• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

looking for the best combo amp

#22
That Fender is one heck of a rig. It's pricey, but it fits all your needs.

Find one to try out.

If you do buy online, I used MF for a smaller Fender Combo and the horn buzzed right out of the box. They emailed me a return label and 2nd day aired a replacement, so it's a safe deal.
 
#23
If your gigs are in small/medium bars, would those guitards really have those 150W halfstacks cranked? If you had PA support all you'd really need is something to hear yourself better onstage. Echoing others, you'd need PA support or an auxilliary cab to hang with the guitars, but if you are really talking about playing that loud in small/medium bars where people like to order drinks and flirt amid live music...well let's just say that's not the bar I'd like to go to on a Saturday night.
 
#25
If you want small and loud why not a Markbass LMII and a 4 ohm Schroeder 12x10 or 12x12. This is very compact and I think would be louder than most of the combo's you've mentioned, although I'm guessing here as I haven't actually heard most of those combo's, but I know the above rig is the loudest I've heard for the size.
 
#26
BAW said:
so i went to GC today to check out some of the amps mentioned in this thread. they had NONE! they did have a little markbass 15 combo that was ok but i wasnt too fond of the sound.
Click to expand...

You really should take the Train into Rudy's on 48th, they have plenty of stuff that will interest you. Again I think your selling yourself short by only considering combos with all the micro heads and neo cabs out there.

I saw a markbass 4x10 and F1 head package deal in the GC in Carle Place for somewhere around $1500 it is compact and sounds better then any of the combos that have been mentioned.

A note on the Walkabout Scout, I owned 2 of them, they sound very nice, they do not get as loud as most 2x10 cabinets and I had problems with the head in both cases after they were banged around in transport to gigs.

In general if you are gigging regularly and especially if your putting gear in a van with other band stuff a combo is a bad idea, I know others may disagree but that is my opinion. A head is much more prone to damage when being moved around without kid gloves when in a combo, while a cab on it's own can take a good beating, that allows you to have a micro head a keep it over your shoulder or in some other safe place.

Again I couldn't recommend Rudy's more highly, they have a nice selection and cater to those looking for compact rigs i.e. the NYC gigging musician, while your there you can check out Manny's , Sam Ash and you could consider running down town to Matt U and GC. That would give you a pretty good selection to look at in one day.
 
#27
I'll echo what others have said already, in a similar vain.

If you are limiting yourself to combos because of size, there are plenty of very small, if not 'micro' heads and even cabs that would be better (louder and smaller) than any combo you could buy.

For example, a 500W Markbass head like this one:
Link Removed

And a Schroeder cab like this one:
http://www.schroedercabinets.com/mini12+.htm

Or this Schroeder:
http://www.schroedercabinets.com/1210.htm

The description of that last one says "A little larger than a 1x12 yet could easily replace a 4x10" - most Schroeder owners here on Talkbass tend to agree!
 
#28
I recently purchased the Genz Benz 6.0 combo. This little box ROCKS! 31 pounds, 375 watts @ 8 ohms/600 at 4 ohms. I tried the Mark Bass 1 x 12 combo in GC and thought it sounded weak. The speaker was moving ALOT but the sound and thump just seemed lacking. I tried the Genz and was totaly blown away. Walked out with it 15 min later. My advice, dont buy anything until you try the Genz.
 
#29
Hey guys I would have to say that the best comb of the bunch that you mentioned the Eden Metro Combo...

I say that because in the long standing tradition of SWR users, "you ain't using an SWR unless its pre-fender". So no new redhead version is going to be like the originals...

And lets not even go there with fender and their kookyness (I've own many fender combos and lets just say there's a reason I don't own them any more)

Trace Elliot is cool (their new stuff is a bit pricey) but much like SWR in the long standing tradition of Trace Elliot Users "You ain't using a Trace Elliot unless its pre-gibson".

Eden and SWR are (I'm probably going to get crucified for this next statement) basically the same amp/cab design because the guy who designed Eden designed for SWR too...so buying an Eden is as close as you can get to having an original SWR...AND on top of all that, I can't even remember one instance where I saw someone playing an Eden and thought to myself "gee that sound sucks"...

So go with Eden...

BTW

I currently use a pre-fender SWR Silverado Special. 2x12 350ish watts...suits me well...
 
#33
Surprised nobody has mentioned the Phil Jones Six Pack. I played a used one at GC a couple weeks ago and it rumbled the store while being very loud. When I went back it was sold. I want to buy one and saw one on craigs list with a 9B cabinet included for $1750. I checked the PJB web site and that combination costs over $3000.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back