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looking for the best combo amp

B

BAW

Aug 1, 2008
305
1
Long Island
#1
im in the market for a really good combo. i play in a punk/ska band and would like something with a nice overdrive. weight is not a huge issue since im young, know how to lift things, and am not a wimp. this thing has to be a LOUD! combo. the gigs i play are usually at small-medium bars. heres some of the amps ive been looking at and im wondering if anyone here could give feedback on any of them or recommend another.

SWR redhead
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Redhead

trace elliot 1210
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/TE1210/

fender tb600
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-TB600C-120VBass-Combo?sku=482907

eden metro
http://bass-guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Eden-DC210XLT-2x10-Metro-Bass-Combo-Amp?sku=485230

so many options and choices i dont know which one to go for? ive never played through any of these but have played through other trace elliots, fenders, and swr. what do you all think?

anything else i should check out?
 
#3
i want something with more watts than the available ampegs. i want to be able to pair it with a cab on the rare occasions when i play larger venues. wish is why i might add im leaning toward the fender. the head can pop out and into a rack if need be.
 
#5
im going for a combo because of the size. me and my band are finding ways to create more room while traveling and the biggest object in the truck is my bass cab. im also trying to get a better sound at the same time while still being able to gig with whatever i use.
 
#6
peterpalmieri said:
Is there a reason you are limiting yourself to a combo?

IMO less money then a Red head you could get a Markbass LMII and Bergantino AE210. It's about half the weight and a has better tone.
Click to expand...

If youre willing to look at 1500 buck combos, then a head with 1 or 2 cabs depending on need has to be an option.

If volume is a big concern, Carvin makes some loud not super expensive stuff, GK is also an option loud rockers look at.

Ampeg does make some 500-600 watt combos as well, http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BA600-115/.
 
#7
brisonic said:
If youre willing to look at 1500 buck combos, then a head with 1 or 2 cabs depending on need has to be an option.

If volume is a big concern, Carvin makes some loud not super expensive stuff, GK is also an option loud rockers look at.

Ampeg does make some 500-600 watt combos as well, http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BA600-115/.
Click to expand...

ive already stated my need
basically,
i want a nice overdrive/distortion that is footswitchable
400+ watts
small (still dont care about weight)
can stack on top of a cab
and has great tone
 
#8
I'd personally stay away from dedicated 'overdrive' circuits built into an amp. Can't modify it, can't dial it in as precisely. It sounds how it sounds. In the case of that Fender there, its pretty much a one trick pony. The SWR and the Eden don't even have that function anyway. If you like an overdrive sound, find it in a pedal, or be able to create it by dialing in your own gain structure.

Your question doesn't really make a lot of sense, though. The whole point of a combo amp is to increase portability by a reduction in size/weight. A 2x10 combo isn't magically smaller than a 2x10 cabinet - its bigger. If you want to it to stack, then again, you're carrying cabinets.

I use combos exclusively since I have great FOH support and in-ear monitors. I've owned the SWR Redhead, and its a great unit. But personally I'd rather have a better head and a 2x10 than the Redhead. If you're playing punk/ska, that amp is a little sterile. The BEST tube overdrive sound available in a smaller combo amp is in the combo unit I use, the Mesa Walkabout Scout. The head is removable so you can pair it with another cabinet(s) if the need arises.
 
#15
BAW said:
the walkabout looks nice but with 1 speaker can it hold its own on stage against 2 150watt 2 12 guitar amps?
Click to expand...

No, especially if they're rectifiers or something they crank to break up. But you'd still likely have that problem with any of the 2x10 combos you listed.

My Mesa at 350w with a 1x12 and a radiator sounds louder than my Redhead ever did, but you can't break the laws of physics. A 2x10 doesn't have the surface area on the speakers that a 4x10 does. Bear in mind that if you compared a tube/hybrid with a solid state amp of the same wattages, the tube will sound louder.
 
#18
Mark Bass CMD102P - a 2X10 300watt combo. Just found out that it's on sale at GC till the end of November. $150 off normal price. I don't know if I'm allowed to say what something sells for so please excuse me if I'm not allowed - I'm new to the forum. Pair it with the Mark Bass Traveler 15" cab (151P) for bigger gigs. Then you'll have 500 watts. The 102 by itself is small, lightweight, powerful and punchy. Most of your gigs will warrant only that, I betcha. With the 15"" extension cab you will rule the world.
 
#19
RickenBoogie said:
Not with it's own 12" spkr, but the head through a decent 410, or 212 will.
Click to expand...

The Walkabout Scout is probably the loudest little combo out there that sounds good, but no, it won't stand up on its own without an extension for playing really loud punk/ska. I've pushed mine to the limit sometimes and it was fantastic but eventually you'd blow a speaker doing that. But with the Scout extension cabinet you'd have a very potent rig and something that would keep the size down for easy travelling.

The Markbass stuff is okay too but the ones I tried can't compete sound quality wise with the Mesa in my opinion. Markbass fans will disagree of course. The Mesa has a certain tube like quality tthat's great to my ears and to all the Walkabout fans.

I wouldn't even consider the SWR because I've never liked the sound. Don't know anything about the Trace. The Eden sounds pretty good to me.

Big help eh? Nothing but personal opinion.:)
 

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