Mini Rigs of Doom Four

[Bermuda Ron]

Looking for a cheap thrill! Have scrolled back a few years looking for a TC Elec. BAM200 and BC208 on top of a lightweight 1x10 or 1x12. Perhaps an Eden or a TE ELF 110 at only 16lbs? Wonder just how that would sound?
Airport still closed - no stores to visit - I need my fix....HELP

 

[Killing Floor]

Got this cab during the lockdown so we'll see. But I've pushed it and it is loud and solid under the 800+.
This is 2X12 neos with a tight 300W tweet that I dial back to around 30% (knob not science). 1,200W PPH and 600W program rating, based on output and also connecting it to a rack I know I've pushed it past 600W and it stays crisp. I'm sure HPF helps with that. But I can't see going back to bigger gear any time soon. It's about 38# and has a suitcase style retractable handle so it's been really easy to drag the couple times I've been able to get it out of the house last few months. The baffle is angled up and the down facing 12 is ported nicely. It is absolutely as loud as the 412 I replaced and the ports and angled front give a lot of presence.
I don't see a lot of these BBC out there but I would definitely do it again.
Top of the head is 23" high so when we start using the new Watts per Inch metric I'm bringing 52 W/i to the floor.

 

[LennyJ]

Looking for a cheap thrill! Have scrolled back a few years looking for a TC Elec. BAM200 and BC208 on top of a lightweight 1x10 or 1x12. Perhaps an Eden or a TE ELF 110 at only 16lbs? Wonder just how that would sound?
Airport still closed - no stores to visit - I need my fix....HELP

Ron

I tried the bam and the tc 208. Not enough - so I took the GK 200 and the TC 208 - sounds great.

Lennyj

 

[Killing Floor]

I also have one of the Blackstar Fly Bass amps on my desk that I mess around with sometimes. I wouldn't call it a rig of doom, it is barely enough to keep up with a single acoustic guitar. But for plug and go when I just want to hear and not use headphones it works. 3 Watts of pure tiny thunder? But it does fit in a pack easily if I want to jam on the neighbors porch. It's louder than playing unplugged.

 

[mb94952]

My SWR Baby Blue in road case on top of my Golight 410. My Golight 210 to make it an official "mini rig of doom" is in the other room. This rig sounds PERFECT.

 

[Hnz]

Actually jealous!
The Golight series cabs are hard to come by. I really would love to try the 410. Is it front vented?

 

[mb94952]

Actually jealous!
The Golight series cabs are hard to come by. I really would love to try the 410. Is it front vented?

The Marcus Miller is closed like the GII, but I believe there is a version of the Golight non MM that is front ported and they are harder to find. I'd love to get one. I'll have to look at my Golight 210. I think it's front ported,but not sure.

 

[mb94952]

Got this cab during the lockdown so we'll see. But I've pushed it and it is loud and solid under the 800+.
This is 2X12 neos with a tight 300W tweet that I dial back to around 30% (knob not science). 1,200W PPH and 600W program rating, based on output and also connecting it to a rack I know I've pushed it past 600W and it stays crisp. I'm sure HPF helps with that. But I can't see going back to bigger gear any time soon. It's about 38# and has a suitcase style retractable handle so it's been really easy to drag the couple times I've been able to get it out of the house last few months. The baffle is angled up and the down facing 12 is ported nicely. It is absolutely as loud as the 412 I replaced and the ports and angled front give a lot of presence.
I don't see a lot of these BBC out there but I would definitely do it again.
Top of the head is 23" high so when we start using the new Watts per Inch metric I'm bringing 52 W/i to the floor.
View attachment 3854806

What do you think of the Hi Pass filter feature ? I've never played the Subway because I don't like Class D amps. I hope Mesa got it right, though. Seems with class D you have to work twice as hard to achieve the same tone from a good old iron transformer. I love my M6 Carbine and just bought a Prodigy. I have a Walkabout black face, but I don't use it much because I honestly think the older ones sound better, but that's another story. Mesa and SWR for life ! - Mike

 

[Killing Floor]

What do you think of the Hi Pass filter feature ? I've never played the Subway because I don't like Class D amps. I hope Mesa got it right, though. Seems with class D you have to work twice as hard to achieve the same tone from a good old iron transformer. I love my M6 Carbine and just bought a Prodigy. I have a Walkabout black face, but I don't use it much because I honestly think the older ones sound better, but that's another story. Mesa and SWR for life ! - Mike

The on-board HPF is a nice feature. I’ve been rolling it lower and higher to see how well I notice it. With low B or playing a ‘73 P fretless the low end is fully intact. But you can bring the volume up with less worry about cracking. Most of what you are shedding is below hearing range. Since you can’t get new SWR I’d recommend the Subway. Any model. But that carbine won’t let you down. Definitely Mesa has done be a good job boxing their growl into class D amps.

 

[Sodbuster]

Helix HX Stomp --> Aguilar TH350 --> GRBass 2x8 4 ohm cab. Incredible sound, and LOUD!

View attachment 3847930

Nice! I use GRBass Mini 350 watt amp with the GR208. If our rigs do not qualify as mini rigs of DOOM, I don't know what would.

 

[Sodbuster]

 

[jeff7bass]

Nice! I use GRBass Mini 350 watt amp with the GR208. If our rigs do not qualify as mini rigs of DOOM, I don't know what would.

First I've heard of GR stuff. Looks impressive but don't see any stores around these parts.

 

[Sodbuster]

Made in Italy. I purchased mine from Austin Guitar Works on Reverb. Cab weighs in at 23 lbs. 500W. Fantastic tone, and L-O-U-D! Quality gear.

 

[nonohmic]

Ron

I tried the bam and the tc 208. Not enough - so I took the GK 200 and the TC 208 - sounds great.

Lennyj

View attachment 3854865

I took the BAM you sold me and paired it to a Revsound 28. And I agree...this cab is amazing...but while the TC is great in terms of space/pedalbaord etc. It doesn't quite have the cojones to push the cab to it's full potential. I'm thinking a TH350 would be best.

 

[blastoff]

i wish there was an objective cojones scale to rate amplifiers. watts are too arbitrary

 

[nutdog]

i wish there was an objective cojones scale to rate amplifiers. watts are too arbitrary

This would be nice. I think a clue to the BAM is the 200 watt rating. If TC says anything about what kind of watts I can't find it. Sweetwater says 200 watts "total power". "Total" is also what Behringer and Bugera (maker of the 2000 watt veyron) use to rate amps. Coincidentally all 3 companies are part of Music Group.

Total could mean RMS, program, peak or none of the above. At least manufacturers like GK, Trace, Mesa... that give an RMS rating at specific ohms are trying to narrow it down a bit.

Cue "Behringer Hater!" comment.

 

[LennyJ]

This would be nice. I think a clue to the BAM is the 200 watt rating. If TC says anything about what kind of watts I can't find it. Sweetwater says 200 watts "total power". "Total" is also what Behringer and Bugera (maker of the 2000 watt veyron) use to rate amps. Coincidentally all 3 companies are part of Music Group.

Total could mean RMS, program, peak or none of the above. At least manufacturers like GK, Trace, Mesa... that give an RMS rating at specific ohms are trying to narrow it down a bit.

Cue "Behringer Hater!" comment.

I have owned the BAM, Thrust 250 and the GK MB200 with a ELF 2x8 and a TC 2x8. I still have both 2x8 cabinets - but I can tell you the GK sounds about twice as loud as the BAM both running a 8 ohms (1 2x8 cabinet for each.

 

[tubatodd]

I have owned the BAM, Thrust 250 and the GK MB200 with a ELF 2x8 and a TC 2x8. I still have both 2x8 cabinets - but I can tell you the GK sounds about twice as loud as the BAM both running a 8 ohms (1 2x8 cabinet for each.

View attachment 3929517 View attachment 3929518

How do the cabs compare?

 

[Clark Westfield]

Here is my rig of doom:

Tech21 VT500
Hartke cabs

Sounds great, I’m very happy after replacing my old Rumble stuff.

I’ll be painting the 410 grill one day.

 

[LennyJ]

How do the cabs compare?

To me the TC Electronic has a bit more bottom end, and the Elf cabinet is more HI-FI sounding (even across the EQ).

When I play my 76 P Bass with the TC 2x8 I have to cut the bass knob down or it will rattle all the pictures off the wall. With the elf 2x8 I leave everything straight up noon and to me it sounds great.

But that even sound may be because of the Faital speakers - I do not know, they seem to be a ore even speaker across the board.

But with my Rob Allen mouse the Elf cabinet brings out the bass perfectly. I use the Mark Bass Gold series amp and that has made the difference. I had left the elf 2x8 and went to the elf 1x10's with my old amps (GK and Mesa) which sounded good - but when I got the Mark Bass I went back and got another 2x8.

I only play at my church now adays, and only have the tc and elf 2x8 cabinets with the Mark Bass. I kept my 76 - but use a Landing 30" scale P style bass and the Rob Allen Mouse also a 30".
I went to the 30's due to my left hand and my old age. But the 30's with the elf and Mark bass really make the sound for me. After about 45 years of playing I think I finally got an amp I really appreciate with my basses and finally can stop the buy/sell madness.

Also I feel the 30's do not have the over tones that the 34" basses have. Just seem to be a nicer sound to me.

Well that is my 50 cents - hope it helps.