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The Combo Club

Pic from tonight's gig. Notice the little Carvin huffin' and puffin' in the background...
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This is so great to see!

Always have a fine time in Rochester. The Garbage Plate they make there is a bit much for me, though, but certainly grateful to have tried one.
 
Had a gig tonight before work. Hate doing this but sometimes it's necessary. Work won't always give me a night off on a Friday. So, rather than drag the (relatively) big Eden combo that I normally gig with out, I said **** it and gigged with this and a direct box for the front. Worked out well...
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I've been known to use my 14 y/o Bassman 25 that used to 'live' in the van and my backup bass that's"OK"to stay in the van for awhile.
 
That's some choice playing there.
We do that with our group. One of the guitarists uses an EHX B9 organ sim to do Booker T's part. We aren't as soulful on it as they are but it's a pretty credible version. Great tune. I kick in my octaver (1 up) during the other guitarist's solo so we still have the guitar/bass unison line going.:)
 
Oh, yeah, Booker T's playing a Hammond. In our band 2 guitars, drums and me, there's no room for a keyboard of any kind at most of our gigs, thus the stompbox for organ sounds.

A bit of trivia: About 25 years ago I was in the midst of a ten year apprenticeship customizing and repairing Hammond Organs. My mentor and I were guests for a day at another techs house, he and my mentor at the time were considered to be amongst the top four San Francisco Bay Area Hammond Techs. Our host tells us that he had been over at Bookers place working on his B3, and noticed a extremely whupped Hammond M3 Spinet in the home, he assumed that Booker would want it hauled away as junk. Nope, Booker was never letting it go, because that very M3 was what he'd recorded Green Onion on. Quite the surprise that it was recorded on a small spinet as opposed to a full size B3.
 
View from the balcony of this morning's soon-to-be gig. I always get there early for pre-service rehearsal, but the little 9.9 lb. Vox makes load in and setup even faster! Today the keyboard by me wasn't even setup yet, nor all the mics, music stands and PC tab monitors, so I was able to get a clear shot of my rig. Regular soundman confirmed that the Vox must have carried the room 3 weeks ago, when he was gone, because the sub, under the altar, was not correctly connected when he returned 2 weeks ago! I still almost can't believe it. :D

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You can see the guitarist headed for his pedalboard, which stays there, and his little brother, the assistant soundman and backup drummer.
 
I know there are several threads in the forums regarding this, but I am wondering specifically for combo users...

What is the smallest you have been able to use at small gigs without PA support? I have a modular rig that is just far too much than what I really need, despite my delusions of grandeur. I know I can sell the rig, "downsize" to a combo and have some extra money left over... Which is quite handy to have with a 1 year old son and another baby on the way. I just left my regular gigging band, and considering my current obligations don't imagine I will be playing out too often. If I do it will be small brewery gigs, local jams with friends, etc. No metal, or anything like that, mostly jazzy jam band-ish funk oriented stuff.

I like the feature set in something like the Fender Rumble Stage 40 but wonder if it can hang outside home practice. I will probably post in the rumble thread too, but would love to get some unbiased opinions or other options for a decent combo.

Thanks all!
 
I know there are several threads in the forums regarding this, but I am wondering specifically for combo users...

What is the smallest you have been able to use at small gigs without PA support? I have a modular rig that is just far too much than what I really need, despite my delusions of grandeur. I know I can sell the rig, "downsize" to a combo and have some extra money left over... Which is quite handy to have with a 1 year old son and another baby on the way. I just left my regular gigging band, and considering my current obligations don't imagine I will be playing out too often. If I do it will be small brewery gigs, local jams with friends, etc. No metal, or anything like that, mostly jazzy jam band-ish funk oriented stuff.

I like the feature set in something like the Fender Rumble Stage 40 but wonder if it can hang outside home practice. I will probably post in the rumble thread too, but would love to get some unbiased opinions or other options for a decent combo.

Thanks all!
I've used a Bassman 25(now 14 y/o)in small restaurant lounges doing 60s-70s rock, no problem. Retired it and bought a Rumble 40(15# lighter). Just played an Elks club banquet hall last weekend w/ the volume just over 1/2. No problem. I don't have any need for the EFX of the Stage 40 which came out after I got the R40, but I'm sure it would have similar capabilities.
 
I know there are several threads in the forums regarding this, but I am wondering specifically for combo users...

What is the smallest you have been able to use at small gigs without PA support? I have a modular rig that is just far too much than what I really need, despite my delusions of grandeur. I know I can sell the rig, "downsize" to a combo and have some extra money left over... Which is quite handy to have with a 1 year old son and another baby on the way. I just left my regular gigging band, and considering my current obligations don't imagine I will be playing out too often. If I do it will be small brewery gigs, local jams with friends, etc. No metal, or anything like that, mostly jazzy jam band-ish funk oriented stuff.

I like the feature set in something like the Fender Rumble Stage 40 but wonder if it can hang outside home practice. I will probably post in the rumble thread too, but would love to get some unbiased opinions or other options for a decent combo.

Thanks all!


Lately, I'm rocking this little jewel to very good effect.

At just 9.9 lb.s you can't find a lighter 50 watt amp this good. It requires some breaking in to really sound good, but it's made a believer out of me.
 
Lately, I'm rocking this little jewel to very good effect.

At just 9.9 lb.s you can't find a lighter 50 watt amp this good. It requires some breaking in to really sound good, but it's made a believer out of me.
If the frog had wings, he wouldn't bounce his fazaza on the creek bank, and if either of the local GCs had had one, I might've gotten one instead of my Rumble 40-with which I'm quite satisfied. But I gotta admit, less than 10# is appealing.
 
View from the balcony of this morning's soon-to-be gig. I always get there early for pre-service rehearsal, but the little 9.9 lb. Vox makes load in and setup even faster! Today the keyboard by me wasn't even setup yet, nor all the mics, music stands and PC tab monitors, so I was able to get a clear shot of my rig. Regular soundman confirmed that the Vox must have carried the room 3 weeks ago, when he was gone, because the sub, under the altar, was not correctly connected when he returned 2 weeks ago! I still almost can't believe it. :D

You can see the guitarist headed for his pedalboard, which stays there, and his little brother, the assistant soundman and backup drummer.

Nice review, Pup. I especially liked the image that went with. It gave me something to have as reference when reading your entry. I'm looking at the Vox amp thinking it's the communion box or something, and then reading it was the only sound that the congregation heard a few weeks ago. Unbelievable! Obviously, the spirits of Christmas are helping out because your hall looks pretty decent in size.

Have you doctored up the line out's tone at all or are still running clean? What's your gain and volume settings? Are you noticing any breakup or is it totally clean? Do you regularly place a cloverleaf on top of the amp in question? Dish out the dirt, Doggie!

BTW, you are killing me. I'm busily shopping for combos and heads right now and just when I sorta decide on something you show up with yet another miraculous tale of this nine-pounder doing the job of a much larger amp. M, can you believe this guy? She wants one too.

Final question: what other amp would you say it sounds sort of like? I'm hearing Ampeg when I listen to it on YT, but I want to know what it makes you think of. Can you knock the mids and highs and give it a more Fenderish tons? I'm thinking like baby Bassman?

Okay, I'm done with the interrogation. Who's next? If I do grab one, it probably won't be until after Christmas. MF isn't getting them in until this week, I believe.

Keep the reviews coming in, particularly if the VX50ba begins to levitate. Then I am buying one for sure! :woot:
 
Or
Nice review, Pup. I especially liked the image that went with. It gave me something to have as reference when reading your entry. I'm looking at the Vox amp thinking it's the communion box or something, and then reading it was the only sound that the congregation heard a few weeks ago. Unbelievable! Obviously, the spirits of Christmas are helping out because your hall looks pretty decent in size.

Have you doctored up the line out's tone at all or are still running clean? What's your gain and volume settings? Are you noticing any breakup or is it totally clean? Do you regularly place a cloverleaf on top of the amp in question? Dish out the dirt, Doggie!

BTW, you are killing me. I'm busily shopping for combos and heads right now and just when I sorta decide on something you show up with yet another miraculous tale of this nine-pounder doing the job of a much larger amp. M, can you believe this guy? She wants one too.

Final question: what other amp would you say it sounds sort of like? I'm hearing Ampeg when I listen to it on YT, but I want to know what it makes you think of. Can you knock the mids and highs and give it a more Fenderish tons? I'm thinking like baby Bassman?

Okay, I'm done with the interrogation. Who's next? If I do grab one, it probably won't be until after Christmas. MF isn't getting them in until this week, I believe.

Keep the reviews coming in, particularly if the VX50ba begins to levitate. Then I am buying one for sure! :woot:


Or...
You could go for an "all in one" solution : )
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