The Combo Club

[G-Dog]

I agree G-Dog. Ampeg knocked it out of the park with this series.

Well, I agree they look terrific! And they probably sound great to those that like that sound. And they certainly weigh a lot less than previous 'Pegs. And, surely, Shirley, there will probably even be a lightweight matching cab, or two, come along someday. They certainly are well in the ballgame, at last!

And I certainly don't mean to rain on anyone's parade! I understand, and even celebrate, different strokes for different folks! But, to me, they still generally weigh more, cost more, and have less power, than the equally retro looking Fender Rumble combos they copied (not to mention the Rumble heads and cabs) that have been around for 6-7 years now.

If there were no Rumbles, or if I could talk myself into another amp of any kind, I'd certainly be seriously considering the Rockets. We all win with a bit of friendly competition! And here in The Combo Club, the emphasis is on friendly.
.

 

[Michael Favata]

@G-Dog its why I pulled the trigger a couple of days ago and got the RB-115. I loved my Rumble 112. 26lbs! But wanted more power so got the Markbass CMD102P. (Still have my living room Rumble 25 :>) But now the Markbass didn’t fit my situation or my broken wing. I hemmed and hawed over the RB series or a Rumble for months now. I finally pulled the trigger on Thursday.

The RB arrives Wednesday. The reason why I got that instead of the Rumble series? They both sound great. Both lightweight. But I have an Ampeg 115 extension cab with that beautiful diamond tolex! Paired with the new RB it will look amazing! And be versatile. I will use the combo in most situations but can pair it with this in bigger situations :

Re-did the studio space yesterday in anticipation of the new addition coming.

I just hope it’s all I’m hoping it will be. I’m picky. Here’s what I purchased in the last few years:

Black star 15” combo. Returned it. Rumble 15” combo. Returned it. GK 12” combo. Returned it. Rumble 25. Great little amp. Still have it. Ampeg BA110. Not a fan. Had it for a while then traded it. Markbass micro. Traded it. Not for me (I liked the little rumble 25 better) the Markbass CMD102P. I liked that amp. No complaints. Just not right for me now. I just sold that on Reverb yesterday. Great person buying it for her bass playing boyfriend as a surprise how cool is that. Love Reverb btw.

So now I await the RB115 with fingers crossed. I know one think. The stack will look gorgeous!

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Dang pretty.

 

[Hot Rats]

Guilty!!!! Yay! History!!!! I collected a BS in history while pursuing more technical studies. I had a fortuitous pile of credits transfer from my junior college to University that allowed a relatively perfunctory awarding of the degree!!

My main arenas of interest are late nineteenth century marine and naval engineering, WWI (my grandfather was in the Canadian Black Watch Highlanders- the “Ladies from Hell” the Germans used to call them !), polar exploration (Shackleton, Anyone??) Oh, and everything else as well!

Devouring two books this summer I recommend freely:
https://www.amazon.com/River-Doubt-...ocphy=9030374&hvtargid=pla-318313615851&psc=1

Roosevelt brought to life under the most harrowing, life threatening circumstances!

And this gem:

https://www.amazon.com/Destiny-Repu...ocphy=9030374&hvtargid=pla-578779744007&psc=1

Garfield??? James A. Garfield?? YES!!!!! He was a man ahead and of his times!! Was nominated against his will! Truly a great read!

The Tank is actually a 3-D puzzle I found on Amazon. It’s the Stümgeschutz STuG III with its 75mm gun broken by excited 6 and 9 year olds! View attachment 4376942

Yes! I’m really enjoying the combo! A lot!!
P.s.- there’s my Bryson collection! Oh- and that “A Captain’s Duty” was signed by CAPT. Phillips- I went to a reading by him up in Burlington, VT where we both lived at the time!

My brother turned me on to A Walk in the Woods, and I loved it. What Bryson would you recommend I read next?

 

[LoveJackBruce]

@G-Dog its why I pulled the trigger a couple of days ago and got the RB-115. I loved my Rumble 112. 26lbs! But wanted more power so got the Markbass CMD102P. (Still have my living room Rumble 25 :>) But now the Markbass didn’t fit my situation or my broken wing. I hemmed and hawed over the RB series or a Rumble for months now. I finally pulled the trigger on Thursday.

The RB arrives Wednesday. The reason why I got that instead of the Rumble series? They both sound great. Both lightweight. But I have an Ampeg 115 extension cab with that beautiful diamond tolex! Paired with the new RB it will look amazing! And be versatile. I will use the combo in most situations but can pair it with this in bigger situations :

View attachment 4377377

View attachment 4377376

Re-did the studio space yesterday in anticipation of the new addition coming.

I just hope it’s all I’m hoping it will be. I’m picky. Here’s what I purchased in the last few years:

Black star 15” combo. Returned it. Rumble 15” combo. Returned it. GK 12” combo. Returned it. Rumble 25. Great little amp. Still have it. Ampeg BA110. Not a fan. Had it for a while then traded it. Markbass micro. Traded it. Not for me (I liked the little rumble 25 better) the Markbass CMD102P. I liked that amp. No complaints. Just not right for me now. I just sold that on Reverb yesterday. Great person buying it for her bass playing boyfriend as a surprise how cool is that. Love Reverb btw.

So now I await the RB115 with fingers crossed. I know one think. The stack will look gorgeous!

I bet you two Blue Crabs and a Shrimp Barbie on Jasmine rice you are going to love it!!!!! When paired up, oh watch out..... You'll be playing for days!!!! Bass up the wazuuuu Mr. Sulu. Load Ampeg 15 torpedoes.
If you're married now in a week you'll be divorced,
so you best go out and get yourself a horse,
you see a horse can carry you around,
get you all the way to town,
If you're married now in a week you'll be divorced,

I'm as excited as you are

 

[Michael Favata]

I bet you two Blue Crabs and a Shrimp Barbie on Jasmine rice you are going to love it!!!!! When paired up, oh watch out..... You'll be playing for days!!!! Bass up the wazuuuu Mr. Sulu. Load Ampeg 15 torpedoes.
If you're married now in a week you'll be divorced,
so you best go out and get yourself a horse,
you see a horse can carry you around,
get you all the way to town,
If you're married now in a week you'll be divorced,

I'm as excited as you are

Lol that’s hilarious! Thanks for that @LoveJackBruce !

 

[Michael Favata]

My brother turned me on to A Walk in the Woods, and I loved it. What Bryson would you recommend I read next?

I love Bill Bryson’s “At Home.”

 

[G-Dog]

... ... I pulled the trigger a couple of days ago and got the RB-115. I loved my Rumble 112. 26lbs! But wanted more power ... (Still have my living room Rumble 25 :>) ... ... I have an Ampeg 115 extension cab with that beautiful diamond tolex! Paired with the new RB it will look amazing! And be versatile. I will use the combo in most situations but can pair it with this in bigger situations :

View attachment 4377376

Re-did the studio space yesterday in anticipation of the new addition coming.

I just hope it’s all I’m hoping it will be. I’m picky. Here’s what I purchased in the last few years:

Black star 15” combo. Returned it. Rumble 15” combo. Returned it. GK 12” combo. Returned it. Rumble 25. Great little amp. Still have it. Ampeg BA110. Not a fan. Had it for a while then traded it. Markbass micro. Traded it. Not for me (I liked the little rumble 25 better) the Markbass CMD102P. I liked that amp. No complaints. Just not right for me now. I just sold that on Reverb yesterday. Great person buying it for her bass playing boyfriend as a surprise how cool is that. Love Reverb btw.

So now I await the RB115 with fingers crossed. I know one think. The stack will look gorgeous!

Wow, Michael! I did not realize the Ampeg Portaflex series already used that black diamond tolex! I don't ever recall noticing any of those IRL, like when I was absolutely struck by a little RB-110, I think it was, in GC a month, or so, ago. I guess the lights hit it just right.

That's gonna be a killer stack! Now, if only that cab was anywhere near the same weight as your combo ... ...
.

 

[Michael Favata]

Wow, Michael! I did not realize the Ampeg Portaflex series already used that black diamond tolex! I don't ever recall noticing any of those IRL, like when I was absolutely struck by a little RB-110, I think it was, in GC a month, or so, ago. I guess the lights hit it just right.

That's gonna be a killer stack! Now, if only that cab was anywhere near the same weight as your combo ... ...
.

Yea that cab is a full 55lbs! But. It comes with included caster wheels! It has great handles. It sounded amazing paired with the markbass 102P. It does look gorgeous. It's gonna be a cool looking stack! But. It seem's to me that should not be the deciding factor lol. So I'm feeling a little shallow lol. My bass playing brothers and sisters here at TB seem to be loving the RBs so here we go. I'll give you guys a full review. Your right about power btw G-Dog. Fenders 115 says 140 watts at 8 ohms and the RB 115 says 100 watts at 8 ohms. What will matter to me is what my ears are hearing so that will be the bottom line.

 

[GwenOnBass]

What it seems to me is the look of a rig is as much a part of us as our instruments (and what they look like). And unable to say why I am / was so smitten with a combo that doesn't reach my knee Playing the old rig of a Peavey combo and a single 15 inch cabinet was definitely a thrill. And at the time I considered the Fender Bassman tube amps and single 15s we rehearsed with at school to be positively antique. Playing in front of two 15s keeping up with two of the six stringer guys at volume ...

isn't what I had in mind when I bought the PJB combo. What I had in mind, but did not fully understand when I made the decision, is all that jazz stuff. Because that's what I cut my teeth on at school. Instructor says you and you and you are going to play [This Standard] together until you get it right

Started with Autumn Leaves and wound up doing New Riders of the Purple Sage covers at volume.

Forty years later and back at my old friend The Real Book
with a pretty understated amp
and what's really weird is
that PJB BG-400 and C4 just wipe the floor Now, compared to Then.

 

[RSey716]

Welp, I done wentn' got me anothr' combo. I couldn't help it really. When it showed up in the classifieds, I found myself buying it. Just like that. It's a sweet Fender Bassman TV10 and it sounds good........

View attachment 4377385

Very cool indeed, Nice find!

 

[Michael Favata]

What it seems to me is the look of a rig is as much a part of us as our instruments (and what they look like)

I guess the idea would be look good feel good. We can then add "play good" lol. So yea I get that @Morrighan .

 

[GwenOnBass]

I guess the idea would be look good feel good. We can then add "play good" lol. So yea I get that @Morrighan .

Oh yes, totally!
There's a certain joy in a gig that goes down well I've never found elsewhere in life. All the components come together for a job well done
happily, amps and basses figure large

 

[RSey716]

It's all encompassing...

Michael, are you a Bills fan?

 

[LoveJackBruce]

Wow, Michael! I did not realize the Ampeg Portaflex series already used that black diamond tolex! I don't ever recall noticing any of those IRL, like when I was absolutely struck by a little RB-110, I think it was, in GC a month, or so, ago. I guess the lights hit it just right.

That's gonna be a killer stack! Now, if only that cab was anywhere near the same weight as your combo ... ...
.

Same weight and size unlike the dang oversized Rumble 15 cab. I just can't comprehend why.. (besides maybe a little more rumble).

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Well, I agree they look terrific! And they probably sound great to those that like that sound. And they certainly weigh a lot less than previous 'Pegs. And, surely, Shirley, there will probably even be a lightweight matching cab, or two, come along someday. They certainly are well in the ballgame, at last!

And I certainly don't mean to rain on anyone's parade! I understand, and even celebrate, different strokes for different folks! But, to me, they still generally weigh more, cost more, and have less power, than the equally retro looking Fender Rumble combos they copied (not to mention the Rumble heads and cabs) that have been around for 6-7 years now.

If there were no Rumbles, or if I could talk myself into another amp of any kind, I'd certainly be seriously considering the Rockets. We all win with a bit of friendly competition! And here in The Combo Club, the emphasis is on friendly.
.

Attaboy

 

[Michael Favata]

It's all encompassing...
View attachment 4377536

Michael, are you a Bills fan?

Yes! Born and raised western New York!

 

[Michael Favata]

Oh @RSey716 its right in your signature 716 lol. Go Bills!

 

[Black Out Jazz]

Yes! Born and raised western New York!

I worked at Corning for 6 months.

 

[RSey716]

Yes! Born and raised western New York!

Lived on Grand Island until I was three then the fam moved to Springville. Left the area at 19 for the AF. Came back as a recruiter 89-94. Was home for the bickering Bills. LOL...