Mini combos: advice / views sought.

[bmc]

For bmc ... This is an extract from my original post. The amp I want to buy will be: ""... for me to use on bass (electro acoustic BG and/or bass ukulele) ...". I also play upright so that might feature, too, if that's what you meant by "acoustic bass".

Thanks.

J

I forgot that. I was just pulling your pin. As you were going lighter and lighter, I thought, go acoustic.

 

[FenderOli]

Order an pjb shoebox, try it, send it back - if its not for you...

 

[sratas]

An outside advice.

Shortbassone 14, an hybrid between an acoustic bass and a u bass.

Shockingly loud, can compete with multiple ukes or acoustic guitars, upright bass sounding, super light, not uber costly

If the other acoustic instruments are unplugged, this bass has no rivals. If you need more, plug into something.

 

[JohnnyTog]

Hi, I wanted to explain something I was in the same situation. The Micromark 801 is not 5,2 kg it is 6,5 kg without it's electric cable and with cablee it is 6,7 kg it's also important for me because same as you, my back is not so healthy. And for my opinion and feelings...(because I didn't try phil jones double four) The Micromark 801 is qualitier than Phil Jones Double Four I believe that. This is not an objective review ! I read some bad reviews about phil jones double four but I never found bad review about Micromark.

 

[heynorm]

GK MB112ii will do it.

 

[lomo]

I own the PJB Cub and Double 4. If you MUST have it under 10 lbs then the Double 4 is a decent option, but it will not project true bass (<100Hz) nicely into the room. That may be fine for you, depending on the tone you seek. If you want to be a supportive pillow under the band, I'd go with a Micromark 801 or a good 112 combo. The Bass Cub is decent sounding, but you are paying for nice finish and the option of having a second channel for a mic and a limiter. It also pretty much stops at 60Hz to my ear. Unless you need those features, I'd get a rumble and save the $$, or spend the same money on a top quality 112 that can do louder applications as well. PJB fit and finish are stellar, but the low end of their micro combos for EB is lacking IME and the dollar per volume ratio is far higher than a simple 110 or 112 combo. Just my .02.

I do love my Double 4 for travel, since it fits easily in a carry on bag and weighs nothing, but I'd never gig with it, even without drums as you describe. The Cub is louder and would be great for upright or a player not looking for much below 60 or 80 Hz. Both are sleek and gorgeous enough to look good on a desk or in a living room. For my money, they are luxury toys compared to a nice 110 combo. My Genz Benz Shuttle 10 combo weighs the same as the cub, but is louder, fuller, deeper, pushes 300 watts with an extension cab and the head can be popped out in 10 seconds to power a larger cab(s). If you can find a used GB Shuttle 8 combo, that'd be my ideal solution. It's louder, fuller/lower and more versatile than the D4, at the same weight (but will not fit easily into a carry on).

 

[Rockin John]

Hello again folks!

In the end - or, thus far - I decided to do nothing. For the last few open mics (as a guest player) I rolled out my modified Crate BT50. I put casters on it cos it's 20 Kg, as well as an Eminence driver in it which gives me better bottom end for the same size box. That's worked well so far, except that it wont compete with a moderately loud outfit, incl drummer... which is totally expected, of course. On all these occasions I've used my KALA UBass. I will try my upright through it and an electro-acoustic BG and/or an electric BG.

Another option is that my main rig is the Genz Benz Streamliner 600 + 2, 1x12 cabs. I suspect the head + 1 cab might work well for the situations mentioned in the opening post. Certainly lighter and easier to carry/move about than the Crate and should pack a better punch when the noisy drummers step up to the stage!!

It may turn out that I have enough gear after all. I can afford any kit out there on the market, but there's simply no point, IMHO, to buying more that effectively duplicates what I already have.

I will let time and experience take it's natural course ...

Thanks to all contributors.

Best.

j

 

[lomo]

I would definitely go with the GB head and a single 112 cab with a U-Bass, in spades, 1K times over. There's glorious low end in that little beauty that deserves to be heard!

 

[The Lone Strang]

GK MB110?

This may be more weight than you want, but Carvin makes an acoustic amp/mini p.a. that functions real well as a bass amp also. It's the AG100, has 100 watts and a 12 incher with a sweeter. It also is a great acoustic guitar amp and mini p.a.

Go to >carvin.com< and check it out.

 

[VWbug]

A little GK?

I have the ext. speaker too for larger venues.

 

[gary m]

Lightweight combos I'm currently using:

Ampeg BA-108 V2, upgraded speaker and output amp. Small but loud, with plenty of bottom.
Ibanez SWX-35, upgraded speaker and modified ported cabinet. A bit heavier, with extended low freq response thanks to a 3.5" port I installed in the rear of the cabinet and some acoustic foam in the box. Uninspiring in its original form, crazy loud after mods. Will eventually tear into the output and see what I can do in there.

 

[JimmyM]

Hello again folks!

In the end - or, thus far - I decided to do nothing. For the last few open mics (as a guest player) I rolled out my modified Crate BT50. I put casters on it cos it's 20 Kg, as well as an Eminence driver in it which gives me better bottom end for the same size box. That's worked well so far, except that it wont compete with a moderately loud outfit, incl drummer... which is totally expected, of course. On all these occasions I've used my KALA UBass. I will try my upright through it and an electro-acoustic BG and/or an electric BG.

Another option is that my main rig is the Genz Benz Streamliner 600 + 2, 1x12 cabs. I suspect the head + 1 cab might work well for the situations mentioned in the opening post. Certainly lighter and easier to carry/move about than the Crate and should pack a better punch when the noisy drummers step up to the stage!!

It may turn out that I have enough gear after all. I can afford any kit out there on the market, but there's simply no point, IMHO, to buying more that effectively duplicates what I already have.

I will let time and experience take it's natural course ...

Thanks to all contributors.

Best.

j

You are a wise dude.