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Going to School in NYC. Need a new amp!
- Thread starter kdanderso
- Start date
Markbass has a New York line for just such a purpose. I've been using them for well over 10 years. Light, powerful, compact, and capable of sounding as big as you want. I have a Little Tube 800 watt hybrid head, with a complete separate bank for acoustic, and two 4x8 cabs. it's a full stack and the entire rig can be carried easily by me in one trip.
8 speakers and cabs are not as widely known as their 10 brothers, but some of the best cabs in history had them and they were used by some of the greats.
Google markbass NY 804
As you can see, it's barely any wider than a bass and not as tall. 800 watts. You can play the Grammercy in NY with it... I have, and had plenty of room to go... plus, just one cab will handle 600
watts and handles like a milk crate
deepestend
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- Feb 21, 2003
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If you are going to be in NYC, go to the Aguilar shop and check out their stuff... no affiliation here... but it's just easy to get to!
If you want something compact, you could also consider just going DI with a pedal. Something like a Vintage Microtubes, or a Tech 21 Para DI. Your sound will be killer, and you could invest whatever extra you have in an audio interface with monitors for quiet practice in your dorm room.
If you're deadset on an amp and cab (and really, who wouldn't be), I haven't tried many but I really liked the Gallien Krueger MB series (decide on the power rating and they have a lot of options). What I own though is a Darkglass Microtubes 900 (they come in a 500-watt version as well), and it's pretty sick, with built in sections for vintage or distorted sounds other than the regular amp section.
If you're deadset on an amp and cab (and really, who wouldn't be), I haven't tried many but I really liked the Gallien Krueger MB series (decide on the power rating and they have a lot of options). What I own though is a Darkglass Microtubes 900 (they come in a 500-watt version as well), and it's pretty sick, with built in sections for vintage or distorted sounds other than the regular amp section.
I had a Genz Benz head/cabinet combo that would be great for what you need, but they might be hard to find now since the company is no longer around. The cabinet was a Shuttle 12, and it had a bracket on top that would fit a shuttle 3/6/9. It had plenty of volume, was light and easy to carry, and had a very clear sound that was pleasant throughout all ranges. It had a little leg that you could pop out to point the speaker higher up. And with the head being removable, if you have a gig where there's a backline cab but no head, then you're golden. I have a GK MB112 combo now, and it's great, but doesn't have as clear and open a sound as the GB did when I played them back to back, and obviously the head is not removable if that matters to you. The price is great though for what you get.
As an ex-New Yorker, welcome to the Big Apple -- it's an amazing place to study! Of course, you need to be prepared for having to schlep up and down stairs, take the subway and cram into small spaces.
So the obvious choice is a Mesa-Boogie D-800 and a Mesa Boogie Subway 1x12" cabinet. I made the move from an Eden 4x10" to an SWR 2x10" and now finally to a Subway 115 + 112.
The Subway is, pound for pound, the best system I've ever owned. The D-800 can fit in a decent size bass bag and you can then just carry the 112 easily in one hand (about 25 lbs). That leaves a spare hand free for opening doors, swiping subway cards and fighting off muggers (J/K!).
So the obvious choice is a Mesa-Boogie D-800 and a Mesa Boogie Subway 1x12" cabinet. I made the move from an Eden 4x10" to an SWR 2x10" and now finally to a Subway 115 + 112.
The Subway is, pound for pound, the best system I've ever owned. The D-800 can fit in a decent size bass bag and you can then just carry the 112 easily in one hand (about 25 lbs). That leaves a spare hand free for opening doors, swiping subway cards and fighting off muggers (J/K!).
if i were you i'd go with a genzler 12" cab, and my favorite lightweight head. mine is currently the Mesa D800.
I would stear clear of acoustic image if i'm doing any electric bass stuff. Yes they are tremendously popular with upright players, but i agree theyre not particularly versatile - though extremely well made and good quality reliable amps.
I would stear clear of acoustic image if i'm doing any electric bass stuff. Yes they are tremendously popular with upright players, but i agree theyre not particularly versatile - though extremely well made and good quality reliable amps.
You won't need to carry your amp around much.
Most all venues have a backline. If you rehearse in an hourly space it will provide an amp.
I would suggest a 2x10 - easy enough to get into the trunk of a taxi and you probably won't really really need more than that (and if you do you'll work it out then).
and a lightweight head (that you may need a few times) if possible.
Most all venues have a backline. If you rehearse in an hourly space it will provide an amp.
I would suggest a 2x10 - easy enough to get into the trunk of a taxi and you probably won't really really need more than that (and if you do you'll work it out then).
and a lightweight head (that you may need a few times) if possible.
Your instinct to get a head and small cab is correct. Many clubs in the city have cabs and just require you to bring a head. You’ll need 3 cables- 1/4 speakon and banana to cover all options.
The cab needs to be small enough to get through a subway turnstile and after acending the stairs plan on walking a few blocks.
Acoustic image clarus or EA doubler are good choices. A single 12 under 30lbs is almost a must. Bergantino HDN or EA NL112. The cab option I really like is the Ampeg 210AV, sounds great and is super light.
The cab needs to be small enough to get through a subway turnstile and after acending the stairs plan on walking a few blocks.
Acoustic image clarus or EA doubler are good choices. A single 12 under 30lbs is almost a must. Bergantino HDN or EA NL112. The cab option I really like is the Ampeg 210AV, sounds great and is super light.
I just got an eeden 112ex and its the bomb. 1 is enough for quieter gigs and 2 would be more than enough for loud gigs
cheap and good
cheap and good
As others have stated, you're on the right track. I don't personally own an Aguilar, but have a couple friends that do. One has the TH500, and the other has a TH350. Both excellent sounding amps. Myself, I have two heads for smaller to medium sized gigs that fit in the pocket of my gig bag. A Trace Elliot Elf, and a T.C. Electronics BH250. Both good amps. As far as cabs go, not to sure. I have been building my own cabs for the last 20 years or so. Mostly single 12's, a couple two 10 cab, and a two 8 cab. Whatever cab you decide to go with, seeing you'll be in NY without a car, you might want something like this to make transport easier. External mount with a few screws. Easy, and now you stuff rolls without having to use a separate dolly.
As an electric bassist who's been using an Acoustic Image head (in & around NYC) for the past ten or twelve years, I'm going to call BS on this "they're not versatile" line...or at least dispute this notion that any versatility of the sort that an AI might lack is of tremendous use to a working bassist.
If your instrument sounds good it will sound good through an AI. Period, full stop.
If your instrument doesn't sound so good & needs a lot of help from the amp to be passable then yeah I can see why an AI wouldn't be your first choice then. Basically the tone controls on an AI are more subtle than those on, say, a Mesa or MarkBass or G-K etc. But unless your sound [sic] is defined by exaggerated extremes of several EQ bands (e.g., diming the Bass & Treble while fully scooping the Mids 100% ccw) one doesn't need unsubtle tone controls on a bass amp.
But in a decade+ of gigging around town I've never found my AI to be lacking in "versatility" ...and I've definitely never found any of the venue-provided backline options to sound better with my instruments than my AI head.
NYC is my home town. Are you familiar with the city? Transportation is everything. What mode will you be using... car, subway, uber? Are you going to be gigging with your upright and bringing other equip? My point is, consider transportation needs to choose appropriate equipment. Just saying....
that is interesting!
I would never say my bass sounded "bad" through one. truthfully, my ears always told me that those amps are just voiced for different things than electric bass, if that makes sense. I love archtop jazz guitars through them, upright bass, even keyboards sound fantastic through them. There was just always something that made me feel they were somewhat "mismatched," electric bass and AI combo rigs.
Maybe it is a great choice for a gigging city player if they like how they sound. I personally found more use in a markbass combo when i was shopping for a small combo for doubling.
Thanks for the welcome! I've had bad experiences with combos thus-far. They don't seem to have as much power for how heavy they are and they don't sound as good in my opinion. Especially with double bass, the tone isn't quite right and they can be really booming. I've already tried the fender rumble, acoustic, Ibanez and a handful of others, and wasn't very impressed. As for my budget I was hoping to do this around $1500 but I can go a little higher for the perfect rig. I think multiple cabs and crazy expensive, hand-wired, boutique heads are out of the question.
Interesting about micing the bass for Jazz gigs. I'll certainly keep that in mind. Thanks for the tips, I'm sure I will learn a lot there! With upright I may have to take an uber but with electric, I may be able to use the subway!
Wow... Thanks so much to everyone for all of the great responses!
A few clarifying points and some more questions:
My hope is to be able to transport this gear via subway/walking. Although transporting the double bass might warrant an uber xl.
So far, I have had bad experiences with combos, especially when it comes to upright bass and using pedals. Either they are not powerful enough or not portable enough. They also can get boomy and overdriven too easily. A head and cab generally works better for me and can be convenient (when there is a backline cab, for example).
My budget can be pretty flexible but within reason. Multiple cabs is probably out of the question.
A note about double bass: I like to use powerful amps with upright because it offers a lot more clarity. With electric it's not such a big deal but with upright, headroom is key. That is why I am looking at such powerful amps.
A DI pedal may be a worthy investment later on but I would rather use an amp when I can.
Now some more questions for you all:
it seems like 1x12 and 2x10 cabs are getting a lot of praise. How do power ratings work? Will a 1x12 be able to handle everything I might give it? I'm thinking about some potentially loud gigs. Which speaker arrangement do you prefer and why?
If you have a rig similar to what I'm looking for and you love it, please share! I am curious what heads people are pairing with what cabs?
Thanks again,
Kirk
A few clarifying points and some more questions:
My hope is to be able to transport this gear via subway/walking. Although transporting the double bass might warrant an uber xl.
So far, I have had bad experiences with combos, especially when it comes to upright bass and using pedals. Either they are not powerful enough or not portable enough. They also can get boomy and overdriven too easily. A head and cab generally works better for me and can be convenient (when there is a backline cab, for example).
My budget can be pretty flexible but within reason. Multiple cabs is probably out of the question.
A note about double bass: I like to use powerful amps with upright because it offers a lot more clarity. With electric it's not such a big deal but with upright, headroom is key. That is why I am looking at such powerful amps.
A DI pedal may be a worthy investment later on but I would rather use an amp when I can.
Now some more questions for you all:
it seems like 1x12 and 2x10 cabs are getting a lot of praise. How do power ratings work? Will a 1x12 be able to handle everything I might give it? I'm thinking about some potentially loud gigs. Which speaker arrangement do you prefer and why?
If you have a rig similar to what I'm looking for and you love it, please share! I am curious what heads people are pairing with what cabs?
Thanks again,
Kirk
