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Need to choose 1x10 Combo amp

FronTowardEnemy

FronTowardEnemy

It’s better to go unnoticed, than to suck
Supporting Member
Sep 19, 2006
3,236
6,195
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Chicago Illinois
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#1
I am in the market for a decent practice combo amp and have narrowed it down between Line 6 Studio 110, SWR LA10, and Roland Cube 30. I will mostly be using it at home and maybe a couple of jam sessions here and there, but mostly used for 90% home practice. I already have a stage worthy rig and a nice pedal board so I am really only interested in decent tone and reliability for my choice in a practice combo. I have owned a Crate BX15 for the last 14 years and really become bored with the tones. I am looking for something that can inspire me to practice more at home. Any thoughts or experience is much appreciated.

BTW..I searched and researched thoroughly but am torn between these three.
 
#4
FronTowardEnemy said:
I am in the market for a decent practice combo amp and have narrowed it down between Line 6 Studio 110, SWR LA10, and Roland Cube 30. I will mostly be using it at home and maybe a couple of jam sessions here and there, but mostly used for 90% home practice. I already have a stage worthy rig and a nice pedal board so I am really only interested in decent tone and reliability for my choice in a practice combo. I have owned a Crate BX15 for the last 14 years and really become bored with the tones. I am looking for something that can inspire me to practice more at home. Any thoughts or experience is much appreciated.

BTW..I searched and researched thoroughly but am torn between these three.
Click to expand...
a nagging wife does the trick,lol i think the swr would be my pick, if you can get your hands on an eden cxc110,i'd say get that
 
#5
The lowdown is a great little amp. i can't speak to the other amps you're looking at. The line 6 has the stereo mini-plug input for jamming along with music and seems to have gigable volume for a 1x10. The other bonus is, if you like vintage tones it is a really good recording tool. I just did a session with mine for the first time last night and the engineer was floored by the fat tone he heard from the direct out. I was playing an SX P-bass modded with a Fender "original P-bass" pickup and custom HAS harness (sprague orange drop cap) with the tone all the way off. Medium Labella Flats. I used the stock "R&B" setting which is based on the Ampeg B15. I goosed the Drive and Compressor controls a bit but the eq was unchanged from the preset. The bass track had thickness and definition without being boomy at all.
I'll post a review after I get to do a few gigs with it next weekend if you're interested.
 
#6
In my search for a new amp I stumbled upon the Roland CUBE - 100 Bass. I tried the 30 out as well and I really like it, the sound was very nice. But it is a modelling amp and none of the models sound like a real amplifier so this amp really didn't sound like an amplifier to me. Also at 30 watts this seemed to be a bit to quiet. For home practice you don't need a lot of power but I would think that this one would lack power for a real jam. Heck. even my Hartke B300 is louder but can barely keep up with a decent piano with bit more energy in the pianist.

As for the 100w version I didn't like it that much. Actually I am beginning to think that the tweeter on the amplifier I tried was broken....
 
#7
I've never found an amp, bass, set of strings, effects pedal, or any other piece of gear that will inspire someone to practice.

However, if you can only choose between those 3 amps for a good sounding practice amp, I'd vote for the Roland over the SWR. I've tried both. I haven't tried the Line 6.

There are much better sounding 1x10 and small 1x12 combos available but not in that price bracket. The little GK MB 150E, for example sounds huge for its size. It's the one with stereo chorus and other goodies. The MB 150S is the same but more basic and is the one I have. I love it. It's small and light-26 lbs., and will power an extension cabinet for even better coverage.

The Yorkville XM50C is a 1x10" combo that sells for the same price roughly as the Roland. It sounds better, bigger and is very reliable. No effects though. I tried the two side by side in a store with the same bass and liked the Yorkville enough to buy it. Although less than half the price of the GK it compares well. Not quite as thick and rich sounding but pretty darn good. It is small and weighs 30 lbs.
 
#9
I can only speak of the Line 6, and I can tell you it's a great little practice amp. Loud enough for acoustic jamming with several guitars, and nice tone for such a tiny little box. For your intended purpose, I would think any one of them would do fine.
 
#11
Gintaras said:
I have a workingman 10 that I picked up for $150 then replaced the stock speaker with a Eminence Neo 10" from Avatar. I was planning to give up on the combo route and sell the Workingman till I made this change. Have not found anything even remotely close for that kind of money. It also became 6 lbs lighter.
Click to expand...

This is what I was going to do until I bought a Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T combo.

The GB is out of your range, but the SWR WM10 used and new driver is not.
 
#13
Don't know if you've seen the new roland microcubes, but if it's just for a practice amp I think might want to check it out. Gives you the battery option so if ya ever want to take it to the beach, picnic, park - whatever, you have the option. More useful than the other practice amps IMO. I'm getting one as soon as the stores start stocking them.

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#15
I'm considering what speaker to replace the driver in my WM10. This is strickly living room practice amp for me.

Why not the LEGEND BP102-4? out of the eminance choices


http://www.eminence.com/bass.asp?speaker_size=10


1) It has the lowest frequency rating, I do play 5 strings.

2) It is 4 ohm, cool, I'll never add a extension for the living room.

3) sure it's insensitive but what kind of volume am I looking for,

besides I've got the power running at 4 ohms now.




Aj
 
#16
WOW! Thanks for all the responses. I think I will look at the SWR Working Man 10. I don't care if the amp is used or new, I just would like an amp that doesn't make me want to put my bass down when I practice in my bedroom. I would like to keep the cost down to about $300 though.
 
#19
i Last fall, I was looking to replace my Behringer 30 watt practice amp with something of higher quality. I looked at all three of the amps you're looking at. I had a chance to try out the Roland Cube100 and came to the conclusion that for roughly the same size as the old Behringer, I could have an amp I might (just might), be able to use for small gigs. I opted for the 100 and haven't looked back. Very portable combo and the 12 delivers better bottom than the 10. I've used it for five gigs and haven't pulled my big rig out in five months.

So...for just a bit more money, you can get an amp of roughly the same size, that is ideal for practicing and it's gig worthy. Check it out. It's more than you say you're looking for, but you're getting more flexibility.

My $.02 Swiss Francs.
 
#20
Line 6 all the way. I have used it for practice and small gigs, even as a preamp/DI to the PA with a headphone jack plugged in to kill the speaker, with everything from a WAV 4 to a Lakland 55-94. At least three usable presets ("Grind" doesn't make it for me) At an outdoor gig with drums and acoustic guitars, I had several people come up to me and say "killer amp." That never happened with my big rigs. I got mine as an open-box "blem" for $225 from Musicians Friend. I don't care for Cube, SWR or Ashdown. If I were looking bigger but still portable, yet pricey, I'd go Genz-Benz NEOx 400 or the one of the Shuttles. But as a portable practice amp with great sounds, the Lowdown 110 is it.
 

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