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"High-end", tiny, light, combo rec?
- Thread starter jmjbassplayer
- Start date
PF50t makes a nifty all purpose tube fliptop with the PF210he or PF115he if you like bigger lows. Head sounds a lot like a V4b, and one of the XLR outs is off the output tranny and doesn’t require a speaker load.
I just picked up a used Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 10t combo for small coin. I'm impressed with it's performance. 175w into the 8 ohm 10" Cab. 300w if you add an extension cab. 19lbs.Hey my friends,
Typically I'd be the last person looking for this particular recommendation, but here I am nonetheless...tube amp/old school solid state snob barging in here, hat in hand, for your generous, and preferably experienced, thoughts!
What I need is this: something tiny, light, punchy, and balanced-sounding with some real lows (that aren't weirdly resonant and artificial) that can vaguely approximate a "reasonably old school" tone, and also take pedals ok. Probably at least 50 watts. A fine enough sound that one could throw a mic on it in a pinch and make other engineer/producers happy. I have an old GK150 that's been ok, but now possibly not healthy in the speaker department. I've tried the AER Amp One (returned it - something strange in the midrange for me, though I suppose I could try again) and a Rumble 40 (couldn't dial it to my taste - has some of those weird resonances that I was talking about). Same goes for one of the new ampeg 1x10 combos...something just wasn't quite right for me.
What's out there for me to check out? The only restriction on this is I can't do one of those yellow-festooned amps that shall not be named....the aesthetics incite an involuntary gag reflex, sorry. The only other one I've thought of that seems to probably have decent volume/balance, with the right feature set and size is the PJB Bass Cub Pro, though I likewise find the aesthetics a bit...challenging.
Anyway....alright. A penny for your thoughts?
Cheers,
JMJ
I've been extremely happy with my rig. It's loud, light, and ticks all the boxes you mentioned. At 50watts it keeps up and any rehearsal or large outdoor shows I do. Ampeg pf50t
The 3.0 is a killer head. Totally clean. I preferred it over the other 3 Shuttle models, albeit lower power. I wish I still had mine.
Love all these suggestions and thoughts. Thanks a lot. After reading everyone's replies and thinking about my needs, I find myself leaning more towards truly tiny stuff for this purpose, rather than head/cab solutions or larger combos. So I think I'm kind of between the TE ELF 1x8 combo and the Phil Jones Bass Cub Pro. Has anyone tried both and formed an opinion between them?
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The Elf 8" cabs are equipped with premium Faital Pro drivers as far as I know. (At least they were when they came out). You'll get more volume/lows out of it than the PJB. It's a little bigger. I was impressed by the 2x8" cab with the Elf head.
The PJB will obviously have better highs and is even more portable. Highs can always be turned down.
The PJB will obviously have better highs and is even more portable. Highs can always be turned down.
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Sorry for the hijack but this doesn’t deserve its own thread.
Is $800 for a one year old PF50T and PF115 an absolute steal? Or just a pretty good deal? Don’t “need” it but it’s not out of my price range at the moment.
Is $800 for a one year old PF50T and PF115 an absolute steal? Or just a pretty good deal? Don’t “need” it but it’s not out of my price range at the moment.
Have you pulled the pin on anything yet?
I'm interested to see what you get and what you think of it after living with it for a while.
I tried the Phil Jones Bass Cub Pro and didn't like it...I found the basic tone unpleasant. Thought about getting a TE ELF, but was wary of the baked-in sonics and the compression that folks sometimes speak of. Meanwhile, I've been relying on this ugly but serviceable Vox Adio Airbass that was gifted to me once...handy for when I need something for very low volume solo practice. I can just put it on any desk and it's fine and no one needs to see it but me. And I have to say it has a sound that I like. But for tiny jams/rehearsals kind of thing, I think I'm sticking with 1) one of my old GK MBE combos, possibly supplemented with a newly acquired Barefaced 1x10 that sounds really good, or 2) Bergantino Forte HP with a Barefaced 2x10 and/or Revsound 1x15. Plenty of options! I'm good for now, until I hear something that blows my mind in a different way. Maybe someday I'll get a Mesa head to try out as well, dunno. I wish I wasn't hung up on the looks of their cabs, because they probably sound great.
Sure do appreciate everyone's replies to this educational thread. Thanks so much.
JMJ
Frankly I'm surprised more folks didn't make ^^^that suggestion. Or was "ok" meant to indicate ambivalence rather than an endorsement?
I knew someone would mention the Henriksen! I haven't had a chance to try one first-hand, but I've met several bass players who swear it's the modern successor to the Polytone MiniBrute in terms of practical workhorse functionality...only better sounding.
Thanks for the update.
If you ever get the chance to try a Schertler B10 you might like it, but they might be hard to find in the US. I've used mine for over 10 years now for all rehearsals, practice and most small gigs and when I needed a new larger amp I ended up with a GK MB212 after trying quite a few amps as it had a similar clarity that I'd grown to like.
The NF350 cube in naturalfiber is loaded with a 12" and weighs 16lbs.
(800watt model is 20lbs.)
I am happy with my relatively cheap 18lb Rumble 40 as long as it keeps thumping.
