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Which lightweight combo?

W

wuzfuz

Aug 28, 2010
19
0
#1
I'm sure this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, but I'm not really good at searching this site. I have a BAD back, and a Peavey BAM which sounds great, but at 95 lbs., the combination is killing me.

I'm looking for suggestions for a lightweight combo with decent volume and great tone. I know, aren't we all. Thanks.
 
#3
I think the responses would depend on a few things:

- your budget;
- how you will be using the combo (in a live performance setup, or rehearsals).

For taking it to some rehearsals and playing at home in different rooms at times, I recently bought a Markbass CMD 121P. Even though I am not a big fan of Markbass cabinets, the size and weight of this combo sounded great, but I was still quite skeptical. The CMD 121P sounds so good that I even started taking it with me to some small-venue gigs.

The good thing about it is it uses LMIII as the head, which is a great head; and you can use an extension speaker (NY121, I think) which is of the same size and footprint. And therefore, in one of the smallest packages you can get some incredible performance and volume which should cover many small- to-medium size gigs.

At about $900, CMD 121P is one of the best out there, in my opinion.

Cheers,

Alper



wuzfuz said:
I'm sure this topic has been discussed ad nauseum, but I'm not really good at searching this site. I have a BAD back, and a Peavey BAM which sounds great, but at 95 lbs., the combination is killing me.

I'm looking for suggestions for a lightweight combo with decent volume and great tone. I know, aren't we all. Thanks.
Click to expand...
 
#6
I have been using the Markbass CMD 12P with the 121H extension cab for the past 3 years (probably 100+ shows now. Small stages, large stages, outdoor, festival stages, etc. It has has worked flawlessly, is toneful, and hasn't broken a sweat. After years of trying many big brand setups, the little Italian Boutique builder (well, they used to be little) has my vote. I am finally happy with my rig.
 
#7
I'm a big fan of Genz-Benz. A friend has played outdoor gigs with a Shuttle 6.0-210T, which has a great, tight bass, a good sound and weighs 41 lb. After years of schlepping around Ampegs, Hartke stacks, a Musicman HD-130 with a 410 cab, a Fender Bassman 400 and a Mesa/Boogie Walkabout Scout 1x15, I finally got a Shuttle 3.0-10T. I've ordered an extension cab to bring it up to compete with the drummer, but the amp itself with the 1-10 is under 20 lb, and works for all but the bigger gigs (I still have the M/B for that). I've recently recorded with it, and it sounded pretty damn good on the recording.

G-B makes quite a variety, and you can pretty much find what you want. They also seem to be reliable, but I haven't owned mine long enough to tell.
 
#10
Having used very many combinations of large and small over 30 years of playing I have found that the Orange compact range gives the best combination of price, performance and flexibility. I can plop my tiny little 500W Terror Bass amp and just the one tiny little 600W 2x10 isobaric cab into my tiny little Honda 1.3 and cope with most small and medium sized gigs no trouble at all. Best of all I can get the full 500W into that one tiny little cab as the output is switchable between 4 ohms and 8 ohms.
 
#11
I have a MB CMD 121, a CMD 102, and an Avatar 1/15 cab. With that combination I can do almost any gig I am likely to be offered. The little combo is great for rehearsals or coffee house, add the Avatar 15 ( the older cube ca.25 lbs), and you have a good (light) mid size rig. For bigger venues I can call on the CMD 102 (which at 48 lbs is very easy on the back), or add the Avatar if i need more. I may acquire something like an Avatar 2/12 if I really wanted to add some heft, but I have not needed it to date. It has turned out to be a very good little modular rig.
 
#12
philtoler said:
Having used very many combinations of large and small over 30 years of playing I have found that the Orange compact range gives the best combination of price, performance and flexibility. I can plop my tiny little 500W Terror Bass amp and just the one tiny little 600W 2x10 isobaric cab into my tiny little Honda 1.3 and cope with most small and medium sized gigs no trouble at all. Best of all I can get the full 500W into that one tiny little cab as the output is switchable between 4 ohms and 8 ohms.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#13
I recently picked up a Spellbinder Blue. It's super light ( 27 pounds or so) and sounds fantastic. I use it for around the house playing as I am just a hobby kind of guy but it is quite lovely sounding if not a little pricey. Very wide range of tones possible and it can get pretty loud.
 
#14
I would say GK MB210 but then I am biased :D
I have not gigged it yet but have rehearsed many times with it and am still impressed by its sound, we rehearse in a very large room and it is loud enough for me, we play rock covers as a trio and its perfect, plus it has the facility for an extension if required .
My new acquisition, Ibanez electro accoustic sounds fantastic through my amp, better than I expected .
 
#15
Thanks for all your replies, I'm considering your ideas. I did a quick search in the reviews section, but wasn't able to find anything on the Ibanez Promethean. It's supposed to have a lot of umph and only weighs like 28 lbs. Anybody have an opinion? My local music store doesn't have it in stock, yet but said they can get one.

I loaded my Peavey monster into the back of my truck the other night...when I got to my gig, my tailgate handle on my Chevy p/u picked that very moment to stop working. With no help in sight, I had to lift it out over the tailgate and down to the ground. I gotta do something...
 
#16
I just traded my SWR stack (sounded great but heavy heavy heavy) for the 102P combo...couldn't be happier! I took it out Friday night for it's first gig and it was amazing!!! I'm adding the 151standard cabinet for some more thunder. Whichever combo you choose you won't be disappointed!!! 44 pounds!!!

Sorry to hear about your truck handle breaking...sucks and to have to "lift" a Peavey rig (feel your pain) really sucks!!!
 

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