Maybe you should look into attaching a side car or pull a small trailer, then you could get a decent size combo. Just a thought. 
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Side car on a cafe racer is a nice look.Maybe you should look into attaching a side car or pull a small trailer, then you could get a decent size combo. Just a thought.
You could easily cary a GK MB212 in a sidecar and cover it completely. You would have a very stable ride.
These bass players using 10" low-watt combos and keeping up with a "rock" drummer who plays an acoustic kit even moderately hard, I would have to hear this with my own ears. It's never worked out for me. A combo that is too small will begin to fart out and sound terrible when you crank it loud enough to be heard along with the drums at full volume, especially in a rock setting. I've tried a bunch, and I can't keep up with my drummers and guitar players with anything less than around 350 SS watts into a 1X15 or 4X10.
Of all the suggestions on this thread, the only one that seems feasible is the MarkBass 12" combo, or something similar. And getting that sucker to stay on the back of a motorcycle through the bumps and turns sounds mighty risky. It's not a weight issue; a human passenger might weigh more, but they can shift, lean, and balance during the ride. A bass combo cannot.
If at all possible, experiment before you commit. Buy from a retailer with a return policy. Play that combo in the actual rehearsal environment and ask your drummer (and guitar players) to put some steam on it to see what you can actually hear and whether your tone is clean with some headroom or maxed out distorted and farty. And you will need to get very creative to get a combo to stay put during your ride. I'd make a plywood mock up to scale and ride around with it for awhile before I'd risk my actual $$$ amp falling off.
Of all the suggestions on this thread, the only one that seems feasible is the MarkBass 12" combo, or something similar. And getting that sucker to stay on the back of a motorcycle through the bumps and turns sounds mighty risky. It's not a weight issue; a human passenger might weigh more, but they can shift, lean, and balance during the ride. A bass combo cannot.
If at all possible, experiment before you commit. Buy from a retailer with a return policy. Play that combo in the actual rehearsal environment and ask your drummer (and guitar players) to put some steam on it to see what you can actually hear and whether your tone is clean with some headroom or maxed out distorted and farty. And you will need to get very creative to get a combo to stay put during your ride. I'd make a plywood mock up to scale and ride around with it for awhile before I'd risk my actual $$$ amp falling off.
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I had an MG800 and BA12-3 and went “down” to the combo. I am not disappointed at all. The bigger rig was overkill for my home practice and occasional jazz gigs. I like the 1 hand grab much better.
My favorite: Traynor SB112 (25 lbs.) or even SB115 (31 lbs.) Quality combo. 200 RMS watts. Refined tone. Gets plenty loud.
I don't know if there are motocycle trailers in the same way that there are bicycle ones, but that, or a side car you can attach for gigs, sounds more practical, in terms of balance and risk. If I was playing a simple one bass, one amp, one Zoom B1on type gig, the Traynor and a bicycle trailer could be tempting for local gigs.
I’m sure if you google side car for ———— (whatever kind if bike you have) you’ll probably find some options. It does change the way the bike behaves (in good ways and bad ways) but it also opens up a lot of potential.
I agree, if you can carry this on the back of a motorcycle, you can carry a 50 lbs amp. Just strap it on real tight
I have a jazz quartet gig this week. Me, guitar, keys and drums. No PA so just amps and drums - kick, snake, hats and ride - so not a full on band but I’m pretty sure it’ll be fine. I used a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 before this and was fine so I’m guessing this “updated” version will perform as well. That’s the opinion I got from Jeff when we talked.
So now that we know what a motorcycle will do, maybe an Ampeg 8-10 fridge and SVT head will get him done......
^ This, excellent idea: some mockups with some ballast inside (appropriately secured so that it doesn't move inside the box), for the equivalent size and weight of the corresponding shortlisted combos.
This. Just an opinion but I would think it pretty dangerous to ride a motorcycle with such a substantially altered (high and to rear) center of gravity. You might be able to handle curves, etc. if everything goes right but what about having to suddenly compensate? Like someone pulling out in front of you or otherwise having to suddenly dodge something. I can easily envision unanticipated forces suddenly coming into play someone would likely be unable to counterbalance, that inability being compounded with speed
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Now that Carvin is done, this is probably moot point but I acquired an MB15 combo amp used and just love it. 200 watts by itself, 250 with 8 ohm extension cab. 32 pounds stock but before I got it, the previous owner replaced the stock speaker with a Carvin NE15 neo speaker which dropped the weight to 27 pounds. This amp is this old guy's "Pocket Rocket" for the rest of my days.
You guys sure are making me lean towards finding an old friend to break into my storage unit and ship me my MB200. That with an Eden EX112 would be pretty neat.
Great points on the HPF too. I'll be sure to pick one up.
A sidecar or a trailer would be rad. But a bit combersome for my situation. I've been traveling the country in an RV for the last seven months and it's still undecided if we're going to stay in Austin. When it's time to go I still want to be able to load my bike onto it's trailer, hook up to the RV and bail.
As much as I need to keep weight down on my motorcycle, I gotta keep weight down in my coach too!
Great points on the HPF too. I'll be sure to pick one up.
A sidecar or a trailer would be rad. But a bit combersome for my situation. I've been traveling the country in an RV for the last seven months and it's still undecided if we're going to stay in Austin. When it's time to go I still want to be able to load my bike onto it's trailer, hook up to the RV and bail.
As much as I need to keep weight down on my motorcycle, I gotta keep weight down in my coach too!
+1 on the Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 10t. I just picked one up and it is surprisingly loud and only 18 pounds.
