Double Bass GK, Tc Electronic, Carvin or Hartke?

[MarkuzO]

Hello!

I recently started to play upright bass and now I could use some help with choosing the right amplifier for my purposes.

I have Albertone double bass, Artec acoustic preamp with piezo pickup and Sansamp BassDI. I play mostly folk/pop music. Gigs take place in small cafes but also in music clubs.

Heres is my options:
GK MB-150S with GK 410BLX (is this cabinet too "big" for upright?)
Tc Electronic BG500/210
Carvin MB10 Micro Bass Combo
Hartke HA3500 (older model) only head

All of these are used items.
Hartke is the cheapest one, but obviously I have to buy a cabinet for it.

Thank you for your advice!

-Markus

 

[Greg Clinkingbeard]

Markus,
Based on the types of gigs you are doing, I'd get the GK. The MB-150S is a very fine amp for DB and one that benefits from an extension cabinet when necessary. However, it can handle a surprising number of gigs on its own. Of the extension cabinets I've used with it, the companion MBX112 is a favorite.

 

[GrowlerBox]

Of those four, I'd try auditioning the G-K and the Carvin amps, each of which gets plenty of love from double bassists. The Hartke is generally not very well-regarded for upright. I have a TCE RH450, and they have a tube-Ampeg vibe, very well implemented in my opinion, but I don't use mine for double bass. It's great for EUB, though.

 

[MarkuzO]

Thank you once again.

I think I'll go for GK but there's one thing that troubles me.

Which one to buy with GK MB-150S:
GK 410BLX (this is sold together with the amp)
or
MBX112 (this one I have to buy somewhere else, maybe a new one)?

Or, should I consider some 2x10" cab?
Would it be good enough on its own?

-Markus

 

[Ric Vice]

Thank you once again.
I think I'll go for GK but there's one thing that troubles me.

Which one to buy with GK MB-150S:
GK 410BLX (this is sold together with the amp)
or MBX112 (this one I have to buy somewhere else, maybe a new one)?

Or, should I consider some 2x10" cab?
Would it be good enough on its own?
-Markus

Markus,

The MBX 112 was designed to be a matching extension for the MBS. Trying to drive a 4x10 cabinet with that little 150 watt amp, will yield you some added presence, but it won't get you very far volume wise. IME, IMHO the MBX is the best match for the MBS.

Ric

 

[Marc Piane]

Markus,

The MBX 112 was designed to be a matching extension for the MBS. Trying to drive a 4x10 cabinet with that little 150 watt amp, will yield you some added presence, but it won't get you very far volume wise. IME, IMHO the MBX is the best match for the MBS.

Ric

Yup. I've got that amp and lugging a 4x10 is a waste. I have and MBX and it does a nice making the whole package sound bigger than it really is.

 

[Nate74]

I got a chance to play through that little Carvin combo backstage at a festival over the summer. I'm always surprised by Carvin stuff. For the money, not a bad little box at all.

UPDATE (11/6): I kept thinking about this post and had to run down to Santa Ana and grab one of the MB10s. Very happy with it in the living room thus far.