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lightest/cheapest loud combo?

W

williamk

Apr 2, 2008
871
28
#1
Hi there,
I'm looking to buy a small amp that's loud enough to play with a drummer/band, and do small gigs and venues (anything bigger and the amp is usually mic'ed anyway).
What I'm looking for is something CHEAP and LIGHT-WEIGHT. So the 3 main criteria are weight, price and loudness. I don't care for any specific brand, model, format, speaker size, etc. as long as it's still loud (I never really understood the whole watts vs ohms vs whatever else...I always just assumed more watts=louder put I read recently that it wasn't necessarily so).
I want cheap because I'm a poor college student and I want light because I have no car, so if I can take it with me on the bus, that would be cool.
Obviously, if it sounds decent it's a plus ;) I play a p with flats (fingerstyle) if that helps...

Is there a combo that fits these criteria? I don't mind used. Am I dreaming here? Will something loud enough to rehearse with a band necessarily be big/heavy? Isn't a combo with 2X12 speakers enough?
Thanks!
 
#5
Gallien Krueger MB112.

28 pounds, 200 watts, 1 12" speaker and a line out for the PA. $299 at Musicians Friend.

I bought mine as a practice amp and to use for quickie green room rehearsals before shows, but I've played small gigs with it and I'm constantly amazed at what it can do.

I did a coffee house thing recently and just for giggles I dialed the bass EQ knob up to about 3 PM...played a few notes and vibrated the cups off the table near me.

That little thing is stupid loud.

:)
 
#7
Its a great time to be a bassplayer as their are many loud/light combos out there. Before you search though you have to decide what tone you want. If your an old school guy (boom boom) or a new school guy (slap-pop).
 
#15
Combining cheap, loud and light is a tricky proposition that very few companies have nailed quite frankly. With the Carvin MB’s, to achieve stage LOUD you’ll want an extension. They are good though. I would look at GB’s new Focus combos and definitely TCE combos. TCE combos give you the ability to compress all the ranges (low, mid, highs) individually so you can coax more volume out of the amp. Your best bet of course is to go with a high-quality 15” cab or 212 cab, then top it with a powerful head. A really loud, powerful combo can run you 500 – 800 bucks. High-end combos can run you a grand. With separate components, say a Carvin BX500 on an Avatar B212 (or TB153), you’re up to around 850 bucks but the performance will be a lot better.
 
#16
jeff7bass said:
Combining cheap, loud and light is a tricky proposition that very few companies have nailed quite frankly. With the Carvin MB’s, to achieve stage LOUD you’ll want an extension. They are good though. I would look at GB’s new Focus combos and definitely TCE combos. TCE combos give you the ability to compress all the ranges (low, mid, highs) individually so you can coax more volume out of the amp. Your best bet of course is to go with a high-quality 15” cab or 212 cab, then top it with a powerful head. A really loud, powerful combo can run you 500 – 800 bucks. High-end combos can run you a grand. With separate components, say a Carvin BX500 on an Avatar B212 (or TB153), you’re up to around 850 bucks but the performance will be a lot better.
Click to expand...

yeah that's def. too expensive...I'm looking more in the 500 and under if ever possible..
 

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