Double Bass Soooooo Many Choices!! (First URB Amp Content)

[Turn Em Loose]

Seriously...So many choices.

Looking for a good combo for upright gigs. Mostly cocktail-hour-jazz type of stuff now. But more than likely will be doing some lower volume singer/songwriter stuff in the future. Shen SB150 with a Full Circle pickup.

Seems like the GK MB150 combo is the way to go. But...I'm cheap. And that's some coin to drop on a new combo. BUT, I've had GK stuff in the past and IME it's darn near bulletproof and IMO sounds great. And the choice to buy an extension cab for the GK in the future (if needed) seems cool.

Read a thread about the new Fender Rumble combos and they seem pretty cool.

Carvin? Other GK models? Gollihur has a Traynor 1x10 combo on their site that they like? Other opinions??

Thanks in advance!!

 

[robgrow]

Although I am a GK MB150S owner and user, I use it for purely practical reasons. If you haven't already tried one, I'd recommend auditioning an MB150S before buying. When I first heard one, I hated it, and my first gig with the amp was very frustrating. It took me awhile to figure out how to use it. I bought my current MB150S used (in excellent condition) right here on the TB classified for considerably less than the new selling price.

A gig bag is almost mandatory, if you are going to be moving the amp around a lot. The bag that GK sells for this amp is not very high quality IMO. I have a Tuki bag, and it's great.

As far as the GK 112MBX extension cab, although they are nice enough, the simplicity and convenience of the small combo amp goes away when the extension cab is added to the equation. If I need more than the MB150S for a gig, I bring my Walter Woods amp and a small cab.

And you are right. There are many choices for amplifying the DB these days (with more coming along all the time). The GK MB150S is just one of these choices.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Although I am a GK MB150S owner and user, I use it for purely practical reasons. If you haven't already tried one, I'd recommend auditioning an MB150S before buying. When I first heard one, I hated it, and my first gig with the amp was very frustrating. It took me awhile to figure out how to use it.

Thanks for the input!!

IYO, what makes it difficult or "frustrating"?

 

[robgrow]

It took me awhile to figure out what was good about the GK MB150S and how to use it. I would highly recommend to try before you buy to make sure it's the right thing for you. We all like something different, so there's no one size fits all here.

I heard one of the small Genz-Benz Shuttle amps in a coffeehouse setting recently. Sounded great, so there's another choice.

In the end, you have to try these things for yourself, ideally in a real gig situation. Something you can't do on the internet.

 

[Ric Vice]

Seriously...So many choices.



Seems like the GK MB150 combo is the way to go. But...I'm cheap. And that's some coin to drop on a new combo. BUT, I've had GK stuff in the past and IME it's darn near bulletproof and IMO sounds great. And the choice to buy an extension cab for the GK in the future (if needed) seems cool.



Carvin? Other GK models? Gollihur has a Traynor 1x10 combo on their site that they like? Other opinions??

Thanks in advance!!

I think you're best bang for the buck would be a Genz Benz Shuttle Combo used, if you can acquire one.

Ric

 

[Turn Em Loose]

It took me awhile to figure out what was good about the GK MB150S and how to use it. I would highly recommend to try before you buy to make sure it's the right thing for you. We all like something different, so there's no one size fits all here.

I heard one of the small Genz-Benz Shuttle amps in a coffeehouse setting recently. Sounded great, so there's another choice.

In the end, you have to try these things for yourself, ideally in a real gig situation. Something you can't do on the internet.

Again, thanks for the input!

Still up in the air. I'd like to buy before the end of the year for tax purposes.

I've been using my "electric rig" for URB, an Ampeg 1u preamp into a powered EV LiveX 1x12.* Sounds damn good for electric and I'm very satisfied with it for URB, too. NOW I'm thinking just get a small pre (like a Fishman) and use some velcro tape and call it a day. The new Fishman preamps look really nice. I had a Pro EQ for a while and liked it quite a bit. (Not sure why I offed it?)

*The key to using the LiveX 1x12's is to keep the HPF engaged all the time. Those things are lumpy in the lows, IMO. With the HPF engaged the response is more clear and the bass is more defined.

 

[Mark Gollihur]

Gollihur has a Traynor 1x10 combo on their site that they like?

That amp will definitely surprise you. And for $400, it's a pretty darn good deal - made in Canada, real Eminence driver... happy to chat about it, don't want to glom up the thread with too much commercial raving.

 

[robgrow]

I've heard the Traynor 10 amp at Nick Lloyd's shop. Sounded good, so another choice.

 

[Matt Ides]

Ric hit the nail on the head GB Shuttle combo. No idea why they stopped making them.

 

[Mr Ignoto]

I'm kind of new around this forum, but I was in this same position as the Diaper Geni 5 - 7 years ago. (Same bass and pick-up, too.) I went with the GK MB 150, since it was proven and ubiquitous and -- while expensive -- it was quite a bit cheaper than the other serious contenders at the time -- AI and EA -- and the Genz Benz shuttles were new. The first call player around where I live used the GK and still uses the GK and still gets first calls, so it's not holding him back if you know what I mean . . . .

In retrospect, I might have rather had a Genz Benz shuttle, especially since I understand they are now discontinued after the Fender acquisition. On the other hand, while I still long for a "hi fi" kit, and I'm thinking of picking up some new components soon (hopefully on the used market), I think there will always be a place in my arsenal for the MB 150. It's just very practical and versatile.

The acquisition of a good pre-amp made a bigger difference to my tone than anything else, btw. I got the Radial pz deluxe from Bob G and have found serviceable tone on a range of borrowed amps at jam sessions, lessons, etc.

Finally, Since Bob sells them, I'd be tempted to look at the Traynor to save $$, and I note that there's a nice looking iAmp 200 combo for sale on the classifieds right now . . . .

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I'm kind of new around this forum, but I was in this same position as the Diaper Geni 5 - 7 years ago. (Same bass and pick-up, too.) I went with the GK MB 150, since it was proven and ubiquitous and -- while expensive -- it was quite a bit cheaper than the other serious contenders at the time -- AI and EA -- and the Genz Benz shuttles were new. The first call player around where I live used the GK and still uses the GK and still gets first calls, so it's not holding him back if you know what I mean . . . .

In retrospect, I might have rather had a Genz Benz shuttle, especially since I understand they are now discontinued after the Fender acquisition. On the other hand, while I still long for a "hi fi" kit, and I'm thinking of picking up some new components soon (hopefully on the used market), I think there will always be a place in my arsenal for the MB 150. It's just very practical and versatile.

The acquisition of a good pre-amp made a bigger difference to my tone than anything else, btw. I got the Radial pz deluxe from Bob G and have found serviceable tone on a range of borrowed amps at jam sessions, lessons, etc.

Finally, Since Bob sells them, I'd be tempted to look at the Traynor to save $$, and I note that there's a nice looking iAmp 200 combo for sale on the classifieds right now . . . .

Thanks for the input.

My hesitation on the used EA and Genz Benz rigs around here is they are discontinued. The Traynor looks great but is not capable of powering another cab.

The MB-150, or a Fishman pre on the front end of an EV LiveX 112p seem like the top contenders now.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Thanks again for all your suggestions!

Went with the new fancy shmancy Fishman pre. Thought it was a good place to start as I can pair it with my EV LiveX 112p's (which I really like).

And "Thanks" to Mark Gollihur for listening to me talk though my plan! BIG help!!

Now........The dreaded "wait".

 

[robgrow]

I played a couple of gigs recently with my GK MB150S in rooms with exceptionally challenging acoustics and difficult load ins, and I was reminded why I use this amp and why it just works. No doubt there are other amps that are technically "better" (better low-frequency response, more wide range, more neutral, etc.), but the little MB150S did the job just fine without requiring an HPF, without having to mess around the EQ, and without exciting problem areas in the room acoustics. The rest of the group and myself could hear the bass well. Also difficulties with load ins were minimized and I was able to accomplish this in one trip. Easy setup, (relatively) easy in and out, and not having to mess with the amp to get a useable sound made these jobs as painless as possible.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

The little GK is on my wish list, for sure. Just didn't have the scratch right now for one.

I did receive the new fancy schmancy Fishman pre. Died on me after a few minutes. It would cut in/out. Had to return it. (Thanks to Gollihur Music for a super-duper easy and hassle free purchase and exchange. Gollihur music, if it not already is, should be your go-to for URB supplies!)

 

[Ric Vice]

I played a couple of gigs recently with my GK MB150S in rooms with exceptionally challenging acoustics and difficult load ins, and I was reminded why I use this amp and why it just works. No doubt there are other amps that are technically "better" (better low-frequency response, more wide range, more neutral, etc.), but the little MB150S did the job just fine without requiring an HPF, without having to mess around the EQ, and without exciting problem areas in the room acoustics. The rest of the group and myself could hear the bass well. Also difficulties with load ins were minimized and I was able to accomplish this in one trip. Easy setup, (relatively) easy in and out, and not having to mess with the amp to get a useable sound made these jobs as painless as possible.

+1
With those amps, especially the older 200MB's it's very easy to just plug and play, without a lot EQ changes. When I first got mine, I used them all the time for gigs, and my Walter Woods' MI-100-8 which was a far superior
amplifier, just sat at the house, because there just weren't any cabinets that sounded as good as the Woods did, until years later when Euphonic Audio and Acme, started building high fidelity three way cabinets. I should
have snapped up that 200MB you had Bob. I still regret not having pulled the trigger on that one. Best wishes for the New Year.

Ric

 

[robgrow]

Ric, The 200MB was a very nice example in mint condition. It always was treated with TLC, and even had a new speaker replaced at the factory. I liked the MB150S a little better and had too much stuff, so...

Thanks for the best wishes, and I wish the same for you and everyone else here at TalkBass. -bob