Smallest amp you’ve been impressed by?

[Inconnu]

Depends on how loud you rehearse I guess. I play direct to the house for live performances so I don't usually drag an amp to rehearsals but when I'm jamming with friends (usually in a trio setting) I use an Ampeg BA112. Probably wouldn't be enough live for anything larger than a coffee shop. When I was trying amps at my local shop it was the smallest amp they had that produced what I considered a full tone. With a single speaker, anything smaller than 10" just doesn't seem to do much for me. With a full band or if you use it play live a lot, you'll probably want something with more output though.

Actually, I’m not concerned about gigs right now. I haven’t played gigs with my current band and when I did, in the past, I usually had P.A. support.

I’m a long time Ampeg SVT user, but I don’t carry the 8x10 anymore.

I have a TC Electronic BG250, 1x15 combo, but I’m totally satisfied with it. I’d like more punch, and at least as much portability. So that’s why I’m asking about small amps right now. The TC is loud enough with the master volume set at 3.5.

 

[Inconnu]

View attachment 3032123

I am always in awe of how well this little Warwick cab handles the B. The Traynor SB200H on top is a very good amp too.

I’d that the 2x8 or 2x10?

 

[SteveBassJr]

just kidding !

 

[fourstr00]

I continue to love this little Hathor 1203.

 

[aproud1]

Smallest Amp - GK MB500. Pretty tiny, could handle any gig I could throw at it. I personally don't like amps that small. I am generally large and don't have great vision. But the MB500 sounds great.

Pair that with any super 12 or a Revsound RS210 and it could cover most gigs.

 

[lug]

 

[40Hz]

Pretty much anything going into my SWR Goliath Junior 2x10 sounds impressive to my ears. Nice sounding full range cab that works really well with bass (or guitar) - and was designed with the low B string on a fiver in mind.

But it measures 23 x 15.75 x 16.5 and weighs 55 lbs. And that’s not including an amp. So I wouldn’t say it’s exactly small. Not big. But not really small either.

Smallest combo amp I ever found that I felt did justice to a bass is the now discontinued Yorkville BLOC40K. It’s a 40W 15” cube with a 3-band boost/cut EQ that was designed for keyboards. There’s also a “40B” version for bass.

Plenty of volume for such a small box. And there’s a huge amount of sweet sounding low end and midrange on tap. The EQ lets you dial in pretty much anything you’d want. I originally bought it for use with a Korg M-1 sampler. But these days I use it mainly with an ABG. Great amp. They usually go for pocket change on the used market when you see one. Although lately the prices seem to be going up.

 

[two fingers]

Mesa Walkabout Scout 15" combo.

Ridiculously loud. Sweeeeeeeet tone.

 

[Big Kahuna]

Gallien Krueger Backline 112. Fabulous kit.

Kahuna

 

[kpc]

I’ve been using the GK MB150S for about 20 years on electric and upright, and it never ceases to amaze me. Small, lightweight (only 26 pounds), loud, and sounds lovely in all registers.

I use mine for everything. If I need to be louder, I just go into the PA. Great sounding small amp.

 

[fingerguy]

 

[JRA]

a lot of nice, small rigs here!

 

[Hurricane Jimmie]

Phil Jones Double Four that I use with my bass ukes for rehearsal twice a week with 30 people in our ukulele group and small gigs. It amazes me how much bass sound it outputs.

View attachment 3032057

I use my PJ Cub 100 for gigs with a horn band that has keyboards and drums. It keeps up very well.
But I don't play a B string instrument.

 

[Muttleybass]

Traynor SB112
Traynor Amps

 

[bassliner50]

Fender Rumble 40. Impressive at 18 lbs.

 

[oren]

I like my Markbass CMD 121P combo just fine. But I was really impressed when I recently got a chance to try Mike Arnopol’s MAS -1,8 cab. Huge sound from a tiny package!

 

[joel406]

This thing surprisesd me big time.

The K210.

Granted I’m using my MB-800 fusion head with it. And this cab is rated at 400 Watts. And my MBF puts out 560 Watts at 8 ohms. It’s a little less than 45 pounds.

But it cranks. Handles lows and highs like a champ.

Got it on a whim to use for rehearsal but it could probably handle a gig or two.

Any ways it’s much easier than carting the 410s around.

 

[basscapes]

Smallest amp I've used (for recording) is an Ampeg SCR-DI. While technically NOT an amp, it sounds great and does a majority of heavy lifting for me in the studio.

If I MUST adhere to the OP's question, then I'd go with an old G-K MB150S. That thing sounds great. With an extra extension cab on it, it can handle moderate stage levels in a hard rock band too! anything more, and out comes the 810 though.

 

[spiritbass]

I like my Markbass CMD 121P combo just fine. But I was really impressed when I recently got a chance to try Mike Arnopol’s MAS -1,8 cab. Huge sound from a tiny package!


View attachment 3032190

This little cab is a mind-boggler.

 

[jthisdell]

I have a Barefaced One 10, a Bergantino CN112 and a Berg CN210. Use the barefaced mainly for rehearsals but have gigged with it several time. Of the three my current fave is the 210. I use a ToneHammer 500 but have also used a Fender Rumble 150 with good results.