From an earlier post of mine, after a long combo search myself.
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Line6 LD150 - reasonably priced, neat features, very loud for a 1x12, but had a lack of 'thump' when cranked, imho, and started to compress past noon/noon (not in a good way). It would be very difficult to change a patch in the memory banks on the fly, so you'd better have your four tones nailed for a gig. No extension cab output, and that's a deal-breaker for me. Also, one of the two I tried rattled when cranked. Nice idea though, and likely the next generation of it will be a killer amp.
GK Backline 210 - relatively light for a 2x10 combo, reasonably priced, gorgeous sounds, lots of features, probably kills with an extension cab, but it wasn't anywhere near as loud as I expected. Also there are several reviews and posts here and elsewhere discussing the lack of reliability of the stock speakers.
GK Backline 115 - relatively light, reasonably priced, nice tones even if a tiny bit 'boomy', but not anywhere near enough volume for me. Also there are the questions about the reliability of the stock Backline speakers.
Ashdown MAG combo - the head sounded glorious thru a GK 1x15 cab, but there are way too many posts about Ashdown reliability of late, here on TB and elsewhere. Inexpensive for a 2x10 combo and the head sounded awesome, but there's too many reliability questions. I passed on it.
Peavey 'redline' TNT - very clean used examples can be found cheap, very loud, can be tweaked to provide a pretty workable tone, indestructible, but in the end my back couldn't do it. Just too d*mn heavy, unfortunately.
Peavey 'redline' TKO - a little heavy for a 1x15, plenty loud for 75/100 watts and could gig unmic'd in the smaller clubs I play with an extension cab, decent tones can be had from it, too. I may go back to one of these with a BVX 1x15 ext cab, but passed for now. A little heavey for my old back, still.
Roland DB500 - absolutely gorgeous tones in this thing, pretty loud for a 1x12 combo at 160 watts, had a bit of a laser beam projection thing going and didn't really fill out a room. Lack of an extension cab is a showstopper for me. Also there are a lot of posts on the web about reliability of the first gen Rolands with the FFP and COSM.
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And now I'll add the following:
Ampeg BA115 - had a nice tone, rather 'old school' fatness to my ears. But it would likely get drown out pretty quickly as it sounds way under-powered to me. Also there are posts here and elsewhere questioning the Ampeg reliability of late, with many reported issues on their combos. No doubt due in part to the fact that St. Louis MS has moved manufacturing to China on their Crate and Ampeg equipment.
The Nemesis NC115 combo was, hands down, the most awesome combo I've ever played. It was loud, toneful, and HiFi like a mofo. It would be my first choice, but at $736 with tax ... not gonna happen. I've heard the NC210 is one of the best combos made under a grand. Pretty good QA reputation, as well. But again ... if I was gonna spend over $700 on an amp I'd go ahead and spend just a little more and get a Markbass or EI combo and be done with it.
The second most awesome bass combo I've ever played ... the Roland Cube 100 came today and it was everything the posts here say it is. Just wonderful tone, louder than some 2x10s I've played, killer bottom end, unbelievable amp models and effects, extendable with a cab, and just an all-around terrific sounding amp. Unfortunately, mine arrived with problems and I only had an hour or so with it before it quit altogether. It was so good, I actually was going to keep it and try to get it serviced under warranty at the local Roland Service Center. But then the whole thing died ... so back it goes. If I can find one locally I will likely buy it again. This thing is amazing for it's size.
I'm now leaning toward a Yamaha BBT500 and a couple 1x10s lately, though. I dunno.
Good luck with your search. Lemme know how it goes.
