Looking for Small Combo with Deep Sound

[Ray James]

I need to get a small combo so I can play with a group of acoustic fretted instruments for practising

I am looking for the deepest sound possible. Am not interested in treble or accuracy at all - I just want to keep out of their way sonically

The rehearsal room is very long way from my car and my current amp a Rumble 200v3

• Dimensions: 23"H x 19"W x 14"D
• Weight: 34.5 lb.

is too large and heavy for me. (I'm an old man). But I love it's bass-heavy sound. I have the contour and vintage buttons down, with the Low Mid completely off

I tried a Rumble 40v3 but while it was pleasant, it was too light in tone for me. I've read some interesting mods on TalkBass but I doubt if it would end up where I want it to be. The Rumble 100v3 is almost the same size as my 200

Any suggestions (new or old amps) very gratefully received. Ideally not too expensive, but would look at a budget above the Rumble 200, but in that case really has to deliver a good level of volume to justify the extra cost

 

[seamonkey]

Lows are just sine waves, you wouldn't want to just play through a subwoofer.
Mids are where you hear the tone.
Keep "out of the way" by playing musically.
Lightweight costs more.
Sometimes smaller and lighter aren't better if you have to bend down to carry it. Something the size of a 2x10 can be easier to carry vertically. And can leverage into a car for transport.
You should go lift and listen to some combos in a store.
But also walk over to the PA section to try some powered cabs. They may have a horn but it doesn't mean you have to blast the mids/highs. Many do great for bass.

 

[jallenbass]

What about using a folding hand cart to haul around the amp that you already have and like?

 

[GrapeBass]

What I got min for, easy to carry too!

SB110
Traynor Amps

 

[Ray James]

What about using a folding hand cart to haul around the amp that you already have and like?

Good idea

Except that I have to carry my gear up some narrow stairs with a stairlift on one side. Which the amp tends to crash into. It's a public building used by several groups, Am not quite ready to use the stairlift ...

 

[PlanZero]

I have an ampeg BA-108 I won for $50 off eBay. Still had the $120 sales tag on it. It's the smallest in the series but packs unbelievable punch. Definitely sounds like an ampeg. The newer versions also have the kickback feature. It's a very light small combo, I even play my guitar through it. I imagine it would be perfect to jam out with acoustics. Highly recommended.

 

[Ray James]

I had thought of the Ampeg - need to try one

Traynor too

Thank you

 

[Turnaround]

What I got min for, easy to carry too!

SB110
Traynor Amps

That's my house party amp. Nifty little light weight box that puts out a surprising level of low end. You can turn the tweeter off with a switch, but there is no tweeter level control - it's just on or off. Unfortunately "on" is really too much with the treble set flat. But you can back off the treble control some for a more balanced sound. Overall good value IMO. Not an accurate combo, but nice sounding none the less.

 

[Linnin]

I am looking for the deepest sound possible. Am not interested in treble or accuracy at all

OK! I also have a Rumble 200 and love it. The only other available combo that can even remotely go as deep is the Jeff Berlin signature Markbass 1x15 combo. It's $1,150; bigger, and heavier. I was going to suggest you just buy another Rumble 200 to leave at your rehearsal space until I read

I have to carry my gear up some narrow stairs with a stairlift on one side. Which the amp tends to crash into. It's a public building used by several groups, Am not quite ready to use the stairlift ...

do this: put your Rumble on the stair lift and let it do the work for you. Both up and down. You just follow and steady it on it's journey.

 

[MrLenny1]

Mesa Walkabout 1x12 or 1x15.

 

[Ray James]

All very interesting comments - thank you

 

[Bassquest]

Checking the specs: the Ampeg BA108 v2 is 28 lbs and the Traynor SB110 is 21 lbs. The Traynor costs about 3-4 times as much as the Ampeg. Perhaps the Rumble 40 V3 would be perfect for you. It's only 18 lbs compared to the Rumble 200 V3 at 34 lbs. You can eq it for more bottom end...

 

[Super Bass]

I love my EBS Session 120, very well made, quite loud and sounds great for such a small package.

 

[speyer]

Ive got and EBS session 120 as well. Although not light by todays standards... I does sound great and can get very loud. Nice combo all around!

 

[dreamadream99]

Mesa Walkabout 1x12 or 1x15.

No way either is lighter than his 34 pound rumble.
If memory serves, Scout 12 is 50 pounds.

 

[dreamadream99]

With contour knob on full, I am quite happy with the low end on my GK MB150S. And, only 26 pounds. Couple with a neo cabinet of your choice for a powerful little stack.

 

[St_G]

I have one of those. Not very loud, but man, it sounds better than it has any right to. I'll sometimes go months without playing through it, and I'll start thinking of it as a toy, or a door stop. And then I plug in and DAMN.

Still, I'm not sure it would hang in any but the smallest, quietest of settings.

And if huge bottom end is a priority...ehhhhh...

I have an ampeg BA-108 I won for $50 off eBay. Still had the $120 sales tag on it. It's the smallest in the series but packs unbelievable punch. Definitely sounds like an ampeg. The newer versions also have the kickback feature. It's a very light small combo, I even play my guitar through it. I imagine it would be perfect to jam out with acoustics. Highly recommended.

 

[Member8675309]

Ampeg combos go well with acoustic settings, as do many other brands. If you want deeper tone, go with a 15”, maybe look for a ported option. I set my amps, with my Gibson anyway, to around Bass/6:Mid/0-1:Treble/7. I am also a fan of compression. It gets me a deep, fuzzy, old school tone with my SG and .49-.109 flats. The sound goes well with acoustics. If there is a drummer, I usually crank the mids a bit more. Of course, it all depends on your setup. I’m keeping in mind Ampeg here.

The lightest combo I know of is the relatively newer/revamped Fender Rumble series. Good tone, but the Ampeg combo was more my style.

 

[walterw]

I need to get a small combo so I can play with a group of acoustic fretted instruments for practising

I am looking for the deepest sound possible.

the combo thing is a limiting factor here, you might find a separate head and cab will be stronger and lighter.
i'd say you want to spend a little money and get a head with a lot more power, then use it with a lightweight cab. these days amp power is small, light and fairly cheap, so if you get more of that you can get a bigger low end with a smaller, lighter setup.

there's tons of little lightweight micro heads that do 500w or even more, and tons of like single 1x12 cabs that will take that power and produce decent low end with it. something like a rumble 500 head and the matching single 1x12 cab will be an easy carry and sound pretty strong.

 

[CapnSev]

I’m 34 and in great shape. There’d be no shame in my game. I’d hit that stairlift.