What combo is right for me?

[Jeff Bonny]

But he is wanting to ride a bus to gigs and has a budget. I understand that if transport is not an issue that an amp/cab has it's advantages. He needs power, portability, and to stay within his budget. Given his somewhat unusual circumstance, recommending and amp/cab over a 36 lb, 350 watt, 2x10 combo does seem a little bazaar to me.

I don't think your $500, 45 watt practice amp is what he is looking for at all.

Sorry, a "bus amp" to me is what you'd want on a tour bus and that's immediately where my brain went. Of course you're 100% right it's not what the OP wants and I wasn't really suggesting it was.

As for combos in general every rehearsal studio I use has bass cabs so a stand alone head is infinitely more practical in that situation. Using public transit I'd want to have my bass in a bag, a 3lb head and all my cables in a backpack or shoulder bag and not be forced to carry a cab I didn't need. And if I did need the cab I'd be looking at something like a 25lb Ampeg 210AV which you can pick up used for a couple hundred bucks. Look in the For Sale ads here or on Craig's List, you can pick up a used head comparable to the Fender for $300 and there's your $500 spent much more practically. I'm not saying the Rumble is a bad choice....hell if you go back and look you'll see I actually said it was "a lot of bang for the buck". What's annoying is your calling the recommendation of a head/cab "bizarre" when it's very, very far from being bizarre.

 

[ggunn]

What's annoying is your calling the recommendation of a head/cab "bizarre" when it's very, very far from being bizarre.

Well, for one thing, the OP asked which combo we would recommend, not whether we think he should get a combo or not. Combos work very well for some folks. Me, for instance. I use a Traynor DynaBass 300T alone for small gigs, and with a single 15 external cab for larger ones. It sounds great and fits my needs exactly. I walk into a small gig with my bass in one hand, my amp in the other, and a bag slung over my shoulder with cables, tuner, etc. It's one trip from my car and no hand truck needed.

YMMV.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

Well, for one thing, the OP asked which combo we would recommend, not whether he should get a combo or not. Combos work very well for some folks. Me, for instance. I use a Traynor DynaBass 300T alone for small gigs, and with a single 15 external cab for larger ones. It fits my needs exactly. YMMV.

So I'm not supposed to take the many years of experience I have and try to do my best to actually help the guy instead of just knee-jerk responding to what he thinks he wants? If we present all the options and ideas based on personal experience the OP will figure out what's gonna work for HIM. C'mon, this really can't be that difficult to understand....

 

[ggunn]

So I'm not supposed to take the many years of experience I have and try to do my best to actually help the guy instead of just knee-jerk responding to what he thinks he wants? If we present all the options and ideas and based on personal experience the OP will figure out what's gonna work for HIM. C'mon, this really can't be that difficult to understand....

I didn't say that. Maybe the guy knows what he wants.

 

[buldog5151bass]

OP asked for options, and seemed very interested in all responses. Combos don't make the load in any easier - for me:

- 38 lb 2x12 cab - one hand
- 10lb bass in case - other hand (cords in pouch in case)
- 5lb head around my neck.

 

[Jeff Bonny]

I didn't say that. Maybe the guy knows what he wants.

If that's the case then why'd he post here?

 

[Big Hoss]

Sorry, a "bus amp" to me is what you'd want on a tour bus and that's immediately where my brain went. Of course you're 100% right it's not what the OP wants and I wasn't really suggesting it was.

As for combos in general every rehearsal studio I use has bass cabs so a stand alone head is infinitely more practical in that situation. Using public transit I'd want to have my bass in a bag, a 3lb head and all my cables in a backpack or shoulder bag and not be forced to carry a cab I didn't need. And if I did need the cab I'd be looking at something like a 25lb Ampeg 210AV which you can pick up used for a couple hundred bucks. Look in the For Sale ads here or on Craig's List, you can pick up a used head comparable to the Fender for $300 and there's your $500 spent much more practically. I'm not saying the Rumble is a bad choice....hell if you go back and look you'll see I actually said it was "a lot of bang for the buck". What's annoying is your calling the recommendation of a head/cab "bizarre" when it's very, very far from being bizarre.

See now THAT works for good advice!

I'm not leaning to push a guy to just the Rumble. But stay within the poor guys needs...

I personally would much rather haul a 25 lb cab and 3 lb head, and what, 1 lb for cable? For a grand total of 29lbs versus my 36.5....

I do still like the simplicity of not having to set up and attach the head and cable to a combo, but as I said before, diff'rent strokes...

 

[ggunn]

If that's the case then why'd he post here?

I guess it's my turn to say that it shouldn't be that hard to understand. He asked which combo we would recommend.

I don't care if you recommend that he buy a component system, it's just that a head and cab is not universally better than a combo for everyone in every situation. It isn't for me. BTW and FWIW, I too have many years of experience.

I also have a full SVT rig. Some guys swear by them and that's cool, but mine sits in a closet. DSFDF.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

Oh, I love how any simple question on this site turns to silly bickering.

UPDATE:

I appreciate all of your responses. I wasn't able to make it to GC to check out the Rumble, but instead found a setup here and on craigslist.

Just got home with my new RevSound Cab - 210, 400watts, 4ohm, ~30lbs. (300$)

Then, found a Carvin BX500 in the classifieds here, seems like it'll be an awesome match. (280$)

Went a little over budget, but my tax returns will more than cover it.

Everyone telling me to get separates - don't think you convinced me - I was on board with that idea from the get go

WOO EVERYONE STOP FIGHTING AND BE HAPPY FOR ME!!!!

 

[OldPlucker]

I been looking into the Eden E300 and either the EX110 or112.Bothe are small and portable and within the price range.been looking a DI boxes too.Don't know if that route would work for you though.

I own the Eden WTX 264 & 110 and it sounds awesome except it's no match for a loud drummer because it's not moving enough air. I have been a amp & cab guy most of my life; but, the Rumble 500 changed my mind because of sound, power, weight and portability.

 

[Jim Carr]

Okay, explain for us how say a head and 2x10 cab is easier than carrying for example a Rumble 500 V3 combo?

Ok. As stated, the cab is in one hand, the head is in a gig bag or shoulder bag/rucksack. By dividing the weight, you don't tire as quickly, and can be much more nimble when carrying the cabinet, an advantage for someone who takes the bus or train to gigs or has long carries and stairs to deal with. Most combos are not super light like the latest ones from GK.

I totally get the heads die thing, and this is true, but speaker failure would seem to be a bigger issue than an amp head croaking... If the speaker dies, simply replace the speaker. What's so hard about that?

Nothing is "hard" about changing a dead driver except that you have to afford, order, wait, and then install the driver. During that time, you are either without a head and cab, or have to lug the combo but only use the head, assuming it allows that—some do not.

As far as which fails more often, I think the chances of amp death in a combo are actually greater than a speaker problem, as amps die due to thousands of variables, where as speakers are almost always only killed by misuse/over-powering.

I have the Rumble V3 500 combo, and can't say enough good about it, although I am not the most experienced or skilled player out there, it DOES make me sound better...

Dave, I am sure that amp is fine. I have used the V.2 and V.3 rumble 210s. However, I know well the downsides of combos. I have owned and used many combos over the years—don't make me list 'em all, but I bet it's at least 10 and maybe 15. Ok, yeah, I started playing at age 13 in 1963. I am now 65. The latest combo I used was a Hartke Kickback 15—an awkward 50 lb. cube I hated moving more than 100 feet. I may be old, but I am not weak, and more over, am not stupid, LOL!

A 38 lb, Fender Rumble is lighter and probably better in most ways than the Hartke Kickback, but it also costs more and still locks you into the head/cab combination. You have to buy BOTH a new head AND a new cabinet if you want to upgrade just one part and still have a one cabinet rig.

Honestly, a ~26 lb neo-equipped 112 and a 3.5 lb 800 watt micro head is a reasonable subway rig that can handle 90% of all club gigs. If you want to switch to a different 112, a 115, or a 210, you can buy a new cab and still play until you sell the old cab. Same for heads. I like the choices it gives me. YMMV.

 

[Big Hoss]

Totally get it. However, a combo amp does have the advantage of having one piece to lug, and with the lightweight combos that are out nowadays that isn't the back breaking chore it once was. They have a smaller footprint in studio / practice room / on stage for cramped spaces, have a slight advantage in simplicity of setup, and in general are considerably less expensive than a head / cab + cable rig of the same specs. (Price out a Rumble 500 head, AND Rumble 210 cab, PLUS a cable to connect the two, the combo comes in about $200.00 cheaper, which for a guy starting out, or that is price sensitive, can make a real difference to his bottom line...

To a certain extent, folks like what they like. And don't get me wrong in the slightest, I have the WORST case of GAS for a Rumble 210 cab to add to my 500 combo.

For a lot of guys, a separate head, and cab gives them the flexibility they desire, for others, a combo gives them the compact footprint that is important to them. Given a combo that can handle an extension speaker and you have the compact footprint with flexibility, maybe not as much as a head / cab rig, but more than a non extendable combo...

As far as comparison to the Hartke Kickback goes. Apples and Oranges. The kickback 15 is 120 watts, with a single 15 and is about $40.00 cheaper than the Rumble 500 V3 2x10 combo. It's considerably heavier than the Rumble, far less power, a single 15 instead of 210s which I know is personal preference, but all of these factors put it out of my consideration almost instantly. Not saying it's not a great amp for somebody else looking for those features and that sound, but it was a poor fit for me.

I honestly am completely unwilling to go back to a heavy combo ever again. Yes I am old, No I am not weak, but I do have back problems. I can lift with the best of them, but I will pay a steep price the next day that I am unwilling to do any more. Blame the idiot in the 85 Pontiac that rear ended me at 75 mph for that... I am lucky I can walk at all... I am nowhere near as bad off as some of the guys here. An 11lb bass doesn't bug me, a 60lb combo amp, or cab is going to get on my last nerve though...

Everyone has to choose their equipment based on their needs, and preferences, weighed against was is available in the market. For me, that turned out to be the Rumble 500 V3 combo, for the next guy that might be a big SVT head and 810 cab, for the guy super sensitive to budget and only doing small coffee shop / jazz trio gigs, he may opt for a used Crate BX-100. Still others opt for the micro heads and 210 or 410 cabs, or maybe a pair of 115 cabs or whatever their choice may be... That is kind of the great thing about this whole music thing, so many different approaches to create your own thing. No two players are exactly the same... So it makes sense to have so much diversity in the gear market. It's a good thing.

 

[Orion61]

I have had several Combo amps, I played the Peavey 300 for about 8 years, it was decent but heavy.
My Trace Elliot was and still is a great sounding rig but again heavy.
I have a Peavey 15" 4ohm BW I'd like to swap for an 8ohm so I can stack my Trace on Big jobs, but that is a tomorrow project.
I finally bought a Peavey Max 112 2nd series 200W, it is light weight, and it sounds amazing!
I still can't get it into my head how something so small sounds so good. It reminds me very much of a Mark Bass single 12 I played through at a Benefit.
The owner was nice enough to let me adjust the settings to my likes!
Plus I picked it up from Music 123 for $199.00 SHIPPED! I paid for it in one gig!!
Congrats to the OP on finding great deals!!
PS Carvin puts out great gear. We have a little 30 watt bass Practice amp and it got me through a night
when I had an amp issue (internal connector) I couldn't believe the guts it had while miked...
Combo or head/amp had them all, there are good and bad of each..

 

[bradjonesbass]

Oh, I love how any simple question on this site turns to silly bickering.

UPDATE:

I appreciate all of your responses. I wasn't able to make it to GC to check out the Rumble, but instead found a setup here and on craigslist.

Just got home with my new RevSound Cab - 210, 400watts, 4ohm, ~30lbs. (300$)

Then, found a Carvin BX500 in the classifieds here, seems like it'll be an awesome match. (280$)

Went a little over budget, but my tax returns will more than cover it.

Everyone telling me to get separates - don't think you convinced me - I was on board with that idea from the get go

WOO EVERYONE STOP FIGHTING AND BE HAPPY FOR ME!!!!

I think you'll really like that setup! If you end up not liking the head, they flip pretty quick in the classifieds here. Let us know your thoughts.

 

[Luke19Boarder]

I think you'll really like that setup! If you end up not liking the head, they flip pretty quick in the classifieds here. Let us know your thoughts.

I'm loving it so far ... haven't been able to crank it (apartment with neighbors and all that), but I've been able to get some great tones at low volumes with all of my basses.
Link Removed

 

[Jim Carr]

I think you'll really like that setup! If you end up not liking the head, they flip pretty quick in the classifieds here. Let us know your thoughts.

@Dave Hostetler — Well, I guess I rest my case here. When you are on the used market (as I always am), the choices get enticing.

 

[bradjonesbass]

Does the head fit into your gig bag pocket? Seems like it might be a smidge too big for that.

 

[Jim Carr]

Does the head fit into your gig bag pocket? Seems like it might be a smidge too big for that.

Ha Ha! Well, he can always flip it and get a used GK MB800!

 

[Luke19Boarder]

Does the head fit into your gig bag pocket? Seems like it might be a smidge too big for that.

No, I am going to look into a quality gig-bag (atm just have a hard case and a garbage gig bag) but I do have a laptop carrying case that isn't being used that I can easily fit the head along with cables and whatnot in.

 

[danosix]

I agree in theory (and that is my goal in the coming months). However, I have the itch to start playing, and don't want to put off auditions for a few months because I don't have an amp at all (well, my 15 watt Peavey...).

If you did have any suggestions for a modular rig that meets my criteria, I am certainly all ears ... but I don't see 4-500$ going nearly as far with a head/cab setup.

The equivalent Rumble Head/Cab will come in VERY similar in price and the new Rumble Head is VERY small and light.