The Combo Club

[GwenOnBass]

This looks fun Carvin MB10 Micro Bass Combo Amp w / 10" Woofer! Made In USA! CLEAN! NO RESERVE! | eBay

Ha. Yes it looks very fun.

***

Slow on the uptake department -

Only this morning realized another use for the trusty little Ampeg BA108. Since it's designed with a tiltback, I can use it as a personal monitor from the line out on my Phil Jones Suitcase Compact.

The PJB wants to be coupled to the floor, and if possible near a wall for optimal bass response. (Which I feel is fully yum-licous.) In practical terms one never knows where the nearest wall is going to be in relation to the stage. In theory I could set up the PJB wherever it is optimal and have that little Ampeg on stage and pointed right at me ... The only question is will it really be loud enough as a personal monitor .... If it works yay

 

[GwenOnBass]

.... of course I could also use that line out to drive another big combo amp ....

 

[GonePlaid]

This looks fun Carvin MB10 Micro Bass Combo Amp w / 10" Woofer! Made In USA! CLEAN! NO RESERVE! | eBay

If I didn't awready have my R40, I'd be all over that.

 

[GonePlaid]

Couple of funnies from my daughter:

 

[ghostinthemach]

I just bought one of these:

on GC used online. It’s the antithesis of the Blacktop Precision I recently sold and looks like a fun bass. It’s due in about 5 days.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bas...ass-rosewood-fingerboard-electric-bass-guitar

 

[iagtrplyr]

I just bought one of these:

on GC used online. It’s the antithesis of the Blacktop Precision I recently sold and looks like a fun bass. It’s due in about 5 days.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/bas...ass-rosewood-fingerboard-electric-bass-guitar

Congrats on the new bass, Ghost. Gee, April must be Bass Acquisition Month (BAM). Obviously, your Blacktop P must've been a boring guitar to own since you feel this one looks more fun to play. Looks to be a nice one to add to your short-scale fleet. MF is showing it's not available. Is that because it's out of production or too new? Oops, answered my own question by doing a search and seeing a 2014 review on it in Premiere Guitar. I'd say good catch, Ghostie!

 

[iagtrplyr]

So Page 5, huh fellas? Wow, I'm gone for just a couple of days and the place goes to sleep. I thought we had a 3-page maximum agreement upon membership? Where's our attorney? I need a judgment.

No matter, I'm back on the job, though the busiest time of the year is upon us, so anyone who wants to step up and keep the club from falling five pages is okey-dokey with me. In related news...

1) sold my P/J bass this afternoon. I'm too embarrassed to admit how little, but it's now in Illinois and that's alright by me.
2) my Markbass combo is also on C-list but for the life of I don't know why. I'm asking for actual money, unlike the SX bass. There I basically ended up getting a bag of magic beans and a shovel...
3) the Reverend John was home for a few days and we did a little jamming last night. Great fun with my Stage 800. His acoustic guitar didn't stand a chance. Lobbied hard for Cat Stevens' "I Was Raised in Babylon." Love that song.
4) gonna set up the VB-100 tomorrow. Hurried up and finished homework today so I could have my entire Sunday to make her playable. Unlike the SX, I have much more positive vibes about this one.
5) the Acoustic cabinet (of experiment-gone-awry fame) was taken by our head custodian where he said he was going to do something with it. I told him to keep it away from oobleck! The crazy thing is it made me wish I had that combo back (guilty feelings probably) to square things up. They're on sale for $145 right now...someone please talk me out of it! I need another combo like a hole in the head. The four I have are enough. Amps that is, not holes.

Ok, I tried my best to inform and entertain. Let's hear from those of you had gigs this weekend. How'd it go? Anyone with any new equipment desires? Nifty sale, like Ghost, you recently pulled off? Post your thoughts and let's get this club a-rockin'!

Fearless Leader

PS: also started the retirement Jazz bass fund today. There's one fat dollar sitting in the envelope marked "He-man Woman Haters Club - Keep Out! At this rate, I only need 1,549 more days to pay it off. The problem is I retire in about 1,150 days. Yikes!

 

[ghostinthemach]

Congrats on the new bass, Ghost. Gee, April must be Bass Acquisition Month (BAM). Obviously, your Blacktop P must've been a boring guitar to own since you feel this one looks more fun to play

I’m hoping it will be, but the press is truly mixed with just as many detractors as happy owners, but GC has a money-back guarantee so it makes me more adventurous when it comes from them.

The Blacktop Precision is ‘The perfect bass for metal’ with its borderline rude humbuckers, it always sounded ...well, angry. Try as I might I never tamed them and I don’t like fighting with a bass to get the desired results!

So the Rascal is another tone-journey experiment. It doesn’t faze me a bit that it got such mixed reviews, my beloved vintage EB-3 is one of the quirkiest basses ever, but I love its quirks and was too young, dumb and excited (fortunately, way back when) to know a quirk when I saw it. So I’m used to liking what others don’t (look at my burgeoning Acoustic Control Corp collection, lol).

 

[GwenOnBass]

Anyone with any new equipment desires?

<scuffs feets>

Well, yeah.

"Choose wisely". In TB talk this often sums to "after endless deliberation I finally parted with my dosh in exchange for a [noun]. And now I'm telling anyone who will listen my decision is [perfect / flawed / self-serving / walnut is nice on Tuesday, pass the sugar]. And of course the formula: build for the largest venue you expect to play with / without PA support.

As chance may be, combos always served my actual performance needs. When it came time to pick my rig as a scale-able set of options, I chose a combo with an extension cabinet. That's a Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact with a Compact 4. Plenty of oomph and

That is exactly how I started thinking about the other end of the gigging scale. There is no need for 8 drivers and 500 watts where the gig today is a nobby joint where stylish people eat in the trendy part of the city. And as often observed (see: Ever been afraid for your life at a gig? ) these microbrewery kind of gigs mean people might even be nice enough to feed you too.

Which set me into thinking an even more portable combo for these kind of engagements and smaller than that too. Ain't no difference playing my 20 watt Ampeg BA108v2 combo at a nursing home when the pay is the same. Except when I A/B my Phil Jones and the Ampeg practice amp.

So I asked myself, hey the Ampeg is about the same weight and size as the C4, what are you doing carrying a practice amp when this here 400 watt capable cab is just waiting to take a stroll ... Which is how (in part) the stork brought an Elf to the household.

And it feels like the Elf should have a dedicated medium duty cab. TE makes two that are matched to the Elf - a 1x10 and a 2x8. Very cool stuff. And a cradle on top made for the Elf. <shrug> And in this corner we have the venerable Ampeg SVT210AV, 26 pounds grab-and-go. Too many possibilities from boutique folks to list. And the new Phil Jones Cab 27 is a 2x7 with a tweeter - usual full-range cab that runs 200 watts @ 8 ohms, same as the Ampeg. The TE 1x10, SVT210AV and Cab 27 can all be had for about the same cost ....

The existence of the Elf may have knocked the Vox VX50BA out of the running, or not ... At 10 pounds and able to hold its own against scary six-stringers ... ah but the Elf and the TE 1x10 is all under 20 pounds. Leaning toward the Cab 27, personally .... Even my ears perk up when the Phil Jones roars

(there's a pedal board idea kicking around there too)

 

[Count Bassie]

Well... I have sold off my just about prohibitively heavy Kustom Groove 310C combo. Prospects for pulling that barrel up rough stone steps at 3 a.m. got grim, and my narrow-but-wiry 57 year old frame spoke to me. I took the money from that sale and scooped up a friendly deal for a neck-thru Thunderbird bass.
I've removed the amplifier section from my Peavey Combo 300, and am building a plywood sleeve for it. I've also taken the 4 ohm Black Widow driver from it, and am putting it into a Crate BE-115 cab.
So I no longer have a combo, which format I still think is a great idea- it just didn't go that way this time around.

I'm sorry.

 

[GwenOnBass]

Well... I have sold off my just about prohibitively heavy Kustom Groove 310C combo. Prospects for pulling that barrel up rough stone steps at 3 a.m. got grim, and my narrow-but-wiry 57 year old frame spoke to me. I took the money from that sale and scooped up a friendly deal for a neck-thru Thunderbird bass.
I've removed the amplifier section from my Peavey Combo 300, and am building a plywood sleeve for it. I've also taken the 4 ohm Black Widow driver from it, and am putting it into a Crate BE-115 cab.
So I no longer have a combo, which format I still think is a great idea- it just didn't go that way this time around.

I'm sorry.

Do stop in, your CC badge has no expiration date. And there's free cabbage rolls and coffee on Polka Tuesdays.

 

[ghostinthemach]

Well... I have sold off my just about prohibitively heavy Kustom Groove 310C combo. Prospects for pulling that barrel up rough stone steps at 3 a.m. got grim, and my narrow-but-wiry 57 year old frame spoke to me. I took the money from that sale and scooped up a friendly deal for a neck-thru Thunderbird bass.
I've removed the amplifier section from my Peavey Combo 300, and am building a plywood sleeve for it. I've also taken the 4 ohm Black Widow driver from it, and am putting it into a Crate BE-115 cab.
So I no longer have a combo, which format I still think is a great idea- it just didn't go that way this time around.

I'm sorry.

Wow are you lucky! It seems you’ve passed the club probationary period and as long as you respect and admire combos (and would seriously consider another and won’t mind letting us enjoy your amp journey.....oh and FL says ok) you can retain membership!
Whew! That was close.

 

[Count Bassie]

Do stop in, your CC badge has no expiration date. And there's free cabbage rolls and coffee on Polka Tuesdays.

Wow are you lucky! It seems you’ve passed the club probationary period and as long as you respect and admire combos (and would seriously consider another and won’t mind letting us enjoy your amp journey.....oh and FL says ok) you can retain membership!
Whew! That was close.

 

[GwenOnBass]

What it seems to me [a /me who has absolutely no degree in science] is a well-designed combo is an optimized pairing of amp / preamp / drivers with a handle on top. This is possibly not true of all combos, particularly when speaking of prehistory where troglodytes hung out with Jimmy Castor. Depends on where you look ... and the à la carte - this amp, that cab + that cab may not be optimal either. But it sure looks great.

Just ain't no comparing a current production Fender Rumble and your average 70s "take it kid, it's cheap" combo amp

 

[Count Bassie]

Thanks you guys! I'm happy to be allowed continued residence, it's a cool and funky, happy and blessedly just a tad twisted, little club. One of the actual redeeming facets of Talkbass. There are several...

 

[iagtrplyr]

<scuffs feets>

Well, yeah.

"Choose wisely". In TB talk this often sums to "after endless deliberation I finally parted with my dosh in exchange for a [noun]. And now I'm telling anyone who will listen my decision is [perfect / flawed / self-serving / walnut is nice on Tuesday, pass the sugar]. And of course the formula: build for the largest venue you expect to play with / without PA support.

As chance may be, combos always served my actual performance needs. When it came time to pick my rig as a scale-able set of options, I chose a combo with an extension cabinet. That's a Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact with a Compact 4. Plenty of oomph and

That is exactly how I started thinking about the other end of the gigging scale. There is no need for 8 drivers and 500 watts where the gig today is a nobby joint where stylish people eat in the trendy part of the city. And as often observed (see: Ever been afraid for your life at a gig? ) these microbrewery kind of gigs mean people might even be nice enough to feed you too.

Which set me into thinking an even more portable combo for these kind of engagements and smaller than that too. Ain't no difference playing my 20 watt Ampeg BA108v2 combo at a nursing home when the pay is the same. Except when I A/B my Phil Jones and the Ampeg practice amp.

So I asked myself, hey the Ampeg is about the same weight and size as the C4, what are you doing carrying a practice amp when this here 400 watt capable cab is just waiting to take a stroll ... Which is how (in part) the stork brought an Elf to the household.

And it feels like the Elf should have a dedicated medium duty cab. TE makes two that are matched to the Elf - a 1x10 and a 2x8. Very cool stuff. And a cradle on top made for the Elf. <shrug> And in this corner we have the venerable Ampeg SVT210AV, 26 pounds grab-and-go. Too many possibilities from boutique folks to list. And the new Phil Jones Cab 27 is a 2x7 with a tweeter - usual full-range cab that runs 200 watts @ 8 ohms, same as the Ampeg. The TE 1x10, SVT210AV and Cab 27 can all be had for about the same cost ....

The existence of the Elf may have knocked the Vox VX50BA out of the running, or not ... At 10 pounds and able to hold its own against scary six-stringers ... ah but the Elf and the TE 1x10 is all under 20 pounds. Leaning toward the Cab 27, personally .... Even my ears perk up when the Phil Jones roars

(there's a pedal board idea kicking around there too)

So M, any new gear desires?

 

[Count Bassie]

What it seems to me [a /me who has absolutely no degree in science] is a well-designed combo is an optimized pairing of amp / preamp / drivers with a handle on top. This is possibly not true of all combos, particularly when speaking of prehistory where troglodytes hung out with Jimmy Castor). Depends on where you look ... and the à la carte - this amp, that cab + that cab may not be optimal either. But it sure looks great.

Just ain't no comparing a current production Fender Rumble and your average 70s combo "take it kid, it's cheap" combo amp

The new run of combos is generally outstanding I think, and when I can afford one of those Elf combos I'll be very interested in landing one. Yep.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Well... I have sold off my just about prohibitively heavy Kustom Groove 310C combo. Prospects for pulling that barrel up rough stone steps at 3 a.m. got grim, and my narrow-but-wiry 57 year old frame spoke to me. I took the money from that sale and scooped up a friendly deal for a neck-thru Thunderbird bass.
I've removed the amplifier section from my Peavey Combo 300, and am building a plywood sleeve for it. I've also taken the 4 ohm Black Widow driver from it, and am putting it into a Crate BE-115 cab.
So I no longer have a combo, which format I still think is a great idea- it just didn't go that way this time around.

I'm sorry.

Count, how the heck are ya? I think your plan is a great one. You know what you need, and don’t, and decided to pursue it your way. To me, once a combo liver, always one. My guess is you’ll, at some point, end up back at a combo amp as an alternative to your present rig. Equipment is so darn cheap right now that a lucky hand at poker can score you a brand new 50-watt practice amp.

GP will love reading that you now possess a T’bird!

 

[iagtrplyr]

What it seems to me [a /me who has absolutely no degree in science] is a well-designed combo is an optimized pairing of amp / preamp / drivers with a handle on top. This is possibly not true of all combos, particularly when speaking of prehistory where troglodytes hung out with Jimmy Castor). Depends on where you look ... and the à la carte - this amp, that cab + that cab may not be optimal either. But it sure looks great.

Just ain't no comparing a current production Fender Rumble and your average 70s "take it kid, it's cheap" combo amp

Spot on, my bass-playing buddy. I think back to the amps I feverishly tried to drown out with drums back in the late 70s and I scratch my head. The thing is that we didn’t know any better and were happy when someone walked in with their Peavey combo, for that meant some rock music was about to commence.

Glad to see the CC is back up to full speed. All we need now is Agent 007 - The Dog to show up. Probably finishing his Studio 40 gig at church. Details requested, G-Dog!

 

[GwenOnBass]

...when someone walked in with their Peavey combo, for that meant some rock music was about to commence.

^ spoken for truth