This is one of those amps that I would very much love to try in person. Everything I hear about it from others is good.
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Double Bass Good small amp?
- Thread starter Swampyankee2
- Start date
This is one of those amps that I would very much love to try in person. Everything I hear about it from others is good.
I owned every version of the GK Microbass series (200MB series I and series Ii, and the MBE (150) . The Traynor SB 106 is the modern equivalent of that amp, and is completely repairable as Traynor provides a parts list and schematic.
Sorry I didn't reply sooner!
I would chose the Markbass 801 + preamp because I like how it sounds with the double bass, although the GK is fine and I suspect it has a higher volume ceiling if I need to get louder. That being said, my Markacoustic AC101 is still my first choice.
- Steve
It's been a while since I posted this question so I figure I should follow up.
After looking at all the suggestions here, and looking at whats for sale, I opted back to one of my own faves (I'm a Fender and Ampeg guy) and put together an Ampeg PF combo. I found a PF350 head and sourced a used PF115HE cab from a guy in CT (he had 4 for sale). I don't anticipate playing any loud, hard rock gigs even with the electric bass, so 350 watts should be plenty.
After looking at all the suggestions here, and looking at whats for sale, I opted back to one of my own faves (I'm a Fender and Ampeg guy) and put together an Ampeg PF combo. I found a PF350 head and sourced a used PF115HE cab from a guy in CT (he had 4 for sale). I don't anticipate playing any loud, hard rock gigs even with the electric bass, so 350 watts should be plenty.
Oddly enough, Smalls and Mezzrow have two of the Ampeg PF combos as their house amplifiers. Watching the livestream on YouTube the bass sound, such as it is certainly sounds good .
Hard to tell what it sounds like in the room, but it works over the net. Perhaps the poster thought he was on the EB side.
Hard to tell what it sounds like in the room, but it works over the net. Perhaps the poster thought he was on the EB side.
Well I will be no help, since neither of my choices are in production any longer, but if you find one on the used market, you should consider it.
- Gallien-Kruger MB150
- Acoustic Image Coda
Not at all. It only weighs 26 pounds. It is aircraft aluminum. At one time it was the lightest weight high volume combo on the market.
YMMV. I own the GK and use it semi-regularly. I’m surprised by its weight-to-size ratio every time I pick it up.
The further down the pike we get the tougher it will be to get a used GK or AI amplifier repaired. So I’d take a look at either the Traynor SB 106 ,110, 112 or the GR AT Bass Cube Acoustic
Agreed. I have both but rarely use the Contra anymore, preferring my Clarus 4S/Doubleshot combo. The Contra is a pain to carry, even with a shoulder strap. The GK is dense but a traditional single handle on top makes it much more convenient.
Haven’t looked for one. The original AI bag wasn’t the quality I was looking for and I now use an excellent drum tom case to hold both the Doubleshot and the Clarus head—but just with a tote handle.
EB doubling rig for me has long been a Fishman Platinum Pro EQ/DI into a (sadly discontinued) Carvin MB-210 combo amp. For bass guitar the Fishman goes away and BG goes straight to the Carvin. All the DI capability needed for any size venue.
Does it go as loud as the GK's? How might it compare to an MAS 16? Not sure if you've spent time with that one.
Eric,
I’d have to put them side by side to compare but IME it’s pretty darn close. I don’t have any experience with the the 1/6 so I can’t help you there.
I’d have to put them side by side to compare but IME it’s pretty darn close. I don’t have any experience with the the 1/6 so I can’t help you there.
I dragged a GK MB150 around Seattle for years. I loved it for what it was. It felt like a good tool for the job and was reasonably inexpensive on the used market. It was solid and reliable for me, but it did carry heavier that I felt like it should with and without a bag. Might have just been the kind of flimsy handle. It was a miracle in its day and still small, but not really light by today's standards.
It also didn't handle every situation for me equally well. Good room, good tasteful band, it was great. I used it and left it as backline for the next group in a medium sized auditorium once thought it filled the room beautifully, but good acoustics. Some bars, some drummers, I fought it to work for me. I'm better with eq than I was then, but still I think it had limits.
I also had one of the AI combos after that. It is more modern and worked exactly as it should. But, as someone else mentioned, the shape made it not carry as light as you might expect. If you were empty handed and using both handles it was probably fine, but one trip from the car, with the bass on your shoulder, I really didn't enjoy transporting it, which was kind of the point. Like the GK it also worked well in some settings and just didn't get it done for me in others.
I've determined (gonna make some enemies here) that I really don't like the AI pre-amp voicing. I don't find it to be neutral and I have struggled to fix that, even with my improved eq skills. I have a head now and it's great with a q\Strip in front and plugged into the effects return.
I almost bought an old 200MB last year, it sounded great, but had a rattle and say what you will, newer equipment has been quiet and reliable for me, I don't want to chase gremlins or worry about my gear on a gig.
It also didn't handle every situation for me equally well. Good room, good tasteful band, it was great. I used it and left it as backline for the next group in a medium sized auditorium once thought it filled the room beautifully, but good acoustics. Some bars, some drummers, I fought it to work for me. I'm better with eq than I was then, but still I think it had limits.
I also had one of the AI combos after that. It is more modern and worked exactly as it should. But, as someone else mentioned, the shape made it not carry as light as you might expect. If you were empty handed and using both handles it was probably fine, but one trip from the car, with the bass on your shoulder, I really didn't enjoy transporting it, which was kind of the point. Like the GK it also worked well in some settings and just didn't get it done for me in others.
I've determined (gonna make some enemies here) that I really don't like the AI pre-amp voicing. I don't find it to be neutral and I have struggled to fix that, even with my improved eq skills. I have a head now and it's great with a q\Strip in front and plugged into the effects return.
I almost bought an old 200MB last year, it sounded great, but had a rattle and say what you will, newer equipment has been quiet and reliable for me, I don't want to chase gremlins or worry about my gear on a gig.
Not the lightest or the smallest but an absolute beast of a combo… acme B1 and Mesa Subway D-350.
Around 35 lbs total.
All US made and repairable.
Around 35 lbs total.
All US made and repairable.
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I used a MB150 for a long time and my experience is similar to yours. Also went to AI. I would disagree with you in that the AI is not colored but too flat, for me at least. A flat sound usually has way more mids than a typical 'bass guitar' voiced amp. I stuck with it for a long time and liked it but came to the conclusion that I like a more colored amp. I don't really want to hear the pure unadulterated sound of my piezo pickup. IMO a bit of color helps shape the sound in a pleasing way.
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