The Combo Club

[Bright Midnight]

Welcome Sublab, and nice bass you picked up! Mine is a Rockbass model, and I find the pickups to be the hottest passive pups I've ever used.
View attachment 4198306

For amplification, I'm normally using my GK MB150E-112 if I want to be heard over a drummer. It's a 150 watt beast with the ability to power external speakers. I pair it with a 4x10 if I play with a loud drummer. I like the small size, and 26 pound weight. The sound is more "modern" and clear, with less of what some call "baked-in sound." Of course, you may prefer the sound of an Ampeg or Rumble.

Yes, I have two of them. Long story, I'll tell you about it if you want.
View attachment 4198325
They have not sold this model in several years, so good luck finding one used (part of my reason for 2). You may also consider the very similar MB150S-112, which just recently got discontinued.

Others have said that the newer MB series of combos are very nice, and I've heard good things about the MB 210.

Pricier than some others suggested, but maybe it's the sound you are looking for?

Gallien Krueger is on the list to test out at Music STore in Germany. I never played Gallien before and am quite curious to their 'basic' sound. From what I gather on videos they do have that clear and modern sound, but that's just videos alas. I'll try them out for sure!

 

[biguglyman]

Gallien Krueger is on the list to test out at Music STore in Germany.

They're not cheap, but it's the easiest, most versatile amp I've ever owned...and I've had a lot of different amps from old tube heads to solid state to class D. The controls on the GK are so useful and well laid out. The tone controls are great and I can get virtually any type of sound I want out of it, all with 500 watts to back it up. The best part though? It weighs 41 pounds! (@18.5 kg)

 

[GonePlaid]

They're not cheap, but it's the easiest, most versatile amp I've ever owned...and I've had a lot of different amps from old tube heads to solid state to class D. The controls on the GK are so useful and well laid out. The tone controls are great and I can get virtually any type of sound I want out of it, all with 500 watts to back it up. The best part though? It weighs 41 pounds! (@18.5 kg)

Not to 'whiz' in anyone's Cheerios, we each have a feel for what sound we wanna reproduce with our basses and amps. That doesn't mean "I" am right and "you" are wrong, but that what's "right" for one isn't necessarily what's gonna work for someone else. Example: I prefer Gibson basses(specifically TBirds and EB's)and 7ender amps, for the sound I want. I wouldn't own-for example-a MarkBass-yes, I've played through a couple. Not the 'modern' sound I want. But that may be exactly the sound "you"[whoever you are]are looking for in an amp. Cool.
Also, I'm retired on a pretty much fixed income-unless the Lottery comes through or "The Prize Patrol" finds my house-so buying multiple amps to try out ain't gonna happen. I know from past experience that 7enders-therefore Rumbles-are gonna approximate the sound I 'hear' in my head.

FWIW, my amps through the years have included: 2 tube-type piggyback 63 7ender Bassmans, a '70 Kasino 200W/2x15" monster combo, a mid 70's SVT/810 rig, an Ampeg BA112, a coupla Peavey's(keyboard and bass amps), and my current Rumbles. And my 200W Rumble weighs 34.5 pounds.
The ones I liked the least were the 2 Ampegs followed by the Peavey MAX110.
YMMV.

 

[Bright Midnight]

Now now...why not try and find a used GK MB212-ii? Lightweight, loud, AND able to cop 'pegish and fenderish tones. Switchable horn, contour button, even a boost knob for some smooth and sexy dirt. Just sayin'...

I will look it up, thanks for the advice!

 

[biguglyman]

Not to 'whiz' in anyone's Cheerios, we each have a feel for what sound we wanna reproduce with our basses and amps.

Absolutely. And for the record I can't get a sound I like out of the MarkBass combo either. The point I was trying to make is that I can get a sound that's close enough to a 7ender (for me) or an Ampeg (for me). Will it be close enough for someone else? Ahhh, there's the rub. Different strokes, YMMV, find what works for YOU!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Amazing reply, and I hope you slept well! That baked in tone when referring to the Ampeg is very true, and I'm thinking it will be the point that makes me choose the Rumble 500 instead. That baked in tone is something I want to flip on when I need it, which I assume will be regular but not constantly. I'm thinking the Rumble 500, paired with a used Tech 21 VT bass to have the Ampeg tone on hand!

More pedals is my thinking here :: devil emoticon :: LOL

In my imagination I hear the differences between preamps pretty well because they're all playing through Phil Jones full frequency range cabs. Which is distinctly not to suggest the cabs are transparent ... just saying with four PJB cabs it's possible to compare apples and apples.

There's room on the VT Bass Deluxe for very reasonable Ampeg tones. It records beautifully. Just on that alone, it's a keeper. It also means SVT tones at low volume. mwahahahaha

Get playing around with the Elf, VT on/off and it's a real delight just as is. It sounds really big! Had the Trace Elliot combo been available when I bought the Elf ... but it didn't happen. The Elf was for my C4 on here in the States. :: yawn :: That's a long way around to say a Trace Elliot Transit B would be a mighty fine addition.

Or ... And? ... A Gallien-Krueger PLEX Preamp for the same coin is very attractive ... @biguglyman knows his pewp.

It'd just be a matter of swapping out pedals for the job at hand. That I take care with my sound — my basses, my strings, my rig — is like

 

[Bright Midnight]

More pedals is my thinking here :: devil emoticon :: LOL

In my imagination I hear the differences between preamps pretty well because they're all playing through Phil Jones full frequency range cabs. Which is distinctly not to suggest the cabs are transparent ... just saying with four PJB cabs it's possible to compare apples and apples.

There's room on the VT Bass Deluxe for very reasonable Ampeg tones. It records beautifully. Just on that alone, it's a keeper. It also means SVT tones at low volume. mwahahahaha

Get playing around with the Elf, VT on/off and it's a real delight just as is. It sounds really big! Had the Trace Elliot combo been available when I bought the Elf ... but it didn't happen. The Elf was for my C4 on here in the States. :: yawn :: That's a long way around to say a Trace Elliot Transit B would be a mighty fine addition.

Or ... And? ... A Gallien-Krueger PLEX Preamp for the same coin is very attractive ... @biguglyman knows his pewp.

It'd just be a matter of swapping out pedals for the job at hand. That I take care with my sound — my basses, my strings, my rig — is like

View attachment 4198975​

Mount Everest? Thanks for your input!!

 

[Miles_ONeal]

Bugera BXD15A update:
Well, still no Bugera combo available. I called Sweetwater to see what’s up, and was told they may be in by first week in April. It was suggested I preorder to ensure I get one because that first lot is already almost all spoken for. I told “Reuben” that I had preordered already, and he was able to confirm that, sooooo....still waiting.

Oh, and TERRIBLE news, a key member of our little Rez band is bailing on us and heading back East. His girlfriend was at the end of her rope here on the Rez, and with the pandemic and all- she convinced him to seek other opportunities- He wasn’t ready to go, but....Grrrrr. He will be missed! I don’t know how the band can continue without some fresh faces. Oh Well! A door closes, a window opens somewhere!! (Or is the saying “It’s five o’clock somewhere” more apt

Meanwhile, to keep things interesting, I pulled the trigger on one of these!
View attachment 4198887
it looks versatile (DI, tuner, boost, compression), fun (chorus, analog octave, envelope filter w/fuzz...), useful (preamp section-Ampeg voiced, thru signal, and FX loop before chorus in chain). Oh, the tuner also mutes signal when engaged. Also included is an AC adapter- pretty sweet!

I hemmed and hawed, don’t really NEED it right now, but it seemed so cool- With the band despair fresh, I pulled the trigger two days ago on Amazon.
Best thing???? I went to site to grab the pic of the Dapper Bass DI, and......the price shot up $40!!!
Hang in there- I still need to post pic of the Rumble 40...

Thanks for reading! C-Note

Sorry to hear the guy bailed, but I get it. Hope you find the fresh faces soon! They find you. Whatever.

Let us know how the PB in a Box works!

 

[GwenOnBass]

Really we all do take care of our sound to the best of our ability. It means we care. And yeah yeah nobody in the audience hears the bass, listens to the bass, notices the bass or the bass player jimi jams. It's my own integrity I aim to present .... forget who here has a sig that says "no gig too small, no pay too great". Perhaps. I'm not driving two hours round trip to rehearse .... And it's a really cool gig, very talented guys my age, one a Berklee grad. They know their pewp and they're gearing up for post-lockdown. But they live and gig an hour away and that gets old fast.

If we had train service there like <ahem> places with actual train service it'd be a pretty good gig. But not today.

Today there's lots of Ampeg BA108 practice amp for actual practice.

oh and that's K2
the Savage Mountain

 

[GonePlaid]

Sorry to hear the guy bailed, but I get it. Hope you find the fresh faces soon! They find you. Whatever.

Let us know how the PB in a Box works!

It's very likely there's a guy nearby looking for a band. Hope y'all find each other.

 

[swink]

If we had train service there like <ahem> places with actual train service it'd be a pretty good gig.

What's a train service?

 

[RodRy]

They're not cheap, but it's the easiest, most versatile amp I've ever owned...and I've had a lot of different amps from old tube heads to solid state to class D. The controls on the GK are so useful and well laid out. The tone controls are great and I can get virtually any type of sound I want out of it, all with 500 watts to back it up. The best part though? It weighs 41 pounds! (@18.5 kg)

Which one do you have again?

 

[68Tele-Bass]

It's very likely there's a guy nearby looking for a band. Hope y'all find each other.

Sorry to hear the guy bailed, but I get it. Hope you find the fresh faces soon! They find you. Whatever.

Let us know how the PB in a Box works!

Yup! - fer sure- we are not above indulging fantasies and “inviting” any and all comers to play with us- we try to work in their strengths and comfort zone, and get them up and playing! “Rock On, Garth!...”

 

[Recon1342]

More pedals is my thinking here :: devil emoticon :: LOL

In my imagination I hear the differences between preamps pretty well because they're all playing through Phil Jones full frequency range cabs. Which is distinctly not to suggest the cabs are transparent ... just saying with four PJB cabs it's possible to compare apples and apples.

There's room on the VT Bass Deluxe for very reasonable Ampeg tones. It records beautifully. Just on that alone, it's a keeper. It also means SVT tones at low volume. mwahahahaha

Get playing around with the Elf, VT on/off and it's a real delight just as is. It sounds really big! Had the Trace Elliot combo been available when I bought the Elf ... but it didn't happen. The Elf was for my C4 on here in the States. :: yawn :: That's a long way around to say a Trace Elliot Transit B would be a mighty fine addition.

Or ... And? ... A Gallien-Krueger PLEX Preamp for the same coin is very attractive ... @biguglyman knows his pewp.

It'd just be a matter of swapping out pedals for the job at hand. That I take care with my sound — my basses, my strings, my rig — is like

View attachment 4198975​

Eloquent as always, M’Lady M.

 

[biguglyman]

Which one do you have again?

MB212-ii

 

[iagtrplyr]

MB212-ii

View attachment 4199995

Speaking of eloquent...

 

[GonePlaid]

Speaking of eloquent...

We were?

 

[iagtrplyr]

More pedals is my thinking here :: devil emoticon :: LOL

In my imagination I hear the differences between preamps pretty well because they're all playing through Phil Jones full frequency range cabs. Which is distinctly not to suggest the cabs are transparent ... just saying with four PJB cabs it's possible to compare apples and apples.

There's room on the VT Bass Deluxe for very reasonable Ampeg tones. It records beautifully. Just on that alone, it's a keeper. It also means SVT tones at low volume. mwahahahaha

Get playing around with the Elf, VT on/off and it's a real delight just as is. It sounds really big! Had the Trace Elliot combo been available when I bought the Elf ... but it didn't happen. The Elf was for my C4 on here in the States. :: yawn :: That's a long way around to say a Trace Elliot Transit B would be a mighty fine addition.

Or ... And? ... A Gallien-Krueger PLEX Preamp for the same coin is very attractive ... @biguglyman knows his pewp.

It'd just be a matter of swapping out pedals for the job at hand. That I take care with my sound — my basses, my strings, my rig — is like

View attachment 4198975​

After reading the past 5-7 posts, I’d say if we were a musical group then we just finished writing our collective magnum opus. Whew!

The only question I have is if that’s so, which one of us was lead bass?

 

[GonePlaid]

After reading the past 5-7 posts, I’d say if we were a musical group then we just finished writing our collective magnum opus. Whew!

The only question I have is if that’s so, which one of us was lead bass?

Lead Bass?? Mine's made of mahogany-much lighter.

 

[iagtrplyr]

Lead Bass?? Mine's made of mahogany-much lighter.

No, then I would’ve used the word, led.

Right now, I’m reading in the GOF thread where you’re talking about bass solos. I dunno, but y’all don’t seem so grumpy to me. I guess I’m still too young to get it, but after my second 12-hour day in a row I feel like I’m getting there quicker!