Hi All,
Looking for a new combo amp recommendation for small to mid-sized gigs- restaurants and bars with less than 200 people. I currently use a Fender Rumble 100 that just doesn't cut it. I have a larger GK rig for bigger shows with a GK RB-700ii head and a 212 Neo Cab I like - but am willing to try something with a less growly sound. The last music store near me closed recently so I'll most likely be buying online or seeing if the Guitar Center an hour away can order something for me to try.
I play mostly electric bass and occasionally an upright acoustic bass. The electric basses are a Fender Jazz and Precision and a homemade fretless copy of a Fender Precision.
Needed features:
- Lightweight - under 40 pounds preferred.
- Sound: Good solid sound with at least a 4-band EQ that can offer deep bass, thick midrange as well as bright highs so I can use for anything from James Jamerson sounds to slap as well as solid, midrange sound for my fretless or the bridge pickup on my jazz bass.
- Speaker out port would be great.
- Direct out a must with ground lift - I always go "post out" to direct out so the post-pre switch isn't necessary but useful.
- At least 300 amps.
- Budget: Under $1000
- Music I play - Everything from hard rock, rock, blues and funk on the electrics and older jazz standards stuff, New Orleans jazz and classical stuff on the upright bass.
I'm leaning toward the Markbass 210p - I love this for its volume and weight - but I do hear how Markbass colors the sound. But everywhere I hear one the bass fits perfectly in the mix and can be heard from everywhere the band can be heard - on stage, in the audience, down the block. Its a beast.
I'm not 100% opposed to a Fender Rumble 500 - they are workhorses but I've never found one local to try.
Other great amps I've heard:
- I heard an upright guy using a GR Bass combo that sounded amazing throughout a large old church - very lightweight as well. But I don't think it will work for my electric bass stuff? There are none to try near me.
- GK combos - loved them but compared to the Markbass for size and weight the Markbass seems to be much more solid sounding. I've heard people complement GK sounds for upright as well - I've never used my larger GK rig with the upright for a show - never had a show that large so I can't comment on how well it would work there.
- The new Peavy Max amps - I heard a 2-8 model at an outside gig and I was impressed - the sound went all the way down a boardwalk and it was at 50% volume. Light too.
- I'm not 100% opposed to an Ampeg - but often when I play an Ampeg combo I can't hear myself uless I move 10 feet or more away from it. Also I've never been impressed with the mdrange on any Ampeg I've heard. I read in another post that this may be the case with any one-speaker amp - and could explain why 2-speaker amps seem to have better sound room coverage - IMO. The last Ampeg combo I used at a gig was provided by the venue and it was loud in the audience but I couldn't hear myself at all from about 8 feet away - and I was stuck in one spot.
Love to hear your suggestions - thanks all!
Looking for a new combo amp recommendation for small to mid-sized gigs- restaurants and bars with less than 200 people. I currently use a Fender Rumble 100 that just doesn't cut it. I have a larger GK rig for bigger shows with a GK RB-700ii head and a 212 Neo Cab I like - but am willing to try something with a less growly sound. The last music store near me closed recently so I'll most likely be buying online or seeing if the Guitar Center an hour away can order something for me to try.
I play mostly electric bass and occasionally an upright acoustic bass. The electric basses are a Fender Jazz and Precision and a homemade fretless copy of a Fender Precision.
Needed features:
- Lightweight - under 40 pounds preferred.
- Sound: Good solid sound with at least a 4-band EQ that can offer deep bass, thick midrange as well as bright highs so I can use for anything from James Jamerson sounds to slap as well as solid, midrange sound for my fretless or the bridge pickup on my jazz bass.
- Speaker out port would be great.
- Direct out a must with ground lift - I always go "post out" to direct out so the post-pre switch isn't necessary but useful.
- At least 300 amps.
- Budget: Under $1000
- Music I play - Everything from hard rock, rock, blues and funk on the electrics and older jazz standards stuff, New Orleans jazz and classical stuff on the upright bass.
I'm leaning toward the Markbass 210p - I love this for its volume and weight - but I do hear how Markbass colors the sound. But everywhere I hear one the bass fits perfectly in the mix and can be heard from everywhere the band can be heard - on stage, in the audience, down the block. Its a beast.
I'm not 100% opposed to a Fender Rumble 500 - they are workhorses but I've never found one local to try.
Other great amps I've heard:
- I heard an upright guy using a GR Bass combo that sounded amazing throughout a large old church - very lightweight as well. But I don't think it will work for my electric bass stuff? There are none to try near me.
- GK combos - loved them but compared to the Markbass for size and weight the Markbass seems to be much more solid sounding. I've heard people complement GK sounds for upright as well - I've never used my larger GK rig with the upright for a show - never had a show that large so I can't comment on how well it would work there.
- The new Peavy Max amps - I heard a 2-8 model at an outside gig and I was impressed - the sound went all the way down a boardwalk and it was at 50% volume. Light too.
- I'm not 100% opposed to an Ampeg - but often when I play an Ampeg combo I can't hear myself uless I move 10 feet or more away from it. Also I've never been impressed with the mdrange on any Ampeg I've heard. I read in another post that this may be the case with any one-speaker amp - and could explain why 2-speaker amps seem to have better sound room coverage - IMO. The last Ampeg combo I used at a gig was provided by the venue and it was loud in the audience but I couldn't hear myself at all from about 8 feet away - and I was stuck in one spot.
Love to hear your suggestions - thanks all!
