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Great small combo amps?
- Thread starter bultaco
- Start date
Roland Cube 100. It's similar to the G-K Microbass combos tone-wise, but costs less. The Roland is bigger and heavier, but not enough to matter for most IMO.
The Nemesis amps are great too, and that Mesa Walkabout Scout is amazing. But it is expensive, and more than you need.
The Nemesis amps are great too, and that Mesa Walkabout Scout is amazing. But it is expensive, and more than you need.
Ampeg BA112 is my fav small amp. Great tone in a small manageable package and enough bottom to put a smile on your face.
Peavey TKO or TNT 1x15s pack adequate punch for small to medium sized gigs.
I've also found the Fender Rumble 100 1x15 and 2x10s to be very good amps for their price.
I've used both the TKO75 1x15 and Rumble 100 1x15 for many gigs of various genres and it was always able to keep up. The TKO75 does however give you better EQ capabilities due to the graphic eq that it also has.
I've also found the Fender Rumble 100 1x15 and 2x10s to be very good amps for their price.
I've used both the TKO75 1x15 and Rumble 100 1x15 for many gigs of various genres and it was always able to keep up. The TKO75 does however give you better EQ capabilities due to the graphic eq that it also has.
It's not really a combo but..
I absolutely adore by Behringer BXL450A. It's a very basic amp with two channels that I started out with. You can get it for around $200-$450 (I found an awesome sale.)
It's nice to just have a clean, lightweight, somewhat small amp. It can also lay normal, slanted so the speaker goes diagonally up (my favorite) and speaker straight-up, so there's no problems with where you're playing. It doesn't go too loud, but since you're playing in cofee shops, I think it would be fine. Go try one out.
EDIT: I still use it to this day. I'm not gonna upgrade until my band gigs a little more often.
I agree. I have the 50w 1x10 kickback Nemesis, and it has great tone and plenty enough for what you probably need. And the price is right.
I'm pretty jazzed with my SWR Baby Blue II. Excellent tone, plenty of volume (2 8" and 1 5"), the DI out is clean.
Or, if you can get along with using a monitor, get a Sansamp DI.
Or, if you can get along with using a monitor, get a Sansamp DI.
Thought about this today...
Don't overlook quality solid state guitar amps.. do the math and enclose and port the back. I gigged for years with a 2x12 guitar amp - nobody cared or asked.. I could keep up with just about anything.
It seems as if low end "practice" amps have lower quality speakers and enclosures
T.
Don't overlook quality solid state guitar amps.. do the math and enclose and port the back. I gigged for years with a 2x12 guitar amp - nobody cared or asked.. I could keep up with just about anything.
It seems as if low end "practice" amps have lower quality speakers and enclosures
T.
I love my Markbass Jeff berlin...1X15 for small to medium rooms. Full, Fat, Punchy and light weight!!
IMO, the older GK200MB beats the MB150S or E III, IF you're going for punchy, phat, old skool tone. Newer MB150's are more open sounding to my ears. More versatile probably, but, not "improved" necessarily. I tried to make my MB150E sound like my 200MB. Could never get there.
I just went through the same process of looking for a small combo for occasional use at small gigs, rehearsals, get-togethers, etc. The only small combo I had up to this point was a Peavey Microbass (8", 20w) and it just was not cutting it for my son's rehearsals with his band.
I needed something lightweight so that he can carry it to and from rehearsals. I first tried a Warwick Take 12.1 which is 80 watts, has a 12" speaker and a hi frequency horn. Although it was light at 34 lbs and looked cool to my son, I was not impressed because it distorted too easily and had no low end. It seemed like it was maxed out. It didn't have alot of features either. I had gotten it on a great deal from MF for about $250, but I wound up returning it.
Next, I just got a nice Carvin NB120NEO combo new off the Carvin Store on Ebay for $269 + ship. It is spectacular for the price. Here is the lowdown:
12" speaker (4 ohm eminence)
Tweeter with adjustable volume
36 lbs (light!)
120 watts into 4 ohms
Compressor
bass/sweeping mid/treble
separate 5 band EQ
Contour control
Drive/Input control
Built in the USA
It sounds really great, is very flexible, well built, and light. I use it with my 5 string and my son with his 4 string Pbass, it is really sweet. The price was right too. I'd love to have a Markbass 12 combo, but I couldn't spend the $899 for it considering its occasional use.
Some of the other options mentioned in the posts above are great too, its all about how much weight you are willing to lug around or how much $$$ you have to spend.
I needed something lightweight so that he can carry it to and from rehearsals. I first tried a Warwick Take 12.1 which is 80 watts, has a 12" speaker and a hi frequency horn. Although it was light at 34 lbs and looked cool to my son, I was not impressed because it distorted too easily and had no low end. It seemed like it was maxed out. It didn't have alot of features either. I had gotten it on a great deal from MF for about $250, but I wound up returning it.
Next, I just got a nice Carvin NB120NEO combo new off the Carvin Store on Ebay for $269 + ship. It is spectacular for the price. Here is the lowdown:
12" speaker (4 ohm eminence)
Tweeter with adjustable volume
36 lbs (light!)
120 watts into 4 ohms
Compressor
bass/sweeping mid/treble
separate 5 band EQ
Contour control
Drive/Input control
Built in the USA
It sounds really great, is very flexible, well built, and light. I use it with my 5 string and my son with his 4 string Pbass, it is really sweet. The price was right too. I'd love to have a Markbass 12 combo, but I couldn't spend the $899 for it considering its occasional use.
Some of the other options mentioned in the posts above are great too, its all about how much weight you are willing to lug around or how much $$$ you have to spend.
I have a practically new 8T for sale in the classifieds as we speak. Sorry for the shameless plug.
+1 . 24 pounds, you could put it in the front seat. If you need more air moving you could always add an additional cab and get from 350W to 500W power. But for coffee shops you could play on level 2 or so.
- Jun 6, 2004
- 6,351
- 543
- 66
- Disclosures
- Owner and builder Clementbass
GB 6.0 12 t
Ed Friedland did a great review of it.
I and a few of my customers got them. Light and tight but with the power to play a bit larger gigs too.
Good luck with what you go with.
Ed Friedland did a great review of it.
I and a few of my customers got them. Light and tight but with the power to play a bit larger gigs too.
Good luck with what you go with.
You would be amazed at just much volume and great tone can be gotten from a Markbass Minimark amp. Just sayin'. My Martin Keith Elfin 5 basses, and all my other basses sound like they should, with no hype, and the simple EQ on them is just what is needed; perfect, really.
Yeah, they are kind of pricey, but once you've had yours for a while you will see just how much it is worth that initial investment.
My Martin Keith Elfin 5 basses, and all my other basses sound like they should, with no hype, and the simple EQ on them is just what is needed; perfect, really.Yeah, they are kind of pricey, but once you've had yours for a while you will see just how much it is worth that initial investment.
I have been using GK MB150E for the past 8 years, and have been happy. However, it's gotten ,...welll....worn out. I have just ordered an AER Amp One. we'll see ....
