About a month ago, I posted about evaluating new neo lightweight bass speaker cabinets for rockabilly URB use. It led to a major discussion about frequency response figures and comparisons, but most seemed to favor some pretty high-end (read expensive) small bass systems. Im back to report on my wonderful new, cheap-as-possible bass system.
Ive used big 15 bass rigs for 40-years with my Fender bass, but my beautiful old Kay S-9 (blond) full-size upright (mid-60s) has always been a strictly acoustic fun at home with friends novelty instrument. So earlier this year, I purchased a K&K Rockabilly Bass pickup system, which includes 2 bass pickups and a small mixer/preamp. I also installed a set of blue Weedwacker strings on the bass.
I was totally impressed with the new sound and power of the bass through my old 15 combo amp, but it tended to sound a lot like my bass guitar loud, bassy, rather boomy, and prone to low frequency howling feedback at louder volumes, especially around low A & Bb.
The new lightweight bass cabinets really appealed to me since Im getting older and less impressed by huge stage equipment anymore. But Im also an old tightwad (read cheap) and couldnt really justify spending big money on a new high-end bass amp. Here is what I bought:
Amp: Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 ($550 list pd. $349)
This is a tiny (2 3/4-pounds) 175-watt amp (300-watts with an ext. speaker) with plenty of power, very well thought-out controls & connections, and so amazingly small it fits in my cord bag.
Speakers: Gallien Krueger 210 MBE ($299)
These cabinets use light weight neodymium speakers in a solid 30-pound cabinet with ¼ and Speakon inputs plus a tweeter with on/off switch. They are very full-range and put out sufficient volume for just about any stage use.
The first thing the guys in the band said was Wow! The bass sounds so much more live and realistic, with clean bass, ample mid-range and clarity on the top for string slaps & pops. The first gig with the new amp & speakers was in a huge, echo-prone basketball arena. They worked great with plenty of power and good definition of the bass tone - very lively yet with solid bass oomph. The following weekend we played outdoors for a fall harvest festival (brrrr, cold) and with just a touch of send to the main PA, once again it all sounded great. You can hear it pretty well on this video clip: SpoCats Built for Speed - YouTube
Another advantage I discovered is better bass feedback control. Not only are the EQ controls very well designed in the Shuttle amp, but the new 2-piece set-up allows more distance between the bass and the speakers. With a good Speakon cable, I can keep the power head nearby and put the speaker cabinet farther away. I put the speakers on the other side of the drummer and heard myself very well but without the close proximity to the speakers causing the instrument to howl and feedback.
We are going to have a bass & amp tune-up session this week and work on dialing-in the internal EQ & level controls on the K&K preamp to optimize things with the Shuttle and the new speakers. I think that a little fine tweaking will really bring out the character of this big old bass.
Bottom line:
$349.99 - Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 bass amp
299.00 - Gallien Krueger 210 MBE speaker cabinet
10.00 - Speakon cable
$658.00 - Total cost to completely reinvent my bass rig
Thats under $1000.00 total if you include the pickups & strings - and the big grin on the bass players face comes with the deal.
Thanks for all the advice and information about bass speaker cabinets. I strongly recommend this set-up for a good, solid bass system that is affordable, very light and easy to use and transport, and sounds GREAT.
DR from Spokane
Link Removed
Ive used big 15 bass rigs for 40-years with my Fender bass, but my beautiful old Kay S-9 (blond) full-size upright (mid-60s) has always been a strictly acoustic fun at home with friends novelty instrument. So earlier this year, I purchased a K&K Rockabilly Bass pickup system, which includes 2 bass pickups and a small mixer/preamp. I also installed a set of blue Weedwacker strings on the bass.
I was totally impressed with the new sound and power of the bass through my old 15 combo amp, but it tended to sound a lot like my bass guitar loud, bassy, rather boomy, and prone to low frequency howling feedback at louder volumes, especially around low A & Bb.
The new lightweight bass cabinets really appealed to me since Im getting older and less impressed by huge stage equipment anymore. But Im also an old tightwad (read cheap) and couldnt really justify spending big money on a new high-end bass amp. Here is what I bought:
Amp: Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 ($550 list pd. $349)
This is a tiny (2 3/4-pounds) 175-watt amp (300-watts with an ext. speaker) with plenty of power, very well thought-out controls & connections, and so amazingly small it fits in my cord bag.
Speakers: Gallien Krueger 210 MBE ($299)
These cabinets use light weight neodymium speakers in a solid 30-pound cabinet with ¼ and Speakon inputs plus a tweeter with on/off switch. They are very full-range and put out sufficient volume for just about any stage use.
The first thing the guys in the band said was Wow! The bass sounds so much more live and realistic, with clean bass, ample mid-range and clarity on the top for string slaps & pops. The first gig with the new amp & speakers was in a huge, echo-prone basketball arena. They worked great with plenty of power and good definition of the bass tone - very lively yet with solid bass oomph. The following weekend we played outdoors for a fall harvest festival (brrrr, cold) and with just a touch of send to the main PA, once again it all sounded great. You can hear it pretty well on this video clip: SpoCats Built for Speed - YouTube
Another advantage I discovered is better bass feedback control. Not only are the EQ controls very well designed in the Shuttle amp, but the new 2-piece set-up allows more distance between the bass and the speakers. With a good Speakon cable, I can keep the power head nearby and put the speaker cabinet farther away. I put the speakers on the other side of the drummer and heard myself very well but without the close proximity to the speakers causing the instrument to howl and feedback.
We are going to have a bass & amp tune-up session this week and work on dialing-in the internal EQ & level controls on the K&K preamp to optimize things with the Shuttle and the new speakers. I think that a little fine tweaking will really bring out the character of this big old bass.
Bottom line:
$349.99 - Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0 bass amp
299.00 - Gallien Krueger 210 MBE speaker cabinet
10.00 - Speakon cable
$658.00 - Total cost to completely reinvent my bass rig
Thats under $1000.00 total if you include the pickups & strings - and the big grin on the bass players face comes with the deal.
Thanks for all the advice and information about bass speaker cabinets. I strongly recommend this set-up for a good, solid bass system that is affordable, very light and easy to use and transport, and sounds GREAT.
DR from Spokane
Link Removed
