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What's your small combo experience?

twangchief

twangchief

Supporting Member
Oct 30, 2003
768
28
61
Altoona, PA
#1
Howdy All!

I'm not posting to fish ideas for a particular brand of small combo. I usually end up making my stage sound the same on a $500 amp or a $1500 amp. My query is to the size of combo you use and your feeling on wether or not your purchase desicion was correct.

I have an chance to play live again but have choosen to go the combo route. It will be a two guitarist, drummer and bassist classic rock band with PA support for clubs greater than 100-150 people. Some clubs will be less than 150 people therefore no PA support for those places.

I've been looking at various 300 Watt combos with either 1-12" or 2-10". Small and lightweight is what I'm looking for and I seemed to have found many under 60 lbs in the $600-$1000 range that I was shooting for. I have extra cabs for larger venues if ever needed.

Have you purchased a small combo like this and wished you would've gone with a larger combo with 4-10 or 2-12? ....or maybe you wished you would have gone with a seperate amp and cab rig?

Thanks for any input.
 
#2
I purchased a small combo (Markbass CMD102P, a 2x10) a few months back for portability. Like you say, I use it on smaller gigs without PA support and larger gigs through the front of house setup. It weighs 44lb.

Best thing I ever bought, haven't used my big rig since and probably won't. The combo does it all, I simply can't envisage ANY gig where I'd need anything else.

So, there's my .02 for you!! If you get one that can do the job for you I think you'll wonder why on Earth you ever used anything else.
 
#3
For a small combo rig, I wouldn't any further than the IP112. I like it for it's small giggability, but if you have a bigger show, add a extension cab to it and it becomes monstrous. It does exactly what I wanted it to. I hate being that guy who keeps talking about his IP112, but this little box just blows me away...I still can't believe all that sound and tone can come out of that box.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257012
 
#4
I used to have an Eden Nemesis combo with 2 10" speakers. Now I use a 210 cabinet and a small amp. I prefer the flexibility of the amp/small cabinet to the convenience of a combo, personally. If you're looking for a good sounding combo, check out the Eden Nemesis stuff. It's pretty good.
 
#5
Pako said:
For a small combo rig, I wouldn't any further than the IP112.
Click to expand...
He said
twangchief said:
Small and lightweight is what I'm looking for and I seemed to have found many under 60 lbs in the $600-$1000 range that I was shooting for.

Thanks for any input.
Click to expand...
Not $1900

What's up with you guys that reply to someone asking for an
amp in a certain price range and then replying with something $1000 dollars or more:hmm:
Do the same guys in the bass section tell someone who is looking for a first bass that they should go out and buy a
$3000 jazz "copy"?!
 
#6
The EA Wizzy combo (either 200 or 500 watts) would be a little bit over $1,000 but they are great.

Then there's the MarkBass stuff that GC is about to start selling. Someone posted some GC prices on here the other day. I haven't heard the MarkBass stuff but I've heard some good things about it though.
 
#7
CrUiSeR,
Heck yeah. Save more money in the long run and buy right first, not after thousands and thousands of dollars of buying at retail and selling at discounted used prices looking for the right piece of gear. twangchief is smart enough to type in complete sentences so I imagine he's also sharp enough to decided if the IP112 is out of his price range or not. I bought a product that I am blown away by and am happy to share my experience as many times as I can because I am that excited about this product. When I was told about the IP series, it was waaay over my price range as well. It has been my best purchase to date. I thank the members that were open enough to share their opinions and experiences with me. I guess if a static response based on specific variables is what you want, there's always harmony central. Oh and I'm sorry...what's the thread title again?
 
#8
Freddels said:
The EA Wizzy combo (either 200 or 500 watts) would be a little bit over $1,000 but they are great.

Then there's the MarkBass stuff that GC is about to start selling. Someone posted some GC prices on here the other day. I haven't heard the MarkBass stuff but I've heard some good things about it though.
Click to expand...
That was me over in the MarkBass thread. I can't recall what the 121 combo was. Nor the 102P. All I can tell you is that the price on the Little Mark II is $599. That's the only price that stuck in my head, as that is what I plan on trying out.
 
#9
I bought a Fender 300 Watt 15" combo a few years back when I got into playing. It only cost me $300 and works great on every gig I go on. If the place is small I cut the volume ( or Bring my 10" 100watt Carvin combo) and if the place is large they always have their own PA system I can run the amp through. I'm a big fan of smaller amps and don't really see the need to have half or full stacks. Think about all those thousands of dollars you can save on amps and be spending on basses!!
 
#10
Pako said:
Heck yeah.twangchief is smart enough to type in complete sentences so I imagine he's also sharp enough to decided if the IP112 is out of his price range or not.
Click to expand...
:hmm: :confused: :D
He said $600-$1000 price range, and you recommended a
$1900 cab. I "imagine" that "he's sharp enough to" know
that $1900 does not fall between $600-$1000!
Hey, I've read three threads in the last twenty-four hours
where members are posting higher priced items then what
was asked for!!
One thing is for certain though, a $1900 cab instead of a $1000 combo isn't going to make a musician any more talented than he/she already is:smug:
 
#11
After a year and a half with an Ampeg B100R, I'm loving it. My big rig has been consigned to the rehearsal room where I don't have to lug it around. The rig weighs in at 149 lb, the Ampeg's 65, and it has casters. Most clubs, I play through the amp; bigger venues (like the outdoor wedding reception we're doing Saturday) I run the line out into the PA.

If you like retro sound, it's gold. No tweeter, just a fat 15", and a variety of EQ. It has 2 inputs, for passive and active: the 51 P RI goes in the passive, the L2K goes in the active.
 
#12
lpdeluxe said:
If you like retro sound, it's gold. No tweeter, just a fat 15", and a variety of EQ. It has 2 inputs, for passive and active: the 51 P RI goes in the passive, the L2K goes in the active.
Click to expand...
How well do the levels match when you're running that way? I had an L1K way back when, and that sucker was HOT! I couldn't run both sides with my passive bass and the L1K, the L1K would overdrive like crazy...just curious is all...
 
#13
Back to the original question: When I was looking for amplification, I decided that I wanted simple and light, so I went the combo route. I ended up with a Genz Benz NEOX400-112t. It has an internal 12" speaker which pushes 250 watts at 8 ohms. It also has the capability of adding another 8 ohm cabinet, and it will then push it's full 425 watts.

I haven't done alot of gigging with this combo, but it is plenty loud for full-volume practice and I was able to play our last gig (approximately 100 person venue) while keeping my volume under 4. I could always add the extension cab, but I don't see myself ever needing it in my current band.

The benefits of a combo is ease of setup. I carry my amp in one load, and my basses and pedal in another. I can setup in under 10 minutes, if necessary, including tuning. I don't have to wait for any of the other band members to help me carry in my gear. So, unless you're playing larger venues or need the versalitity of a seperate head and cab, the combo is the way to go. Your back will thank you.
 
#14
Combos are great for those who play out ALOT and smaller venues. Save your back for that three hour gig! In fact the ONLY reason you should not be using a combo, is if you're playing hard rock everynight in LARGE venues like arenas, etc. Even then, I know a bass player (Caedemon's Call) who played the Astrodome(25, 000+ seating) with a little GK MB150!!!
So, I play through an SWR LA15 and SABDDI. That's right! A $300. 1X15, 100W, 50lbs. combo amp. If I'm in a larger venue, I just run a line from my SABDDI. This makes the soundperson happy when the stage volume isn't 500db's!
I've never needed anything more, and I've never had any problems. Less IS more folks.
You can see some pics of me and my rig in action with my band The Methods at: Link Removed
 
#15
I'm not sure. I routinely turn the knobs a lot, and recently I became the de facto sound man, so I've got the mixer by my right elbow...

Ampeg did a pretty good job of setting up the passive (0dB) and active (-15dB) so it's consistent, at least in my experience. It's sure a hell of a lot easier to turn a knob than to hump a big ol' rig up and down stairs.

It's not been an issue, anyhow.
 
#17
I used an Ashdown 115 combo for several years. I recently bought a Genz Benz head and will probably buy a couple EA Wizzy cabs (@ 27 lbs each) to go with it. However, there are lots of advantages to the combo. I carry the amp in one hand and my bass in the other or on my back. Set up and loading out is easy. And most places I play have house PAs. While I love a big rig, I don't like the pain in the rear when it comes to moving them. The bass player in one band of friends uses a 1200 watt power amp, an SVP preamp, a Goliath III and a GK 115, despite the fact that they have the best sound man in western Colorado and the guitarists are playing through the PA with Roland cubes for monitors. When he goes through the PA he sounds terrific. When he uses his rig he gets lost. I've tried suggesting that he bring a DI box and a monitor, but he won't listen. He thinks he has to have lots of speakers and power despite the fact that he cant be heard.

I think you are on the right track. Now if I could just afford the Bergantino IP112, I would be a very happy camper.
 
#18
i really like my ampeg b200r. it's a little over 60 lbs., 15" speaker, 220 watts, tube preamp, Balanced DI Out, 4 band EQ, Ultra Low High and Mid Switches, it's got casters, looks sexy (70's vibe), and sounds like vintage goodness.

the DI sounds great, i use it when i play out, i just use the amp as a monitor. all the sound guys have enjoyed it, and so do it.
 

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