Good Small Combo

[CereBassum]

Been doing a lot of playing in small studios and most of them have crappy bass rigs.

So I need to get myself a small, good quality combo that is portable - I'm usually on the subways to get someplace in NYC. The music is semi-acoustic jazz - a couple of horns, a keyboard, drums - sometimes a jazz guitarist - not high volume but I need to be heard well with good quality above the horns and drums in a room that might be 15x15 or thereabouts.

Don't really want to spend more than $1k.

Been looking at:
GK MB150S
Phil Jones Cub BG-100

Looking for advice, suggestions please.

Edit:

So far, nobody likes the Phil Jones. But it's light and not too expensive. I played through one and it sounded good - I don't need a lot of punch and I don't need a zillion effects or emulators. I just need good clean round deep sound with decent volume.

I'm over 60 and hauling around a 30 lb combo on the train is not an option. That's why I listed the ones I did - and the GK is on the heavy side for me.

Anybody have negative experiences with the Phil Jones stuff?

 

[Downunderwonder]

Elf.

 

[Yahboy]

Hartke KB12. Loud punchy tone.
Light weight too.

 

[Linnin]

not high volume but I need to be heard well with good quality above the horns and drums in a room that might be 15x15 or thereabouts.

Fender Rumble Studio 40! Far higher in quality than what you have listed at a very affordable $350. Audition one for yourself. 15 different amps in a single box of lightning.

 

[admh1972]

Yeah, Fender Rumble is the way forward.

 

[oren]

Your situation sounds similar to a lot of what I do. I’ve been using a Markbass CMD 121P - a lot of sound in a small, lightweight package.

 

[dreamadream99]

Been looking at: GK MB150S

I’ll second that. I love mine. Smallest, most powerful, good sounding combo I’ve ever played through. Also, it’s an industry standard if you double on upright.

I have no experience with Phil Jones, but I hear great things about Markbass.

 

[HauntedDave]

Elf.

Exactly. Don't get stuck with a combo you can't hear. The ELF is tremendously versatile and can be limitlessly expanded on. Pair it with a 1x10 cabinet or a 4x10, and it'll meet the demand. I know from real life experience.

 

[RustyAxe]

When I was schleppin' my bass gear in NYC I broke down and bought a small rig because even my Ampeg BA112 got to be w-a-y heavy after a few blocks! I wasn't sure it would do the job, but it did everything I needed it to. A GK MB200 into a GB STL-8 cab. My "mini rig of doom" weighed in at 13 lbs, including cables!. I played the Bitter End, National Underground, 116 Macdougal St, and dozens of other small cellar clubs with it.

 

[CereBassum]

Nobody likes the Phil Jones? It's light. I played through one and it sounded good - I don't need punch and I don't need a zillion effects or emulators. I just need good, clean, round, deep sound.

I'm over 60 and hauling around a 30 lb combo on the train is not an option. That's why I listed the ones I did - and the GK is on the heavy side for me.

Anybody have negative experiences with the Phil Jones stuff?

 

[CereBassum]

Also, it’s an industry standard if you double on upright.

I know. It has a very good reputation. Good chance I'll end up with that.

I have no experience with Phil Jones, but I hear great things about Markbass.

I played through a Phil Jones and it sounded good for what I need. But I don't know much about them. The Markbass CMD 121P might be an option but also on the heavy side, relatively speaking. The PJ is LIGHT - 13+ lbs. The GK seems like it might be best compromise - it's 26 lbs but you get a lot of bass in that box.

 

[squarewave]

I think the Bass Cub is excellent, especially when paired with the matching powered extension cab.

 

[CereBassum]

I ordered a GK MB150S

Tnx all

 

[Dan55]

GK MB150S is a good choice. Alternately, you can get that cab sans head from GK (112MBX) and pair it with an MB200 head. The cab is an easy carry and the head you can stick in your gig bag.