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The Combo Club
- Thread starter ChefKen
- Start date
AFA playin' with the dials, I was somewhat surprised at how much I hadda roll off the bass on the Rumbles to get the tone I like. The things have gut rumblin' bottom. For the sound I want it's B-10, LM-2, HM-2, Tr-10 w/ Vintage and/or Bright as needed for the room acoustics.No need to apologize, Mike. It wouldn't be the first time I got something backwards and, due to age, probably not the last.
A different cabinet with different drivers could make all the difference. Your comment on the Rogue reminded me of my experience with the EB2-Dc that I sold. As you said playing with//learning the controls could make all the difference. Good luck with it.
Especially if you are playing on a Gibson like yours or any high output pups, which may include the Rogue, IMHO.
True, but I use similar settings with the Ibby semi-hollow.
The Thunderbird's volume(neck pup only)is full, as is the Ibby, and the VM Jag. The LPB2/5-active-the volume is on ~5.
It does depend on the bass you’re using, no doubt, but me home settings for my 100c is B=10:00, LM=10:00, HM=2:00, T=2:00. Sometimes I bring the low-mids up a bit, but not much. Mama blessed that combo with three combo amps worth of bass!
I am really thinking about selling my head/cab and going with an Ampeg BA210 v2 as my do it all. Should be loud enough for what I need, and if not I could always get an extension. I’m thinking lighter and just easier to move around between home practice and both practice spaces. Are there any downsides?
I've had a Peavey Max 110 combo that was 45lbs about not light and not heavy and was louder enought to gigs and small concerts. But I have improved my sound with a Mark Bass Micromark 45w loud enought for gigs and extended in concert as DI It's 7kg Circa very firm bottom ends and more musicality.
Good morning, C7! I owned the 210 for a cup of coffee. Actually two; the original and a replacement. It was after they just came out and they had some bugs. Mine was a speaker rattle that was audible at even low volume.
That was then, this is now and the flagship convo in the BA-line seems to have really taken off. Like whet you want it for, bass players are trading in their big rigs for something easier to haul and yet still sounds similar to an SVT.
It’s loud and I liked that. Even with just the two tens it’ll hold court at practice and small-medium gigs, though a second 210 or a 115 unleashes full power.
One possible hiccup for you might be a combination of its weight and shape. Ampeg built these amps to be tossed around, but it’s monitor-shaped styling is quite bulky to carry long distance. It’s nearly fifty pounds feels heavier also because of a single strap on top of the amp. Recessed side handles would’ve been my choice had they asked.
That being said, if that’s no biggie, then the BA210 v2, IMHO, is an excellent combo that needs to be auditioned. And if you can, add an ext cab for the fireworks!
Let us know what you decide to do.
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,154
- 256,523
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Lot to be said for any gear and a folding hand truck.
Amen. And that combo would do well to be carried with wheels under it. For quick in and outs it’s fine, but if you’re walking a bit (from parking lot to venue) and then another 50 yards (side door to stage), then it’s a challenge, especially if you’re older. That was me heading to the gym at school one spring day. I used a cart when heading back to the car. Much better!
I was also considering the fender rumble because of the weight difference, but I like the ampeg tone better.
Any other recommendations for a killer combo? Oh, I have a BA108. Great little practice amp.
Any other recommendations for a killer combo? Oh, I have a BA108. Great little practice amp.
And...
What is the difference in tone between the ba210 and ba115? Another possibility lol
What is the difference in tone between the ba210 and ba115? Another possibility lol
Me again. Both Morrighan and I also own a 108 with an Eminence driver replaced the stock speaker. Nirvana exists. Many feel that combo is Ampeg’s best-sounding amp, and we tend to believe that ourselves.
I’ve not tried out the 110, but think it may be overkill for the bedroom and not enough power for anything but a jam or micro gig. The 112 steps up in power and speaker size, but they left off the DI which I would’ve thought as crucial for using that combo out. They do build it in the 115, but now you’re back to the same size as as the 210 without the added horsepower.
We have plenty of happy Rumble owners here who I’m sure will be happy to share their feelings. I’m more of an Ampeg guy, but I also have a 100c and it’s my fave grab ‘n go combo. The two brands are excellent values but have very different tones and, to me, not interchangeable.
Your best bet is to audition the combos, but under the present circumstances I know it’ll be difficult. You do have a pretty good idea owning the Ampeg combo because Dino brags how their sounds transcends throughout the line.
Rumblers, wanna help out with your views?
I'm a happy Rumbler, of whom iago speaks. But, it was not always so. My lineage is more Bassman and I joined The Combo Club with my Bassman 150 and 250 combos that I still love.
Here is the story of my Rumble awakening, recently related in The Bassman Club. The short version is I ordered the Rumble 500 combo thinking the specs were too good to be true, but it shocked me with its dream-come-true combination of retro good looks, surprisingly light weight, great tones and awesome power. And the Rumble TONE POOL list of various settings on the Rumble Club Wiki page, linked in my signature, prove the versatility of them. The Club has members from metal, to rock, pop, jazz & soul, to upright users.
Hope this helps.
.
After downsizing and selling most all of my gear for various reasons I found myself needing a rig to play and gig with. I was looking at getting into the fender rumble group, but there was this Blackstar u250 on clearance. I played it and was impressed with the eq and tone shaping options. Went and jammed only to find out that 1x15 at 250w really doesn’t cut it against my drummer. I ordered the matching blackstar 250w powered extension cab to see if that would give me the presence I was looking for. I have to say it delivers in spades. Apparently doubling your wattage and speaker area can work wonders. Was told to check out this club and I’m definitely a combo player.
Hey there, JamasC, I’m the guy who mentioned. Welcome to the CC, where we love bass, bass guitars, bass amps and cabs, but most of all...combos!
Let me find my keys into Command Central and I’ll fire up the old IBM to record your name for posterity and hand out a new number to ya.
We’ve had a couple of players come through here with Blackstar combos, with the last member returning his after doing some critical listening to it. It wasn’t what he was looking for, but others have had good success with them. We here would just like to just know a little more about them.
When ya get the chance, tell ya what kind of music and volume levels you tend to play at and how this new rig sounds to you. We don’t people’s gear here, usually leaving that to the owners themselves!
I get back to you in just a bit. Thanks for accepting my offer to stop by!
JamasC, congratulations, you are our 194th member of this prestigious club and we welcome you! Feel free to read some of our back pages and always know you're welcome here to chime in on a discussion (there's always something being talked about) or bring up something that you wish to go over. Speaking for the others, I know we'd appreciate hearing thoughts on your new rig after you've given it the once over. Thank you again for stopping by!
194 sweet. I’m playing with a modern metal group now. I use the darkglass alpha omega or bass big muff for gain and almost always have the mxr d80 on with the color on. It’s loud. Both guitarists have 6x12 setups and not a clean tone in sight.
The main thing I look for in an amp is a good powerful clean tone. The blackstar does have onboard gain stages, but they don’t compete with my pedal board. I could use them if I didn’t have access to my pedals and be alright. The eq voicing is where the blackstar shines I like the classic voicing but it’s because I use the mxr pedal for the “more modern “ metal tone. Without the pedal on I can get a clean with plenty of punchy mids. Anyway the amp has three eq voicing and it has three I guess tube voicing (done digitally) linear, 6L6, and 6550. I’m preferring the 6550 now but I haven’t spent much time with the others. Each one sounds distinctly different than the other so if changing sounds is your thing this amp has tons of variables to play with.
Built in chorus is nice and usable through it’s entire range. Even dimed it’s not too much. The octave is ok ish. I was hoping it would be better but it’s ok as long as you’re not running many effect into it. It has a built in compressor which is a thing I hear bass players like. Haven’t fooled with enough compression to know if it’s any good but I like the way it sounds when it’s on.
The u250 by itself is loud but not like “hey you’re going to break stuff” loud. Add the 250aec to it and you will displace items inside a house. For jamming with my brother and other friends the combo by itself is more than enough. 2 massive guitar rigs and an aggressive drummer you may need more juice.
The main thing I look for in an amp is a good powerful clean tone. The blackstar does have onboard gain stages, but they don’t compete with my pedal board. I could use them if I didn’t have access to my pedals and be alright. The eq voicing is where the blackstar shines I like the classic voicing but it’s because I use the mxr pedal for the “more modern “ metal tone. Without the pedal on I can get a clean with plenty of punchy mids. Anyway the amp has three eq voicing and it has three I guess tube voicing (done digitally) linear, 6L6, and 6550. I’m preferring the 6550 now but I haven’t spent much time with the others. Each one sounds distinctly different than the other so if changing sounds is your thing this amp has tons of variables to play with.
Built in chorus is nice and usable through it’s entire range. Even dimed it’s not too much. The octave is ok ish. I was hoping it would be better but it’s ok as long as you’re not running many effect into it. It has a built in compressor which is a thing I hear bass players like. Haven’t fooled with enough compression to know if it’s any good but I like the way it sounds when it’s on.
The u250 by itself is loud but not like “hey you’re going to break stuff” loud. Add the 250aec to it and you will displace items inside a house. For jamming with my brother and other friends the combo by itself is more than enough. 2 massive guitar rigs and an aggressive drummer you may need more juice.
I guess our group is firmly locked in the minority. Neither guitarist plays distorted(one uses a sustain pedal, but it's clean), I never use o/d, my only pedal is an octaver that most of the time stays in its bag in my duffel. The built in Rumble o/d circuit is used as a mute. And our drummer never plays too loud. Weird, ain't we.
Hello Jamas - and welcome to the club where the cool kids hang!
Glad to see you're happy with your Blackstar U250 and truly hope it serves you well! I bought one about a year ago and really liked it - but was only playing at lower volume at home. Before I got a chance to put the U250 through her paces in a band setting, my mother took a downturn healthwise and I spent alot of time in FL with her until she passed a couple months later. Meanwhile, the U250 sat a while awaiting my return. Once things got back to normal, finally had some jam time with the bandmates. I really liked the classic voicing with the 6550 response, but was having a hard time getting it to sound good with the band - playing a bit with the eq helped, but louder I got (as they got louder) - was very farty and couldn't really get it alleviated. Played with a Jazz and a P with same results. Even going Bright mode didn't really help. So first time playing loud with the band was a bit discouraging. Told bandmates I'd work on getting better settings for our next get together. And I did, but again unable to really crank her up until I was back with the guys. The onboard effects are good - especially the chorus - except for you adjust the level with a little switch on the back of the amp? Kind of inconvenient. I had no use for the octaver, so didn't even try it out - but compressor is very good as well.
After another jam, I just really wasn't "feeling" the U250. Like I said, loved it at home, but never really panned out for me with the band. Around this time, my nephew was getting into playing bass and was starting to jam with friends and needed something more powerful. I decided then to gift him the U250 and get a different combo. I ended up with a Fender Rumble 500v3 and couldn't be happier. Lighter, more powerful and cuts through the mix like a champ without breaking a sweat! No farting - just shear powerful rumble goodness!
My nephew was overjoyed getting the U250 and seemed to get usable and loud sound that he and his friends liked. So all was good - until a couple months later when he came to me - apologetic and informed me he thinks he killed it as it was no longer functioning. He said they were playing VERY loud (he probably had it dimed) and it just cut off and had an electric smell. Long story short - after not being able to bring the U250 back to life - ended up helping him acquire a Rumble 500 and all has been well since.
Sounds like you are having better luck than me with your U250 and I hope that continues! I'll be interested to see how Blackstars Unity Series evolves over the years!
