• 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.

modular rig or combo???

Combo or modular rig?

  • combo

    Votes: 22 15.0%

  • Modular rig

    Votes: 125 85.0%
  • Total voters
    147
#21
Agree about the 4 piece alright, that's what I play.
I reckon the BQ 500 and Warwick 1x12 cab would be more than enough for the my needs as of now. And then if needed add a cab. Thats what appeals about the modular idea.

Although Im just thinking as I read all of your replies.....Ive never gigged with a bass player who used two cabs. D.I out and either the amp for stage or amp plus a monitor for stage.

Maybe our venues in Ireland are just smaller?
 
  • Like
Reactions: westrock and CallMeAl
#22
Lots of people like the Harley Benton kit, if you're going new on a budget. Obviously buying used stretches your buying power.
This HB head and speaker would be more than enough for your needs albeit a bit over the divorce threshold.
[This invalid link has been removed] €298
[This invalid link has been removed] €179
 
#23
pegdrums said:
I reckon the BQ 500 and Warwick 1x12 cab would be more than enough for the my needs as of now. …

D.I out and either the amp for stage or amp plus a monitor for stage….

Maybe our venues in Ireland are just smaller?
Click to expand...
I believe that what one can get away with is dependent on the kinds of situations you want to get into, the PA options and the volume of the band.

My earlier recommendation is an “all purpose, IDK what I might get into” rig. I actually have a Markbass 500w/2x112 rig, but the 12s were chosen based on already being in the band a while. Between the clarity/efficiency of the speakers, the low stage volume, and the PA option, 112 is almost always enough. The second cab comes out for larger ensembles, outdoor gigs and no-PA gigs.

You already have a frame of reference with the Rumble 500. You obviously have some frame of reference for gigging, and the kinds of venues you want to get into. I say trust your gut. There’s always the return policy, right? ;)
 
  • Like
Reactions: westrock
#24
abarson said:
Lots of people like the Harley Benton kit, if you're going new on a budget. Obviously buying used stretches your buying power.
This HB head and speaker would be more than enough for your needs albeit a bit over the divorce threshold.
[This invalid link has been removed] €298
[This invalid link has been removed] €179
Click to expand...


Yea Ive a HB bass and my bass teacher reckons its one of the nicest necks he's played. Its a well put together bass, plays nice, looks great and sounds awesome.

I think you're right....the Harley Benton gear would do me grand.....id love that 800 w head but would get on well with the 300 w version.....and I wouldn't get divorced

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
  • Like
Reactions: abarson
#25
I quite like combos.
I have a small Schertler B10 combo for the studio and most small to medium gigs with a band that doesn't play really loud.
I also have a large combo, GK MB212, for rock gigs. When I was looking to replace my older large combo I was actually looking for a separate head and cab. Unfortunately most of what is available down here in NZ is very pricey. If I was to get a GK 500w head and a GK212 cab, it would have cost me nearly double what I paid for the GK MB212 combo which is basically the exact same amp and cab.

I think you'll get better bang for your buck buying second hand..... and you definitely want at least 300w (RMS.... not peak power) and 500w would give you more headroom which may be needed if the drummer and guitarist can't control their stage volume.
 
#26
Yea I normally buy everything secondhand. All my drum gear was always bought that way but there just seems to be very few second hand bass amps for sale in Ireland.

Im gonna put a few bits up for sale and bring my budget up to 500 bills.

I don't need a pro rig but like that jacket your ma bought when you were a kid I want something I can grow into. Learn about tone, eq, setting up at gigs etc. Something Ill enjoy playing for several happy years.
 
#31
Four the last five years I've been using an Ampeg BA115v2 and keeping up with a 5 piece (sometimes 6, extra guitar or electric violin). We're not super loud but have two drummers, one on trap the other on congas and percussion (guitar, bass and sax). I just upgraded to a BA210v2 for a little more punch and the extra power if I add a 2x10 cab down the road (450w).
Not sure where you are located, but you can find either of these combo's used for a good price in the US. Possibly in NOS since they have been replaced by the Rocket series. I bought a Rumble 110 to use for small gigs but it just didn't seem to keep up. I ended up returning it and caught the end of model sale for the Ampeg and bought the BA210. The Ampeg's are a bit heavy and the wedge shape makes them a bit awkward, but they are workhorses.

Good luck on your search...
 
  • Like
Reactions: pegdrums
#32
HolmeBass said:
I’d say buy used gear on your budget. The 1x12 cabinet is not going to cut it for rock. You want at least a 2x12 and maybe a 2x15 or 4x10.
Click to expand...
It depends on the band and the rooms you play in. Some 1x12's can be quite loud enough.

I was in a classic rock trio. They'd seen me play in a trio with two acoustic guitars and cajon where I was using my Schertler B10 which is a surprisingly loud 10" combo rated at 300w (RMS). They said to just bring that to rehearsal but I wasn't confident and packed the GK212 in the car as well. It turned out that the B10 was more than enough for rehearsal as the drummer and guitarist weren't stupidly loud. I even used the B10 at most small gigs as a monitor and DI'd to the PA . It was only at a few larger gigs that I took the GK.

pegdrums said:
100%

But there's so little available here second hand and what is available, affordable and what id like is a 4+ hr round trip which in Ireland terms is a holiday!
Click to expand...

It was similar for me here in NZ. Not much available second hand which is why I got the GK212 brand new.

Back home in Jindabyne (a small town in NSW, Australia) a 4+ hour round trip was just a drive to the nearest guitar shop in Canberra. We'd do that trip at least a few times a month for shopping, orthodontal visits etc.
 
#33
BAG said:
Back home in Jindabyne (a small town in NSW, Australia) a 4+ hour round trip was just a drive to the nearest guitar shop in Canberra. We'd do that trip at least a few times a month for shopping, orthodontal visits etc.
Click to expand...

Yea was over in Oz. Did a 6hr Round trip cos my other half left her wallet in a roadhouse in WA. Didn't seem like a big deal but here .....forget it
 
#34
pegdrums said:
Thats gonna cost more over here, that cab alone is €572.

But what do you make of the little gnome? Is it actually 200w?

Was just looking at the back of the rumble amps and beside the kettle lead socket they state higher values than actually stated.... see thumbnail
Click to expand...

It is 200 watts. Power consumption (for this class D) is usually based on 1/8 of the duty cycle of the amp. It is a safety agency regulation AFAIK. Basically, that 60 watt draw to give 25 watts output power. It's much more complicated than that, but someone with more EE knowledge will have to explain it . Warwick has always been truthful about their output ratings as far as I know.
 
#36
pegdrums said:
Howdy all. Hope ye are well.

New (ish) to bass. Posted previously about a few questions.

Question of the day is as titled......

I have a 20w Warwick blue cab at the moment. Its great for the house and practicing, even playing with another guitarist, quietly going through songs and some theory stuff.

Recently joined a band......Rehearsal room had 2 broken bass amps, so we tried the monitor which didn't work for us.

Point being I need to get a useable amp for rehearsals and small venues.
I have my heart set on a modular rig, links below:

https://www.thomann.de/ie/warwick_gnome.htm
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Idea here is further down the line I can upgrade the head and the cab will handle it.
Also the gnome headsets simple so Ill spend less time fiddling with it.

Here are some combo options:
https://www.thomann.de/ie/fender_rumble_100.htm
Invalid Link Removed
Invalid Link Removed

Combos seem to have more 'options' on them. and less to drag around.

I think I like the less options. Play a Sire V7 yesterday and immediately found there to be too many knobs and options.....lovely bass though.


In your experience what are the pros and cons of each? gigging, rehearsals, recording??

Thanks for reading
Click to expand...
Those little Warwick rigs sound great bro.

Also, rb115 is an awesome all purpose combo rig. Light and small enough for practice and moving around, big and full enough for on stage. Also expandable.

But, I do dig those Warwick amps.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CallMeAl and pegdrums
#38
pegdrums said:
Thats gonna cost more over here, that cab alone is €572.

But what do you make of the little gnome? Is it actually 200w?

Was just looking at the back of the rumble amps and beside the kettle lead socket they state higher values than actually stated.... see thumbnail
Click to expand...
That is how much power the amp draws from the power socket. The output of the Rumble 100 is 100 watts.
The Rumble 100 is loud for what it is, but if you're going to use it for gigs it's a little on the small side. What's going to determine the volume level is not so much the watts as the speaker area. More speaker area = louder.

For that reason, the Rumble 200 would be better, not so much because of the increased power (it needs an extra cab to reach 200 watts output, as-is it puts out 140), but because of the 15" driver.

In your case, I'd recommend separates, even though I'm a combo guy myself. This will allow you to start small for rehearsal, and add an extra cab for gigging. You might want to consider the TC Electronics BAM200 head and the matching BC208 cab. This inexpensive, light, and loud enough for rehearsal. When you start gigging, you can add another 208 cab and get the volume you need.
 
#39
BassNugget said:
It is 200 watts. Power consumption (for this class D) is usually based on 1/8 of the duty cycle of the amp. It is a safety agency regulation AFAIK. Basically, that 60 watt draw to give 25 watts output power. It's much more complicated than that, but someone with more EE knowledge will have to explain it . Warwick has always been truthful about their output ratings as far as I know.
Click to expand...

That's awesome, thanks for letting me know
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassNugget and JakobT
#40
JakobT said:
That is how much power the amp draws from the power socket. The output of the Rumble 100 is 100 watts.
The Rumble 100 is loud for what it is, but if you're going to use it for gigs it's a little on the small side. What's going to determine the volume level is not so much the watts as the speaker area. More speaker area = louder.

For that reason, the Rumble 200 would be better, not so much because of the increased power (it needs an extra cab to reach 200 watts output, as-is it puts out 140), but because of the 15" driver.

In your case, I'd recommend separates, even though I'm a combo guy myself. This will allow you to start small for rehearsal, and add an extra cab for gigging. You might want to consider the TC Electronics BAM200 head and the matching BC208 cab. This inexpensive, light, and loud enough for rehearsal. When you start gigging, you can add another 208 cab and get the volume you need.
Click to expand...

Solid advice thanks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BassNugget and JakobT

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back