Setup for practicing at home.

[greencow]

Hi,

Long story short: Need something that I can use for playing at home. I am currently using a Yamaha THR10, dropping the low frequencies with the EQ. Doesn't sound very inspiring. So I started looking around
.
I used to have a Markbass 121H with a LM3. Loved the sound. More then enough volume for use at home, I would barely turn up the Master. However, I want something that has a significantly smaller footprint and no carpet. Needs to have a DI, Headphones and aux in. Needs to look like a piece of furniture, since I'm set up in the corner of my living room : P

Option 1: A small combo. Going the combo route It would be a dedicated setup just for home use, so I don't really want to spend too much. So far the only smaller options I have found in a sub 500€ price range are maybe something from Phil Jones and the Markbass Micromark stuff. There's also the new Trace Elliott stuff, but those are >600€.
Am I missing the good options here? Everything seems to have a footprint fairly similar to the Markbass 1x12"

Option 2: Get a small cab and a head that you could match with bigger cabs for live use.
This would move the task from a single use item to something that would cover more needs, allowing me to maybe push the budget a bit. So-far I've found the following:

TC Electronic BC208 at 180€ - Cheap option, seems to good to be true?
Ampeg SVT-210AV at 300€ - Widest of the bunch, has the most speaker area. Looks the least like a speaker. The height might make it stand out in the room.
Phil Jones Compact 2 at 330€ - the smallest option in the group. Unsure about the 2x5"
Barefaced ONE10 at about 450€ - A bit on the expensive side. Light weight would make this ideal for acoustic gigs/jam sessions etc.
TE 208 at 490€ - Most expensive, handles the most power.
There are some options above this price, but I am not looking to spend that much.

Are there any other offerings I should consider? Any experience or suggestions?

I haven't really started digging around in the head market yet, will get to that once I've decided on a cab.

 

[dominus]

Option 2. My "live" rig is a Schroeder (2)1210 with a TC Electronic RH750. I keep it at the jam room and it's my primary rig. My "home' rig is a Schroeder (1)1210 with a TCE RH450. The rigs are seemless which I like, they are interchangeable, I can use the "home" rig if it's a smaller venue. I have a spare for everything. If needed, I could mix and match any of the components and never have to beg or borrow to do a show or to keep rehearsal schedules.

 

[dominus]

As for a cabinet, I highly recommend you check out Schroeder. He's on FB and there are demos on YT. It's the lightest, most powerful, best sounding cabs IMO. I sold all my Eden stuff to get them.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I don't have a practice amp. I have two heads that I can gig with. My backup head is in my practice room with a 112 cab.

 

[kodiakblair]

I keep things very simple.

Bass into Fishman Platinum Pro or GK Plex preamp. DI to a small USB mixer,out to a pair of active nearfield monitors.

 

[labeledbass]

If I were in your situation I would have 2 power amps, one for live, one for practice, and just one preamp that travels back and forth (I've always been a separate pre/prw setup though). Big cab for live, small 1x12 or 15 for home. I like the swr amplite/headlite,Trace elf, Baby Sumo, Quilter Bass Block, Traynor SB200h, Ampeg PF-500 or PF-20t. Some of those already have preamps included but power amp inputs as well to use your own preamp, like I say though that's me, I'm kinda hung up on what my preamp does for me.

"Ideally" I would have my pre and a Fryette PS2 that could power a stage rig AND turn down for home use with the same results, just have 2 cabs - but that's running over 1kUSD when all said and done

 

[lug]

For option 1, Phil Jones Double 4. Smallest great sounding amp available. No DI out but does have a line out.