Recommendations on New Combo Amp For Small-Medium Gigs

[MountainMikeCS]

I can't rave enough about this head- this combo might be a solid option.
just as an aside, I've swapped out my speakers in every cab with Dayton woofers. Deep creamy bottom end, and great mids & highs.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BXD15A--bugera-bxd15a-1x15-inch-1000w-bass-combo-with-compressor

THanks - I'll check it out.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Just FYI for the Rumble recommendations.

Rumble 800 combo - 39 lbs
Rumble 500 combo - 36.5 lbs
Rumble 200 combo - 34.5 lbs
Rumble 100 combo - 22 lbs.

 

[RColie]

Just FYI for the Rumble recommendations.

Rumble 800 combo - 39 lbs
Rumble 500 combo - 36.5 lbs
Rumble 200 combo - 34.5 lbs
Rumble 100 combo - 22 lbs.

Fact check:
The Rumble 800 combo is 29 pounds. In fact, mine weighs in at 28 pounds.

The Rumble 800 Stage is 39 pounds.Not what we’re discussing here.

 

[ph0rk]

Yep, by all accounts the r800c is lighter than the 500, and one reason why it is still very high on my list, too.

 

[Gervais Cote]

Just FYI for the Rumble recommendations.

Rumble 800 combo - 39 lbs
Rumble 500 combo - 36.5 lbs
Rumble 200 combo - 34.5 lbs
Rumble 100 combo - 22 lbs.

Well, to me, sound wise and weight wise, the 500 is the clear winner although I prefer the Ampeg Rocket Bass series.

 

[GtenderG]

I’ve played some Rumble amps (500 watt combo and 500 watt head) and comparable GK rigs. My personal preference was the GK stuff. Particularly the GK 210 combo. Love the sound and it became a beast when paired with 1x15 neo cab. The combo and cab each weigh in at about 35lbs.

 

[Pep]

I tried out a QSC K12.2 PA powered PA cab at GC and it blew me away. Mine is arriving today. If you have Guitar Center near you, give it a shot. It has a setting in it called “bass amp”.

 

[RColie]

Well, to me, sound wise and weight wise, the 500 is the clear winner although I prefer the Ampeg Rocket Bass series.

Just to reiterate, the Rumble 800 Combo (not stage) is 29 pounds. The 800 to my ears is just a bit clearer than the 500, but I like them both, just different flavors.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Fact check:
The Rumble 800 combo is 29 pounds. In fact, mine weighs in at 28 pounds.

The Rumble 800 Stage is 39 pounds.Not what we’re discussing here.

Got it and agree. My incorrect info came from an online dealer that has both the 800 stage & 800 combo weight as 39 lbs, which made sense when I saw it, because the R500 showed 36.5 lbs and has the same cab dimensions and two 10” speakers, so 2.5 lbs more for the more powerful amp section was logical.

Now, I see that Fender has the 800 combo at 29 lbs, but I couldn’t figure why the 800 combo would be 7.5 lbs lighter than the 500 combo.

Well, on the Fender website I discovered the 800 combo has neodymium magnet speakers, where the Rumble 200, 500, & 800 stage, all have ceramic magnet speakers. So that explains the weight difference. The speaker magnet type in the Rumble 100, 40, & 15 is not listed. They all just show “special design” speakers.

My mistake on 800 combo weight.

 

[JoeyFab]

I used to use an Ampeg SVT3-PRO/PR-410HLF for gigs and an Acoustic B200 combo for rehearsals. Both became too big and heavy for me as I got older, so I sold them both and now use an Ampeg PF-500 amp with a Hartke HyDrive HD-210 and a G-K NEO 115. I use both cabs for normal bar gigs (500 watts @ 4 Ω), and can go down to just one of the cabs (300 watts @ 8Ω) for rehearsals, smaller venues, or when there isn't much room onstage. MUCH lighter and easier to transport, and very versatile. With these new smaller, lighter Class D amps that are available, I wouldn't go back to using a combo amp ever again. Pair one of those with a small 2 X10 (like the HD-210) or a light neodymium cab (like the NEO115), or both, and you can be ready for just about ANY situation.

 

[kaiser_sosea]

I know a bit over budget but perhaps could find used or b-stock. IMO, the Genzler Magellen 350 combo w/ the BA10-2 cabinet is the bees knees and best of all worlds.

Genzler Combo

 

[shoulderpet]

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!

I would disagree with you that Markbass colours the sound, what is actually one of the things I like about my Markbass amp is that the tone is relatively uncoloured,

I know the current trend with bass amps tends to be that most bass amps scoop the mids and boost the cr@! out of the lows and my amp definitely doesn't do either of those things.

 

[SJan3]

I would disagree with you that Markbass colours the sound, what is actually one of the things I like about my Markbass amp is that the tone is relatively uncoloured,

I know the current trend with bass amps tends to be that most bass amps scoop the mids and boost the cr@! out of the lows and my amp definitely doesn't do either of those things.

I agree. I've found my MarkBass amps to be relatively color free while still managing to avoid sounding sterile.

 

[Medicine Man]

Do you notice any major setbacks when using it with your upright?

Not really. Piezo pickups need a preamp to fix the impedance in most situations, so I use a Radial when im doubling to match volume and impedance. I have a higher displacement cab I like better for upright. Certainly can gig the markbass though. Marbass cabs push really nice low mids, but I like to get down in the low fundamentals for upright.

 

[JazznFunk]

I agree. I've found my MarkBass amps to be relatively color free while still managing to avoid sounding sterile.

Agreed as well. Too many other amps hype the extreme ends of the spectrum. MarkBass is often derided for being too 'mid heavy', but in reality, you want those mids to be heard. I'd rather have those mids on tap and CUT them where needed (and there's plenty of power to do that), versus them not being there to begin with. MarkBass amps are pretty 'honest'.... which isn't always flattering for 'bedroom tone' adherents.

 

[Aloe]

well, markbass indeed has some 'cutting the mix' profile: it's bright and mid-heavy.

I have a modular markbass setup (a little mark and two 210 cabs). if I had to switch to a combo, I'd try the CMD 102 Pure (I have 102 Energies), then the CMD Traveller 102P.

I don't anymore have an upright, but when I had an EUB, it sounded great in my EBS setup. so the second option I would be considering is the Magni 502, I think, the 115 one.

 

[MountainMikeCS]

I think I'm leaning pretty heavy towards the Markbass - particularly the CMD 102 P right now.
Pros:
- The volume and full-EQ spectrum are there - I can cut back the mids if I want less but my test a few weekends ago on a new one at GC found everything exceptional through another Mexican-made Fender Jazz like I own
- I know someone who has one and I've heard him gig it both in indoors and on a few different outdoor stages and the sound was amazing - sounded great on stage too ( I snuck up behind him at two gigs to hear what it sounded like on stage ).
- The weight - you can't beat the volume to weight ratio

Cons:
- Expensive. The cheapest I'll get a new one at GC is $1199 - there are a few used ones close by for around $700 but they are around 10 years old. With tax and shipping on the used I'm still paying $850 for a used one.

Does any Markbass owners have any problems with used of open box models? I ask b/c I ordered two floor model Markbass heads in the past - when I was trying out Markbass with my cabs - and both had to be sent back - one died in a day and wouldn't start - the other took a week and died. But they were "floor models".

 

[JazznFunk]

Does any Markbass owners have any problems with used of open box models? I ask b/c I ordered two floor model Markbass heads in the past - when I was trying out Markbass with my cabs - and both had to be sent back - one died in a day and wouldn't start - the other took a week and died. But they were "floor models".

When in doubt, pay for new and get the warranty. No one can safely say what an amp went through in the past when dealing with used gear, unless perhaps you know the person from whom you're buying it. Prices have gone up due to the prevailing economic environment.

 

[Aloe]

there are a few used ones close by for around $700 but they are around 10 years old.

avoid those. after 10-something years of active use the heads are known to fail and it’s an expensive repair, more than the price difference with the new one.

not sure, which 102p you’re looking at: the wedge one? there’s also a traveler one and the mb58r one. the wedge one is the heaviest.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

Personally, I say get a Neo 112 and use that for smaller stuff rather than going with a combo amp. That’s what I do! I use a Legacy 800 which is 2 ohm capable, so I can use either of them or both, the modular set up is nice.