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Double Bass New amp recommendation

DanAleks

DanAleks

Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult
Mar 5, 2009
547
687
#1
So I’ve got a very nice situation here…

My wife retired about 2 years ago & asked for a laptop for a retirement gift.
I bought her one for about $600 - $700.

I retire next month & she asked what I’d like as a retirement gift & specified it should be a “big ticket” item comparable to her laptop. I’d like to get a combo amp that would be a little easier to transport.

It would be for playing smaller venues on electric and I’m auditioning for a big band on upright.

What combo amp would you buy?
I’m currently using an Ampeg PB250 with a Carvin BR210 cab and would like a smaller, lighter unit.

If it’s OK with the mods; I’m cross posting this to the electric bass amps topic.

Thanks,
Dan
 
#6
Not less than 200 watts into the cab, not smaller than 10 inches unless it is a very special design.
Get a HPF too, at least if you want to use it with the big band.

My Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T is nice and I used it with big band, but with PA support. The brass didn’t hear me, but I could not direct it too them and the monitors needed to be bass free.
It is 185 watts into a 10”.

For my EUB in the 10 piece latin band (2 singers, 3 winds) where the percussion and the winds are loud, I add a 12” extension speaker with a total of 300 watts. It is OK but not very far from the limit. No HPF yet. It might work for the big band, but is still something to carry around.

With the HPF you can use a lighter combo with a similar acoustic output, so I would get one if I needed to travel as light as possible.
 
#7
Good recommendations so far. There's also a thread on here about the Peavey Bass Max 208, and everyone who has used it so far seems to like it. I have never used it, but I sure like the concept: two vertically stacked 8s in a slanted baffle and an amp with a nice feature set.

I've also been curious about the Phil Jones Session 77, but at 100 Watts it might be too small for a big band rehearsal.
 
#10
DoubleMIDI said:
Not less than 200 watts into the cab, not smaller than 10 inches unless it is a very special design.
Get a HPF too, at least if you want to use it with the big band.

My Genz Benz Shuttle 3.0-10T is nice and I used it with big band, but with PA support. The brass didn’t hear me, but I could not direct it too them and the monitors needed to be bass free.
It is 185 watts into a 10”.

For my EUB in the 10 piece latin band (2 singers, 3 winds) where the percussion and the winds are loud, I add a 12” extension speaker with a total of 300 watts. It is OK but not very far from the limit. No HPF yet. It might work for the big band, but is still something to carry around.

With the HPF you can use a lighter combo with a similar acoustic output, so I would get one if I needed to travel as light as possible.
Click to expand...

Thanks!
Yup, I have an HPF.
 
#11
DoubleMIDI said:
Not less than 200 watts into the cab, not smaller than 10 inches unless it is a very special design.
Get a HPF too, at least if you want to use it with the big band.
Click to expand...

This is a good set of guidelines to follow. There are exceptions but most are "boutique" cabinets that are fairly expensive. Big Band with an amplifier onstage is not something that's easy to accomplish, but I have done it. Most mid tier sound systems don't have enough
channels on the monitor sends to isolate the bass on it's own. Just my take
 
Last edited:
#12
DanAleks said:
So I’ve got a very nice situation here…

My wife retired about 2 years ago & asked for a laptop for a retirement gift.
I bought her one for about $600 - $700.

I retire next month & she asked what I’d like as a retirement gift & specified it should be a “big ticket” item comparable to her laptop. I’d like to get a combo amp that would be a little easier to transport.

It would be for playing smaller venues on electric and I’m auditioning for a big band on upright.

What combo amp would you buy?
I’m currently using an Ampeg PB250 with a Carvin BR210 cab and would like a smaller, lighter unit.

If it’s OK with the mods; I’m cross posting this to the electric bass amps topic.

Thanks,
Dan
Click to expand...
This may not be a common DB recommendation, but I'd consider the Trace Elliot. They have a 1x8 and 1x10 combo, 200w, DI out, each weighs around 23 lbs.

You can also get a 1x10 TE cab, around 16 lbs, and put your choice of micro head on it. There's a spot on the top for the TE Elf head.
 

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