Which Small Combo Amp.

IME the larger speaker is the way to go if your sure you won't be adding cabs down the road. You said you had big amps already?

I would also suggest you look into the Traynor SB12 combo. It's light weight and sounds really really good. It's also at a fantastic price point if you can get your hands on one in your area.

 

T.C. Electronic BG250-115 MKII

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281500752365?lpid=82&chn=ps

 

By all means audition the new V3 Rumbles. I think you'll be very pleasantly surprized. I myself am amazed at gigs that some of V3 Rumble 100 combo owners have played and raves that it gets. Light; LOUD, and Affordable

 

I played a Fender Rumble V3 today and although I thought the amp was excellent the cabs ability to project seemed to lack a little. Like the sound was boxy and trapped. I think it's still an amazing value for what you get but IMO it's still worth comparing with some of the other available combos. That TC looks nice but I can't speak to how it performs.

It seems like all these manufacturers take slight concessions in the cabinet portion of these combos in order to complete at a certain price point.

 

Differences in power are much less critical than speaker size and box volume. Beware of combos that have the entire baffle taken up by the driver - check for additional depth to ensure adequate box volume. A big driver in a small box yields strong upper bass peaking. Some players prefer that tone, but more experienced players grow tired of the poor note definition and inability to cut through and hear themselves when playing with music. And its difficult to eq out. Why bother when you can buy an optimally designed combo (or bass cab). A 112 combo should have an overall volume of at least 2.25 cf. A 110 combo should have at least 1.5 cf.

 

If you can spring the cash, I highly recommend a Markbass CMD-112P combo.

 

Have you checked out the Trayner bass amps? Awesome stuff!

 

Ampeg B100R.

 

ABSOLUTELY - There is nothing near this size (14" cube) that can compete with sound quality and ability to get scary LOUD. My neighborhood super pros borrow mine all the time for local club gigs. You can play any indoor gig with this amp. I don't add my extension cab until the gig is outdoors.

 

There are still some 115 or 210 Genz Benz Contour combos floating around out there at clearance prices. One of the great deals of the last few years combo-wise.

 

This is what I was going to say too. I love my BG-250.

 

I'm not sure what you have for your larger amps, but, if you have a lightweight head, you could get a light 112 like the Audiokinesis Hathor 1203 (http://www.audiokinesis.com/hathor-1203.html): very capable 12 inch, bass and treble very adjustable, and 25 lbs. Wide range with plenty of bass depth and superb note definition. Other contenders include the GK Neo 112, Acme Low B-1 or one of the Greenboy-designed compacts (F110, f112, Crazy 88). The tone will totally destroy any combo (with the possible exception of the AER combo's).

 

The Hathor is tremendous & AudioKinesis/Duke is very top-notch, no doubt. The 1203 ain't cheap, though, that's all. But if you have the wherewithal, yeah, this cab & a good amp will blow away any & all combo amps.

 

The kickback 12 weighs 43 lbs, and the Kickback 10, 30 lbs. The Hathor, and any of several class D heads (about 5 lbs) would come in at the same weight as the Kickback 10, and about the size as the Kickback 12. Such a rig could (performance wise) replace all but your SM400s & EV/Sunn, and would probably come close to that. Just a thought.

Not sure what went wrong with your Kickback 10, but it may have been a little less muscle than was occasionally needed. You might want to give yourself a little headroom. The Rumble 100 offers some improvement and weighs significantly less (22 lbs). Going to something like the Rumble 200 1x15 would be a substantial gain in power and performance (and weight - 35 lbs). The GK MB112II is also worth a look: 200w, 12" ported, 28 lbs. You will likely be able to audition the Fender's, GK's and the Markbass - all worthy contenders.

 

^^^ Then a 1203 & your favorite Class-D amp will work great for you.

GK MB-500/MB-800 or MB Fusion-500/800. Aguilar ToneHammer 350/500. Orange Terror Bass 500/1000. GB Streamliner 600/900 or Shuttle 6.0/9.0. All fine choices.