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Thoughts on a New Amp?

#41
My first amp was a Rumble 100, which is ok, but I don't love the tone. A few months ago I bought an old heavy Ampeg BA-115 because I liked the tone a lot better than the Rumble. I have not played the Rocket basses. I know they are direct competitors of the Rumble, and you may prefer the tone or features of one over the other. Be sure to play all that you can.
 
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#44
I'm in the separate head/cab crowd.

My suggestion.....

Ampeg 210 AV cabinet, 25 lbs., can be found used quite often for $200.00 and under.
Great sound for small jobs.
Easiest 210 cab on the planet to transport.

G.K. MB500 head, 3.5 lbs., 500 watts at 4 ohms, can be found used quite often for $200.00 to $300.00.
Great sound with enough power to "actually gig with" if ever needed.
Small size, one of the easier class D heads to transport.

If the need should arise for a live gigging rig, add another 210AV.
You'd then have a setup that will keep up with a moderately hard hitting drummer that's super transportable.
 
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#47
Realmongo said:
Unfortunately, the only Hartke in my area that I could try are small ones.
Click to expand...

The small ones literally sound like the big ones, and can get amazingly loud while staying clean and tight. I've played everything from the HD25 to the KB15 to the LH500 and they're all Hartke clean. I just use OD pedals from my guitar pedalboard when I need a different flavor. I'm a convert from Peavey (35+ years with Classic 50s and 30s and SS/hybrid bass amps). Hartkes are very reliable, too. Good reputation.

The Fender Rumble combos are also excellent if you like that tone. More warm, old school-ish. And again ... far louder without farting than they have a right to be. Decent pricing.

The Ashdown OriginAL kickback was also nice, and again, amazing volume out of a single 12". A bit expensive imho. But very nice tone.

The newest GK combos are a bit expensive, imho, but also have a great reputation and they, of course, do that GK thang.

And there are a lot of reliable head/cab packages at reasonable prices nowadays. Class D amps have changed the landscape. For giggable heads and combos it's an awesome time for bassists. Find YOUR tone in your price range and get to work! :thumbsup:
 
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#49
I often use a GK MB200 into Neo112, a great pairing. Or, GK MB115 combo. Either choice easy load that sounds good. I played a Rumble 100 at a rehearsal spot that sounded pretty good, and it’s light. I just got an Ashdown Studio 15 combo. Very light. FYI, I’m 71.
 
#50
I'm a fan of the Rumble amps, they are really light and have that baked in sound that works, especially with my P Bass.

I had a need for a small, light combo for stage monitor and low level rehearsals so I bought the GK-110, it was important to me to have a pre/post switchable DI which the Rumbles don't have.

Depends on volume but a 100w combo with a 12" or 15" will probably suit your needs and most of them are so light these days you won't have any problem moving it.
 
#51
So, I gave up on the Acoustic because I didn't like the tone, The Peavey's speaker was smaller than the rest and sounded kind of tinny to me in comparison, The Fender Rumble seemed like it could get pretty loud, but I didn't like the sound of its overdrive. Then I almost bought a Blackstar Unity 120, but there was a problem with availability for a new one, so I wound up taking the Ampeg RB-112 home today.
 
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