The shape button is a weird idea tho, the manual says it filters 20db on the selected frequencies. They should just have made a parametric eq out of that 
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practice amp
- Thread starter Michiellll
- Start date
The Sansamp is more than just a DI box, you can use it to enhance your tone like a stompbox. Many players have used one live without a rig. Just another option for you if you are interested........
I have recorded with the line out from my Rumble, it sounds decent.
Hi, the question you are asking is largely about personal preference - the sound you want, the music you play, etc.
I'm going to recommend you look at 100W Roland Cube. But since you seem to be a detailed guy, let me add some detail.
I haven't used the Cube RX. I looked at it once because I was interested in the battery capability, but it's really small (something like 5W) so I didn't bother to try it. I use a 100W bass cube and really like it for small gigs or gigs where there is PA support and I just need a little extra onstage monitoring. It works well there. Similar amp modeling to the RX, which I like. The effects are there and switchable, though I don't use them because they are pretty basic. If they made a 500W Cube I would look at it for large stuff. Don't know if the 100W Cube fits your price range, but if it does it's worth auditioning.
I don't know your Ampeg option but I have used Rumbles. A friend buys them for school bands he runs as they are reliable, cheap and do a good enough job.
Hartke and aluminium cones....try it. I have heard some really nice Hartke stuff and based on that I bought a Hartke 210 box mail order. It's well enough made and does a good job the way I use it (paired with a single 15) but it doesn't have enough low end for me used alone. Likewise I tried the Hartke combo once and same reaction, so it wouldn't surprise me if the speakers were the culprit. I have heard their amps sound great.
You asked about tweeters.....depends on the sound you want. I tend to like tweeters if running double bass, but not so much if running electric, but I tend to go for a fairly old-school midrange sound on electric. The Cube doesn't have a tweeter.
Size - Rickenboogie said at least 300W and in the long run for a rock and roll gig I think he's right. Even 300W is small in some settings. On the other hand lots of us don't want to lug around an amp the size of a small fridge to get our sound, and the dangers of permanent damage to your hearing are real. Given your current needs I wouldn't think about all that just yet. I'd buy what meets your needs now and trade or get a second amp later. (Lots of us here have more than one rig). The other thing is, some guys want a lot of sound on stage and others don't. You can use a much smaller amp, or no amp at all and rely on foldback, if you are in the second category.
Parametric, sure. The fact that they are not so common tells you lots of players think you can get a good sound without them.
SansAmp is a preamp as well as a DI. It has quite a nice sound, which you can then send to the PA, and most models are programmable so you can have a couple of sounds set and switch between them. From where you are, it's worth looking at because it can make a cheap amp sound much better. I use one in front of my Peavey TNT which is rock solid but bland sounding, and it transforms the amp. I wouldn't bother with the SansAmp if you are buying a modelling amp like the Line6 or the Cube, but otherwise it's definitely worth considering.
I'm going to recommend you look at 100W Roland Cube. But since you seem to be a detailed guy, let me add some detail.
I haven't used the Cube RX. I looked at it once because I was interested in the battery capability, but it's really small (something like 5W) so I didn't bother to try it. I use a 100W bass cube and really like it for small gigs or gigs where there is PA support and I just need a little extra onstage monitoring. It works well there. Similar amp modeling to the RX, which I like. The effects are there and switchable, though I don't use them because they are pretty basic. If they made a 500W Cube I would look at it for large stuff. Don't know if the 100W Cube fits your price range, but if it does it's worth auditioning.
I don't know your Ampeg option but I have used Rumbles. A friend buys them for school bands he runs as they are reliable, cheap and do a good enough job.
Hartke and aluminium cones....try it. I have heard some really nice Hartke stuff and based on that I bought a Hartke 210 box mail order. It's well enough made and does a good job the way I use it (paired with a single 15) but it doesn't have enough low end for me used alone. Likewise I tried the Hartke combo once and same reaction, so it wouldn't surprise me if the speakers were the culprit. I have heard their amps sound great.
You asked about tweeters.....depends on the sound you want. I tend to like tweeters if running double bass, but not so much if running electric, but I tend to go for a fairly old-school midrange sound on electric. The Cube doesn't have a tweeter.
Size - Rickenboogie said at least 300W and in the long run for a rock and roll gig I think he's right. Even 300W is small in some settings. On the other hand lots of us don't want to lug around an amp the size of a small fridge to get our sound, and the dangers of permanent damage to your hearing are real. Given your current needs I wouldn't think about all that just yet. I'd buy what meets your needs now and trade or get a second amp later. (Lots of us here have more than one rig). The other thing is, some guys want a lot of sound on stage and others don't. You can use a much smaller amp, or no amp at all and rely on foldback, if you are in the second category.
Parametric, sure. The fact that they are not so common tells you lots of players think you can get a good sound without them.
SansAmp is a preamp as well as a DI. It has quite a nice sound, which you can then send to the PA, and most models are programmable so you can have a couple of sounds set and switch between them. From where you are, it's worth looking at because it can make a cheap amp sound much better. I use one in front of my Peavey TNT which is rock solid but bland sounding, and it transforms the amp. I wouldn't bother with the SansAmp if you are buying a modelling amp like the Line6 or the Cube, but otherwise it's definitely worth considering.
I own an Ampeg BA112 and I love it. Its got a great tone and I really like the style switching feature. It has a great ballsy low end when you crank the bass eq up and punchy highs. Its really for home practice and jamming along with your mp3 player I haven't tried it with a live drummer but I don't think it would cut it in most situations. The only problem i've noticed is when I try to record from the amp directly into my computer I get some static interference. Overall great amp for the price.
The GK MB112 is by far the best choice out there right now. It's $300 USD on Amazon.com and it sound AMAZING. And not only that... it's also light as a feather!! Seriously! Those Fender combos suck in my opinion. They are too bulky and the sound is mediocre.
The GK MB112 can not only be a practice at home amp, but it serves well at restaurant and even small club gigs... no joke.
It sounds fat, clear and refined.
I cannot speak well enough about this amp... I've been blown away by the quality.
The Phil Jones combos and the Markbass mini series are pretty amazing too but they're expensive.
GET A GK MB COMBO!
The GK MB112 can not only be a practice at home amp, but it serves well at restaurant and even small club gigs... no joke.
It sounds fat, clear and refined.
I cannot speak well enough about this amp... I've been blown away by the quality.
The Phil Jones combos and the Markbass mini series are pretty amazing too but they're expensive.
GET A GK MB COMBO!
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I can't find the MB112 in the netherlands.
Apparantly they used to have it on thomann.de for 320€ they still sell the 115 which is 385€.
The backline 115 II is 240€, big price difference does that mean big quality difference?
Roland Cube 100 is 400€
Maybe I should wait a month and in the meantime figure out how to get it over my computer/hifi
Apparantly they used to have it on thomann.de for 320€ they still sell the 115 which is 385€.
The backline 115 II is 240€, big price difference does that mean big quality difference?
Roland Cube 100 is 400€
Maybe I should wait a month and in the meantime figure out how to get it over my computer/hifi
If these options are unaffordable and you don't want to go for something cheaper, one other option is to look at headphone amps. MarlowDK (bass teacher on YouTube) uses a Korg Pandora and gets some good sounds. You could use something like this until you are ready to jam with a band. It also lets you experiment with what sort of sounds you like.
I could wait a month or so and buy something bigger, but I really want one now.
So my choices right now are:
Fender Rumble 75 240€
Fender Rumble 100 (Second hand) 175€
GK Backline 150 II 240€
Line6 Lowdown LD150 (Second hand)225€
The ones that seem really good to me are the:
Acoustic B200 (cant be in or near the netherlands tho)
GK MB112 (found one place in germany which had it but they still sell the 115 which seems fine too)
I can of course wait a month
Maybe try plugging it into my computer's soundcard while waiting (or directly into my hifi amp, but I don't want to risk either the amp nor the speakers i got)
I'm still curious if that GK backline is any good, its alot cheaper than the MB and I suppose there is a reason for that. Has anyone ever used it?
So my choices right now are:
Fender Rumble 75 240€
Fender Rumble 100 (Second hand) 175€
GK Backline 150 II 240€
Line6 Lowdown LD150 (Second hand)225€
The ones that seem really good to me are the:
Acoustic B200 (cant be in or near the netherlands tho)
GK MB112 (found one place in germany which had it but they still sell the 115 which seems fine too)
I can of course wait a month
Maybe try plugging it into my computer's soundcard while waiting (or directly into my hifi amp, but I don't want to risk either the amp nor the speakers i got)
I'm still curious if that GK backline is any good, its alot cheaper than the MB and I suppose there is a reason for that. Has anyone ever used it?
I have an Ampeg BA112, I have been using it for years as a practice amp at home. (Lately I have also been using it for a separate monitor for the drummer in live situations).
In small places this amp is fine for acoustic sets, and fine for lighter music with a lighter playing drummer. Not something for a rock band, but I love having it. It is just great to have to practice with around the house, because sometimes I practice in different rooms, very easy to move and light. It has a great tone.
I have gigged with it 3 times in the past 2 months, when I was playing with two acoustic guitars in a smaller bar area. Worked great...Nice to have something real light to take out when you do acoustic sets with people sometimes.
In small places this amp is fine for acoustic sets, and fine for lighter music with a lighter playing drummer. Not something for a rock band, but I love having it. It is just great to have to practice with around the house, because sometimes I practice in different rooms, very easy to move and light. It has a great tone.
I have gigged with it 3 times in the past 2 months, when I was playing with two acoustic guitars in a smaller bar area. Worked great...Nice to have something real light to take out when you do acoustic sets with people sometimes.
I had a Hartke 2x10 cab for years that I used as my home amp, and loved i t's sound. Also played a 4x10 for years and loved it's sound too...well, its high end sound. Never been
Now for live I use an Avatar B410, but still use the Hartkes at home.
I have the rack mount Sans-Amp pre amp and it is awesome! (Powered by a Yamaha P3500S power amp)
I basicaly just bring my head from home to the rehearsal space and use the same set up just turned down at home...
Now for live I use an Avatar B410, but still use the Hartkes at home.
I have the rack mount Sans-Amp pre amp and it is awesome! (Powered by a Yamaha P3500S power amp)
I basicaly just bring my head from home to the rehearsal space and use the same set up just turned down at home...
I used a hartke 2500 on a 4x10 once, but I don't recall what the cab was from. I didn't like it tho
Your comment got cut off I think. Love to see the rest of the sentence.
Which cab is it? Reading discussions here on TB Hartke make a couple of 2x10 boxes, and they are quite different.
I found a SWR workingman's 12 combo for 275€ (second hand)
Are those good?
Invalid Link Removed
Are those good?
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The hartke kickback is 470€ new.
I havent spotted it second hand yet.
Going to check out that SWR Workingman's 12 tomorrow evening (it's only a 30min drive so why not)
I havent spotted it second hand yet.
Why?
Going to check out that SWR Workingman's 12 tomorrow evening (it's only a 30min drive so why not)
Bought it. I like it. Going to find out how it does live this weekend
It's only 120/160watts yet it has an output for another cab, I wonder about that. No plans to try it out yet though.
Thanks for all the info
It's only 120/160watts yet it has an output for another cab, I wonder about that. No plans to try it out yet though.
Thanks for all the info
Michiellll said:Bought it. I like it. Going to find out how it does live this weekend
It's only 120/160watts yet it has another output for another cab, I wonder about that. No plans to try it out yet though.
Thanks for all the info
Enjoy.
