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I do not know which amp to buy.

JensCambre

JensCambre

Guest
Feb 3, 2014
232
161
Belgium
#1
I'll explain my situation a bit. I play in a blues/rock band, it's a powertrio (drums, 1 guitar, 1 bass). I use a Fender American Standard Jazz bass which goes through some effects into my VT Bass Deluxe. the VT is the thing that gives me the sound I need. At the moment I'm playing through a Marshall MB4410 combo, with the VT going into the effects-return, so I'm actually only using the poweramp and cab of the combo. I love my sound! But the thing that drives me insane, is that I constantly have to carry this thing to rehearsals, gigs, ... and it is heavy, VERY HEAVY it weighs 54kg (120 pounds!) and it's pretty big to.

I just can't keep loading this thing in and out of my van and draging it up stages and stuff, due to a herniated disc in my spine. (Sports ain't always good for your body ;-) )

So what I am looking for is a combo that can get loud enough for rehearsals and medium size gigs (because for bigger gigs, there is always a PA-system...). Preferably with an effectsloop so I can bypass the preamp, or a preamp that I can set as flat as possible. But most importantly: It has to be LIGHT! I don't want the weight to be more then 30kg (66 pounds) max.

budget is about 700 Euro (950 dollars), give or take...

Any recommendations? I've been lookin' at combo's for weeks but can't figure out which one to get...

I'd like to thank you in advance for any information!
 
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#4
Take a look at the Carvin BR515. It's light: under 50lbs., it has a very neutral sound with the controls set flat, an effects loop, the head is removeable so you can use it in venues that have their own cabinets, it's inexpensive and Carvin gear is very durable.

The only hitch I can think of is that the availability of Carvin gear might be scarce in Belgium.
 
#6
Plus one on the Carvin. I have the BX500 head. The head is the same as in the BR515, great head, great tone. I wanted a lightweight setup this ticks all the boxes, plus I picked up a Mark bass 1x15 traveller cab. Again lightweight but great build quality.
 
#12
I'll throw a different idea out here - If you like the sound that the VT Bass gives you, maybe you could just pick up a poweramp like a Peavey IPR or Crest Prolite to run the VT Bass into, then add your speaker cab(s) of choice. PF115 is nice or maybe even 2 Ampeg 210AVs to give you a nice 410 vertical stack.
 
#16
johnpbass said:
I'll throw a different idea out here - If you like the sound that the VT Bass gives you, maybe you could just pick up a poweramp like a Peavey IPR or Crest Prolite to run the VT Bass into, then add your speaker cab(s) of choice. PF115 is nice or maybe even 2 Ampeg 210AVs to give you a nice 410 vertical stack.
Click to expand...
I thought about this too, but I don't know anything about poweramps... I would never know which ones (of those available to me) are the right ones to use with a bass cab...
 
#17
I'm with you on the bad back! If available I'd look at the GK MB212. Loud, light, and great tone. I had the MB115, but is was not quite loud enough for my needs. As I rarely gig anymore, I went w/the Genz Contour 115. It is louder (plus can handle an extension cab if needed). Got it for $349, which is an incredible deal. But it is a bit heavier (48 lbs.). I think a lot will depend on availability/shipping costs over there. That Marshall sounds like a BEAST! Let us know how you make out, and good luck!
 
#18
JensCambre said:
I thought about this too, but I don't know anything about poweramps... I would never know which ones (of those available to me) are the right ones to use with a bass cab...
Click to expand...
Most good poweramps would work. I ran an Aguilar Tonehammer Pedal with a Peavey IPR1600 and got great results. I think others here on TB have run a VT Bass Deluxe with Peavey, Crest, and Crown poweramps. They may weigh in on that. The big thing with power amps is making sure that their sensitivity matches the preamp pedal that you're driving it with. Both the Peavey and Crest should work just fine. Also, the VT bass puts out a lot of signal so it would work with a lot of different poweramps
 
#20
CL400Peavey said:
Got a bag that you carry cables in? It is a small amp. ;)
Click to expand...
No I don't, my cables just fit inside my pedalboard case. I'd really have to carry another bag for this... that's why I wanted it to be a combo. I really like the idea of the fliptop pf-115HE. So I really gotta thank you for that! I really don't understand a lot about amps, so do you mind explaining the difference in sound a 2x10" would have to a 1x15"?
 

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