Looking for a practice amp...

[Collin Bass]

I have way more power than I need with my regular rig (Yorkville combo with ext cab) and will be selling it. It's way too heavy and I'm done regularly gigging for a long time, I think. I'm looking for something smaller and lightweight that I can take to buddy's house now again that doesn't sound like crap, and that won't break the bank. I have tried the Orange Crush 25, and it doesn't have enough juice for me. I tried a smaller ampeg, no idea which model, either the 20W or the 40W... Also not impressed. I still want to have good sounding low end at lesser volumes, but be able to keep up to a reasonable drummer in a jam space if need be. I'm currently considering:

Fender Rumble 100W
Ampeg BA 112 75W
Ampeg Micro CL 100W
Vox VX50 BA
Phil Jones Bass Double Four (BG-75)
Phil Jones Bass Bass CUB II (BG-110)

But I don't have the time or gumption to go try out too many things. Anybody have experience out there or other suggestions for me? I think I know what I want, but want to hear what others have to say. Thoughts?

 

[lug]

I have an older BA112 that can keep up with a "reasonable" drummer. The BG-75 sounds great but I doubt it will be loud enough. A Rumble 200 will work easily but I haven't tried the 100.

 

[SJan3]

How much breaks the bank?
What are the specs of your Yorkville rig?

 

[Bassdirty]

I'm currently considering:
Fender Rumble 100W
Ampeg BA 112 75W
Ampeg Micro CL 100W
Vox VX50 BA
Phil Jones Bass Double Four (BG-75)
Phil Jones Bass Bass CUB II (BG-110)
Thoughts?

Out of those listed, I'd go for the Fender Rumble.




T$

 

[Collin Bass]

How much breaks the bank?
What are the specs of your Yorkville rig?

I've had the xm200 with a 410 cab and 115 ext cab. No real complaints other than it's a little less portable than I am looking for (I have a really, REALLY bad shoulder. It's a good amp though.

 

[basscooker]

My thoughts...
You may not be experiencing "too little power" as much as moving less air. You might try buying a second (micro like a BAM, MB200, ELF or similar) head and use the 115.

 

[NorthSoundAudio]

I played through a bunch of small amps at Guitar Center (including a 1x10 Ampeg, a Rumble 100, Rumble 40, 1x12 Acoustic) and ended up buying a Peavey MAX 100 (on sale for $279). I traded up from a Rumble 40. The Rumble was OK, but the bottom 3-4 frets on the E string all sounded kinda the same. You won't find a lighter or more compact bass amp than the small Rumbles.

HOWEVER... The Peavey, also a single 10, has a lot more volume than the Rumble, and much better articulation of those low notes. It's a bigger cab than the Rumble, and a little heavier, but still light enough to just grab-and-go.

 

[NorthSoundAudio]

Also, FWIW... The Ampeg 1x10 didn't get very loud at all before sounding really farty. Hopefully the 1x12 is better.

 

[CallMeAl]

Gigged a Rumble 100 for a couple years, it’s crazy loud! And almost too much low end, I usually dial the bass back to 10:00. The vintage button gives you an additional volume boost and compression which is great when you need to push it.

I gigged mostly with a cajon; but pitted it against a drummer on several occasions. Held up quite well, volume at maybe 1:00. It gets even louder at 3:00 but I didn’t ever need it. Highly recommend!

 

[JakobT]

The Rumble 100 would probably fill the bill nicely.

 

[Bassquest]

The Rumble 100 would probably fill the bill nicely.

Yes, just right size, power and weight to haul around.

 

[jmhaslip]

I would also recommend the Rumble 100 because it is reasonably priced, light and loud enough to use in your jam space.

 

[Killing Floor]

The Double Four sounds great. But might be right on the edge of keeping up with a drummer. Maybe depends on where you locate it in the room. I bought one because my rigs are too loud to play with every-friggin-body never leaving my house ugggghhh! And at very low volumes ported cabs are powerful enough to shake the floor yet still sound kinda disappointing. I get it.

 

[Marc valero]

My Rumble 100 last Saturday at Halloween party gig.

 

[telecopy]

I have way more power than I need with my regular rig (Yorkville combo with ext cab) and will be selling it. It's way too heavy and I'm done regularly gigging for a long time, I think. I'm looking for something smaller and lightweight that I can take to buddy's house now again that doesn't sound like crap, and that won't break the bank. I have tried the Orange Crush 25, and it doesn't have enough juice for me. I tried a smaller ampeg, no idea which model, either the 20W or the 40W... Also not impressed. I still want to have good sounding low end at lesser volumes, but be able to keep up to a reasonable drummer in a jam space if need be. I'm currently considering:

Fender Rumble 100W
Ampeg BA 112 75W
Ampeg Micro CL 100W
Vox VX50 BA
Phil Jones Bass Double Four (BG-75)
Phil Jones Bass Bass CUB II (BG-110)

But I don't have the time or gumption to go try out too many things. Anybody have experience out there or other suggestions for me? I think I know what I want, but want to hear what others have to say. Thoughts?

Take a look at the Traynor SB combos.

 

[Collin Bass]

I think I just came up with a new idea... I still have that 200W Yorkville 410 combo... Would there be any ramifications if I made a new cab for it, turning it into a 210 combo, then having a 2nd 210 ext cab?? Would that hurt anything??

 

[mrcbass]

+1 on the rumble. It'll keep up with a small space - used that exclusively for rehearsals until I joined my current band with two guitars and bam-bam.

 

[Wfrance3]

I made a new cab for it, turning it into a 210 combo, then having a 2nd 210 ext cab?? Would that hurt anything??

Cab geometry is something that you don’t want to mess with/mess up. It’s kind of a black art that folks who know how to make cabs understand.
There are variables that include cab dimension, port dimension, I think they take into account the incursion and excursion of the speaker, watts, speaker size, to someone like me it’s a giant pile of details and involves more opportunities to get it wrong than get it right.
Cutting down the speaker cabs into two for better manageability sounds like a nice, and even elegant solution, but I wouldn’t touch it.

 

[hieronymous]

I love my GK MB-112 II. I know it's not on your list, but it just keeps blowing me away. It's 200 watts so might be more than you need, but I did use it at a rehearsal with 2 drummers, 2 guitarists & keys. Everyone thought I wouldn't be able to keep up, but everyone was impressed that I did! What's more, it only weighs 25 pounds.

I also have the Vox VX50BA, and it's a great little amp - super light and pretty loud for its size/weight, but I don't think it would keep up with a rock drummer.

When playing out with people becomes a possibility again, I'm contemplating upgrading to one of the new GK combos - either the Legacy or Fusion - but those are way more expensive.

 

[eliascalles]

I love my GK MB-112 II. I know it's not on your list, but it just keeps blowing me away. It's 200 watts so might be more than you need, but I did use it at a rehearsal with 2 drummers, 2 guitarists & keys. Everyone thought I wouldn't be able to keep up, but everyone was impressed that I did! What's more, it only weighs 25 pounds.
.

+1 for the GK MB-112-II. I have that unit (and the mb110, which I like even more) and it's an excellent little combo. Plenty loud and low, keeps up with reasonable (and even less than reasonable) drummers without straining and it sounds really good. Mine has been used hard for years and it's held up great.

fwiw I also have a rumble (500 combo) which is a good bit louder and sounds very quite different than the GK. Rumbles are great though I didn't love the 200 as much (15's have never been my thing), but lots of people have them an love them. haven't used the 100 so can't say if it'd keep up with a drummer or not (I'm suspicious, but then the 500 hits hard so maybe the 100 would be ok). cheers!