The Combo Club

[iagtrplyr]

Anyone know if Mesa Boogie is going to release a bass combo anytime soon?

The walkbout was the last model I think.

minronee, it’s been forever since we’ve seen ya ‘round these parts. Welcome back!

Don’t know MB’s plans for a combo, but if you go back a few pages we had a guy on talking about the terrific reputation of Mesa and so on. Might be worth looking up. When we hear something we’ll be sure to post it here.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Understood. Mission accepted!

Gee, people are beginning to listen to old FL. Doc, you can’t be steered wrong on this one as long as you’re happy with the combo overall. If you’re okay with 50 watts, it’ll be okay with you. That along with the fact I like the fuzz option more than the combo’s OD switch. It sounds great with the Beatle bass in particular. Good hunting!

 

[JakobT]

I absolutely hate batteries. Not in pedals, not in basses. I don't need more points of failure in my rig.

I don’t mind batteries in basses, they usually last a long time (IIRC, you own a SBMM SUB StingRay with a battery powered preamp? ). And I always carry a spare 9V battery in my gig bag anyway.

For pedals, the main problem to me is that with most, you have to partially dismantle them to change batteries, which usually means unplugging them from the signal chain, taking them off the board altogether, and unscrewing (!) the bottom plate before you can access the battery. The only pedals that I know of that have a workable solution for that is Boss. But of course, unless you only have a couple of pedals, you have to carry more than a couple of extra batteries if you want to be on the safe side.

 

[SoulReflection]

Very cool, SR. How much does a little picadillo like this here thing cost a guy? Asking for a friend.

$70 and a bit more ($10) for a power supply.

 

[GonePlaid]

GP, Gramma has a handle on one of the sides. I know, I paid good money for it. I dunno, these have a pretty good reputation as boom smashers. I'd have to see how the $12 version works before I switch allegiance. And I've used mine on a gymnasium stage that is hollow underneath so I know this one works. Plus, what do you think I am...thrifty? Don't wanna let that rep get started.

I ain't thrifty, I's cheap.

 

[redstrand]

I ain't thrifty, I's cheap.

Sung to the tune I ain't drunk, I'm just drinking....

 

[GwenOnBass]

Broughton HPF as a stompbox. I'd room on the board, so why not? The VT Bass Deluxe has a defeatable cab sim that works as a LPF at 5 khz. The pedalboard is from Outlaw and is self-contained. Since the photo, I cleaned straightened up the pedals to each other to treat benign OCD.




Without any actual street cred, it may be déclassé to insert the thought of how a HPF can tighten up the bottom end of even a lowly practice amp. That 25 or 40 watter is unlikely to be able to reproduce anything close to a 41 hz fundamental, so why feed it that signal?

 

[GonePlaid]

I don’t mind batteries in basses, they usually last a long time (IIRC, you own a SBMM SUB StingRay with a battery powered preamp? ). And I always carry a spare 9V battery in my gig bag anyway.

For pedals, the main problem to me is that with most, you have to partially dismantle them to change batteries, which usually means unplugging them from the signal chain, taking them off the board altogether, and unscrewing (!) the bottom plate before you can access the battery. The only pedals that I know of that have a workable solution for that is Boss. But of course, unless you only have a couple of pedals, you have to carry more than a couple of extra batteries if you want to be on the safe side.

The only active bass I have uses a 9 volt. I keep an extra in the accessories space. I also keep a small tool kit in the gig duffel. A small kit of small tools. The one pedal I use requires a transformer thingy* and I'm always concerned that the skinny little wire from the wall plug part to the pedal could break. It hasn't-yet, but I had one for another device break. Luckily that has a battery option.
*technical term

 

[Big Hoss]

Hey folks, I know this forum tends toward higher $$ gear, but I am looking for workable bottom dollar combo amp here. My BIL is playing bass through an old Marshall guitar combo and keeps destroying the speaker. I am considering picking him up one of those Monoprice 40w bass combos. Are they worth the price for someone that just plays at home?

 

[redstrand]

Hey folks, I know this forum tends toward higher $$ gear, but I am looking for workable bottom dollar combo amp here. My BIL is playing bass through an old Marshall guitar combo and keeps destroying the speaker. I am considering picking him up one of those Monoprice 40w bass combos. Are they worth the price for someone that just plays at home?

Just get the Ampeg 108, it's $99 new

 

[GwenOnBass]

Just get he Ampeg 108, it's $99 new

^ this

I use my US $99 Ampeg BA108v2 daily.

 

[Big Hoss]

^ this

I use my US $99 Ampeg BA108v2 daily.

For Ampeg that's chump change. Nice...

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

Gee, people are beginning to listen to old FL. Doc, you can’t be steered wrong on this one as long as you’re happy with the combo overall. If you’re okay with 50 watts, it’ll be okay with you. That along with the fact I like the fuzz option more than the combo’s OD switch. It sounds great with the Beatle bass in particular. Good hunting!

I did purchase it last night after our quick exchange. I will admit I was a bit in my cups, so I am regretting it a bit today. I also know that I've wanted one of those even before they were produced - when I saw the guitar version - and all I needed was a gentle nudge.

I'm not sure I will post pics when it arrives. I told myself no more bass gear until Christmas. So it may go into storage so that I can put it under the tree. We'll see if I can stick to that!

 

[GwenOnBass]

It'll need to be tried!

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

It'll need to be tried!

This is true!

 

[StatesideRambler]

A couple months’ trial ought to do it.

 

[Doctor Intrepid]

A couple months’ trial ought to do it.

No doubt! I need to show some restraint, though, and especially for my son's sake. A lot of toys have been bought for him since his mom and I separated. I think this is due to a bit of competition between her and I and trying to make him happy. Understandable reactions and we're lucky to be able to provide for him. He is now obsessed with Hotwheels and their various tracks. I've been telling him he has to wait until his birthday, so now I feel a little guilty. I will order him some Hotwheels today! But I will also hide away the new Vox while he is here ...

 

[iagtrplyr]

$70 and a bit more ($10) for a power supply.

That’s not bad at all, but will have to wait for Christmas maybe. Just bought my new studio monitors and went a tad over my $100 budget. But would it be me if I didn’t?

No one else will care, I’ll PM ya later, SR.

 

[droo46]

I don’t mind batteries in basses, they usually last a long time (IIRC, you own a SBMM SUB StingRay with a battery powered preamp? ). And I always carry a spare 9V battery in my gig bag anyway.

For pedals, the main problem to me is that with most, you have to partially dismantle them to change batteries, which usually means unplugging them from the signal chain, taking them off the board altogether, and unscrewing (!) the bottom plate before you can access the battery. The only pedals that I know of that have a workable solution for that is Boss. But of course, unless you only have a couple of pedals, you have to carry more than a couple of extra batteries if you want to be on the safe side.

The Stingray gives me so much anxiety that I only gigged with it for about 6 weeks before I replaced it with a Jazz bass. As much I love the Stingray, it’s relegated to home playing only these days.

Totally agree on pedals. They’re so hard to swap batteries out on the fly.

 

[RodRy]

$70 and a bit more ($10) for a power supply.

Looks like the input is 9-24, so seems a battery could be found to run this, if one was so inclined.