• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Which combo amp for a non-gigging bass player?

Which combo amp for a non-gigging bass player?

  • Orange Crush PiX 100BXT - 100w

    Votes: 13 8.8%

  • Ibanez P3115 Promethean - 300w

    Votes: 5 3.4%

  • Peavey Tour TKO - 400w

    Votes: 6 4.1%

  • TC Electronic BG250-115 MKII - 250w

    Votes: 38 25.9%

  • Gallien Krueger MB115 - 200w

    Votes: 57 38.8%

  • Other (please comment below, thanks)

    Votes: 28 19.0%
  • Total voters
    147
#41
Non-gigging player?
Easy answer.
Roland Micro Cube Bass RX.
Why?
AC or DC. Will run fine all day on one set of batteries.
Equalizer, flanger, chorus, delay, reverb and T-wah.

A complete Rhythm Section. Tuner. Compressor.
Gain and Volume.
The best feature is the Amplifier tones.
Octive bass, super flat, flip top, B Man, Bass 360, session and concert 810.
Aux In, foot switch and rec out.
FourXFour inch woofers.
Loud
 
#42
COBRARI said:
Non-gigging player?
Easy answer.
Roland Micro Cube Bass RX.
Why?
AC or DC. Will run fine all day on one set of batteries.
Equalizer, flanger, chorus, delay, reverb and T-wah.

A complete Rhythm Section. Tuner. Compressor.
Gain and Volume.
The best feature is the Amplifier tones.
Octive bass, super flat, flip top, B Man, Bass 360, session and concert 810.
Aux In, foot switch and rec out.
FourXFour inch woofers.
Loud
Click to expand...

I have one of these. It's a nice piece of kit and loud enough for busking with acoustic instruments. Lots of useful bells and whistles, including a REC OUT jack. And it's small and light enough to carry on a shoulder strap.
 
#44
first off, I haven't read thread. I am just commenting based on my vote, which is have you looked at the Hartke A100 it is the same price as the TC Electric BG250.

It is less power, but it seems to be more expandable.

I am in the same boat as you as I am a non-gigging bass hobbyist, although, one day maybe I will play somewhere, and with that in mind I like to keep my options open.

I went with a used Fender Bassman 250 head and I think I have settled on a Seismic SA-115 dual ported 1x15 Bass Cabinet. Eventually, I will probably get a 210 or 410 to go with it and I will have a nice stack, or I could always expand and just go with a 215 instead of the 115.

My total cost for the two will be 400.:bassist:
 
#45
If you like the 'GK tone'' (some do, I don't), then GK's are great amps.

I voted BG250. I have one that has seen weekly rehearsals and monthly gigs (with and without PA support) for almost a year and it has been killer in a variety of genres. Having an onboard compressor, drive and tuner makes things soooo easy.
 
#48
Lowbrow said:
Think out of the choices the GK will be the best sounding for your type of music and that later on if you begin to gig you can extend it with a powered GK cab.
Click to expand...

So let me get this right? I can get a 200w 1x15 combo and then if I need the extra power (volume), adding another powered GK cabinet will have it's own power, and not have to share the same power as the first combo?.....so start off with a 200w 1x15, then later add another 2x12 500w cabinet for a total of 700w if needs be?

Hmmmm.......
 
#49
DannyBob said:
So let me get this right? I can get a 200w 1x15 combo and then if I need the extra power (volume), adding another powered GK cabinet will have it's own power, and not have to share the same power as the first combo?.....so start off with a 200w 1x15, then later add another 2x12 500w cabinet for a total of 700w if needs be?

Hmmmm.......
Click to expand...

That would work. You can also add the MBP cabinets to the MB200 head through the line out/chain out jack (in addition to whatever speaker(s) your driving with the little amp).
 
#52
IMO if you don't grab one of those Genz Benz Contour combos, which are going for 350 bucks NEW right now, you might as well be throwing your money away.

It's basically a 500w GB head built into a Focus cab so it's worth DOUBLE the price. A bunch of TBers have grabbed them and love them. Do a search on the work "Contour" and you'll see them.

Both the 210 or the 115 versions are excellent and what I really like about them is the "contour" of the housing (hence the name), designed to get the sound UP and not just out.

:bassist:
 
#54
OP, I cannot help you in this search, as I'm in the same type of quandary myself as a lot seems to have changed in the fifteen or more years since I last looked at bass amplification (perhaps it's the internet making things more accessible); but I've gleaned a lot off this thread here as I was about to start one along a similar line.
 
#58
If you are going combo, I'd look for an old Nemesis (by David Eden). I've had mine forever and it's solid as a rock with plenty of features and about 200 watts. I have used it in smaller gigs and jam sessions...kept up with a band for years. I have one of the really old ones... not too sure about the newer Eden combos?
 
#59
DannyBob said:
So let me get this right? I can get a 200w 1x15 combo and then if I need the extra power (volume), adding another powered GK cabinet will have it's own power, and not have to share the same power as the first combo?.....so start off with a 200w 1x15, then later add another 2x12 500w cabinet for a total of 700w if needs be?

Hmmmm.......
Click to expand...

That's the idea - pretty cool, right? Will mean more $$ down the road but hopefully will give you time to save up. Plus by then some of the powered cabs will probably be on the used market at savings.
 
#60
Lowbrow said:
That's the idea - pretty cool, right? Will mean more $$ down the road but hopefully will give you time to save up. Plus by then some of the powered cabs will probably be on the used market at savings.
Click to expand...

I've always preferred the thought of a main combo amp and then adding extensions as need be instead of a head and cabinet, as it means if I practise at home it will be the same amp at band rehearsal/jam/gig, not changing amps with different tones.

Seriously tempted with the GK now
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back