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Need a bass amp for an old blues man

#22
spike42 said:
I like my G-K MB115 a lot. Under 40 lbs and cost $399 to your
door:

Buy Gallien-Krueger MB115 1x15 200W Ultralight Bass Combo Amp | Solid State Combo Amps | Musician's Friend

That thing is loud, 200w rating nonwithstanding. Easy to carry,
sounds great. I really like that you can disable/enable the
tweeter with the push of a button.
Click to expand...

+1!!!
Or depending on your tastes, the GK MB210 or MB212 is just a few dollars more.
The new GK combos are great sounding, powerful, light weight, small, and inexpensive.
 
#23
A music store near me has the following used bass heads/cabinets for sale. I don't know how old any of these are. He said he would discount these prices some if I bought a head and a cabinet. Please let me know if any of these are great deals and I should jump on them:

Carvin R600 head - $300
Carvin R1000 head - $425
Eden D210T cabinet - $375
GK Backline 210BLX II cabinet - $150
Hartke 115XL cabinet - $150
Trace Elliot 1048 300 watt 4x10 cabinet - $250
Peavey 4x10 cabinet (where's model #?) - $225

FYI, he also had an old Ampeg SVT head for $1200.
 
#24
Figaro said:
A music store near me has the following used bass heads/cabinets for sale. I don't know how old any of these are. He said he would discount these prices some if I bought a head and a cabinet. Please let me know if any of these are great deals and I should jump on them:

Carvin R600 head - $300
Carvin R1000 head - $425
Eden D210T cabinet - $375
GK Backline 210BLX II cabinet - $150
Hartke 115XL cabinet - $150
Trace Elliot 1048 300 watt 4x10 cabinet - $250
Peavey 4x10 cabinet (where's model #?) - $225

FYI, he also had an old Ampeg SVT head for $1200.
Click to expand...

(Just for compairson, the rig I recently put together.)

GK MB-500 head.
350 watts at 8 ohms...
500 watts at 4 ohms...
580 total watts...
3.8 lbs.
New...$ 499.00

Two, 8 ohm, Avatar Neo 210 cabinets.
500 watts cap each...
44 lbs. each...
New...$319.00 each

Depending on the combinations you listed, some fall close to what you can get a new rig for.
Of the one's you've listed, the first combination I'd give a listen to would be the Carvin R1000 into the Trace Elliot 410.
I'd stay away from the GK Backline series of speaker cabinets.
 
#25
I'll just comment that the D210T seems pricey to me. I have one myself, but I sure didn't pay that much (used). Also, while I
liked it OK, I never *loved* it. I just (today) upgraded the speakers to Neos, so my opinion may change.....but $375 is high for that cabinet IMHO.

On the other hand, the G-K MB115 is still my choice, given the parameters of your discussion.
 
#27
A lot of the suggestions I am seeing here are very modern, hi-fi sounding bass amps...things like Markbass, etc..

Personally, I use the ampeg BA115 as my main amp when playing roots music.

It has a warm, fat sound. If you find yourself needing more power later on, and the place has a PA, get yourself a direct box so you can plug into the PA. The XLR direct out on the BA115 sucks...but the amp sounds very, very good!

(PS, I use it with upright bass and also with an electric p-bass with flatwounds)
 
#28
I think if you could spend just a bit more you could get a lot more. A used Ashdown MAG-300 head with a used 2x10 or 1x15 cab would get it done. I've done countless blues gigs with an Ashdown Electric Blue 180 head and a Bag End single 15" cab.
 
#30
Again stating this is all IMHO:

I had an M line 200 head. GB builds great stuff, and that's probably not a bad price. I'm not sure it would be a perfect
solution however (volume-wise).

Not a bad price on the Markbass, I have one myself and I
like it a lot. Course, you still gotta buy a cab.

Whatever you do, be aware that Neo speakers are going up
in price rapidly:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/end-neodymium-cabs-756149/

Neo is what makes the magic happen for me, light and loud. I
question how long stuff like that MB115 is going be at that
pricepoint. So, whatever you do, if it involves anything Neo,
nows the time to buy.
 
#32
#33
Yes! The Little Mark III is a great deal @ 300. They go for 599 new. Only problem is getting your cabinet and staying @ 350 total. The LMIII is very versatile and great for blues. You can coax 500 watts into 4 ohms if you have (2) 8 ohm cabs or 300 watts into a single 8 ohm cab.

I have the Jeff Berlin combo with 1-15 and no tweeter and love it for blues. Saw one of these locally for 600, like new. Paid just under a grand for mine with discounts @ GC. Has sturdy side handles, weighs 44 lbs.
 
#35
I have an Acoustic B200 combo and like it a lot. 1x15 and a horn. plenty of power and it comes with the caster scokets already in all you have to but is the casters. they are on the floor at the GC for $349. I talked my local GC into $300 including the tax for cash on the spot.
I have had the amp for 2 years with no complaints. I've done two musicials at the local college and serveal jams rock, country, blues and always had enough smoke to keep up!
Good Luck!
 
#36
For $500 the GK MB210 might be a good option. Definitely light and can power an extension cab if you need to expand.

I gigged with a yamaha 115 combo for many years and still have it. But it weighs 95lbs. The ampeg 115 will disappoint. At least it did for me. Doesn't have enough volume for a band and hisses like crazy. Plus it won't run another cab. Not all 115 combos are created equally.

Try RMCaudio if you go GK.
 
#37
After reading more reviews, now I'm just worried that sometimes I'll have to run the GK MB115 or Acoustic B200 combos with the volume up high, close to their maximum clean headroom. Shouldn't I spend just a little more ($150) and get a 500 watt combo or head and cabinet, even if I might not use all that wattage all the time? Wouldn't this sound better?
 
#38
TN WOODMAN said:
Yes! The Little Mark III is a great deal @ 300. They go for 599 new. Only problem is getting your cabinet and staying @ 350 total. The LMIII is very versatile and great for blues. You can coax 500 watts into 4 ohms if you have (2) 8 ohm cabs or 300 watts into a single 8 ohm cab.

I have the Jeff Berlin combo with 1-15 and no tweeter and love it for blues. Saw one of these locally for 600, like new. Paid just under a grand for mine with discounts @ GC. Has sturdy side handles, weighs 44 lbs.
Click to expand...

Originally Posted by Kragu

I have a Markbass mini combo 121 amp and I Love the sound for both my upright and fender jazz bass. Warm pure bass sound and no need for a pre amp with the upright. It only weighs 29lbs which was a one of the main reasons i checked it out. I spent a few hours at the local GC last spring and played just about every amp in the store with my upright. Although it was more than i planned on spending on an amp it had the best sound. It is very versatile.
 
#39
Figaro said:
After reading more reviews, now I'm just worried that sometimes I'll have to run the GK MB115 or Acoustic B200 combos with the volume up high, close to their maximum clean headroom. Shouldn't I spend just a little more ($150) and get a 500 watt combo or head and cabinet, even if I might not use all that wattage all the time? Wouldn't this sound better?
Click to expand...

I just went thru a similar process. Tried the GK210 in a music store. Bought a EA micro/wizzy 10 combo and sold it. Bought an Ibanez p5110 and sent it back (it broke, but would handle a band on it's on). My conclusion is you can't have clean power in a cheap, lightweight package. I ended up with a shuttle 9.0 and an LDS nEarful. Spent twice what I'd hoped to, but I like the sound and the weight. What good is cheap if you don't like playing it.

But I do think you could get a decent 12 or 15 inch cab and a MB, Genz or GK light head used for around 6-700 that would suit your needs. Except only you know what will suit your needs. Craigslist and TB classifieds are awesome. And if you buy used (smart) you can usually get your money back and try again.
 
#40
If you can find an Ampeg B200r Rocket Combo this may suit your needs. It can push 220 watts through a 15" speaker. I'm not sure of the weight. I used one for sometime and it work real well for medium to smaller venues.
 

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