My amp is petite and still too big!

[MCS4]

-never did I not have powerful PA to support me on any location, my amp always functioned as a stage monitor basicly.

Is the era of 4x10 and even 2x10 over for most people? (not talking about very big stages, which most of us dont encounter, lets be honest) PAs in clubs sound gooood these days!

It sounds like you are lucky enough to play in a scene with reliable PA support and people who know how to run it. This is far from universal even today. In my experience, "very big stages" are not really where larger amps are needed most of the time, but rather small to medium sized clubs playing loud music (rock/metal/etc.) with sketchy PA support for the bass and/or minimal monitoring, which still very much exist at least in these parts.

 

[burgerdj]

Better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

Keep the 210. It’s versatile as a practice amp, stage monitor, and will cover a small gig without FOH.

 

[pepj]

If stage space is any sort of issue, and for me it really is, then veto gigs where there is patently not enough room.

 

[Jefenator]

I don't know; 1x10 or even 1x12 sounds a little skimpy to me for rock.
But YMMV. (I work with a lot of loud drummers.)

 

[bherman]

I don't know; 1x10 or even 1x12 sounds a little skimpy to me for rock.
But YMMV. (I work with a lot of loud drummers.)

You’d be surprised, I play with a drummer who is extremely good and understands dynamics but can get loud. I have a pair of RevSound 112s, almost always just use 1. When I use 2 the drummer tells me I’m too loud

 

[Jeff Hughes]

I used to have a Carvin Micro Bass 210 cab that was so perfect for so many gigs. It was light, cut through, and did not have hard to control low end. Some 210s can feel a little bulky, but I still think they can do just a little more than a 112. I used a 112 in a certain room for years, and I always liked it in that space, but other locations it suffered slightly.

I should have kept that Carvin 210. It was also all black with no writing or identifying marks.

 

[RoaDan]

We are a alternative rock band with 2 boss katana 100w and a pretty "normal" drummer. I decided to get a very reasonable 2x10 fender rumble and a 500w class d amp. (250w would have been enough but 500w version was on a discount). I am absolutely satisfied with the quality but in retroperspective I wished I would have gotten a smaller and lighter amp. The cabinet, even though it sounds great, is 17kg. I never set the volume past a quarter when reheasing. We played quite a lot of gigs locally, mostly small stages but also medium sized clubs.

-never did I not have powerful PA to support me on any location, my amp always functioned as a stage monitor basicly.
-If there is one thing I cant have enough of on small stages, it is space. Why bring anything bigger than 1x12 and put it on a beer tray?
-on bigger stages there was usually a 4x10+head backline free to use

I recently played a relatively big club stage and the other bassist brought a tiny 1x12 Mini CMD Markbass combo. That was more than enough. (I know the thing is 500w but the vol was also set so 1/3...maybe) There were at least 2 other venues that offered a small bass combo as a backline and it always was enough, even for metal bands. Is the era of 4x10 and even 2x10 over for most people? (not talking about very big stages, which most of us dont encounter, lets be honest) PAs in clubs sound gooood these days!

opinions appreciated on the topic! should I sell my 2x10 and see how small I can go? Maybe a rumble 100 combo will even be enough?

For me??? Two 4/10 cabs and a very hefty fully cased Hartke LH500. I do have smaller combos but they cannot keep up with the rest of the band. I have heard great sounding smaller set ups but I like mine and will continue to use what I own. The stuff is heavy and I am 70 so I look at it as a fairly cheap gym membership ... with occasional back strain. My point is that the era of 4/10's is not over, for me at least!

 

[bassfran]

I went through a phase wherein I wanted the least amount of amp to deal with. Worked about 60% of the time. That other 40% was not much fun so I finally just bought a 2nd cab. Volume knobs work in both directions.

+1 better to have and not need than to need and not have.

 

[JutMitch]

Well, I would say this.

Are you playing select venues and that is what you are limiting it to?

Does your band have its own Pa with good subs?

I ask this because although we have shows that have Pa support, many of the shows we do are simplistic set up with our own Pa and typcially no subs unless it’s a larger show.

I have never been able to get away with a single 12 and I have a Barefaced supercompact with either a Mesa wd, Aggie ag or gk1200 fusion. I play with a group of extremely professional musicians playing rock at a spicey db level. Nothing crazy, but it is decently loud.

I would fail on the safe side and keep your “big” setup as it’s pretty tame to begin with (remember your amp is actually only 350 watts since you are running only at 8ohms)and if you change bands you might find yourself underwhelmed really quick.

 

[JutMitch]

You are already down to a 2x10. That's basically only good for a monitor to begin with. If you always have PA support, there's no reason you couldn't just trade out your current speaker enclosure for a proper stage monitor. Just had an attenuator for the tweeter and off you go. This points the speaker directly at your head, eliminating the need to stack a proper cabinet on top of beer crates. Perhaps even look into powered monitors, ditch the head and just run through a good pedal preamp/DI.

Or even better, snatch up a designated bass wedge cab like a Accugroove Wedgie and have a nice head. The wedgie can be used as a wedge or a regular cab.

 

[JutMitch]

I went through a phase wherein I wanted the least amount of amp to deal with. Worked about 60% of the time. That other 40% was not much fun so I finally just bought a 2nd cab. Volume knobs work in both directions.

+1 better to have and not need than to need and not have.

Yup, I tried barefaced, accugroove, audiokinesis etc. Although they are great it’s was about 50/50 if I could hear myself good enough. Although I kept most of those cabs I purchase a 212 gk neo IV. It’s about perfect for of the shows.

 

[groovepump]

I used a Markbass CMD 121P for small/medium clubs always was enough and sounded good both on stage and in Venue mix no FOH; playing with fairly loud Southern, Classic, and Blues Rock Band

There are plenty of choices available depending on level of performance you are wanting, GIG type and budget for either Stage Monitor in large Clubs/Festivals or smaller Bar type with no FOH

For combo if I was looking now besides Markbass maybe Darkglass DG 112A

I now have Mesa WD 800 and Subway 1x15 but knew a Mesa D350 and Subway 112 was all I really needed for Bar/Club Gig's in my area even with no FOH

Yes many have their own reasons/opinions for 'wanting' to have 800+ watt Amps with 4x10 or Multiple cabs

I can tell you one reason for 800+ watts and 410 cabs: Neurotic Guitarists.
In my main band, the two guitarists run everything, and listen with their EYES. They want to SEE big iron in the backline.

 

[Gervais Cote]

I don't know; 1x10 or even 1x12 sounds a little skimpy to me for rock.
But YMMV. (I work with a lot of loud drummers.)

Same here and found out my bare minimum are either 2x10 or 1x15.

Using 2x112 GK Neo IV all the time now and it fits with every situation and music styles.

 

[JutMitch]

I can tell you one reason for 800+ watts and 410 cabs: Neurotic Guitarists.
In my main band, the two guitarists run everything, and listen with their EYES. They want to SEE big iron in the backline.

This exactly.

 

[agedhorse]

I can tell you one reason for 800+ watts and 410 cabs: Neurotic Guitarists.
In my main band, the two guitarists run everything, and listen with their EYES. They want to SEE big iron in the backline.

Choose the guitarists you play with wisely and this won’t be a problem.

 

[JutMitch]

Choose the guitarists you play with wisely and this won’t be a problem.

If it were only that easy. Your product line is based upon said guitarists and we thank you for that. 800 watts does hit the spot just fine! I’ve found there is more often than not two types of guitarists loud and very loud.

 

[mambo4]

I see some are correlating larger & heavier with louder.
In 2025 it is simply no longer the case.
Size and weight take a back seat to component quality and design.
but you still get what you pay for.

 

[groovepump]

Choose the guitarists you play with wisely and this won’t be a problem.

Amen !

 

[Jeff Scott]

In the late '90s through mid '00s I did many gigs with this small rig.

Walter Woods Super and a custom built "EV B-110" that I had made.

 

[_Obra_]

I went through all the stages, and owned (played) probably all possible combinations and speaker sizes on every possible stage size. When I consider everything that is important to me (many of which are mentioned in this thread), such as power, occupied stage area, weight, monitoring, sound quality, accessories, drummer loudnes etc. I figured out that I only needed one 2x10'' cabinet.

At the moment it is the lightest and for me the best on the market in all the listed aspects. I don't think anyone here has mentioned it yet, but it's an Italian GR bass carbon cabinet. Mine is GRBass AT210V+. 600W, 19.4lbs (8.8kg), 103 dB SPL. It's not cheap, it's 1300 euros in Europe but it is worth every penny in my opinion. Small footprint, lightest possible, loud enough for any situation, beautiful sound, it has it all. It is completely irrelevant which head and how much power you will plug in it, as much as You love the sound.