Just bought the Traynor SB110. Great little amp!
I went to the store and compared the Traynor SB110, the SB112, GK MB112, and Fender Rumble 100 V3. I had my faithfull American Std P bass with flats with me. I tryed all amps with almost no EQ and no contour/low expander. My goal is to set my amp to sound like studio monitors as much as possible, which is what I prefer. All tests were done at low to medium level (so for those looking for an high level review, this is not for you, sorry). I'll have the chance to test the Traynor SB110 later next week at gig level. I'll see how it performs, but I'm confident.
Tone wise, both Traynor amps had a nicer bottom than the GK and the Fender, but sounded a bit more 'pillowy', but not muddy. As I already have a bigger rig and was looking for a very small combo amp, I went for the 110 over the 112 almost from the start. The 110 was sounding very very good for its size and weight, so my following review is for the 110.
I did own the Fender Rumble 100 a few months ago, and I had no problem to gig with it, level wise. The Rumble 100 has a nice character with my P bass, a nice mix of growl and tube-like tones, with a nice bright high-mid range presence. It's a nice electric bass amp for the price, no doubt about it. No tweeter means no hi-fi possibilities though. I know a tweeter is not needed/wanted by many bass players, but I personally do like to have the 5-6KHz + range available if/when I need it (with my double bass, per example). I sold that amp cause I was missing a tweeter, and more importantly, because the sound coming out of the XLR DI out was coloured in a way I didn't like at all (too much low end and a 'clicky' bright high range that I could not get rid off, even when fiddling with the EQ). I play about 80% of the time with in-ears, with my signal coming from my amp via the XLR out, so a good DI output is crucial to me.
The GK MB112 sounded mid, with less bottom than the Traynor and also less extreme top end, due to the lack of tweeter. Not really a studio/PA like tone. And not that musical to me. Sounded even more boxy to me. The construction quality is inferior to the Traynor. ¼ jack connector and knobs/buttons don't feel as solid. It didn't feel as sturdy as the old MB150, per example.
The EQ on the Traynor is more powerfull, compared to the GK and Fender. My guess is that the low mid is at 400Hz and the high mid at 800Hz. I would have prefered a high mid at around 1500Hz, but that's just me... The high mid range (1000-4000hz) is a bit undercovered by the Traynor, both with the lack of EQ in that range, and from the woofer/tweeter. Some might like it, some might not. The XLR out on the Traynor nails it! Super clean, a LOT of level (maybe a bit too much level, might need a pad on the console). With the EQ flat, the tone is just like my bass through a good DI. The way I like it. I previously read a review of the Traynor SB115 stating that the XLR DI out was hissy. That is not true with the SB110! TONS of signal, and very clean. The 110 is wired POST gain/EQ, while the 115 is PRE, that might be the reason. I forgot to check the GK's DI out, so I can't compare that one.
To me, considering the size, weight, tone, and DI out quality, the winner was the Traynor SB110. Can't wait to test it on a live gig!
I went to the store and compared the Traynor SB110, the SB112, GK MB112, and Fender Rumble 100 V3. I had my faithfull American Std P bass with flats with me. I tryed all amps with almost no EQ and no contour/low expander. My goal is to set my amp to sound like studio monitors as much as possible, which is what I prefer. All tests were done at low to medium level (so for those looking for an high level review, this is not for you, sorry). I'll have the chance to test the Traynor SB110 later next week at gig level. I'll see how it performs, but I'm confident.
Tone wise, both Traynor amps had a nicer bottom than the GK and the Fender, but sounded a bit more 'pillowy', but not muddy. As I already have a bigger rig and was looking for a very small combo amp, I went for the 110 over the 112 almost from the start. The 110 was sounding very very good for its size and weight, so my following review is for the 110.
I did own the Fender Rumble 100 a few months ago, and I had no problem to gig with it, level wise. The Rumble 100 has a nice character with my P bass, a nice mix of growl and tube-like tones, with a nice bright high-mid range presence. It's a nice electric bass amp for the price, no doubt about it. No tweeter means no hi-fi possibilities though. I know a tweeter is not needed/wanted by many bass players, but I personally do like to have the 5-6KHz + range available if/when I need it (with my double bass, per example). I sold that amp cause I was missing a tweeter, and more importantly, because the sound coming out of the XLR DI out was coloured in a way I didn't like at all (too much low end and a 'clicky' bright high range that I could not get rid off, even when fiddling with the EQ). I play about 80% of the time with in-ears, with my signal coming from my amp via the XLR out, so a good DI output is crucial to me.
The GK MB112 sounded mid, with less bottom than the Traynor and also less extreme top end, due to the lack of tweeter. Not really a studio/PA like tone. And not that musical to me. Sounded even more boxy to me. The construction quality is inferior to the Traynor. ¼ jack connector and knobs/buttons don't feel as solid. It didn't feel as sturdy as the old MB150, per example.
The EQ on the Traynor is more powerfull, compared to the GK and Fender. My guess is that the low mid is at 400Hz and the high mid at 800Hz. I would have prefered a high mid at around 1500Hz, but that's just me... The high mid range (1000-4000hz) is a bit undercovered by the Traynor, both with the lack of EQ in that range, and from the woofer/tweeter. Some might like it, some might not. The XLR out on the Traynor nails it! Super clean, a LOT of level (maybe a bit too much level, might need a pad on the console). With the EQ flat, the tone is just like my bass through a good DI. The way I like it. I previously read a review of the Traynor SB115 stating that the XLR DI out was hissy. That is not true with the SB110! TONS of signal, and very clean. The 110 is wired POST gain/EQ, while the 115 is PRE, that might be the reason. I forgot to check the GK's DI out, so I can't compare that one.
To me, considering the size, weight, tone, and DI out quality, the winner was the Traynor SB110. Can't wait to test it on a live gig!
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