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The Combo Club
- Thread starter ChefKen
- Start date
Yeah, my phone seems to be having some issues with the Talkbass website, so I'm on my PC now. Good times!
- Oct 22, 2015
- 21,140
- 256,329
- Disclosures
- I am an affiliate for Ari Cap.
Sheesh, you guys Doc so collywobbled he posted his comment three times! While I'm not necessarily disagreeing with the boy on this one, if a guy can't go insane every once and a while and just do something that defies physics and logic, then what's the point of it all, I ask you? That line has always worked for me when questioned...
Gigged a combo tonight (mini rig report)
The Rockits played tonight at Fullerton CA Elks Lodge #1993.
Band leader Dan was absent due to recent surgery, so I was there, broken foot-bone and all (yes I sat all night-first time ever).
Tonight’s weapons of choice were my:
Accessory choices included
- Ampeg B100r
- AVRI ‘63 P in sonic blue (w/Fender flats)
View attachment 3150733
- Korg pitch-jack tuner
- Xvive U2 digital wireless
- Fump mute
The Rockits played a usual blend of Doo-wop, Motown, 50’s and 60’s rock n roll and a smattering of classics like My Way and Mac the Knife.
The Elks dined and danced till the wee hour of 10:30, after which many of them just go to sleep (they go home first, of course)
The panoramic photo shows why you stand still for pics as drummer got morphed while walking thru the scene.
View attachment 3150783
The trusty Ampeg is the right fit for this room as it looks period correct, but doesn’t ’appear’ as loud as my other vintage gear.
I use a string mute a lot w/this band and I eq so that the P sounds nice and upright-like when I do. That sound comprises 30-40% of the night. Another 30-40% is more Motown-esque with highs rolled off and lots of doubling notes.
The balance is a mix of flat-pick w/more highs and everything between. I’m a fairly busy bassist with slight to major tone changes depending on the tune.
The Rockits play for the local Elks about 10-14 time’s a year including a much bigger NYE production, which we booked again a couple months ago.
Cheers
Wonderful image of a working man's rig, ghost. I don't think you could go wrong choosing the Ampeg. P-bass and 'Peg, a traditional combination! I'll bet you didn't even think about your foot the entire time, right?
This is what today's bass player uses as he goes into battle with his ax. Beautiful!
Duke, I told ya not to take the rod out in public unless ya asked first! Oh nevermind, it added to your picture. Say, how did the Genzler/Genz-Benz rig sound outside? Were you loud enough? I'm sure it's a dumb question, but people might wanna know.
Hi all.
Just wrapped up science essays and heading to beddy-bye, but wanted to give you a thumbnail sketch of the new combo. Finally found an hour free and decided to do a little playing and listening. Ran the Jazz straight through with no pedals in between. Had the amp in the position you see in my avatar. The first impression after one Oasis song was, "Hey, this sounds just like the Ampeg BA-series." That's why my ears heard and it's not totally surprising even if the Acoustic people scream heresy at me. There's no doubt in my mind that's who they're gunning for in the great mass-marketed combo amp division, and why not? It's an iconic tone and one that you know when you hear it. I own(ed) M's BA-108 v2, and other than a little more wallop in the bottom there's not much difference in overall sound. I welcome the counterpoint if anyone's in GC's neighborhood sometime.
In other words, I like it especially since I'm Ampeg-less right now. Love the tilt-back and it sacrifices little to no bass. The front end has been updated with different tonal points for the four-band EQ. The built-in overdrive is okay, I guess. Some say not as robust as the Rumble's but I don't know (or care) myself. It tends to lose some bass when you go to it, but the grind is there if you want it, though I prefer running it clean. Volume was more than enough with the knob sitting between 8 and 9 o'clock. Is it worth its retail at $170? Maybe. How about $136? Yep. As I mentioned before, she's a chunky little bugger coming in at 29 lbs soaking wet, but I'm planning on it sitting in the mancave most of the time. I wouldn't be ashamed to take it out for a low-level romp sometimes though. It's definitely not one of Ghost's prized Acoustics, but I think the majority of you would think it was passable. If you're looking for something in the under $200 range, give this one an audition.
Oh yeah, plugged into both 1/8" jacks as I was first looking at it and smiled. Going into the headphone jack was uneventful, but when I plugged into the Aux jack the area around it pushed in quite a bit. Nothing says quality like watching the front end sloshing about! Hey, what did I expect...Markbass? No matter, I still liked the tone.
Now I have to plan head to the War Room to begin planning my next acquisition, a Fender Studio 40. Why, do you ask? Because I cannot stand the thought of my buddy, GP, being disappointed on Christmas Day when he doesn't get to read my review of that amp! The things I do for my club friends...Dasvidaniya!
PS: where the heck is Giffro? I figured he'd be on by now. How the heck long does it take to get his country to update their system? Sheesh.
Just wrapped up science essays and heading to beddy-bye, but wanted to give you a thumbnail sketch of the new combo. Finally found an hour free and decided to do a little playing and listening. Ran the Jazz straight through with no pedals in between. Had the amp in the position you see in my avatar. The first impression after one Oasis song was, "Hey, this sounds just like the Ampeg BA-series." That's why my ears heard and it's not totally surprising even if the Acoustic people scream heresy at me. There's no doubt in my mind that's who they're gunning for in the great mass-marketed combo amp division, and why not? It's an iconic tone and one that you know when you hear it. I own(ed) M's BA-108 v2, and other than a little more wallop in the bottom there's not much difference in overall sound. I welcome the counterpoint if anyone's in GC's neighborhood sometime.
In other words, I like it especially since I'm Ampeg-less right now. Love the tilt-back and it sacrifices little to no bass. The front end has been updated with different tonal points for the four-band EQ. The built-in overdrive is okay, I guess. Some say not as robust as the Rumble's but I don't know (or care) myself. It tends to lose some bass when you go to it, but the grind is there if you want it, though I prefer running it clean. Volume was more than enough with the knob sitting between 8 and 9 o'clock. Is it worth its retail at $170? Maybe. How about $136? Yep. As I mentioned before, she's a chunky little bugger coming in at 29 lbs soaking wet, but I'm planning on it sitting in the mancave most of the time. I wouldn't be ashamed to take it out for a low-level romp sometimes though. It's definitely not one of Ghost's prized Acoustics, but I think the majority of you would think it was passable. If you're looking for something in the under $200 range, give this one an audition.
Oh yeah, plugged into both 1/8" jacks as I was first looking at it and smiled. Going into the headphone jack was uneventful, but when I plugged into the Aux jack the area around it pushed in quite a bit. Nothing says quality like watching the front end sloshing about! Hey, what did I expect...Markbass? No matter, I still liked the tone.
Now I have to plan head to the War Room to begin planning my next acquisition, a Fender Studio 40. Why, do you ask? Because I cannot stand the thought of my buddy, GP, being disappointed on Christmas Day when he doesn't get to read my review of that amp! The things I do for my club friends...Dasvidaniya!
PS: where the heck is Giffro? I figured he'd be on by now. How the heck long does it take to get his country to update their system? Sheesh.
My main amp is a combo as well, and even with as little power as 130W.
Despite that I have had no problems being heard yet.
Played in a loud hard rocking power trio, and even then the master volume stayed around about 10/11 o'clock.
It is an old Trace Elliot though, which are known to have been conservatively rated.
A GP7SM model with a 15" build in.
Sounds no short of amazing.
Best tone I ever had.
Even like it better than the Ampeg B-15S tube amp I once owned, though they are two totally different beasts.
Pondering on scrapping computer updates and buy a Trace Elliot GP12 SMX, 300 W combo with 2 10" build in, I have seen up for sale, instead, just in case I need more watts or something happens to my current amp.
Also some claim the SMX are the best solid state amps Trace Elliot produced and supposedly the GP12 preamp should sound better than the GP7 one.
I know it has a tube in the preamp stage that can be blended in at least, unlike the SM models.
Anyway, here's a picture of my current amp:
Despite that I have had no problems being heard yet.
Played in a loud hard rocking power trio, and even then the master volume stayed around about 10/11 o'clock.
It is an old Trace Elliot though, which are known to have been conservatively rated.
A GP7SM model with a 15" build in.
Sounds no short of amazing.
Best tone I ever had.
Even like it better than the Ampeg B-15S tube amp I once owned, though they are two totally different beasts.
Pondering on scrapping computer updates and buy a Trace Elliot GP12 SMX, 300 W combo with 2 10" build in, I have seen up for sale, instead, just in case I need more watts or something happens to my current amp.
Also some claim the SMX are the best solid state amps Trace Elliot produced and supposedly the GP12 preamp should sound better than the GP7 one.
I know it has a tube in the preamp stage that can be blended in at least, unlike the SM models.
Anyway, here's a picture of my current amp:
Attachments
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I have an interesting big band gig Wednesday night(subbing for regular bassist-medical). Using 2, as in two, combo amps. My Rumble 200C for me and my 17 y/o Bassman 25 as an extension for the keyboard amp. The way we have to set up the keys man is way off to the side, the extension is next to the drummer and audible to the horns.
Karlson541, I humbly extend to you an invitation to join our little lovefest we call the Combo Club.
If you'd like, I will issue a number, something I haven't done in a while, and we'll add you to the ranks. You're the kind of person we are always looking for; passionate about your equipment and always on the lookout for something to add to the fleet! Send me a thumbs up and I'll blow off the dust on my membership books and take care of some business. Thanks for sharing!
How many watts is the B25? Does the R40 have the legs for such a gig?
The Bassman 25 is(fanfare)25 watts. The 40 has plenty to add to the piano man's amp. We are set up in the corner of a dining room at a beachfront hotel. the piano man is to the far right of the rest of the group. The 5 saxes are in front with the 8 brass in a line behind them. the drums and bass are on a low riser behind the brass. The R40 is just an extension from the piano man's amp. The regular bassist just uses a hot spot type monitor. It's mostly so that the drummer can hear the keys.
I've done the gig before(for a year-2 Wednesdays a month). Both the band and the crowd are mostly retirees.Sounds interesting, GP. Let us know how the gig goes. With horns, it could be loud!
Thanks for the details. Seriously, it sounds like a fun show. I've always enjoyed playing with brass because they're so dynamic but had always seem challenged to compete with their output. On some nights it seemed like a tank battalion vs. a pen knife! Best of luck to ya, GP!
With my R200C I have to "keep it down". If I wanted to, I could blow them away. And that's w/o FOH!
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