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Looking For A New Amp

KingRazor

KingRazor

Supporting Member
Jun 4, 2010
6,747
415
37
Beaverton, Oregon USA
#1
What I really want is an Acme Lo-B cab. But that's a little pricy for me right now. Especially because I would still need to buy a power amp for it.

So, I'm wondering if there's a combo amp I can get in the mean time that will sound better than my $70 15-watt RMS amp but is cheap enough that I can afford it in the near future.

My budget: Well, if it's more than $400, I may as well just wait and get the Acme. So let's say $0-$350 for my budget.

As far as my volume needs, I want something I can use as a monitor in a band context. I asked before and I think something in the 50-100 watt range should do the job. I'd be competing with a mic'd drum kit (caged, so the stage volume isn't that bad). This amp wouldn't be part of the sound reinforcement, in fact, if the audience can hear it, that's a bad sign. I like the audience to hear me purely through the PA.

It should have decent low-end response. I use a 5-string sometimes so something that can handle the Low-B string.

It should be small enough that I can tilt it back. Which I guess technically you could do that even with an 18" cab, but I'd rather not have anything bigger than a 15" speaker.

Any suggestions?
 
#3
Matthew_84 said:
I'd try out a Fender Rumble 75. 75 watts, effects loop, decent EQ, great overdrive, tilt-back, 15", and is $259.00 new (canadian dollars). the 350 sounded good in my experience, but try it out at a shop.

sorry: 12" speaker
Click to expand...
I've tried that one, I thought it sounded pretty good.

Other ones I'm looking at:

Buy Gallien-Krueger MB112 200W 1x12 Ultra Light Bass Combo Amp | Solid State Combo Amps | Musician's Friend

Buy Acoustic B100 100W 1x15 Bass Combo | Solid State Combo Amps | Musician's Friend

One thing I really like about the Fender though is that it's built to be tilted back, where as with the other ones, I'd have to make them do it.

Do you guys think 75 watts through a single 12 inch speaker will be enough to handle a Low-B?
 
#4
Very few, if any, full-range bass cabs provide the fundamental tones of any of the low end, even from a 4-string. Most of what you hear is the 2nd and 3rd harmonics, and your ears and brain "fill in" the bottom to enable you to interpret the note correctly. You'll most likely get the most out of your B-string by backing off the bass end of the EQ and boosting the low-mids a little to accentuate the overtones without stressing the speaker with vibrations that require large excursion but are virtually inaudible.

As to the specifics of that amp, I don't know, but if you try it out and experiment with the EQ a bit, it may surprise you.
 
#5
I've actually never played a 5 string, so my experience on that would just be based of what others have said. But since you're not looking for the crowd to hear it, you could probably eq the sound your tone a little where you can atleast hear the B well, I'm not sure though.

I do like you the Acoustic B100. I don't know about the GK, I dunno, I just have a better feeling about the Acoustic or Fender for your situation.

I live in Canada, and there's no Musician's Friend up here, so I don't know if their return policies are good, but you should be able grab one, gig with it, see how it handles your needs, and return it for the other.
 
#6
GrowlerBox said:
Very few, if any, full-range bass cabs provide the fundamental tones of any of the low end, even from a 4-string. Most of what you hear is the 2nd and 3rd harmonics, and your ears and brain "fill in" the bottom to enable you to interpret the note correctly. You'll most likely get the most out of your B-string by backing off the bass end of the EQ and boosting the low-mids a little to accentuate the overtones without stressing the speaker with vibrations that require large excursion but are virtually inaudible.

As to the specifics of that amp, I don't know, but if you try it out and experiment with the EQ a bit, it may surprise you.
Click to expand...
I'm aware of this, actually. Basically, I don't want the amp to "fart" out when I play the B string, like my current amp does. I want those 2nd and/or 3rd harmonics that I hear to be clear and full.

Although none of that matters while using it for a monitor, while monitoring all that matters is that I hear the note at all.

I do, however, want to use this at home to and I want a nice tone from it whether I use a 4 or 5 string.
 
#7
KingRazor said:
I'm aware of this, actually. Basically, I don't want the amp to "fart" out when I play the B string, like my current amp does. I want those 2nd and/or 3rd harmonics that I hear to be clear and full.

Although none of that matters while using it for a monitor, while monitoring all that matters is that I hear the note at all.

I do, however, want to use this at home to and I want a nice tone from it whether I use a 4 or 5 string.
Click to expand...

Cool :). Then there is precisely one way to find this out. Unfortunately, if you live where there's not a huge selection of stuff to try out and are ordering online, you might just have to take a punt.
 

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