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Double Bass GK MB150s discontinued. What to replace it with?

#41
I ruined my MB150 shortly before the pandemic. I have an Aguilar SL112 that’s the same weight & planning on buying a tone hammer 350 & will see how that goes.

Has anyone tried the new Ampeg RB112 (100 watts) with DB? It’s similar weight too & looks like a good alternative. Might give it a try if I don’t like the TH350.

I also see some people using the fender rumbles. There’s a 100 watt 112 w/ similar weight that is very similar to the ampeg.
 
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#42
jebo said:
I ruined my MB150 shortly before the pandemic. I have an Aguilar SL112 that’s the same weight & planning on buying a tone hammer 350 & will see how that goes.

Has anyone tried the new Ampeg RB112 (100 watts) with DB? It’s similar weight too & looks like a good alternative. Might give it a try if I don’t like the TH350.

I also see some people using the fender rumbles. There’s a 100 watt 112 w/ similar weight that is very similar to the ampeg.
Click to expand...
I use the Rumble 100 watt 112....k&k bass max...gut g d. Spiro A E...F Deck 2. Ply bass...no complaints here after 3 + years...
 
#44
Well, the OP has probably already figured something out in the intervening 5 months, but still...

Most of the time I lived in NYC I didn't use an amplifier, most of the venues I played either were enough of a listening room (and had good acoustics) that I could play without amplification or they had a good house system and good sound people and I'd just use my mic. I did have (since about '97) a Walter Woods LowPower and the GK 12 MBE extension cabinet. Have not, as of yet, had any issues with cabinet rattle. The Woods recently crapped out on me (and I can't find anyone to repair it locally) so I started shopping around for a replacement. No one had a AI Clarus in stock at the time, so not wanting to spend a lot of money on something else, I picked up a MarkBass LittleMark 250 Blackline. Mostly because it had a balanced XLR input so I could use my mic. Not great, but not bad. Then I saw a Clarus S4+ for sale here on TB and grabbed that (thanks kittyboy!) and have been Very Happy with that. Even happier than the Woods.
The MarkBass came with a little backpack and I'm using that to transport the Clarus (rather than the shoulder bag that it comes with); amp on my back, bass on a wheel, and the 12 lb. speaker in my other hand, I can make it around in one trip. So not a combo, but still portable...
cnDizRjuRs6m3msE9b4Nbg.jpg
 
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#45
Ed Fuqua said:
Well, the OP has probably already figured something out in the intervening 5 months, but still...

Most of the time I lived in NYC I didn't use an amplifier, most of the venues I played either were enough of a listening room (and had good acoustics) that I could play without amplification or they had a good house system and good sound people and I'd just use my mic. I did have (since about '97) a Walter Woods LowPower and the GK 12 MBE extension cabinet. Have not, as of yet, had any issues with cabinet rattle. The Woods recently crapped out on me (and I can't find anyone to repair it locally) so I started shopping around for a replacement. No one had a AI Clarus in stock at the time, so not wanting to spend a lot of money on something else, I picked up a MarkBass LittleMark 250 Blackline. Mostly because it had a balanced XLR input so I could use my mic. Not great, but not bad. Then I saw a Clarus S4+ for sale here on TB and grabbed that (thanks kittyboy!) and have been Very Happy with that. Even happier than the Woods.
The MarkBass came with a little backpack and I'm using that to transport the Clarus (rather than the shoulder bag that it comes with); amp on my back, bass on a wheel, and the 12 lb. speaker in my other hand, I can make it around in one trip. So not a combo, but still portable...View attachment 4595766
Click to expand...

Looks like a great rig, Ed. Sorry to hear of the demise of your WW. Are you running a mic into the Clarus for live work? No pickup?
 
#46
dylanjohnson said:
Looks like a great rig, Ed. Sorry to hear of the demise of your WW. Are you running a mic into the Clarus for live work? No pickup?
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For most gigs yes, Columbia SC having a dearth of listening rooms. Outdoors, I add the pickup and mix the two.
 
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#47
I had been using GK MB150S for gigs to which I travelled by public transportation since 1997.

I replaced it with Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T around 2013. I downsized to Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-8T around 2015.

Since 2019, I have been using Trace Elliot Elf amp with custom-made cab with 6' speaker. It weighs 10 pounds (GK combo was 25 pounds). It puts out similar amount of power. Yeah, sound technology has developped quite a bit.
 
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#49
dylanjohnson said:
Robert Gallien says there is a new version coming out soon. Maybe next year. Someone was selling the separate MB 150 head here.
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That's pretty exciting, as that amp has been begging for an upgrade for probably 10 years now. Unfortunately GK has been increasing their prices so much recently, I'm thinking I might have to wait a few years for them to end up in the used market at a decent price.
 
#50
dylanjohnson said:
Robert Gallien says there is a new version coming out soon. Maybe next year. Someone was selling the separate MB 150 head here.
Click to expand...

**I can confirm this Feb, 2024. After griping on Instagram about how much I regretted selling my MB200 head/2x10 cab, And how there’s practically nothing on the used market.. GK messaged me personally and said that they’re bringing it back, When I pressed they told me they couldn’t get into specifics or set release dates but.. Apparently they’ll be extremely similar and retain the things players loved about the original MB; versatile GK preamp, awesome tone, lightweight small size/portability, and high build quality at player friendly prices!!
 
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#52
Would love to see some new small format reasonably priced stuff from GK. RAG posted back in 2020 that updates to the MB200 and small combo would be released soon so I wouldn't hold my breath but it's good to hear they're still on the radar.
 
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#54
JfetPre775 said:
**I can confirm this Feb, 2024. After griping on Instagram about how much I regretted selling my MB200 head/2x10 cab, And how there’s practically nothing on the used market.. GK messaged me personally and said that they’re bringing it back, When I pressed they told me they couldn’t get into specifics or set release dates but.. Apparently they’ll be extremely similar and retain the things players loved about the original MB; versatile GK preamp, awesome tone, lightweight small size/portability, and high build quality at player friendly prices!!
Click to expand...
Please!
 
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#56
JfetPre775 said:
**I can confirm this Feb, 2024. After griping on Instagram about how much I regretted selling my MB200 head/2x10 cab, And how there’s practically nothing on the used market.. GK messaged me personally and said that they’re bringing it back, When I pressed they told me they couldn’t get into specifics or set release dates but.. Apparently they’ll be extremely similar and retain the things players loved about the original MB; versatile GK preamp, awesome tone, lightweight small size/portability, and high build quality at player friendly prices!!
Click to expand...
Just for clarity. Are you speaking of the MB200 head, or the 200mb, or the MB 150S/E? My post was discussing the MB 150, the successor to the 200mb that was discontinued a few years back.
 
#58
rickwolff said:
I just got this and it sounds GREAT with my upright. Taking it on the first gig tonight.

https://gollihurmusic.com/bass-cub-pro-combo-amplifier/

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/nad-the-mouse-that-roars.1641394/#post-28227974
Click to expand...

Just wondering how you've found the Phil Jones combo for gigging? I'm thinking of something similar (PJB C2 cab + a small class D amp). The portability really appeals to me but I'm not sure if it's loud enough for gigs. I tend to play jazz/rockabilly gigs that aren't hugely loud but we do have drummers. My biggest concern is being able to hear myself...

Anyway, would be great to hear about your experience!
 
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