Light-weight combo recommendations for small gigs

[logdrum]

Acoustic Image - combos or separate
Best used model IMO are Series III Coda combos (Have more effects and they have a notch filter )
Targeted for Acoustic and Jazz Players*
Have been doing Class D since the late 90's or probably even earlier
Light
A lot of features HPF. 2 inputs including XLR, notch, phase/ 2 effects loop
Best warranty in the business. Does not have to be original owner. Also made in the US and I know even the older ones they are still fixable. The Made in the US part does not imply China or Far East hate or snobbery. It's what makes them repairable
2 ohm capable

They do have inefficient speakers and this is by design. To give you low end while having a small box. The new Series IV / Clarus or SL heads show their might when paired with efficient cabs.

I know there is Trace and there is PJB. PJBs are not that cheap and for a few hundred more, you should just get an AI.

Another thing to consider is the Peavey 2X8 combo. Or a Rumble. If you have money get AER from Germany. But the warranty, the reparability just makes AI the right choice for those seeking light combos and will possibly plug a piezo instrument.

EDIT * The combos can also work as excellent guitar amplifiers or for keyboard and vocals or mic woodwinds or brass. I have an effects pedal board I used with my baritone sax and also play my synth rig through it, even though I have powered monitor speakers from JBL because I do not need a mixer

 

[Bass Momma]

Here are a couple of small, lightweight rigs I have used a lot.

The Genzler Magellan 350 combo sounds terrific for a 1x10, and it is very easy to use. It is bolted together with thumbscrews, so you can detach the head, or detach the metal cradle as well. The cab is only 21 pounds but it is about as awkward as you can get. It is a sweaty PITA to carry the combo because the center of gravity is further out than usual. Three and one/half pounds for the head, 21 for the cab, 24 1/2 for the combo.

The Acoustic Image Clarus SL-R (2 pounds 10 ounces) perched on top of an AI DoubleShot (15 pounds) sounds pretty full, and goes pretty deep. 18 pounds for the whole rig, and it packs in a padded tom-tom bag that is an easy one-handed carry..

It is not going too loud, but it can be set up so you get decent coverage in oddly shaped settings. We played a lot of house parties through the pandemic, and this rig seemed to adapt to that very easily, with less hot spots.

It was hard to dial in with some music. Jazz and acoustic music was fine, but pop and rock were hard to get sounding right, for me.

I think the Gollihur Double Shot might be the one. But question. It’s 4 ohm. Does that mean I’d need to pair it with another 4 ohm if I want to double up? I couldn’t pair it with the Elf (8 ohm), say?

 

[Jeff Elkins]

I think the Gollihur Double Shot might be the one. But question. It’s 4 ohm. Does that mean I’d need to pair it with another 4 ohm if I want to double up? I couldn’t pair it with the Elf (8 ohm), say?

You can pair it with any other cab, but aside from the discussions of the desirability of mix/match voicings from different cabs/speakers, you have to check your Quilter's output and manage for it.

Two 8 ohm cabs wired (paired) in parallel = a 4 ohm load on the amp. Perfectly fine.

However, parallel connecting 8 ohms plus one 4 ohms = 2.6 ohms, which the Quilter will handle, but according to the guide it won't necessarily like it. I don't have direct experience doing that with mine when I had it.

From the manual: "The Bass Block is ideal for driving 4-8 ohm loads. [At] 16 ohm[s the] power will be reduced, and the amplifier will begin to protect itself as described above if driven hard into impedances less than 4 ohms. However, no harm should result. Be sure to monitor speakers for signs of distress and reduce MASTER level if required to prevent popping or bottoming."

Two 4 ohm cabs would be 2 ohms; even lower.

The Upshot (not the doubleshot) really does serve me well for upright and electric, indoors and outside gigs wherever I didn't have to compete/work with a loud drummer (with either the Bass Block or my tiny, 45W Interblock). Because of the upward firing, monitoring myself at even very low volumes was a breeze.

The Upshot is 8 ohms.

I've never played through the Doubleshot, though, and it may have more to recommend it.

 

[Bass Momma]

You can pair it with any other cab, but aside from the discussions of the desirability of mix/match voicings from different cabs/speakers, you have to check your Quilter's output and manage for it.

Two 8 ohm cabs wired (paired) in parallel = a 4 ohm load on the amp. Perfectly fine.

However, parallel connecting 8 ohms plus one 4 ohms = 2.6 ohms, which the Quilter will handle, but according to the guide it won't necessarily like it. I don't have direct experience doing that with mine when I had it.

From the manual: "The Bass Block is ideal for driving 4-8 ohm loads. [At] 16 ohm[s the] power will be reduced, and the amplifier will begin to protect itself as described above if driven hard into impedances less than 4 ohms. However, no harm should result. Be sure to monitor speakers for signs of distress and reduce MASTER level if required to prevent popping or bottoming."

Two 4 ohm cabs would be 2 ohms; even lower.

The Upshot (not the doubleshot) really does serve me well for upright and electric, indoors and outside gigs wherever I didn't have to compete/work with a loud drummer (with either the Bass Block or my tiny, 45W Interblock). Because of the upward firing, monitoring myself at even very low volumes was a breeze.

The Upshot is 8 ohms.

I've never played through the Doubleshot, though, and it may have more to recommend it.

Yup, I think doubling up won't be a good idea. The Doubleshot will meet all the current needs, and a lot of projected ones. I've heard good things. If I need more power down the road, that's a happy place to be and I'll tackle it at that point.

Have to say, I love the support from TalkBass members. The best.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

That looks very good. I think having a second to double up if necessary is a great idea.

Yeah if running two though be sure you get the 500-watt version and be sure you get them in 8Ω. I bought mine it 4Ω because I was only going to use one and thought, "might as well get 4Ω to get the most out of it". Then it sounded so good I got a second one and had to use my big Eden amp that has two power channels with each channel handling a 4 Ω load to use them. My newer DNA-800 amp will handle a 2Ω load so I could use that now but didn't have an amp before that would handle a 2Ω load.

 

[Giraffe]

I don't think I would consider doubling up with DoubleShots. Speaker placement is tricky enough with the two side-firing woofers, and you can't stack them vertically, so I would expect a set-up nightmare if you had four woofers firing in at least slightly different directions.

If I was needing more volume than one DS could provide, I'd start leaning toward a Genzler Bass Array BA 112 or two BA 110-2's. A decent hand cart is necessary for me with anything beyond the AI Clarus and DoubleShot.

 

[Bass Momma]

I don't think I would consider doubling up with DoubleShots. Speaker placement is tricky enough with the two side-firing woofers, and you can't stack them vertically, so I would expect a set-up nightmare if you had four woofers firing in at least slightly different directions.

If I was needing more volume than one DS could provide, I'd start leaning toward a Genzler Bass Array BA 112 or two BA 110-2's. A decent hand cart is necessary for me with anything beyond the AI Clarus and DoubleShot.

Think you’re right. And if I get to need more, color me happy! For now, and the foreseeable, this looks ace.

 

[Haroldo]

And more from the jazz side of things, the folks on TalkBass's acoustic bass side of the fence discuss small amps and speakers frequently.

Amps, Mics & Pickups [DB]

Here the Doubleshot is examined in depth:

New Acoustic Image 'DOUBLESHOT'

 

[Giraffe]

Here is the Clarus SL-R and a Double Shot loading up for my sit-down restaurant gig. A power cable, a speaker cable, and two instrument cables coil in the bottom of the padded tom-tom case.

Zip it up and it weighs 21.6 pounds, or a hair under 10 kilos. It records well, and it takes a mic well if you have some room on your stage. It won't thump like a typical bass reflex 2x10, but it covers a lot of other ground very well.

 

[Bass Momma]

Here is the Clarus SL-R and a Double Shot loading up for my sit-down restaurant gig. A power cable, a speaker cable, and two instrument cables coil in the bottom of the padded tom-tom case.

Zip it up and it weighs 21.6 pounds, or a hair under 10 kilos. It records well, and it takes a mic well if you have some room on your stage. It won't thump like a typical bass reflex 2x10, but it covers a lot of other ground very well.

I just ordered that same bag. Now I have to be patient until the goodies arrive!

 

[Yahboy]

Clean, Tight, Growl, plus Solid B voicing ~ Hartke KB15 !

 

[Thundar]

Clean, Tight, Growl, plus Solid B voicing ~ Hartke KB15 !

I agree...its a great amp...but at 35lbs, its heavier than she wants and stated