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New Combo Amp purchase questions

B

Barry O Connor

Apr 30, 2020
46
24
Ireland
#1
Hi guys I have a bit of a conundrum at the moment regarding a new amp purchase and am looking for a bit of advice. I have only really got back into playing since the lockdowns started last year and am looking at getting a new amp. I currently mostly use my micro cube which I don't really like at all and also have an Ashdown Electric Blue 150 and Carlsbro Bass Bomber both from the early 2000s that need repairing or most likely dumping. I mostly play at home but will be jamming a bit with a guitarist friend who also plays drums again soon with the purpose of recording some songs. Its possible there could be some small gigs but that is way down the line at the moment. The style would be heavy rock/grungey metal.

Anyway my problem is that I really don't know what size amp (or brand)to get. My budget is around $400 and I'd rather buy new. I was first looking at the Orange Crush 50 then looking at the Fender Rumble 100 as it isn't much dearer and have also looked at the Ashdown Studio range and the Blackstar Unity range. I have a lot of pedals so effects on the amp aren't really important.
Should I just buy a smaller 40w-60w amp for home and jamming and if I need to down the line get something bigger? Is there any point in getting a 100W amp over a 50w presuming both will struggle on their own against a drummer(or will they?) or is it better to have 50w for home/practice and 200-300w+ for possible gigging/playing with a full band? If I have a 50w or 100W with a DI out could that be used for a gig if there was a decent PA?
Any recommendations between the amps I have listed or others?
Sorry for all the questions but I really haven't a clue about all this stuff and all music shops are currently closed where I live.
 
#2
Welcome back to the bass!
Having an onboard DI is always good, whether for recording or live. Keep in mind when live your amp becomes your monitor, and it still needs to be loud enough in that role. So yes, 100 watts will be better than 50 watts for live, but not enough. At least not enough for the local bars I play. I wouldn’t play out with less than 200 watts.

Is fixing the Ashdown not an option? It seems like it could be a capable unit for practicing, allowing you to save for a better rig later.
 
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#4
Hi guys thanks for the advice. just a quick update - I have the chance to buy a second hand Gallien Kreuger Mb112 ii for around €350 and as I have no experience with GK I was just wondering what anyone thought of those amps? There seem to be quite positive reviews online, it is 200W and it can be connected to a powered GK cab to add more power etc but those seem to be scarce enough at the moment and I don't know if it can be connected to any other type of cab. Would I be better going for this at €350 over a brand new Ashdown Studio 15 at €400? The Ashdown is obviously 300w but can't be extended and they are similar weight and size. The GK retails at €510 new on Thomann.
 
#7
I don't know whether this particular GK is the answer, but in general it sounds like a good strategy given your situation to get a combo that will accommodate the addition of a second cab -- powered or not -- if you decide you need it later on.
 
#8
I wouldn’t get too wrapped up on brands. Rumble, Ampeg BA, Peavey Max and Hartke HD all have similar, useable offerings. Focus on features like extension cab, DI out... and number/size of speakers. Watts give us tone and “headroom”, speakers give us volume.

If you need/want to get jamming now/ASAP: I’d get the best 15” combo you can find. Rumble 200 or similar. I think the Ampeg BAs are being discontinued, I see the 115 on sale for 319 USD here...

If you can buy some time, a safer bet: small practice rig (Rumble 25 or similar; or Vox Amplug is great if you don’t mind headphones-only) and shoot for a Rumble 500 or similar. This size, with the extension capability, is enough for anything short of stupid-loud, IMHO.

GK MB combos are great. But I doubt the 112 would cut it, and I’ve noticed too that the MBP is scarce, for quite a while now. If you found a 210 used, that’s a different story, as that one takes an unpowered cab.

best of luck!
 
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#9
Whatever you decide, make sure you "new" combo has an output for an extension cab. Use the combo alone for rehearsals and practice, add a second cab to it when performing.

And, as stated above, don't decide before you look (and listen) that you must have Brand X, or Y, or maybe Z. Stay open and listen (don't look) before you decide.
 
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#10
abarson said:
Welcome back to the bass!
Having an onboard DI is always good, whether for recording or live. Keep in mind when live your amp becomes your monitor, and it still needs to be loud enough in that role. So yes, 100 watts will be better than 50 watts for live, but not enough. At least not enough for the local bars I play. I wouldn’t play out with less than 200 watts.

Is fixing the Ashdown not an option? It seems like it could be a capable unit for practicing, allowing you to save for a better rig later.
Click to expand...
Very sound advice.
 
#11
Ampeg is discontinuing the BA series with the release of the new Rocket series, there are some deals to made there as dealers sell the remaining BA's. I just picked up a BA210 for a great price from MF, since stock is limited my "new" 210 turned out to be a floor demo from a GC store - I was able to negotiate an additional discount since it was actually a "new Open Box". I've had a BA115 for about 4 years, and it's been a solid workhorse - we have a 5 piece with 2 drummers (one percussionist). Our drummer is a medium hitter, and our overall volume is about the same - the 115 worked fine for me. For outdoor gigs I pushed it a bit, which is why I bought the 210 for the extra power (I think the 2x10's have a bit more punch), volume between the two amps is not that much different as a combo - the 115 speaker moves a lot of air.

I love the Rumble amps, they are really light and sound great. I had a R40 that was great in my studio but underpowered in a band scenario. It was OK for doing coffee house type "acoustic" style gigs. I upgraded to an R100 hoping it would be an good fit to take to practices - I felt that the 12" speaker really sounded great, but it was also underpowered for a full band. Just my 2c's - The Rumbles are pretty impressive.

Good luck on your search...
 
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#12
Thanks very much again guys this is very helpful. The fact that the GK extension is so specific and rare might actually makes it less attractive than I initially thought. Does anyone know why I couldnt use any type of powered cab with it? Sorry if thats a stupid question I really haven't a clue about this stuff. The Rumble always seems to be popping back into the picture TBH.
 
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#13
Barry O Connor said:
Thanks very much again guys this is very helpful. The fact that the GK extension is so specific and rare might actually makes it less attractive than I initially thought. Does anyone know why I couldnt use any type of powered cab with it? Sorry if thats a stupid question I really haven't a clue about this stuff. The Rumble always seems to be popping back into the picture TBH.
Click to expand...
Here’s a thread on GK MBs with other non-GK cabs. Sounds like a lot of speculation and no clear answers...
Do you daisy chain your GK combo to something other than a GK?

Since you’re still thinking Rumble, I’ll add: I have a Rumble 100 and it is surprisingly loud. Getting it up off the floor and cutting Bass EQ can really maximize the cutting ability. But since you mentioned heavy rock/metal, I was hesitant to endorse it. You can also chain 2 together through the FX loop, giving you a pretty impressive 200w/212 rig for $600 USD. Still, I wonder if you’ll outgrow it and the 500 seems like a safer option. But that’s all for you to decide....
 
#15
Barry O Connor said:
Thanks very much again guys this is very helpful. The fact that the GK extension is so specific and rare might actually makes it less attractive than I initially thought. Does anyone know why I couldnt use any type of powered cab with it? Sorry if thats a stupid question I really haven't a clue about this stuff. The Rumble always seems to be popping back into the picture TBH.
Click to expand...

I tried this with a second cab and a Crown power amp and it didnt really work. The rig stsrted to distort after about .5 hr of playing. With the powered extension cabs being as rare as they are, I sold my MB112 and got an MB210. Its the only G-k Mb series combo that has a passive output. If u have the €€€ I would go with an MB210 if u want to go GL
 
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#17
Just to update everyone I found the Orange Crush 50 amp that i had originally looked at second half for half the new price so hav bought that for now and if needed in future I will look at something bigger and use that only for home practice. Thanks everyone for your help!
 
#20
While I have a head and cabinets that offer more power than I'm likely to ever need here's some food for thought for you.

I played through a dude's Fender Rumble 100w about a week and a half ago and was honestly pretty impressed with it. That being said I didn't play it with drums.. but with a drummer with light enough dynamics I think it would be fine.. and the guy it belonged to says it's what he uses for his jazz trio.

Myself.. for bedroom practice I find my Rumble 15w too loud and apparently so do the people I live with as I got the request to use headphones often. I would never bring that thing to play alongside an accoustic drumset, unless maybe there was a decent PA and speaker system and I could mic it up. I've been playing into a line 6 pod go since Jan at home and love everything about it. Even then if I added a powered bass guitar cabinet, and opted not to run a speaker simulation through the Pod Go I bet the thing holds its own as an amp.
 

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