Double Bass Recommendations for Small Dual-Purpose Combo Amp

[turf3]

In a lot of cases, for the DB you're likely to want a pre-amp if you're using a piezo pickup. Not needed for the electric bass. The pre-amp will generally give you some EQ options, so you can use the same combo amp - plug EB straight in, plug DB into pre-amp.

There are a few amps with switchable input impedance (I have one of these, a first generation Acoustic Image Contra).

 

[lurk]

I am curious why. ^

I've played through both. The Cub IMO is only useful as a practice amp, tho I must say it appears that PJ may have modified it some from the (10 years ago?) one I tried. The Double 4 is a useable gigging amp. I use a preamp, now a Red Eye and previously a Fishman, and am able to cut a reasonable volume jazz gig with drums, electric keyboard, and horns. Not my "A" setup, but when ease of transport is an issue, it's great. A gag I like to play on guys who have never seen one is to say "catch" and toss it to them. They're startled and amazed at how light it is. Fits in a child's book bag.

 

[MountainMikeCS]

In a lot of cases, for the DB you're likely to want a pre-amp if you're using a piezo pickup. Not needed for the electric bass. The pre-amp will generally give you some EQ options, so you can use the same combo amp - plug EB straight in, plug DB into pre-amp.

There are a few amps with switchable input impedance (I have one of these, a first generation Acoustic Image Contra).

Yes - I have a Fishman piezo pickup and a Fishman Platinum Pro preamp - I still hate the sound I'm getting out of the Fender Rumble 100 with it. I definitely need to test it more.

 

[John Chambliss]

There's lots of information on the electric bass side about fine tuning the Fender Rumble Combos. Search for modifications made by @AstroSonic - even inexpensive mods such as partially lining the interior of the cabinet with acoustic foam or other dampening material. I have a modded Rumble 40 that I really like with a louder and lighter Eminence speaker, partly lined cabinet, and retuned port. If you haven't already done so, try elevating or titling (my pref) the Rumble to decouple it from the floor. And, see if any of your friends have a Red Eye Preamp that you can borrow/test.

 

[johnh89]

Markbass 801 . 60W and small and light . Use it with bass guitar for small mostly acoustic folk sessions and its spot on . Used it once with someone elses 1/4 DB and was well impressed .

 

[BobDeRosa]

1. Markbass 801 . 60W and small and light . Use it with bass guitar for small mostly acoustic folk sessions and its spot on . Used it once with someone elses 1/4 DB and was well impressed .

   
   My Markbass 801 has become my go-to for most upright gigs these days (it's my lightest amp and I'm old). I often use a Fishman Platinum Stage preamp with it because the MB has no built-in EQ, just a filter. But believe it or not, in some rooms I plug directly in with excellent results.
   

 

[Ron Lacey]

Yes - I have a Fishman piezo pickup and a Fishman Platinum Pro preamp - I still hate the sound I'm getting out of the Fender Rumble 100 with it. I definitely need to test it more.

I have an older SWR 100 and I go from the Fishman Platinum Pro to the effects return on the back and bypass the amp’s preamp section. It appears the Rumble 100 has the same option so you might try that if you haven’t already.

I have a Rumble 40 without the effects loop and no matter what I try it feeds back like crazy. And doesn’t sound that great when it’s not feeding back. Works great for bass guitar. Shame since the Fender probably weighs half of what the SWR does and has plenty of power for my needs.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

My main amp is a GK MB150, which is probably as old as I am. Sounds great for both upright and electric. Works well for small to medium sized rooms. I push a 17 piece Big Band every Friday night with it in a large dance hall, using the DI into the mains. I also have a Fishman Platinum Pro, but rarely use it. I like to do as much as I can with as little gear as possible.

The biggest drawback? They’re getting a little difficult to find. I’ve tried a few of the newer GK combos. They’re great, but I still prefer the MB150.

On the occasions where I need a little more oomph, I have an Eden 1x12 extension cab.

 

[Ric Vice]

The 200MB was an ideal preamp for Double Bass. Its predecessor the MBS was more powerful the preamp on the MBS was pretty close. The MBE
had a different EQ setup with a semi parametric mid range. It didn’t work as well with my pickup at the time ( a Underwood). The cabinets and speaker are
difficult to work on.

 

[Speakerdude]

A little late to the party for me but for what it's worth:
I have tried a lot of small amps for practice and small gigs that I still own to include:
Ampeg B50R (great sound, I paid $250 used, too heavy but too cool to sell), Ampeg B100R (greater sound, way too heavy, paid $350 used),
Fender Rumble 100 (Really light, decent sounding, $250 new and well worth it, just not exactly what I want), Phil Jones Session 77 (Really a quality piece, sounds great for electric and upright, my go to now for small acoustic gigs).

Going up from there in size for upright and electric:
Ampeg PF50 head with Ampeg PF-112HLF (Killer portable rig!!! sounds so much like an old B-15)
Ampeg PF500 with a Mark Bass 2X10 front ported cabinet (Awesome, light, loud, and GREAT sound)
Phil Jones M300 with a NEO8 cabinet (really cool rig but I almost never need that much and it's heavy).

Bottom line out of all these the Session77 is the one that sees the most action, it's a killer little grab and go rig.
I place it on an amp stand and send the 1/4" line out (no XLR available on it) through an LR Baggs ParaDI to the board
via the Bagg's XLR out)
Works great for electric or upright.

 

[Ric Vice]

The B50R’s were designed by technicians ( working for St. Louis Music) at to emulate a B-15N with solid state circuitry. The PF 50T is a modern take on what Ampeg called the B-15ND (essentially a 5o watt B-18 head with a B-15N with two B-15N cabinets. cabinets) Your PF 500 is a Portaflex head with the SVT style.Preamp.