Need advice for combo amp with small footprint

[gtirard]

Must of been a brain malfunction for me to forget that one - one of the best and reasonably priced as well!

As much as I love my Quilter v803, if I already had a Bergantino Forte D, I would stick with it.

I've checked on my giga big Illustrator file with all my simulations of amps/cabs combinations… The Trace Eliot Elf 2x8 cabs are large enough for almost all the modern amps, including Quilter, Jad Freer Sisma, Aguilar etc… with the noticeable exception of the Mesa heads (all the Subway heads are too wide for the Elf, except the D350)

 

[John D Harris]

As much as I love my Quilter v803, if I already had a Bergantino Forte D, I would stick with it.

I've checked on my giga big Illustrator file with all my simulations of amps/cabs combinations… The Trace Eliot Elf 2x8 cabs are large enough for almost all the modern amps, including Quilter, Jad Freer Sisma, Aguilar etc… with the noticeable exception of the Mesa heads (all the Subway heads are too wide for the Elf, except the D350)

The Mesa D-800 will fit and the 800D / TT-800 / WD-800 will hang off an inch on each side.

The D-800+ would hang off an inch and a half on each side.

I guess it depends on how OCD a person is about T-bones.

I thought the Phil Jones Bass BP-800 (a great clean amp) might hang off the backside a bit, but it doesn't.

 

[gtirard]

The Mesa D-800 will fit and the 800D / TT-800 / WD-800 will hang off an inch on each side.

The D-800+ would hang off an inch and a half on each side.

I guess it depends on how OCD a person is about T-bones.

I thought the Phil Jones Bass BP-800 (a great clean amp) might hang off the backside a bit, but it doesn't.

LOL I'm a sucker for T-Bone steaks, but not so much for T-Bone amps.

 

[Nebadon2000]

Markbass cmd 121 P V will get job done 15" wide 26lbs

I used earlier version with loud Blues/Southern Rock band with ease in small/medium sized Bars
no FOH

I would think 802 Mini with Nano 2x8 combo Amp would do great with small stage and venues at 11" wide 28lbs

 

[ahbradot]

Markbass CMD TRAVELER 102 P V 500 W

This compact and lightweight combo delivers amazing depth and volume, and the vertical design of the two Markbass 10" speakers always allows to find room on stage, even in smallest clubs:

 

[dune]

Ah ah, I found your ideal rig

Two Trace Elliot 2x8 + your Berg Forte D

Now, that's a *small* footprint — yet it should very capable.

(the black rectangle on top of the Elf is your Forte D, slightly wider but it should be fine)

Bonus: and the green of the Bergantino and the Trace Elliot logos will match

View attachment 7430032View attachment 7430033

A bit on the skinny side to my eye but betting it would sound such that I'd be OK with that. Quite thoughtful and kind of you to produce and publish such helpful imagery.

 

[Corn Pop]

Ah ah, I found your ideal rig

Two Trace Elliot 2x8 + your Berg Forte D

Now, that's a *small* footprint — yet it should very capable.

(the black rectangle on top of the Elf is your Forte D, slightly wider but it should be fine)

Bonus: and the green of the Bergantino and the Trace Elliot logos will match

View attachment 7430032View attachment 7430033

Thanks bud, I was actually going this route and even ordered one, but I cancelled after reading posts that the 2X8 had trouble on stage with drums and guitars. So I think I would have to go with at least a 210. ALthough this would have been the perfect solution. I would prefer not to carry 2 cabs. BTW thanks so much for your awesome replies.

 

[bassfran]

Keep the head and grab a Phil Jones C8 cab.

 

[RColie]

Genzler just introduced a new series of lightweight vertical cabs. The 210 has a footprint of 14.25" x 14" and weighs only 25 pounds. When you factor in the very high quality and excellent customer service of Genzler, this is hard to beat.

https://genzleramplification.com/

 

[Corn Pop]

A bit on the skinny side to my eye but betting it would sound such that I'd be OK with that. Quite thoughtful and kind of you to produce and publish such helpful imagery.

Keep the head and grab a Phil Jones C8 cab.

Is a 5 inch speaker ever going to have a low or warmth I am used to with a Berg 12 inch?

 

[bassfran]

Is a 5 inch speaker ever going to have a low or warmth I am used to with a Berg 12 inch?

I’m not playing dub in stadiums or anything but I run as small as a C4 Lite and C2 together with plenty of low end. C8 is 800w capable and I think gets down in the 30’s? Not sure offhand.

 

[dune]

Is a 5 inch speaker ever going to have a low or warmth I am used to with a Berg 12 inch?

Enticed by all of the love the PJB gear gets here, I bought a BG-450 right after they came out. Didn't do it for me at all and I think the smaller drivers were the reason.

 

[Yahboy]

Tone Hammer 210 Combo

Full Aguilar Tone. Compact Format. The Tone Hammer 210 Combo delivers the sound, feel, and authority of an Aguilar rig in a streamlined, gig-ready combo for small to medium rooms. Designed for working bassists who need professional tone without excess size or complexity, it combines a compact...

aguilaramp.com

grand grand mum washing machine .......

 

[Yahboy]

Dude, you can play like this , best solution without too much worry about the rig size for small foot print.....

 

[hennessybass]

Seems to me like you have a very small and simple rig that is some of the highest quality stuff out there - and I think as you start getting any smaller and go to a combo, you are going to start getting into diminishing returns in terms of volume and tone... but that's just me.

I have Berg 210 that I like because it is very shallow, so it can go almost right up against the wall. That to me is a big space saver on a small stage, and you still get good coverage with a 210.
Doesn't fix your "combo" problem. And it might not be much smaller than your 112... I also have a 112, and the 210 is the same width, but is several inches deeper. Of course you can turn the 112 on its side, and it's smaller, but still deep. I like the 210 a lot - especially the form factor.

I used to have a Micro Mark amp. Little tiny cube with an 8" speaker and two knobs. It actually sounded great, and I used it on a weekly hotel lobby gig with two acoustic guitars / singers for years.
But when that gig was over, I really had no use for it. Cool little amp tho.

 

[John D Harris]

Is a 5 inch speaker ever going to have a low or warmth I am used to with a Berg 12 inch?

The PJB 5's do go low, the low's just hit you in a different sort of way - feels different!

 

[gtirard]

The PJB 5's do go low, the low's just hit you in a different sort of way - feels different!

Very well put.

I only know small PJB speakers from my Double 4, but I agree and it makes me curious to hear a C8.

At home practice volume, I would have said that my D4 has as much lows as my 1x12, but it is tighter.
And I would have thought that the PJB is better for home practice — but that for gigs a good 1x12 will always be better than any number of 4" or 5" speakers. But that may be a preconceived idea, now I'd like to hear a C8 in a band mix.

 

[J.Wolf]

Coming from your Berg rig, *most* combos are gonna be underwhelming sounding, my .02c. Theyre often designed less as pro rigs with high quality components and more as budget practice setups. There are outliers for sure, but that Berg rig sets a high bar for tone.

On a budget, I feel like some of the nicer Rumble combos are hard to beat. Not amazing sounding by any means, but impressive for the money.

Based on what you're describing, I'd put this in the mix for sure. Small, loud, very portable: Bullhead Mini 500 Combo – TRICKFISH AMPLIFICATION

 

[H Nighttrain]

I regularly gig a Revsound RS28, 10" x 11" footprint, a tad shy of 20 lbs. Well-balanced output, excellent sound, can handle a "medium-sized" bar gig. I've powered it with a couple different amps - Ashdown OriginAL, EA iAmp, TH350, now a GB Shuttle 3.0 - none of these hang over the edge (not sure about your amp).

I've had the opportunity to play TE Elf and Warwick 2x8s, (I prefer the Warwick over the Elf fwiw), but the RS is a step above those.

I just did a gig with a combo amp the other day and setup is not that different from an amp/cab setup, it's really only one extra (speaker) cable to hook up while you plug in the power cord....

Factoring in size, weight, and capability, it's probably my favorite piece of gear (looks great with its custom tolex too).

⁸

 

[TheDuff]

A bit on the skinny side to my eye but betting it would sound such that I'd be OK with that. Quite thoughtful and kind of you to produce and publish such helpful imagery.

I myself would probably like a small packable mini type head, as mentioned, Quilter or another; and a 12” neodymium sealed cab.

I would be concerned with light weight and portability while still producing strong performance.

I would be prepared to move it long distances by foot up and down slopes and stairs.

Whatever I would be carrying around anywhere would have to meet those weight and portability limitations.

I would only use field grade dependable equipment. Nothing fancy or expensive.