Hi, I haven't purchased a bass stack amp since 1977. I use a Fender Rumble 100 watts for practice and its a fine little amp for that. Having recently joined a blues jazz band, I need a larger rig. I play a bee bass, 1977 Fender jazz, Zon and Warick fretless. I will be playing in small to larger clubs and a few outdoor jazz type festivals. I enjoy the deep sound of the 70s vibe, tube sound but also need to tone it up a bit for slapping and popping etc. I want a rack mountable head and thinking a 4x10 cabinet and perhaps a second cabinet with a single 15. An amp with a preamp built in perhaps partial tubes? With so many choices I thought I would start here. Thanks in advance..
My last amp shuffle was to switch to a Markbass LM3 and a couple of cabs to provide for any situation that may come my way. The LM3 is rack mountable if one prefers that. I have no regrets and no complaints. Tonight I'm using the LM3 with a 102P cab in a small pub gig. Light weight, packs away easy in my car, and sounds great.
Forget adding a 15 to a 410. A quick search here will tell the tale. Short story, it's a bad combination, though popular for all the wrong reasons. There are many amps that will perform the task you want. While searching the dreaded 410/115 pairing, cruise through all the amps threads for tons of ideas.
+1 on not mixing cabs with different drivers. For amps with the sound you're looking for take a look at the GK Fusion, the GB Streamliner, and the Ampeg SVT Pro7 for starters. Edit: forgot, might also want to look at the Hartke LH500 and LH1000, the preamp is tubed and uses the Fender Bassman tone stack with a few added features to modernize it. Powers a Class D amp and very well priced and liked here.
Cab...if you're looking to go new... If you're already thinking a large-ish box (410) to start, then a modern 215 w/Eminence Kappa Lite 3015s, 3015LFs, or Faital Pro 15PR400s is the way, the truth, & the light . You won't need a 2nd cab. The 3015s (not 3015LFs) & 15PR400s are full-range 15s. You can run them without a mid(s) and/or high frequency driver (tweeter)/horn, & many guys do. Of course a mid(s) and/or HF driver/horn can be added to extend the range if you like. These cabs are relatively compact & light (~ 36" tall x 20" wide x 15" deep & 65 lbs., without mid(s)/HF driver/horn). They have high sensitivity & move a lot of air. They can go very loud if you want/need. And while they're not free , they don't have to cost an arm/leg. 3015LFs are very highly thought of, too (for good reason), although with these you really need a mid-range driver(s). They only go to 1.5kHz. Different guys use different mids, naturally, but the most popular (again for very good reason) is the 18Sound 6ND410 (6.5" mid). A very loud driver. The 3015LFs move immense air. While the 3015 or 15PR400-equipped 215s are truly fantastic boxes, I don't think I'm too far off base to say that the absolute Caddy of bass cabs is a 215/2x6.5 with 3015LFs & 6ND410s. If you're looking used, I'd keep an eye on the classifieds here & snag one when it comes available. Doesn't happen too ofen, but it does happen. The other way, & probably more common, is to go two 115s or two 115 + 6.5 with the above mentioned drivers. Costs more because there are 2 cabinets, but provides modularity. And because more common, you have more chances to get used.
I love my Traynor YBA200-2. It is a little too crunchy for me at first, but changed out the tube with lower gain and is wicked warm and chewy now. Stock it's got kind of a Marshall Superbass feel to me - not a bad thing. They can be found on the used market for about $500 or so and new about $800. Great price for a wonderfully under-rated sleeper head!
I use an SWR SM500 mostly, and sometimes a GBE 750..the SWR has a tube pre, The GBE is much louder and has a tube and solid state channel that can be blended. Both of these heads sound great and are nice and quiet. I pair them with a 4X10 and sometimes a 4x10 and 2x10 for larger or outside jobs. I tried a 2x10 and 1x15 together but the 2 cab combo of 10"s is way better! (all Mesa cabs)
"... Tonight I'm using the LM3 with a 102P cab in a small pub gig. Light weight, packs away easy in my car, and sounds great." I've got a 102p with a GK MB-500 sitting on top. Thinking of replacing the GK with an LM3 as it seems to keep the Cab sound tighter on the low end when I tried it at GC. My worry is that since GC is not the best place to hear an amp/cab, I may not like it as much as my current setup - You think the LM3 and 102p will play nicer together than the MB-500? Wondier if I can use my Sansamp with an LM3 to try to get more of a Geddy Lee tone?
I am using a MarkBass LM800 tube at the "winter" practice room. Don't let go of your G-K to fast. Just can't seem to get the tight, up-front, fast response I like from the LM. Just my experience. To the OP if you want a micro with a true tube driven preamp look at the G-K MB Fusion.
