would be happy to let you play through them. Don't discount the Rumble series without hearing at least one of them yourself--they're surprisingly good, especially for the money. If you're near a Guitar Center, check them out. GC carries Markbass, too, so there's a slight chance they would have an 801 for you to test.
Your question about whether the 801 would be loud enough for the gigs you describe is tough to answer. I have used mine in cafes with an upright and it's been fine. It's surprisingly loud for its size, but of course as you boost the volume, the need for a preamp becomes more obvious. Because it's so easy to carry, I also use it as a personal monitor for any gig where I'll be playing through a FOH system. It has worked fine for that and no sound guy has ever complained about its DI out.
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I have a rumble 40 and a 200. Both have been workhorses. IMO they work best with a bass capable of getting some treble in the tone. They sound fantastic with my jazz bass and my SR. The EB0, even with the modern pickup installed, not so much. The semi hollows I used to have didn't sound good either.
I have a Rumble 40. Sweet, capable 18 lb.combo. Easily EQ'd. Perfect for small gigs. Take the money saved by choosing the Rum40 over the Mark Bass and put it into no load mutual funds then sit back and watch.
I’ve got a Rumble 40 and have used it in situations just like you’re describing. I know a lot of people like them, but for me it’s too muddy. (The problem was never volume.) I now have it in the practice room of my vacation house and clean up the sound with a preamp that I have on hand.
I had the same experience with the Rumble 40. By contrast, I found the Ampeg BA110v2 to offer up more balance. I bought the Ampeg. Yes, it's heavier at 34 lbs but it was the superior tone machine, IMHO.
BobDeRosa
Commercial User
- May 16, 2012
- 2,444
- 4,402
- Disclosures
- Owner, Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps
Very good point. I forgot to say I always take my MB 801 as a spare amp that I can plug into my main 2x10 cab in case something goes wrong. If anything ever went wrong with both head and cab, I'll bet the 801 itself would be a reasonable substitute.
Thanks for the offer, but I’m out West! I’ll call GC and ask what’s in stock. According to the website, these small models are not on the floor right now.
This is a good reality check. I have not gigged with any amp in more than a decade because I always play venues with a PA and take just a tuner and a SansAmp BDDI. Now suddenly I have a couple of small gigs lined up with no sound. Fluke or new normal? Hard to tell. Might start cheap with the Rumble and upgrade if/when needed.
I doubt you will be dissappointed in the Rumble 40. I was lucky to find one like new on FB market place for $100. Even at full street price, these are worth it. You can lift it and place it with 1 finger. I turn down the overdrive levels which I never use, then the overdrive button becomes a perfect standby switch.
My experience, too. Maybe it's the cab/speaker driver that is at the root of this?
Also, @srayb, just doing a double take on this post. Thanks for the roundup. Very curious about the SB106 after digging up some old threads on it. Love the sleek look, shape, and size. I know you prefer the SB110, but how exactly does the 106 compare with the Micromark? Lacking in highs, but what about for a player who doesn’t care for a horn? And highs aside, what is the overall Traynor Small Block tone like?
I found this to be helpful when I bought my Phil Jones Double Four:
I also had the Rumble 40 at that time and now only have the PJB.
I also had the Rumble 40 at that time and now only have the PJB.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
@odrive In your situation, I would get the Rumble 100 and a collapsible hand truck. Bungee the bass case/gig bag to the cart, and you won't have to carry anything (and you will be loud enough).
My goal when I was trying out the SB106 might be a bit different from most people; I was primarily interested in it for quiet small room solo/practicing, which is low volume, but I wanted full-range (as I play 6-string basses). I already have a small Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-8T combo (8” with tweeter), which I love, so was comparing it to that. That being said, I know a lot of bass players don’t need or want a tweeter, and if that is you, I would say the SB106 is actually fantastic. The low-end on it is pretty amazing, very smooth and strong down to the low B, and the entire range is balanced nicely (which you can further tweak with the EQing section). The unit is very high quality and sturdy (Traynors have always been notorious for being incredibly well-built). The bonus with this combo, is that the amplifier section is basically their SB200H head installed into this little combo, and you have the ability to plug in an external cabinet (which disconnects internal 6.5” speaker) and you have the full 200W @ 4-ohms output. Here’s a pic of both my current Genz Benz and the Traynor side-by-side for comparison. With the SB106 you cannot remove the head section, as I can do with my Genz Benz.
